Old School Scholar

You know, most up and coming rappers today believe getting their rhyme skills any type of attention is to enter a local MC battle, exhibit their presence online (i.e. YouTube or MySpace), or get on multiple mix tapes and hope a talent scout would discover them. These are all well proven buzz tactics that can get you noticed, but there is one problem to these forms of promotion. It ain’t live! It’s Memorex!

As I was checking out the latest current events on our website, I came across an interesting article that was recently posted yesterday by Thug Life Army.com. By now, almost every Hip Hopper out there has heard the recent criticism of the new school kid, Soulja Boy, by the old school veteran, Ice T. Me, myself and I have no words for this matter, however a brother by the name of N.Y. Oil had plenty of great words to say on Hip Hop Music as a whole.

The last time I watched a music award show on television was back in 1984. It was the American Music Awards. I believe on that show Prince performed Purple Rain live on stage. Also at that time, they didn’t have a rap category either. Neither did the Grammies or any other award show, including MTV.

Ladies and Gentlemen, step right up and watch a snake swallow its own tail! It is the dumbest thing you will ever see! Watch this serpent eat itself at its very own existence while it publicly rationalizes its witch-hunt against piracy! Don’t you dare laugh at its foolishness. It does not care about innocent people or respect culture. One day, if you are ever caught blasting your car sound system at a red light, you too will be crucified as a pirate!

Last night I came across some video footage recorded in 1986 at the dawn of the Golden Age of Hip Hop. What you are about to view are documented interviews from a Dutch televison reporter, Marcel Vanthilt. During this era, Hip Hop culture was making leaps in bounds in Europe as it was in North America. The intrigue in these interviews is quite evident why our culture burst into an international phenomenan. To this very day, Hip Hop Culture is not just fully embraced in Europe, but also in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, and the Middle East. Where ever there is a creative soul to be liberated on this planet, there is Hip Hop.

Fresh on YouTube, care of ThudRumble.com, we have turntablists QBert and Rafik having fun with Scratch Drumming. The two infamous DJs wreck shop by “doing an old school trick where they alternate between each other at the ends of each measure.” Simply said, these pros are doing what they always do in their zone when rocking the beats. This video was shot while chillin’ between takes of the new upcoming DVD Scratchlopedia Breaktannica.

For your enjoyment, here are three YouTube videos uploaded by the author HipHop360Video. This new footage covers the Hip Hop 360 Festival that took place in Ottawa, Canada from June 11-15, 2008. The festival is a joint effort between The House of Paint community and the Canada Dance Festival. The House of Paint is an organization of independent artists, groups and business members, coming together every year to throw a jam for their community according to their website.

There are many books and interviews on Hip Hop but none shine in comparison to works that document history and biography. Especially when it comes from the mouths of Brothers and Sisters like Grandmaster Flash. If you are a DJ or Hip Hop enthusiast you have no excuse not to own a copy of The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash.

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Don’t you think it’s challenging enough for DJs to cut and scratch with CDs ever since they did away with vinyl? Nowadays, it’s even more of a challenge for DJs to find two songs of different tempos to mix with. Is it me or is it the same non-talented producer making all of [...]

I’m sure you’ve heard the term before; Alternative Hip Hop. What a funny name. I thought Hip Hop music had no bounderies or guidelines. I thought Hip Hop music was composed of a conglomerate of influences blended to create a unique sound.