Blog 5: A Bawdy Lifestyle, and How to Shake It

Funny, as time has gone on since this assignment I've had to search less and less for material to write about. This morning I continue on with my morning routine, checking out the Post online and on the main page is this article about 'Superhead'.

When we briefly discussed her in class I got the vibe that she was still a video slut but this article conveys an entirely different story. Apparently she's using her experience as a groupie to educate females about the pitfalls of the hip-hop world. Even further, opening the door for women to relate to other females about the adverse affects of growing up in a broken home.

Honestly, I think that's merely a moneymaking ploy but I say good for her. If she can use her past mistakes and experience and help other people out AND make money in the process, she's doing something right. I'm all about people coming out and speaking about taboo topics, there are so many things in life that millions of people experience and struggle with however because there's a stigma attached, people stay in the dark and clueless which I think only hinders the advancement of our society.

Take that movie 'Kinsey', donno how many of you saw it but it touched on this idea as well. Set in the early 20th century, this scholar and his wife start a revolution openly delving into and discussing sex related subjects that were unheard of to be talked about. From homosexuality to bestiality to masturbation, things that exist but no one talks about.

That's what Karrine is doing here. Much like a recovering drug addict comes forward and tells their story of demise and rebirth, Karrine is sharing with the public her downfall in the music industry from being too caught up in money, power and prestige.

I think it's something worth talking about. Although there aren't millions of women who can relate specifically to being a grouping and its negative affects, women can relate to growing up with father's predominately absent from their lives, searching for that comfort and security in other men, acting out and drawing in negative attention for validation. Those are all topics that a majority of women struggle with and I think the general population of women will be more receptive to a gut-honest account of someone else's personal experience; good, bad and otherwise and how they overcame it vs. a PhD or other professional who's condescendingly preaching.

This whole notion of being a 'video girl' and getting caught up in the hip-hop world and the men, the drugs, the money is something I never really thought about. I guess when watching a rap video, I just assumed that most of the girls on there were models or dancers hired for the gig and afterwards went on their merry way to the next gig living normal lives. It makes sense though, cause I definitely associate that lifestyle with rock-n-roll. Especially in the 80's with hair bands and cocaine, the girls, the tour buses. Hell, I'm sure it even happens with country and Christian artists, it's merely a product of that high powered rich elite society.

Interesting article

Blog 4: Graff Artists

This didn't happen recently but because of this class and this assignment it’s made me think about it.

A few years ago my best friend and I were at a regular late-night spot of ours in Adam's Morgan called the Diner. We got to talking to our waiter, seemed like a nice guy and somehow we ended up going out with him to see some of the tagging he had done around the city.

I remember when he started talking about the fact that he 'tagged' thinking about how ridiculous and juvenile he must be to do such a thing. At the time to me, tagging was just a form of vandalism. There wasn't much difference in my mind between tagging and throwing a rock through a building window.

After his shift he hopped in my car and directed my driving so we could see all 'the spots he had hit up'. On that note, the term tagging is quite appropriate when you think about it. Like a male dog marks his territory, graff artists seem to competitively try and 'mark their own territory', but coining the term tagging I think of the childhood game 'tag, you're it'.

It was probably the first time in my life I had every really taken note of graffiti, I mean I had seen it before but never really paid much attention. He was so proud of all the work he showed us, that was transparent in his voice.

I remember Genevieve (my best friend) and I were joking about it when we dropped him off. How ridiculous it was that he was so psyched over some vandalism he spray-painted up on public buildings throughout DC.

It makes more sense to me now, I appreciate the work that he did and his passion for it. I don't know if I necessarily agree with illegal forms of tagging or painting, simply because I believe it should be regulated and controlled so as to prevent actual vandalism from taking place but I can appreciate the art now.

Blog 3: New Understanding

This morning on my way into work I broke out an old album that I have from way back when. At the time, the people I was hanging out with listened to hip-hop music so I was influenced by it. I bought the cd knowing nothing about it or the culture but only because my friends were listening to it. I liked the beats, the rhythm, and the sound but never really paid much attention to the lyrical content. After taking this class I was able to pick things out of Gang Starr's 'Royalty' that I never even thought twice about before.

First off as far as lyrical interpretation is concerned, I never used to listen to the lyrics. I know I know, to most that would be a crime punishable by death. I loved music, still do today, but for some reason my mind wanders and kinda just listen to the music and appreciate it. I could listen to a favorite song for month’s day in and day out before I actually take note about what's being said (terrible, I know).

But I listened to the song and heard that it touches on a lot of things we've been talking about in class. First off, Guru criticizes those fake MC's who are just trying to make it to the top and forget where they come from

"As soon as some niggaz get some light, they be like dummies yo".

The title comes from them talking about how they're royalty because they're real and don't get caught up in the flash of it all. How they have women who love them for them and not because they're rich and famous or anything.

The song also has that mix of artists that we've talked about. I don't know the background of Gang Starr and KC and JoJo but they collaborated together on this. I would assume they're under the same label or run in the same circles based off of what we learned in class.

Also, they use several different rhyme schemes throughout the song: A, B; A, B/A, A; B, B/A, B; A, B and XYZ that's definitely something I would not have noticed prior to taking this class.

Anyhow, just another example of taking note of hip-hop in my daily life and the ways that this class has reshaped my idea of it.

Blog 2: The Associated Press Article

I had heard rumors about this kind of scandal before. Never heard any concrete factual information but mainly speculation that radio stations were bribbed to play certain artists and songs. It makes sense now, to me it also explains why so many talentless artists such as Britney Spears make it and others who are far more talented never will - marketing.

If you have a major record label behind you like Sony, Arista, Columbia, Warner Brothers they have the financial means to market you to sucess. Despite the degree of talent the artist(s) possess, if a record company believes that that particular artist has whatever 'appeals' to the public all they have to do is financially back them and promote them to their success. Of course Brittney Spears is going to have the number one single on the Billboard charts if her label is capable of paying off radio stations to promote her song.

I think that's a sad thing in the music industry. Sort of reminds me of facets of our political system the whole electoral college process where each vote doesn't 'truly' count. Based on our existing electoral system we, in essence, elect representatives who merely 'represent' our vote but that representative doesn't necessarily have to act upon the voice of the people. That representative can be swayed by other higher ups in trade offs or deals to go against the majority and return a favor. Same sounds to be true for these radio DJ's. These people are hired to play music the people who are listening to the station want to hear. If the majority of people are calling in on a daily basis to hear Common's 'I Used to Love H.E.R.' but LL Cool J's label went ahead and arranged a deal with that station to play his song incessantly for say, a trip to Hawaii, then that's not really an accurate representation of what the public wants now is it.

Therefore, is it not fair to say that billboard charts are inaccurately represented? To take it one step further, if that were true, what about record sales? Would those numbers not also be inaccurate? And going even further, how do we know that the music we listen to is really even what WE like? For those heavily influenced by media and outside surroundings, perhaps your choices and preferences are solely a conditioned response to the force and manipulation of labels. I'm sure that I could say I have fallen victim to that myself. I have always really liked commercial music. Just recently as I have been getting into music more I have learned more about indie music that doesn't receive air play that I like. But I would not have discovered these artists had I not taken a more active role in learning more about music. If I continued to simply listen to what was on the radio I would forever listen to the same things over and over again.

Does that make any sense?

Blog 1: B-Boys

It's funny 'cause, after we were assigned this assignment I started becoming more aware of hip-hop around me so that I could have material to post about. It's sort of like when you buy a new car you begin to notice all the other one's on the road more than you ever did before, all of a sudden it seems like everyone on the road is driving the same car as you when in reality it's just cause you're looking for it.

Anyways, the other week I was near Dupont circle with my best friend. We were going out for her 22nd birthday and she wanted to go to MCCXXIII. So, thanks to my amazing parking karma we found a great spot right on 18th next to Cosi. We were heading to stop off at the Krispy Kreme to treat ourselves to a Hot and Now donut and as we were passing the Dupont metro stop I noticed group of older teenage boys who were break dancing outside.

Any time prior to taking this class I would have walked by without a second thought, I may not have really even noticed. However, this time, I stopped and watched for a second. As soon as it clicked in my head, meaning the recognition of the boys break dancing I sort of smirked to myself. It was one of those moments where you can observe change in yourself, which is at most times difficult for me to do but I smirked knowing that this was my education and learning coming through. Where I realized that because of what I have learned and been sensitized to regarding the hip-hop culture through this class I myself had become a bit more educated and cultured. It's almost like a new light has been shown on an entire facet of the world that I had never previously known. Which for me is what learning is all about.

In my opinion education far surpasses memorizing names and dates in a classroom, regurgitating it on an exam, forgetting it the next day but getting in an 'A' in the class. For me, where I truly learn and grow is through interpersonal relationships and any experiences that can expand my mind. Whether it be travel, romantic relationships, friendships, walking through tough experiences, or in this particular circumstance just trying to get out of my bubble and learn about something I know nothing about. Which I have accomplished.

That accomplishment became evident to me through something as simple as noting a group of teenage boys break dancing on the street outside the metro in Dupont circle on a Friday night.

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