happy birthday PAC
Friday, June 16, 2006
"if you can't respect that, your whole perspective is wack"
Thursday, June 08, 2006
So I’m working on an article that’s supposed to be about hip-hop and violence. Last night I was going through some notes from an interview I did. During the interview this guy compared all the images that white America can subscribe to versus blacks. White people have numerous images they see on TV each day, compared to black kids (I guess you could say Mexicans, Asians and Indians have close to zero, but I’d rather have zero than the same recycled caricature). The point being the only successful images black kids see on television is a sports player and a rapper. So what affect does this have black youth? Check out this blog at xxl.com: http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=2134#comments. Dude basically talks about how you’re pretty much guaranteed to find an aspiring rapper or CEO on every block in every hood. He’s got a point. How many talentless rappers have tried to add you as a friend on myspace?
While I was going through my notes, I was watching Jay-Z’s Fade to Black (FTB). I’d never seen the last hour. By the end of the movie I was wishing I could rap. Jay-Z’s story is amazing to me… talk about a hustle: the man went from selling drugs in Marcy to selling to Def Jam President in ten years, not to mention he’s got the “hottest chick in the game.” Talk about success. To me, FTB was pretty much a congratulatory ceremony (I wish my college graduation could be on that level). Maybe that’s why I’m attracted to being a “hip-hop journalist.” I’m just a dude who loves rap, but can’t- and I suck at sports. I have somewhat of a way with words so why not put the two things I love together: writing and rap.
Seeing a Jay-Z in his prime with the swagger to match is inspiring… especially because he’s black, from the bottom, no father- just like myself and a million others. To see someone hustle their ass off, and see it pay off makes me think that all that bullshit about doing what ever you put your mind to, just might be true.
When you start off at the bottom, it seems only natural to look up. I look at all the friends I've had over the years and not too many are breaking bread like they thought they would or at least living their dreams. The only place I see this is in the music I listen too. I’m a grown ass man though. I know Noriega has been in prison for the last 15 years, so there's no way he's in a position to owe Rick Ross a thousand favors.
While I was going through my notes, I was watching Jay-Z’s Fade to Black (FTB). I’d never seen the last hour. By the end of the movie I was wishing I could rap. Jay-Z’s story is amazing to me… talk about a hustle: the man went from selling drugs in Marcy to selling to Def Jam President in ten years, not to mention he’s got the “hottest chick in the game.” Talk about success. To me, FTB was pretty much a congratulatory ceremony (I wish my college graduation could be on that level). Maybe that’s why I’m attracted to being a “hip-hop journalist.” I’m just a dude who loves rap, but can’t- and I suck at sports. I have somewhat of a way with words so why not put the two things I love together: writing and rap.
Seeing a Jay-Z in his prime with the swagger to match is inspiring… especially because he’s black, from the bottom, no father- just like myself and a million others. To see someone hustle their ass off, and see it pay off makes me think that all that bullshit about doing what ever you put your mind to, just might be true.
When you start off at the bottom, it seems only natural to look up. I look at all the friends I've had over the years and not too many are breaking bread like they thought they would or at least living their dreams. The only place I see this is in the music I listen too. I’m a grown ass man though. I know Noriega has been in prison for the last 15 years, so there's no way he's in a position to owe Rick Ross a thousand favors.
A REAL LIFE PSA BROADCAST FROM DEEP WITHIN THE JAW OF LIFE
