August 2005 Archives

Did ya'll notice this?

When some news outlets do reports on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, they show photos of Black people in the area carrying bundles of merch, and they call them "looters." However, when they show White folks carrying away stuff, the caption says they "found" it.

What the deal?

Compare for yourself.

The VMA's are one of my favorite television events of the year. It's one of few times I get to see my favorite hip-hop artists all in the same place, honestly having fun being around each other (I also love seeing the R&B acts but SOHH Soulful already covered that).

Being a fan, I have to say last night's show was the most boring VMA's in recent memory. And I blame Puffy P. Diddy Diddy.

For over two weeks Marcus Houston's video for "Naked" has been the #1 selection on BET's 106th & Park. There's nothing very special about the song, but the video is a shocker - Marcus literally gets "naked" in the video, D'Angelo style.

Um, why is this being shown on BET in the daytime? And is it any wonder that 106 & Park's preteen female viewers are voting this dude so high?

Let's be honest. This video is soft porn. And I have nothing against it, but BET needs to relagate it to After Dark or even Uncut, when only grow-ups are watching.

I may be wrong, but it seems that the press won't follow and harass hip-hop stars like they do actors and other musicians.

You never hear about photographers waiting outside the 40/40 club, hoping to catch a picture of Jay-Z. And I can't remember 50 Cent ever complaining that paparazzi keep following his bullet-proof SUV.

Even though Eminem is a huge pop star, I doubt there are many people outside of his hospital, trying to snap a picture of him through the window.

I can't imagine that Jermaine Dupri is cool with this:

In the event to end all online freestyle events, SunN.Y. will attempt a stunt never before tried, the first-ever 24-hour freestyle marathon.

On Wednesday, September 7th at 3 PM, every hour on the hour for 24 straight hours, SunN.Y. will unleash a new freestyle on the world, on a subject chosen by a vote of the community, fans and haters alike, during the previous hour. The freestyles will be posted immediately on the web, to be scrutinized, lionized, analyzed, contemplated, investigated, and evaluated by the community.

There's a reason why pro rappers don't freestyle off the dome or do live battles in public. There's not much to gain and plenty to lose.

Nick Cannon's new improv comedy show, Wild 'N Out is not that funny, but it sure is fun to watch.

I gotta give props to the Evil Empire. They have a well designed formula that attracts my age group, and they know how to work it into all of their shows.

More drama at The Source office, ya'll.

Joshua "Fahiym" Ratcliffe resigned his position as Editor-in-Chief of "Hip-Hop Bible" The Source Magazine today (Aug. 16). According to Ratcliffe, the reason for his abrupt departure is a difference of opinion between himself, Chief Brand Executive Raymond "Benzino" Scott and CEO Dave Mays.

Ratcliffe said Little Brother’s album,The Minstrel Show, was to receive a rating of 4 and 1/2 mics in the magazine's October 2005 issue, but Mays and Scott disagreed.

That can't be the only reason. I remember in the first month of Fahiym's reign, there was an incredible article on The 5 Percenters and how they've influenced hip-hop slang and culture. The long article said part 1, but next month there was no part 2.

I've heard that Fahiym is on a righteous kick, and I would guess that the 2-part article was his pet project. Now who canceled the second part? Questions, questions.

It's surprising to me the non-reaction I get from my friends, other writers, and readers of this blog when I tell them I'm devoting a week of Media Chin-Check to XXL Magazine. Hip-hop media icons like BET, The Source, and Hot 97 invoke responses from people that vary between "they suck" and "I love them."

XXL gets a yawn. Why is that?

The answer - they have a weak brand. Despite being around almost a decade and being the top selling magazine, Hip-hop has no emotional connection with XXL.

We don't hate them, and we don't care for them either.

Over a decade ago Ego Trip was launched as a fresh, irreverent hip-hop voice amongst the self-important world of music magazines. It was run by a multiracial crew of writers including Sacha Jenkins, Chairman Mao, and Elliott Wilson, who is currently the assistant director of marketing for Interscope Records (which includes being editor-in-chief of XXL Magazine).

Ego Trip’s irreverent humor and view of hip-hop within the wider realm of pop culture made the mag a must read amongst the hip music fan. After a few years Elliott and his crew shut down the magazine but stayed together to write books, such as "Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists", and the "Big Book of Racism." They’ve also produced some VH1 specials for rap fans who are too old for MTV but haven’t yet retired into jazz.

Now, with Ego Trip long out of the glossy game, the big question is, where can a hip-hop head get his alternative fix for everything rap-related? Enter: “hip-hop blogs.”

Congrats to XXL Magazine for surviving for 8 long years in the game!

Also, props to their publisher - Harris Publications, and their editorial director - Interscope Records.

From your friend Hashim Warren, and SOHH.com- the independent, Black owned hip-hop site that’s been doing it for a decade.

Let me guess- the book starts off with, "Growing up I was confused, my momma kissing a girl..."

Then he gets shot.

Then he gets stabbed.

Then he goes platinum.

There, I just saved ya'll $25.

Last night I went with some of my SOHH co-defendents to listen to Kanye West's new album, Late Registration.

The event had the feel of a real party- complete with an open bar, beefy bouncers, pretty women and an amazing sound system that made every track of Kanyeezy's album bang.

Kanye played host, with Jay-Z and LA Reid flexing their star power in the front row. The audience of journalists, Def Jam staff, and industry hanger-ons mixed and mingled, enjoying the music and each other's company.

But who cares about all that? Let me get to what's important - the food!

Months ago I explained that even with all of The Source's troubles, they have not lost credibility with hip-hop fans. Some of their problems, like Benzino hiring "his mans and them", come from their hip-hop sensibilities, and probably give the mag MORE credibility amongst street level fans.

So why is The Source losing readers and getting into financial trouble?

Last week was Free and AJ's last appearance on 106th & Park (see this page on BET for the farewell video).

I won't guess at why they left, because 5 years is a long time to stay on a youth centered show video show. They were fortunate to last that long.

I do wonder what's next for these two hip-hop icons who many welcomed into their living rooms every afternoon. It's hard to move on from doing TV because only movies can top the luster of being on that small screen every day. The only place to go from here is down...

Their anti-climatic farewell, which Free didn't even show up to, didn't help either.

The NY Times has a profile story on the creators of Rap-Up Magazine, who happen to be two young White siblings in college. The Times writer says:

"But the Lazerine brothers stand out in the rap world: they are suburban white kids, two seconds out of their teens, who are publishing a quarterly magazine while still in college."

What's so special about that? Isn't that how The Source was started- by a White kid in Harvard? Didn't Def Jam begin in a college dorm room by a White guy?

So why does there mag deserve to be profiled in the NY Times over let's say Bridgez Mag, which has founders who are the same age as Rap Up, only they're Latino, not White? I'll let ya'll ponder that one.

Let me say it again- Whites in hip-hop isn't "big news" or "new news".