Uptown XO - Petey Greene (feat. AB The Pro) [Music Video]

Murs & Fashawn "This Generation" feat. Adrian [Music Video]

Cool. How often do you hear emcees going back and forth on a record these days. A hiphop track and video with crossover appeal. Nice!

iAreConscious - Amen (Scratch) R.I.P. Sherman Hemsley

Ab-Soul "Terrorist Threats" ft. Danny Brown & Jhene Aiko

Ab-Soul - Turn Me Up (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

@PiKaHsSo THANK U2 PiDEO (Entire W.O.T. Version)

Thank you again PiKaHsSo for including us in your massive song of thank you shouts. Means a whole lot.

Eric Roberson - Male Ego feat Hezekiah

Speed dating. You see it on television and in movies. I do believe it does exist but I've never witnessed it in person. A few years back though I did build a site (Cocoa Singles) for some short lived project an acquaintance of mine developed and abandoned. Anyway, ego is definitely a big part of the problem with both men and women when it comes to relationships and in life in general. Cute video. Don't let your ego ruin the possibility of something great.

True 2 Life Music - Daily Math

Well someone studied the most effective way to keep eyes glued to a screen to watch an entire video. Now I have to download the song, I must admit I didn't capture anything being said the first go around.

Franz K - The Resurrection

Suspenseful indeed but what I hoped for did not come to pass. I thought perhaps we'd see at least one female at some point. Alas we didn't. But there was a doll in the dumpster. Surely I'm missing the depth of this song and video but I gottah be honest I wasn't so thrilled with all the shirtless dudes that looked alike walking around like zombies.

On Monday I was harassed by NYPD (@TahPhrumDuhBush

You've seen him on FreeHiphopNow before. He's one of Brooklyn's most creative artists when it comes to self-promotion. Today though we share with you his words and some video from a confrontation he experienced recently at a train station in Flatbush only a few blocks away from his home.



Peace y'all... Monday September 10th was a bit disturbing. In the last 6 months I have been harassed by the police in my neighborhood more  than I have been harassed since I was harassed by bullies in grade school...


Someone sent me a video of the most recent incident. I also have video of part of what transpired beforehand... I will put that up soon.


A description from my point of view is below.

I got off the train at Church Ave to go home. The police were all running on the platform. When I get upstairs there were approximately 20-30, literally 20-30 officers on top of one Black male, mashing his face into the ground and holding him down. So I pull out my camera phone and record until they drag the guy out of the place. The police are telling people to keep it moving. So this one officer, (Stines) looks at me and says something to the effect of "yeah, what are you looking at with your damn video camera". He and other officers and several other people go through the turnstiles and the open emergency exit gate to leave. I follow to go through the emergency exit and he tells me to go around. I ask why and he points to the sign that says "emergency exit" and says, "Do you see this? Can you read?" So I go around and walk through the turnstile.

He turns around and looks at me and I shake my head and said "This guy". He races back over and says, "What did you say?" I said, "I said 'this guy.'" He then says, “I should give you a ticket for walking through the emergency exit”. I said, “but I went around as you instructed, it seems like you just want to find something to hang on me.” He told me that it is illegal to walk through an emergency exit in a non-emergent situation. I said that “30 cops were in a mêlée with one person, that seems like an emergency to me, besides I walked through the turnstile as requested”. 

So he comes over and says let me see your ID. I said for what? He pokes me in the chest and asks me what is my problem. I asked him why he is touching me. He says get out of here before you get locked up. So I sucked my teeth. He then says "your asking to get locked up" I asked, "Am I being detained?" He says “Oh you want to be detained huh?” and pulls out his handcuffs and starts reaching to grab my wrist. So I ask, "What are you detaining me for?" and then I yelled "Cameras out!" and a bunch of people in the train station started to film.

So the cuffs disappeared but a swarm of cops came inside and surrounded me. I said "Now you're surrounding me like a gang, this is ridiculous" Stine says something like "yeah we're a gang" (don't quote me on that one exactly but it was close). 

So he says give me your ID again I ask for what and he says I'm getting a summons. I ask for what... he pauses for a few seconds and thinks and then says "for disorderly conduct" I asked “are you serious?”

I asked the other cops if they thought I was disorderly and they all looked at the ground because I guess they didn't want to go against this guy. But they didn’t answer me. After a while I was speaking to the other cops who were actually level headed didn't want to have conflict with the other cop, they were like “why didn't you just go home? This guy has been on the force over 20 years and he's burnt out it’s not going to be a good look for you”. 

The cop took my ID and left the building, I was very upset at this point and as I was explaining the situation to the other officers that were surrounding me one of the officers said, “you are speaking really loud and it is causing a lot of tension so please bring it down a little I know you are upset but this is just going to make it worse.” So I did.

The other cops told me it is best if I just don't say anything to him. Then officer Stines comes over with the summons and my ID and says, "I hope you have a good night", I’ll see you in court on December 6^th, and asked me if I had any questions for him. I opted not to answer him as the other officers counseled me to do and he left.

I filed a report with the Civilian Complaint Review Board. 

You know what? 

Fuck the Police...

Comin' straight from the underground...

Jordan Knoxx - Big Dream (@JordanKnoxx)

I almost expect to hear Jay Z's voice over this soul interpolation with it's vibe reminiscent of the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - I Miss You sample used on This Can't Be Life. The track is a lil less up-beat as the previously mentioned. It's more something you'd expect to hear on the Based God's two thousandth mixtape. Jordan Knoxx pours heart over the music, especially throughout the second verse her passion building to a head then slows to a gradual halt as if exhausted from the release. Nothing left to offer but the beat as it rides out.

Denzil Porter - On The Plains

Cruising Youtube and perusing Denzil Porter's channel (youngfizzle) I came across this vid. This one of a handful I started and stopped I watched all the way through. I can relate to it. What you known about White Plains road folk?! Personally I know some things. I can take it far as MT. Vernon and the border of New Rochelle. Yeah I dig this one. Tuesdays and Thursdays, are sweeps days. What yall know about that? Gottah love nearly all of the characters rhyming in this well organized piece of video work. The Bronx once again well represented. Don't sleep.

Dee-1 - Never Clockin Out (Remix) ft. Killer Mike (prod by DJ FU)

Would like to see Dee-1 in the spotlight where Lil Wayne is. Dee-1's devotion to the people is authentic. Comes from a real place. I met the man, he puts that righteous vibe out. And of course he raps well.

Christian x Muslim - @JasonChuMusic

I definitely would have never come up with this concept and formula for delivery.

Written, recorded, performed by jason chu (@JasonChuMusic) and Rah Zemos.

Homeboy Sandman: FOUNDATION Pt. 2

Breadman - Disabled (@itsbreadman)

Was led to the video "Disabled" after stopping Breadman's newest video, "Its on" mid-way through. Yeah wasn't feeling it. It was kinda the same ol' and in my honest opinion wasn't even average or good same ol' rap. But this one right here while not exactly spectacular, it's actually real. Shows Breadman being honest and sharing a message of empowerment, one that will stay in the thoughts of the viewer much longer I assume than the other. Yeah and the vocals being out of synch a bit in portions of the video is forgivable.

BX 12(Bus Ride) - Max Burgundy

Entire video shot with mobile phone.

Gensu Dean - Alice In Wonderland (feat. David Banner)

Uptown XO - "OCCUPY DC"

Creative. And well put together. But do you get it?

Mysterious Business (feat. Sleepy Will & Kamikaze)

Three emcees, three verses. Simple and to the point. What do you think about this song?

50 Cent Discusses Lupe and Chief Keef

Never-mind what the nasty old lady is talking about, was close to not posting this because of it but 50 Cent has an interesting and valid take on the situation.

Brother Ali - Only Life I Know

Brother Ali speaks for the down trodden and oppressed who unfortunately happen to make up a sizable portion of the citizens that live in America, one of the globes riches nations mind you. How do you like that? A story far of us know too well, depicted visually in high contrast but even still desaturated fashion. This song and video are proof that Hiphop is still the CNN of the streets. Don't let anyone tell you any different.

Oddisee "Let It Go Live" (Live)

Oddisee with live band performing "Let It Go" from his album, "People Hear What They See" out now on iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/people-hear-what-they-see/id516330937

Sidewalk Kal, John Robinson & Invizible Handz - ASTRO

Sidewalk Kal, John Robinson & Invizible Handz take it to the cosmos will standing with feet planted on solid ground. Cool collaboration. Three emcees honestly spit their truths.

Lord Jamar - The Kid Magic Freestyle (Art of Rap Soundtrack)

The soundtrack to the highly acclaimed film, Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap is now available on CD and Vinyl. The 23-song set features classic and new freestyles from rap juggernauts including the film's executive producer Ice-T, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, MC Lyte, Q-Tip and more. Get into this venomous freestyle from Grandmaster Melle Mel on why he's a true leader of the Hip Hop movement.

Order CD (Available In Stores and Online): http://amzn.to/NqPWHr

Order Vinyl: http://amzn.to/OAvfvn

EARLY - TIMELESS produced by One Eyed Kings

If you were to close your eyes, your ears might capture the possible influences of Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent and Kanye; but you're supposed to watch videos. Eyes open you now see Early positioned in quasi Spike Lee Joint color and motion during this video for Timeless. With lyrics based on a true story, I'm sure that there a number of artists making their strides through modern Hiphop's treacherous terrain that can relate to and hopefully appreciate every word delivered in this song.

First Single from Early's High Noon. Directed by @Hightopbully

Soulful! - Cruise Control

Smooth.

Yasiin Bey X Mannie Fresh: OMFGOD

Nothing to say but wait... for it... http://www.omfgodbknola.com/

Youth (Gang) Violence, Black & Brown Power and Generational Oppression

M.C. K~Swift (Universal Zulu Nation/ New Rap Order)

This is About the Black Ghettoes of the USA

            

I’m writing this in the wake of the murder of Chicago rapper, Joseph Coleman aka Lil Jo Jo. I’m not going to go into the details of his murder, nor the circumstances surrounding it too much. I will say that there is an important intersection between youth (gang related) violence and the hyper-masculine values set that contemporary rap music underscores. As a Hip-Hop educator who works primarily with crime-affected youth, these are things I think about often. However, what I see in both the mainstream and independent media fail to analyze this problem from a socio-political perspective. It seems that they would paint the rash of violence of recent years among youth as a sudden, inexplicable phenomenon. I have a problem with that.

            

The streets of Chicago are on fire right now. In the summer of 2012, murders rose 60% from the previous year. Over Memorial Day weekend, 40 people were shot. I remember hearing that 9 people were killed over Labor Day weekend in Chicago. The vast majority of these shootings are youth-on-youth. Two questions jump into my mind; why are we killing each other and where are they guns coming from?

Why Are We Killing Each Other?

            

In neighborhoods plagued by violence, it’s clear that people are wanting for conflict resolution skills. I remember growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn and being taught by my peer group that if someone spoke to you disrespectfully, the proper response was to punch that person in the mouth. It isn’t hard to see how this same train of thought can escalate to gun violence, especially when life isn’t valued. Young people are seemingly desensitized to death, and consumed with their own immediate material satisfaction. Major factors in this are bloody video games, gun-fueled action movies, and hedonistic American dreams that are sold through television and music. We’re taught that life is generally invaluable, and that if anyone’s life has value, it is strictly our own.

“Those in the community who defy authority and ‘break the law’ seem to enjoy the good life and have everything in the way of material possessions. On the other hand, people who work hard and struggle and suffer much are the victims of greed and indifference, losers. This insane reversal of values presses heavily on the Black community. These causes originate from outside and are imposed by a system that ruthlessly seeks its own rewards, no matter what the cost in wrecked human lives.”

            - Huey P. Newton Revolutionary Suicide

            

We are living in a unique time. The crack era ushered in access to riches in ways unimagined to impoverished people in the USA. This introduced a generation gap. Teenagers could become the breadwinners of their families, sometimes losing respect for the adults who struggled to make ends meet. The millions of dollars in street money also brought in higher-powered weaponry. But this is the picture of the 80’s and 90’s. What’s happened in the last 20 years to produce a generation of children that are armed to kill and ready to die? My gut tells me that the corporate hijacking of Hip Hop music has a lot to do with it. I am convinced that there is an agenda to keep the masses poor and downtrodden, and racism is a primary weapon to this end. There is a subplot to oppress Black & Brown people (the Original Indigenous People of the Earth), specifically. Arts are universal languages. They convey messages of intellectual and emotional qualities beyond light speed. It only makes sense that the elite would take control of an art form that was born to liberate the people.

            

I hear rappers talking about popping pills, sipping lean and murdering their enemies (or having “shooters” do it). These messages come down non-stop over rhythms that are hypnotic and undeniable. I almost found myself singing along to these songs more than a few times. I was definitely bouncing to the beats. I believe it is KRS-ONE who talks about Hip-Hop music containing an automatic affirmative via the head nod. Furthermore, there’s something in this music that feels energetic and warlike. These are things that are embedded in the animalistic parts of the human psyche, and reinforced by the machismo that US imperialism was built on. What’s more “American” than standing with your soldiers, taking what you want, and getting rid of anyone that stands in between you and wealth? That’s what Manifest Destiny is all about. This is the backdrop to the worship of the Almighty Dollar.

            

People want power. Truly, the power to determine one’s own life is a baseline desire, maybe a need. However, we’re largely taught that real power is power over others. We don’t yet know how to (or even see a need to) dismantle the power structure; we only want to occupy its positions. We have neither a true concept of community, nor the resources to build it. For instance, cities cannot function or thrive without food sources. Many neighborhoods in Black ghettoes are food deserts. We don’t eat right, so how can we think right? Furthermore, our schools are poor, and don’t relate to our collective circumstance. We don’t have the proper fuel. Those of us who are more right-minded have to compete with the mass medias reinforcement of shallow, individualistic mentalities that solidify large-scale hopelessness.

            

There’s also a perversion of what (Black) Power means. I hear a lot of people use Malcolm’s phrase, “Any Means Necessary” as a justification for being a terrorist to one’s own community. This is nonsense. In the instances he used this phrase, he spoke of respect, freedom, justice, equality, freedom and human rights. He wasn’t talking about mere survival, and he certainly wasn’t talking about individual success without regard for others. Unfortunately, our people are caught up in pursuing the American Dream. To quote Method Man and the Notorious B.I.G., “fuck the world, don’t ask me for shit, ‘cuz everything you get you got to work hard for it.” That’s how this society makes us think.

            

The devaluation of Black life is paramount here. Even the word Black connotes degradation. The Black is Beautiful movement has pretty much come and gone. The assaults of White Supremacy are non-stop. TV, movies, magazines, literature, history textbooks, advertising et c. constantly remind us that to be Black is the worst of the worst. Black has become a synonym for “ghetto,” which has been incorrectly redefined as impoverished by one’s own fault for being lazy, stupid, dirty and unworthy. Still, I write from a self-affirmed ghetto perspective because I know what the ghetto is. It is a prison. It is where undesirables are economically quarantined. It is what the USA wants to sweep under the rug. There is far more to Blackness than the ghetto, but until there are no more Black ghettoes in the USA, I have to fight.

           

I work with youth who are in alternative sentencing programs, who are homeless, and who have incarcerated parents. I am in close contact with some of the most vulnerable youth in New York City and they are almost exclusively Black and Latino (identities that frequently overlap). We already know that there are cavernous gaps in education and employment along racial lines. All of these factors negatively impact self-worth in communities of color. So if the world-at-large tells you you’re worthless, and the environment you live in offers little to no opportunity to counter that assessment, you embrace it. Combine that with socio-economic factors that often leave a child to fend for him/herself, and this condition is exacerbated. Black boys and girls do not get to live as children. The boys are viewed as menaces and the girls are objectified. All of our children are sexualized prematurely. This easily leads to them being characterized as thugs, whores and misfits, deserving of mass incarceration. Quite naturally, this mischaracterization sticks through adulthood. The problem is, we believe that this is who we are, and we don’t actually like it. We want it to stop. We are collectively suicidal. This frustration is built up in the ghetto and does not know how to effectively strike out against the oppressive system, so the anger and disappointment are aimed inwardly.

Where Are the Guns Coming From?

            

My guess is the CIA… like the Columbian cocaine that flooded the hood during the Iran-Contra Affair. If you watch the music videos coming out of Chicago, you’ll see that the young people who are gang affiliated are being supplied with an arsenal of weaponry that is flat out scary. Furthermore, this is overseen by older people who do not cherish the youth, and choose to exploit them. So where the guns are coming from is not that important to me. The answer I’m searching for is how to keep our children from turning those guns against themselves. Fratricide is a sickness. I’m only detailing the problems, so that the solutions can be put together effectively.

Peace.

http://mckswift.tumblr.com/post/31109147202/youth-gang-violence-black-brown-power-and

It’s bigger than Hip Hop. By Wanja

This week a 16 year old boy in Chicago was shot and killed. Because of some online “rap beef” he had with someone affiliated with rapper Chief Keef.

This child was shot 17 times. And not only that, but his murderer and their whole crew and followers made cruel fun of his death. “Jo Jo was 16.He got hit 17 times so dats a bullet fa each year he was on dis earth plus da 17th 1 which was at his forehead, rest in piss”

Chief Keef himself tweeted this: “HahahahahhahahahahahahahaahhAAHAHAHAHA #RichNiggaShit Its Sad Cuz Dat Nigga Jojo Wanted To Be Jus Like Us #LMAO”

 Chief Keef just signed a major deal with Interscope. This is a person who, whether you like it or not, is the face of hip hop to the public. THIS is what outsiders affiliate with our culture, with our love. I’m not in the US but I bet on TV they say that someone got killed over rap beef.

And all those parents out there get scared of it.

Hip Hop saved my life. And now, it killed a child. A 16 year old, who hasn’t lived a life, who doesn’t know anything. By another child. Our children are KILLING each other because of rappers like Chief Keef. Because of a media & industry that chooses to promote Rap music that glorifies violence, ignorance, disrespect, drugs, miseducation.

This hurts me. This hurts my soul so much. Hip Hop saved my life.

And now it is being slandered and misused and manipulated and abused by money hungry people with power.

Many years ago I wrote a blog post stating that I believed the industry and government were pushing this type of rap music to make african americans look bad. To keep them down. This was when songs like “Chicken Noodle Soup” were popular. Intelligent rappers rarely make it on TV. And white people see the “Chicken Noodle Soup” image, the Waka Floka image. And they think that’s what african americans are.

My granddad (German) asked me a long time ago what my job was, I told him “Hip Hop”. He asked “Is that where they wear those pants that fall to the floor?”.

These are the images that are portrayed to outsiders.

But I could live with that.

What I can’t live with, is our children being manipulated into believing that killing another human being is normal, that drugs and disrespecting women is normal, even expected.

Hip Hop doesn’t want this. WE don’t want this. Rappers like Chief Keef are puppets. They are like actors, putting on a show. Like actors in a commercial promoting a product to the ones that are most easily influenced.

A kid won’t go online and dig for good music. Most likely they will listen to what’s served to them, on TV, radio etc. Yet music is one of the biggest influences on their lives and minds.

About a year ago I read an open letter by an anonymous source, claiming they were involved in a meeting in the 90s, of the music industry’s greatest influencers. At this meeting it was supposedly discussed how they were to push “gangsta rap” (like 50 Cent who was coming up at the time), in order to increase the incarceration rate of privately owned prisons. Because that is a huge market, with a lot of potential money to be made.

Obviously there was a lot more to this story, but it made so much sense to me, it was shocking. And then today, Rhymefest said this in response to the recent events:

“Chief Keef is a “Bomb”, he represents the senseless savagery that white people see when the news speaks of Chicago violence. A Bomb has no responsibility or blame, it does what it was created to do; DESTROY! Notice, no one is talking about the real culprits, the Bomb maker or the pilot who is deploying this deadly force (Labels, Radio Stations). Its easier to blame the bomb. Bombs are not chosen for their individual talents, they are tools used for collateral damage.

To think of the persona of Chief Keef as a person would be the first mistake, he will more then likely come and go without us knowing much of anything about his personal pains, struggles, great loves and ambitions beyond rap. He is a spokesman for the Prison Industrial Complex. Every corporation is expected to grow at least 4% each quarter, many prisons are privately owned with stock being traded on the open market.

If these corporations were to do commercials, jingles and promotions who would they hire? You got it, most of the main stream rappers we salivate over like Rick Ross the former correctional officer turned Drug Lord Boss rapper. Waka Flocka Flame gang bang “GO HARD IN THE PAINT” and Chief Keef the newest lottery pick in the “Get paid to destroy young minds, like we destroyed yours” Sweepstakes.”

And then I had to think of the story about that meeting again. This makes so much sense and is so scary. But also I think it should serve as a wake up call. To all of us who appreciate and love Hip Hop culture.
Are we going to let Hip Hop be used like this? Are we going to let our children be made into what we don’t want them to be?

I don’t want this for Hip Hop or anyone’s child. We need change. We NEED change!
And it needs to start with the kids. We can’t let our children be exposed to this music anymore. And we need to educate them about REAL music. About positivity. It is our responsibility to make a positive impact on the next generation!

Artists who make good music, that the radio is turning down, get it to these kids yourself! Don’t give up. Turn the radio off and say F*** em! Educate our children. Educate the adults if they don’t know better. Take good Hip Hop to the schools, invite kids for work shops, buy good music for your kids and make sure that’s what’s in their iPods.

The music a child, a teenager listens to is to the mind what the food is to the body. Letting them listen to this bullish** is like feeding them McDonalds every day.
Don’t let their minds starve.

I hope that this can make an impact on somebody. Even if it’s just one person.
Please share this with someone. Let this be the start to a revolution. Let us tell them that we are not gonna take this sh** anymore. Who are they to think that they can do this to us and our children, to our culture??

They don’t run this!

WE DO!

"Meet Me In Brazil" - Maimouna Youssef (Dir. Brian Kyle Atkins)

Yeah. I can dig it. Change of pace right. Always a good thing.

@STARPOWER "I WISH I HAD DRAKES PROBLEMS"

Yeah I definitely don't have Drake's problems... Someone actually articulated it in a song.