Hip-Hop's Blue Collar Spitter
Hummer for a Summer
About one year ago, I was shopping at a midwestern mall when I saw a big yellow truck with an advertisement that said "DRIVE A HUMMER FOR A SUMMER," complete with the radio bumping whatever the hip-hop flavor of the month was around that time.
Like any other testosterone-driven male, I was intrigued and drawn in by the thought that I could actually win this mammoth-sized vehicle. Maybe I could even throw some shoes on it; you know... 22s, 24s, 32s ... whatever. I might even be able use it in one of my videos AND be able to claim it as my own; and not have to use one of these rentals that most rappers have.
Can't you see it? See me in my brand new whip...
"Hell yeah," I thought. "I am going to sign up for up this sweepstakes. I am going to put in like 50 entries so that I know I have a chance of winning this Hummer for a summer." However, as I started to fill out my sweepstakes entry, a military officer approached me and asked "Oh, you are interested in joining the armed forces, huh?" I looked at him perplexed and asked "What are you talking about?"
Instead of answering my question, he then opened the door to the hummer and said "Get in!"He invited me to sit in the driver's seat. At that point, I had to ask, "What is going on?" The officer then explained to me that if I signed up for this sweepstakes to win the Hummer, I would be applying to take a military aptitude test at the local recruitment center; at which point my name would be entered into a larger pool which would increase my chances of winning the actual truck. Not being able to contain my thoughts any longer, I just busted out with a "Wow."
After immediately removing myself from his sphere of influence, I said to myself "Damn. This is how they get us; big trucks and hip-hop."
Which brings me to today's point: that experience served as inspiration for me to write a song which is on my Blue Collar album entitled "Bullet." [Peep The Lyrics]
This led me to an even deeper analysis about inspiration. As artists, there used to be a day when our experiences inspired us to write music that served as the theme for the times in which we lived. Now, it seems as though the only inspiration for making a hit song is the last hit song... or whatever the new club trend seems to be.
America is going through a revolution, whether it be our foreign policy or our domestic surveillance program. Even the hood is experiencing its own civil war when you look at the influx of New Orleans residents in Texas, Georgia and other areas about the country. Who is writing the theme music for today?
The practice of creating music from life inspiration is becoming a lost form. When Kanye and I wrote "Jesus Walks," we were not concerned with how many spins it would get on the radio or how many video plays it would get. We just knew it was good music based on real-life situations. While there will always be an artist who wants to drive the Hummer for a summer, I'm more intereseted in creating the theme music for life.
Check out my AOL Sessions performance of "Bullet."
Sincerely,
Rhymefest a/k/a El Che
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Comments
Dude...why do you make a point to mention "jesus Walks" on every goddam blog man...we KNOW you wrote that shit so its ok man...jeez dawg
You suck you suck as a preson , I hope you keep blogging because at least you wont be near a mic I agree with truth we know you co-wrote jesus walks stop bringing the shit up damn how long can you dwell on one single victory in hiphop!!!!!!!
look i got a homie that lives in Houston, and he said the niggas outhere are acting a fucking fool. Crime has risen 20% and he just had to go to jail for pulling a strap on a New Orleans fugee ghetto ass CashMoney/Nolimit Solider that grabbed his girls ass. So now "leader" whats your opinion on how niggas still act like niggas instead of black men? This our real problem. Black people, especially those in prominant positions, keep looking the other way but are paying no concern to how we are hurting ourselves but are quick as hell to cry racism when the system responds. And I hate to say it fellow Chicagian, but you on the same shit right now. There are plenty of Black people serving in the military for various reasons, but your note made it sound like that shit is the absolute worst thing possible. For all those who dissagree, selling Crack in your own community is the worst thing possible, but it is advertised on BET, MTV and your local radio station like its the thing to do.
And yeah you are right there is a revolution going on but we as Blacks dont have a hand in it. You can thank our undying support of the Democratic party. All hail Dr. Cosby. If you aint feeling me your a fucking idiot. Now get back to your "hooty hoo"
Quit hatin on my boy el che. on second thought, i guess if we were you all, then we would hate us too
Damn....I feel you big time on the blog, but I can't believe the haters on this site.still sittin in they mom's basement waiting on a "come up".
Yo Rhymefest,this my first time posting on a blog but I just copped the Blue Collar album and that shit is ill homie. Keep doin you man and fuk the haters,get yo paper.
Yeah, the Army has changed their recruiting tactics. Remember when they teamed with the Source magazine? I wouldn't be suprised if their Playstation game is somehow connected.
speak the truth...
nice way to put things in perspective fest. And to the nigga and any nigga complaining how our leaders are turning away from us needs to re-evaluate. Can you even name any of them? And why are black people still looking for damn leaders? Why can't we just do things on our own. Niggas have to be hand held and shit to get anywhere. Is that what you want as a man? Really I have much respect for our leaders out there. The only problem is that they have no influence over there own people. The only influence now a days is in entertainment. So those are the leaders we need to be angry with. That should be the focus point of our evolution/revolution. Overthrowing these clowns that influence our people on the day to day basis.
Any idea who wrote Jesus Walks? Real real though, Fest is dope... keep banging!!!!
Who the hell is Jesus Walks? What the hell is a Rhymefest?
OOOOOOH JE-SUS WALKS!! thats that song that Kany West wrote...sweet....so how i get my hands on one of dem hummers?!?! Do i need to sign up for the Rhymefest?
I gotta take a shit, so shut up....
Brand New Brand New!!!
Why does everyone hate on Rhyme? Ya'll don't like real emcees? Ya'll don't like creative music? The man wrote one of the biggest songs in recent history.. If I wrote that shit I'd be mentioning it three times in every blog.... fuckers.
As per your comments in the blog, that's fucked up fest! I wonder if the recruitment officers just sat in a room brainstorming on the easiest ways to distract youth into dying for a country that never gave them shit. They probably laughed at every dude that entered.
Thank God I live in Canada.
I think its funny that the people who bash on the internet account for about .016% of actual sales and prolly don't even buy the album. I didn't know they was using hummers now though??? Crazy!!!! I love this country but at the same time I don't agree with where they taking us but I can change myself and my family and that inturn will make a difference. Yo fest Devils Pie I think is my favorite join on the album
Fest, interesting fact for you. You are more likely to die in Philidelphia than Iraq as a soldier right now. Google it.
Rate of death in Iraq - 3.5%
Philly - 4.18%
fest your cd is bangin these idiots dont know sh** about real hip hop chicago stand the fu** up support or own fugg yal judas ass mofos and haters
adeleonlev says...
And why are black people still looking for damn leaders? Why can't we just do things on our own. Niggas have to be hand held and shit to get anywhere.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I understand what you're trying to say but that's oversimplifying it. Black people are human beings. Some people are leaders some are followers. Nas basically said the same thing on "Black Zombies" when he said "fuck Black leaders cause whites ain't got none leading them." WRONG!
White people have the President, The Congress, their teachers, principals, managers etc. leading them.
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rhymefest...you're ugly. you look retarded and stupid. no one will ever buy your recorrd. be a ghostwriter you pussy.
adelonev...... I really hope that comment wasnt for me when you posted : "And to the nigga and any nigga complaining how our leaders are turning away from us needs to re-evaluate"
Come. In the same post you stated that our the only people who have influence now are our entertainers. Well first off the reason why i initialy put "leader" in my post was because that like you Rhymefest stated the obviouse which is that today our entertainers are our leaders. Anyway to attempt to hold entertainers accountable as leaders is rediculas. Enetertainers are in business and only have a responsible to the recordcompany and its share holders. As far as us not having leaders is concerned that is another mistake. We do have leaders: ie..Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and to a lesser degree people like Russell Simons. If you do not feel they are leaders watch the news the next time there is a racially charged event and see who FOX, CNN, ABC, NBC, and CBS hand a mic to to voice their opinion. See who is staging rallies and meeting with local elected officials to voice there dissatisfaction with the current situation.
And also in no way am i looking for a leader or feel that we need one that isnt an elected offical. But i am deeply dissappointed in the position we as black people are in and i feel that looking to an entertainer (who is ultimately controled by a record company or distrubitor) is most likely not sutiable for any mass leadership possition. So the assumption just because all the youth knows an entertainer, and that entertainer has the ability to command their attention, doesnt and shouldnt make that entertainer a leader.
Oh and thanks for calling me nigga about 10 times in your post. And also thanks for ignoring the majority of my inital post which questioned our lack of self dissiple as a people. you ignored it just as jesse, al and russell do everytime they get the mic.
Again if you dont feel me eat a dick.
Fest, where u is festive nigga/I thought u had this blog shit down u restive nigga/are you sleep at the wheel/contemplating your deal/or you just plain aint that inventive nigga
^^^ Rapping on the internet is so cool... go to school little one. go to school.
My mans made a good point, white peoples leaders are there lawyers, engineers, politicians. In other words there leaders are mostly there family members. But if you think about it, there family members aren't all activist trying to play major rolls in there families life. no. They lead by influence. The leaders that my responder named (jesse the robot, al the clown, and russell the sell-out) have 0 influence over our people. People just can't relate to them. That's why our people gravitate towards the entertainers because we can relate to them. But do they give a damn. hell no. It's all about making that cash money. Therefore, our only solution is to work together as a people and not wait and sit around for some-one to hold our hands. It will only make us a stronger people if we could just learn to help each other individualy pull our selves up by the boot straps. Or else, our MLK's, booker t.'s, and du bois's will continue to be lil' wayne, young jeezy and TI. Let's not forget what hiphop is. hiphop reflects what's on the streets. It reflects and amplifies the filth that is on our peoples minds. Like MOS said "hiphop won't get better untill the people get better". Untill then we are living in a perpetuating cycle as black people.
UNCLE SHORTY GETS GRILLZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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YO, IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO SEE THE EXTREME LEVEL OF IGNORANCE ON LINE THESE DAYS. THEY SAY BLACKS DON'T READ, SO IT'S A WONDER THAT HALF OF YOU IDIOTS CAN ACTUALLY TYPE FULL SENTENCES, FILLED WITH NOTHING BUT IGNORANCE AND HATE TOWARDS ANOTHER BLACK MAN WHO'S ESTABLISHED IN THE GAME AND JUST TRYING TO FEED HIS FAMILY. IF "DA MAN" WANTED TO KEEP AN UPDATED LOG AS TO WHO'S WINNING OR MAKING STRIDES IN THE RACE CATEGORIES, HE NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN ONLINE IN EVERY BLOG RELATED TO HIP-HOP, SNEAKERS, CARS, ETC., THE BLACK MAN'S TREASURES!
FEST, KEEP DOIN YA THANG FAM, FROM ONE GO-REALLA TO ANOTHER. AT LEAST YOU DO HAVE YOUR OWN BLOGS ON ONE OF THE BEST HIP-HOP SITES ONLINE. THESE OTHER FOOLS ARE MERELY DREAM KILLERS! BTW, THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATIONAL JOINT "JESUS WALKS". IT GOES TO SHOW YOU CAN STILL MAKE HITS WITHOUT SACRIFICING YOUR CHARACTER OR DEMEANING YOUR OWN PEOPLE. CHI-CITY, ROCK, ROCK ON!!!!
LOL @ Rhymefest bringing up Jesus Walks for the millionth time...hahaa
I GUARANTEE THAT HAD YOU SIGNED TO KANYE'S G.O.O.D. MUSIC LABEL, YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN SOLID BEATS AND PRODUCTION AND NOT THE RAT BULLSHIT ON YOUR DEBUT, AND YOU WOULDA SOLD AT LEAST 500,000. NOW YOU'D GET A BONER IF YOU BROKE 50,000.
*LMAO* 'Fest is trying to make a valid point and have an intelligent discussion, but ya'll cats are dissin the hell outta him for no reason.
adeleonlev -
Yeah that was me that made that point. I forgot to type my name. I feel you and definitely on those leaders dude tried to mention. A good rule of thumb is any so-called Black leader that major networks will put on TV is phony is not a real leader or a threat to the "powers that be". When was the last time Farrakhan was on a TV network being asked about a relevant topic?
We have to pull ourselves up, be we do need leaders to do it. Some of us in this crack generation have been so decimated by the war that was raged on our mothers and fathers' generation (COINTELPRO, crack, "war on drugs" etc.) that some of us have been left to need guidance to become men and women. It's time for this new generation that came from hip-hop to step onto the frontline.
Why it gotta be a issue that 'Fest brung up the "Jesus Walks". That song got crazy spins, won the BET Video of the Year and BET Best Gospel song when it dropped. And for those who wanna feel like, "....so, that aint a Grammy...." STFU!!!! BET is OUR channel so when a song come out that aint about shakin ya ass or some rented ass whip on dubs+ and that joint is cleverly thrown together, why not talk about it???? Let's get off of sales and sashing 'Fest for dumb shit and get back to the point of the blog...... The government (George W. and friends) have taken in to account how hip-hop and big cars have corrupted the minds of the minorities of America and are taken full advantage of that. That's prime example of how commercial hip-hop has gotten. Back in the golden era (yeah, I'm a 80s baby), I can't remember even ONE instance where politicians had so much to do with hip-hop. Now, it's: a young, black dude walking along and stops to enter a sweepstakes to win something and BOOM, cats is jumping out trying to sign 'em up and send that nigga overseas. Y'all smart-dumb cats need to wake the FUCK up before you end up fighting in another stupid, pointless war all because you wanted a "free Hummer". Don't be afraid to be smart.....
ONE hunnit
Yo I got Blue Collar, one of only a few albums I have copped all year, check my blog out Fest and all ya'll, I dont post anything meaningful but its usually good for a laugh
I feel the intelligence in your insite homie. Keep schoolin these youngstas....they lost right now....and just like the kids they are, they rebel against the real....
I've been bumpin your cd for a couple of weeks and I like quite a few tracks but on the real, I was expecting some Dead Prez type shyt given the angle that was taken in your promotions.
Just flow dog, all the statements about what's currently in rap and what this and that cat is rappin about ain't really necessary....the cream will rise to the top
You're lyrically agile and your concepts are well thought out....but the grit on Chicago-rillas is what I expected from Chitown artist. I have 2/3 of my fam in the Chi and it's good to hear the Chi life comin out the speakers
keep bangin homie
man Rhyme, the whole point of a blog like this is to obtain responses from readers and also respond through verbal interaction dawg...DEFEND YOURSELF FOOL
To Truth 24/7 - I don't think Fest needs to defend himself to any of these ignorant fools. They need to learn how how to read and comprehend the message. Idiots, they are all idiots. Yeah, and if I was the one who got a Grammy for "Jesus Walk" I too would mentioned it every chance I get. Envy is a BITCH!!!!!! Keep up the good work Fest and keep grinding.
these responses show whats wrong with black people today. one of us made it and the rest of yall hate on him instead of being happy for the dude. Especially while he stays on this site trying to school yall about whats really going on. It doesnt matter though, yall are the same ones thatll fall for the sign up for the army to get a hummer trick anyways.
Niggas in NY had Zulu Nations and NGE and them niggas blew up Crippin and Bloodin. Go figure a nigger we are out of here see yall niggas on the next plane.
Peace
Yer feckin boring me
You tryna join???Dipset needs some of that deep thinkn.
Holla bac.Killa!
Ps.Ballllllln!
They say you can talk about anything except for JEEZUS WALKS
That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes
But if I talk about JEEZUS WALKS my Blog will get hate Huh?
LMAO.Rhymefest you crack me up!!!U neva was neva-was!!! I live @ my parents home and I'm clowning on you. bwhwhahahamuahahhahaha!
Fest, them is haters on these boards. I dug the entry.
wow thats a incredible story... what a deviant ploy to get you to join the army...
To "Watchin yall in Beijing says... "
You stupid...... New Orleans is like the size of one neiborhood in houston. How we gonna rise crime up like 20%. Not everybody was a criminal out of new orleans. VERY BOLD STATEMENT TO SAY WHILE HIDING BEHIND A SCREEN NAME!!
Wow pretty defensive there homie. Where on my post did i say that everyone who is an evacuee is a criminal? But on the other hand crime has risen by 20% in Houston since the influx of the evacuees. Period. Go to CNN run a search and check for yourself. Plus its not that hard to figure if you have a couple thousand motherfuckers who wasnt doing shit for themselves in New Orleans and have to get carried to Houston what are they going to do there? Again not every evacuee but if a motherfucker is a piece of shit thug in New Orleans he is going to be a piece of shit thug in Houston. Lets not for get New Orleans was Americas Murder Capital, and that crime was overwhelmingly black on black. So what other type of motherfucker is still going to be in Houston damn near a year after Katrina. Instead of being upset with me be upset with niggas for not preparing and being able to take care of themselves. American history teaches us not to expect much from this government. So therefore i dont feel sorry for any of the coons who havent learned the lesson yet.
And who is hiding behind a screen name. Everyone on this motherfucker uses a screen name. but here homie this is my email. phobia12003@yahoo.com.
If any of you dont feel me eat a dick or go beg the government for more foodstamps.
Okay, let's look at this for a second. I have to say I agree with "Watching Yall in Beijing," "Adeleonlev," and "Enlightened" or the things they say. They seem to be the only people on here who even addressed the issue. So what if Fest talks about "Jesus walks," that wasn't even the point he was trying to make, but that's what most of you got, which again shows an example of part of the problem. I can't understand why even come here to post comments if you're not going to contribute to the solution? It's not so much as "the man" is holding us down, it's US! We can't even come here and talk like civilized humans without a ton of foul language and threats. You think that it's hard for people to point the finger at us as black people when we do the things we do? At what point do what hold ourselves responsible for our own actions?
I saw a video the other day on the net called "The Fried Chicken Song." I'm sure most of you have seen it, and most of you probably found it amusing. I was disgusted! It was coonism at its finest, complete with stereotypes and everything we work so hard to get away from, a modern day minstrel show (and I can only HOPE that half of you even know what a minstrel show is, if not, you have my permission to be offended) You wonder why they're laughing at us when we do these things. Have you ever heard of pop singers getting on songs discrediting other pop singers? What about country music stars getting in shoot outs after performances? We're our on poison, our own epedemic. We have become victims not of society, but of...us!
Honestly, I don't care for a lot of our artists today. I don't care for Kanye, Ying Yang, Chingy, a lot more. But at the end of the day, I have to accept them, after all, these are STILL my brothers. Fest I say big ups to you for enduring the negativite feedback you get, at least you're taking the time to listen
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Who in the hell is these D-Line people that is all over the internet?
Anybody got some info on these dudes?
Chris just google or yahoo D-Line Entertainment. It's not hard to find out about somebody in this day and time.
I have personally met Lamefest on several occasions and he is a VERY VERY VERY ARROGANT motha fucka.......he comes across as being humble an shit - but he ain't, he's extremely stuck up. I think thats lame considering his career just started, and he already acting a fool??? What up with that?!?! You shit aint that hot lamefest!! Also, he fucked one of my stripper friends and gave here herpes - i ain't lieing, im so for real. She had to go to the hospital and shit - and is considering a lawsuit! Take that Lamefest!!! Your career is over!