Written By SOHH Gyant
Aww sh*t guess who's hitting the road? Plus, why can't black bloggers learn to work together.
I missed out on a chance to catch last year's Scion's "Live Metro" concert, but you can be for damn sure that I will be there this year as it's been reveled that Bun B will be the headliner. Funk and Soul group Orgone will join Bun B to get the crowd swaying with its soul, funk and
Afro beats, while "The Rub" founder DJ Ayres will provide an eclectic
mix of hip-hop, house, bass, and reggae
Upcoming Scion "Live Metro" dates and locations:
August 18, 9:30 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.: Raleigh at Cat's Cradle
300 E. Main St., Carrboro, NC 27510
August 19, 9:30 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.: Atlanta at The Loft
1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309
August 20, 9:30 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.: Houston at Warehouse Live
813 St. Emanuel St., Houston, TX 77003
August 22, 9:30 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.: Austin at The Parish
214 E. Sixth St., Austin, TX 78701
To check out this free event, attendees must be 21 or older and RSVP at www.scion.com/livemetro.
Shout out to Bun B. But Lets Move On To Another Pressing Issue.....
I was really on the fence about writing a blog about
personal situations. Ever since my unfortunate incident with you know who I've really made a valiant
effort to ensure that everything I do on the internet is about work [yes, this
crazy entertainment business is a job contrary to popular belief] from my
perspective. But after standing back for a moment and observing various
situations between beefing rappers and various blog beefs I can't help but
wonder to myself "what the hell is matter with us as a people?"
It's no secret that blogging has forever changed the way
everyone gets their information. This relatively new industry is dominating and
undermining the entertainment business. Magazines are on a constant decline, television
ratings are in the toilet but the internet is thriving…everyone is online. And
to that end, with every passing day, tens of thousands of brand new blogs are
popping up all wanting a piece of the action. And in that lies a very big
problem.
Contrary to popular belief I am an equal opportunity blog
writer. Everyday like a bad drug habit I wake up at the crack of dawn to check
out Perezhilton.com, nahright.com, writersblockmedia.net, sandrarose.com,
necolebitchie.com, worldstarhiphop.com, thelifefiles.com, theybf.com,
claycane.net, loldarian.com, whatsthetea.com, mahagonygirl.com, illseed.com, hiphossip.com
- the list goes go on and on.
One of the reasons why I am SOHH great at my job is because
I have over 50 blog urls that I memorize and I support fellow bloggers with
trackbacks, shoutouts and overall blog love. I've been in the blog game since
its inception almost 5 years ago. However, with SOHH many new blogs popping up
every day the level of respect is becoming more and more diminished. Hip-Hop
blogging is slowly turning into an industry of greedy individuals who are blurring
the lines of immorality and common human decency for a few moments of
recognition and money [though it's really not that much unless you're pulling
in a serious readership] rather than for the art and the love of it. Funny enough certain bloggers make
outlandish remarks and comments about other bloggers that they would never have
the balls to say in person.
Since when have we begun to reward cowards? Everyone
wants their point of view to be heard, which is an understandable notion, but
why are bloggers focusing their point of views on each other?
Fundamentally black people are always SOHH busy attacking
each other that the end result is always disastrous. Look at hip-hop for
example; back when hip-hop was introduced to the world it was about telling a
story of struggle and pain. It was about rhyming about a girl you wanted to
kick it with, or apparel you rocked – or would one day rock. But as it grew and
the more people started to get in the game, the respect for hip-hop instantly
started to weaken.
A genre that was created to uplift and speak to a lot of people
quickly turned into the seedy, backstabbing and grimy industry we all look at
today. And what's been the end result? Hip-Hop is dying a slow death.
As a blogger, who's been here virtually since the beginning,
I don't want that happening to us. All this blog beefin', throwing jabs back
and fourth over the internet at each other has got to stop. You don't see Perez
Hilton attacking Just Jared do you? You don't see Trent from Pinkisthenewblog.com going at
Dlisted. SOHH why are we black bloggers the only ones going at each other recklessly,
and might I add unnecessarily?
Blog charts on who's beating who with arguable numbers. Placing personal blogger information on your site, etc. These actions don't bode
well for us as an industry people.
If you're a blogger who is serious about your business and
is looking to leave your day job [yes, most of you, hell if 99.9 of bloggers do
it as a hobby – as in you don't make much money] then its time for us ALL to
band together and seriously create an industry TOGETHER!
I'm sure this blog will fall on deaf ears. It's just sad
that as a people we can never seem to get anywhere because we just can't unite…..on
any front!
Talk to y'all lata,
--SOHH Gyant
Email:sohhgyant@gmail.com
This Comment was emailed to me, but I thought you all should see it anyway.
BLACK PEOPLE GOTTA START TO UNDERSTAND THE 'POWER OF THE PEN' in this cyber generation.........
It could be possible to create a 'blog code' for Hip Hop blog sites..... and start a campaign amongst the 'cordial' bloggers that are big enough to let people know WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG..... something like a 'G' Code for bloggers......... even make a list and have 'certified' graphics to stamp......
I think Hip Hop journalism AS A WHOLE should be put on blast (ala Nas burning all the magazines) there are too many people that call themselves 'Hip Hop Journalists' - 'bloggers' - 'Magazines' 'and DVD Magazines' that aren't apart of NPPA (National Press Photographers Association), NABJ (National Association of Black Journlists)-which also has local chapters in each state...... some Hip Hop journalists have no degree of knowledge of how to inform people beyond BLAH BLAH BLAHing on their keyboard........ there are plenty of schools, organizations, seminars, etc..... that someone could go to to atleast be CERTIFIED in informing the Hip Hop community...... Everyone doesn't have to go to NYU or Ball State University (my school) but THE SHITS OUTA CONTROL....
I'm a journalist for a TV station I blog on my myspace page (it's more of an editorial) and I think that blogging is a serious issue..... it's almost become a 'rumors' page that's fronting as a real news outlet...... and even when it comes to opinions..... there's too much opinion based off of people that have NEVER MET THE PEOPLE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT......
Everything either turns into egging on a fight or a 'gay' rumor....... da shits gotta stop.......
holla at me, I wouldn't mind putting my 2 cents in to help shape this.....
--Bayette
"Hip-Hop blogging is slowly turning into an industry of greedy individuals who are blurring the lines of immorality and common human decency for a few moments of recognition and money"
Now the world knows how real DJs feel when these crap, non-mixing ass djs come out with wack mixtapes with "exclusives" and high quality covers, but no dj talent, and no creativity... Same goes for these one hit wonder artists who come out with some lil catchy bullsh*t that has no substance...
BTW, i'm just glad you acknowledged you and Streetz get a LOT of info from Sandrarose.com though, real talk.
I'm a blogger. I just started my blog, but I'm not deep into the game like I want to be... YET! But I love what I do. Of course I have a regular 9 to 5, and I'm sooo bidding my time until I can make do with just having to work part-time, but, I didn't know that the blog beef was so serious until I was on ********.com and she put another blogger on complete blast. I couldn't understand, and quite frankly, it pissed me off. We can't do anything without taking it to the streets or getting completely ignorant with one another. And for what? What purpose does it serve. Do you know earn Inet cred for online beef? Gimme a break dude. I blog because I'm a nosy muhhhf*cka and I'm good at what I do. I don't post nothing that is not factual because I'm not in the business for ruining someone's rep off of something that is just a rumor! Let's get it together people. Blog and move around! There are enough people on this Earth to share the blog hits!
Thank you Gyant for posting this. I'm glad that you took a stand and said what no one else would! Thanks homeboi!
Man, that's why I don't get around to posting that much, anymore. All these bloggers are turning this into some gossip show like The View or something. It's embarrassing. All you need is a little chedda to get you a website and next thing you know, you got niggaz acting like some black Geraldos. Despicable.
--Matt Herbz--
I've been a faithful reader of SOHH and a few other blogs. Gyant, you are absolutely right about how the industry has gotten. Sometimes I think it's just the nature of the african-american community. We have been neglected and living without anything for so long that when some of us do get something, we don't know how to act. Luckily for me, I'm not one of those people. We seeing it even in the corporate world. Blacks are so quick to hate on another black person..just so determined to tear them down in order for them to build themselves up. But then you see white people doing the opposite and look how they are dominating. I officially launched my own blog/website a couple months ago because I feel that our community lacks motivation, support, and encouragement from our peers. My goal is to encourage everyone to LeadTheWayOut.
Gyant, thanks for posting your thoughts and opinion on this topic. It's good to know that the creator of this site I'm committed to share the same thoughts as I do.
Patrice K. Cokley
LeadTheWayOut.com
I think you made some excellent points about blogging getting out of control. I'm not a blogger and am not aspiring to be but I do read them and I agree. You are right on that the Black community in general needs to stop the madness and unite instead of getting more and more separated. In all aspects (music, business, relationships, etc.) we are not vibing as a people and we need to understand how powerful we can be if we face the world as one and look out for each other instead of taking every opportunity to stomp on each other. Let's get it together people.
Man shut the fuck up gyant. The world is a evil place get used to it.
If you cant handle words tossed on the internet u are a weak man. u probably dont even go outside the house.
gyant,
i could not have said it better myself. but these same issues amongst black people happen in everyday life. so, why would you think the internet would be any different? until black people can make major changes in society, we as a race will continue to have "beefs" in every aspect our lives...blogging included.
see, i am one of those new "bloggers" in the game. honestly, i don't even want to bear that name. i'm not a journalist neither are my business partners. but we are writers who have beneficial information to share. the information posted on our blog site(stacksmagblog.com) is for entertaining too , but it's mainly to help educate. but the fact that we do not gossip much, may hurt us in the long run with readership. so for me, i think some of the blame should be put on some of the older blogs. yes, there should've been some type of code of ethics or blogging policies put in place by now. maybe someone should start an association for black bloggers. this would really be beneficial to bloggers who have made blogging a business or aspire to.
bloggers have made it hard for new blogs to even bring something empowering to the game because of their beefing and bickering. and like you said, in some cases THEY DONT EVEN KNOW EACH OTHER! so why waste time on nonsense??? one day they gone type the wrong thing about somebody (like me)and that person isn't going to fight back with words. they are going to fight back with fists. straight up!
but really we need to wake up and understand that day by day we continue to hurt ourselves. we are the cause of our own demise and this shit need to stop. have a better purpose for your life and your blog.