Stephen Colbert Roasts Kanye West

Contemporary artists have fallen into the mainstream deathtrap. These artists are just fine with bandwagoning and recording a song that meets the current criteria. Right now, the criteria only has one requirement: auto-tune. Let's take the artist who is currently at number one at the moment, Kanye West. In a recent quote, Kanye claims, that "I will go down as the voice of this generation of this decade..." However, in Stephen Colbert's opinion, (which I strongly agree with) he is not the voice of this generation. Colbert on his news-parody show, The Colbert Report, harangued West saying, "Sir, you are not the voice of this generation of this decade. In fact, with all the auto-tuning on your records, you're barely the voice of your own albums." Kanye West has lost a lot of street credibility and his performance at Dave Chappelle's block party seems like a thing of the past.

Kanye West should listen to Dead Prez's "Turn Off The Radio" to learn a thing or two and so should you.

"Ear-Opening" Documentary

The documentary that I speak of is "Dave Chappelle's Block Party." Originally released in March 2006, the film highlighted comedian Dave Chappelle as he supplied a Brooklyn neighborhood with a unprecedented day-long block party. This memorable Saturday afternoon was a celebration of music and comedy, history and community. Aside from Chappelle's witty humor, Chappelle presented a star-studded roster of artists to a diverse crowd. The lineup included the likes of Kanye West, Mos Def, Common, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, the Roots, and an impromptu reunion of the Fugees. These performers are well-recognized not only by the quality of their music but also by the power and might that their work draws from keeping their creativity uncorrupted.

The documentary showed me how brilliant music and humor can bring us together and help our society surpass the tumultuous times that we face nowadays. Why don't other artists put on events like this?

Weekly Artist Profile #3

Let me introduce to Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi is a Cleveland rapper who began to gain attention when he released his first single, "Day 'n' Nite". Cudi released his first mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, in partnership with street wear brand 10 Deep as a free download by way of 10 Deep's website. The mixtape includes a guest appearance from DC rapper Wale and caught the attention of Kanye West. In early September 2008, he performed at the 2008 VMAs in conjunction with Travis Barker and DJ AM. In an interview with URB, Kid Cudi said that he was working in the studio with Kanye West on his upcoming album 808s & Heartbreak and will be featured on the album. He is finishing up his album for its release in Spring 2009.

Here is Kid Cudi's single "Day 'N' Nite"

What Do You Know? A Rapper With A Heart

Thanksgiving came early for 500 Atlanta families. Last weekend (November 22nd & November 23rd), Ludacris and his non-profit organization's LudaCares program gave Thanksgiving turkeys and pies to poor residents of metro Atlanta. On the 22nd, the foundation distributed food to areas on the South side of Atlanta. On the 23rd, Ludacris was on the North side of Atlanta, distributing more food to local residents in need of some holiday cheer. Ludacris said that "I especially look forward to this time of year because it allows me to directly touch the people we are trying to help."

More rappers should follow Ludacris' lead and give back to the community that made them who they are today. If you want to read the full “Rapper Ludacris To Feed 500 Families For Thanksgiving” article then click here

"Hip Hop Isn't Dying, It Just Sucks"

This is a title of an enlightening article from "The Seminal: Independent Media and Politics" website that I stumbled upon today. The article states that "Hip hop, which has been the darling of the record industry these last few years, is in trouble." Hip Hop sales are down. According to Nielsen SoundScan, sales in the Rap category dropped 20.7% compared with sales in 2005. The article elaborates on the fact that the problem with hip hop is the lyrics when it juxtaposes "artistically interesting" hip hop lyrics from "CREAM" by The Wu-Tang Clan. and today's lyrics from songs like "Push Baby . On the outside, the lyrical content from back in the day seems to be the same as today's i.e. violence, drugs, money. However, the article says "Well to start, lyrically “CREAM” is about more than just drugs and guns. This particular song is also about survival, big dreams, and the mysteries of life." The writer goes on to say there is no possible way Pretty Ricky's lyrics are commensurate with those of the Wu-Tang Clan. The solution, of course, to the problem is make good music by putting some thought into the lyrics.

Here are the lyrics to the first verse of both songs, read them and see if you agree with the article or not:

CREAM: It’s been twenty-two long hard years of still strugglin
Survival got me buggin, but I’m alive on arrival
I peep at the shape of the streets
And stay awake to the ways of the world cause shit is deep
A man with a dream with plans to make C.R.E.A.M.
Which failed; I went to jail at the age of 15
A young buck sellin drugs and such who never had much
Trying to get a clutch at what I could not… could not…
The court played me short, now I face incarceration
Pacin — going up state’s my destination
Handcuffed in back of a bus, forty of us
Life as a shorty shouldn’t be so ruff
But as the world turns I learned life is hell
Living in the world no different from a cell

Push It Baby: When I Step Up In He Club-I’m So Hot Hot Hot
Tossing Dollars At These Hoes Like Ah Ah Ah
Pretty Woman Up In Here Like Bah Bah Bah
Spitting Game In Their Ear Like - Lalalalalalaa
Baby Blue I Don’t Play No Games
Head To My Feet So Fresh So Clean
Buying Out The Bar Like It Ain’t No Thang
Hot Boy Like Wayne
Diamonds In My Chain Blang Blang Blang
I got canary diamond Bustas
Got the matching Lamborghini same color mustard
Baying drinks for these chicks and now they owe me
More gin if u wine I’m the same ol G

Weekly Artist Profile #2

Let me introduce you to the Gutta a.k.a. Ace Hood



Born Antoine McColister in Broward County, Florida, Ace knew he was meant to do great things, even at a young age. He says "I got the name Ace as a child. My family always thought that I would be the one who would succeed in whatever I did." After an injury ruined his flourishing football career, Ace turned to his true calling, rapping. At the age of 17, Ace, together with the Broward-County-based entertainment label Dollaz & Dealz, recorded his first street hit "M.O.E." ("Money Over Everything"). This song generated immediate buzz for him in South Florida. Ace began to perform and meet people who helped him gain publicity like never before. After perfecting his craft on local crowds, his goal was to perform for DJ Khaled at his annual birthday bash. Khaled had a contest going on where you had to give a certain amount of reasons why you should perform at the birthday bash. Ace recalls "
We handed him a CD and once we did that he listened to it and called my manager that night wanting to set up a meeting." That meeting turned into Ace becoming the first artist signed to DJ Khaled's label "We the Best" distributed by Def Jam Records.

Now you no doubt have heard Ace Hood's first two singles "Cash Flow," and "Ride." Here's a something a but more grittier.

R.I.P. Rap City

This is late reporting on story that was posted on allhiphop.com in early October. Sorry for the delay.

BET network has rescinded its long-running Hip-Hop series Rap City. The move was put into effect when the final Rap City episode was aired on Oct. 29. The series was created in 1989, making it the longest running Hip-Hop program at 19 years. In its early years, the show competed directly with Yo! MTV Raps. It was able to distinguish itself from its MTV counterpart by not just concentrating on mainstream rappers, but also advocating videos and interviews from underground and up and coming artists.

It was such a shame to see it go because I myself was an avid viewer. This cancellation is a wake-up call that we have to take it upon ourselves to keep Hip-Hop alive.

P.S. Click here for the allhiphop.com "BET Cancels Rap City" article