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My Hip Hop
2008-03-09 18:01:20
So, I am enrolled in my school's first Hip Hop Culture class. I really like the course calendar, the text (Hip Hip Matters: Politics, Pop Culture, and the Struggle for the Soul of a Movement By: S. Craig Watikin), readings and the make up of the class. It is really diverse. Within the first week, we already had an assignment. It was called "My Hip Hop." The directions were the following: "Students are asked to consider their relationship, thoughts, and ideas about hip hop culture. The assignment is two-fold. First, students will present a visual image, film clip, television clip, or website that extends or challenges course themes. Students have five-minutes to present their chosen material and to discuss why they selected this representation. Second, students need to hand-in a one single-


Hip Hop Class Discussion: Graffiti
2008-03-09 00:12:29
In the class, students are put into groups to lead discussions on various things like the elements of Hip Hop Culture. A few weeks ago, the class had a discuss on Graffiti . I did not know much about it. I liked the discussion. I learned a lot about this element that day. It wasn't until recently that I felt that I should share some of the materials from the discussion with all of you. I also found some info outside of the discussion. Enjoy. Shout out goes to the group who put this discussion on.Here is a video about a place in my hometown, New York City. This is what I call great art.Great stuff right? Well, there is always a bad side to everything good.This is a great documentary on Graffiti called Style Wars. R.I.P. Tony SilverHe speaks about Style Wars and more.Here is some more info:
Read more: Discussion

Chuck D Interview
2008-02-12 11:19:36
Well after months of a lot of drama and confusion, I got the video. :-)I really want to thank SkidTV for all of their help. I also thank Chuck D for giving me the chance to interview him.I am glad to share this interview with all of you. Chuck D is a very wise man. I hope all of you get sometime out of this.As promised, my interview with Chuck D. Enjoy!!!


Mixtape Spotlight: HaVic
2008-02-07 00:48:06
This is the post where I showcase a mixtape I just release. Wreaking HaVic Vol. 1 features HaVic, a Rapper from the Dominican Republic. This is his first mixtape. I am glad to have the opportunity to get involved with this mixtape. I am really happy with how it turned out. The stand out tracks are: "Robbery Part 1" and "Born to Win." I really enjoy the whole mixtape. HaVic knows how to pick beats and other Rappers to do tracks with. Listen to and download this FREE mixtape below:Check out the rest of my FREE mixtapes:
Read more: Mixtape , Spotlight

Internet/College Radio Vs. Commercial Radio
2007-12-29 21:56:36
Internet, college and commercial radio are very powerful tools that can make or break an artist. When I was going up, I use to listen to commercial radio a lot. Hot 97 in my hometown, New York City, was the station. Power 105 came into my sight in high school. I discovered internet and college radio when I came to college. Commercial radio is not what it used to be. Internet and college radio is the way to go for listeners, artists and labels.When I came back to New York City for this past Christmas, I tuned to Hot 97 then Power 105 on my iPod. I heard some of the same records over and over. I also heard singles from three years ago. I started to wonder: why artists like Lupe Fiasco and Saigon are not being played? Why only singles are being played?Hot 97 claims to be the place "where Hip
Read more: College , Internet , Radio

Hip Hop Is Dead?
2007-11-16 23:51:05
On May 18, 2006, NaS announced the title of his next album after a performance. The album was called Hip Hop Is Dead. It was not set to be released until December 19th, 2006, but it started a big uproar. At first, I did not have an opinion on the issue. I was on an online forum that is about Hip Hop. The people on the forum talked about it a lot over the summer. I stayed away from those threads. I did not hear much about it in New York City. When I arrived at Skidmore in the Fall of 2006, I started to research interviews and anything related to NaS on the subject Hip Hop is dead. I do not agree with the idea that Hip Hop is dead, but I do agree with NaS’ message in his album. A lot of people mistake Hip Hop for Rap. The media is an example of this. KRS-One said it best, "Rap is somethin


Hip Hop Class Discussion: The DJ
2008-03-12 21:31:32
This post is for Scratch Magazine. Let us all hope it comes back better than ever. In class last week, we discussed DJing. Back when Hip Hop first started, the DJ was the one who people favored the most. He or she was the main headliner for shows. The DJs introduced MCs to the world at parties. DJs would play a record while MCs keep the crowd engaged with vocals. The MC was the DJ's hypeman. Today, The DJ is pushed to the background and the MC takes center stage. The group leading the discussion reminded me how important the DJ was and still is today. Shout out goes to the group. Just like the post before, here are materials from the discussion and some materials I found. Enjoy.Herbie Hancock, Grandmaster DST (scratch) and Bill Laswell (production) - Rock It LIVEThis song and performance i
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Interview about Hip Hop Alliance
2008-03-25 16:17:36
There is no discussion in the Hip Hop Culture class this week, but the Vice President of Hip Hop Alliance Mike Thomas and I (President) did an interview last week about our club and Hip Hop in general on WSPN 91.1fm Skidmore College Radio in Saratoga Springs, New York. The interview was done by Peter Brock. Shout out to him for giving us the chance to be on his show. All of you should check out Peter's documentary on Sierra Leone at is the interview. Enjoy.


Hip Hop Class Discussion: Breakdance
2008-04-05 19:26:26
This week's discussion was on Breakdancing. I have seen Breakdancing before, but not on the level that I have this past week. I was really amazed by what I have seen. Today, Breakdancing has been forgotten, but it has evolved over the years. MTV'S America's Best Dance Crew is proof of that. Even on that show, you can see that some dancers keep Breakdance alive by showing off the old school moves. Some old school crews still do their thing today like the Rock Steady Crew. Shout out to the group who led the discussion for showing me some amazing things. Below are materials from the discussion and some materials I found. Enjoy.The movie Beat Street's Subway BattleBeat Street Battle with New York City BreakersBattle of the Year Greatest HitsThe Freshest KidsThe freshest kids part1Uploaded by S
Read more: Discussion , Hip Hop

Sampling in Hip Hop Part 2: Revealing the Source, Keep it on the Low
2008-04-11 13:02:46
Nick Cicero guest blogs for us again. He has decided to make it a two part series instead of a three part series. He has a blog now. Check it out at Read part 1 of this series at -in-hip-hop-part-1-samplings.html. Enjoy. Thank you, Nick.-DJ Daddy MackSampling in Hip Hop Part 2: Revealing the Source : Keep it on the LowA Hip Hop On My Mind 2 Part Series In Part 1, I left off discussing sampling’s history and legal status. Now we move into sampling today. Like I mentioned before, current producers have expressed concerns that sample sets posted on forums are hurting the game. Personally, I agree. As a producer myself, I would admit that for the most part I don’t want my samples revealed. The most recent producer that has spoken out is Madlib. Apparently, ‘Lib found blogger Kevin Nottin


Mickey Factz Interview
2008-04-15 17:37:09
This past Thursday (April 10, 2008), I had the opportunity to interview Mickey Factz on my radio show. I believe that he is the future. Don't sleep on him. He is bring something new to the table. He makes me believe that Hip Hop IS STILL alive. Lil' Wayne who?I had fun interviewing Mickey. He made my favorite MCs list.Visit his MySpace at: few PSAs...Ghostface Killah is performing at my school next Friday. I would post ticket info, but there is no link to it. Hopefully, I can post one in the future.My club has a discussion on the N-Word this Thursday. I did a few interviews for it. Check out the articles:Albany's Times Union The Daily Gazette even gave Mickey a shout out in this article.Before you see the video, I just want to let all of you know that there is a lot of people talking in t


OMG! A Day of Hip Hop!!!
2008-04-23 14:10:10
A few days ago, I posted a little info on the Ghostface Killah Concert at Skidmore College. Before I get into that, I just want to say that I am amazed that not only is he coming, but we just happen to have a day of Hip Hop . I would like to coin the day (April 25, 2008) as "Hip Hop Day."First, my Hip Hip Culture class is having a community event. My group hopes to show our documentary on International Hip Hop.Check out the info:"During the Spring 2008 semester, students of Skidmore College’s 'Hip Hop Culture' class developed an outreach event that will educate the community (both on and off-campus) about hip hop culture. Working in groups, students will coordinate activities including presentations on hip hop culture such as DJs, MCs, graffiti, and breakdancing; additionally, interactive


It Really is a Sad Day
2008-04-25 23:21:46
Today, the officers who killed Sean Bell with 50 bullets were cleared of all charges. The justice system fails again. To all of my brothers and sisters out there, watch yourself. This and other killings by the police show that you are not even save from them. My heart goes out to the Sean Bell Family.More on this here:-04-25_officers_who_shot_sean_bell_aquitted_of_.htmlMickey Factz made a track that honored Sean Bell. It did him justice. Listen as Mickey reenacts the night Sean got killed.Mickey Factz - I'm Sean (50 Shots More)R.I.P. Sean BellOne day, we will stop all of this, and all of our brothers and sisters will be truly safe.


Ghostface Killah Concert Recap
2008-04-27 14:21:34
Two days ago, Ghostface Killah performed in front of a packed crowd at Skidmore College. I was there front and center. Mr. Lif was the opening act. To be honest, I did not know who he was. When he came out, he got the crowd hyped. I was very impressed with his energy and his records. The DJ, who I did not know about too, even ripped the mic. Therapy was his name. The both of them got the crowd even more hyped when they introduced Akrobatik. I did know him. In fact, I played a couple of his records on my radio show. I even got his album Absolute Value.Video of when he came out:After all three performers (together known as The Perceptionists) rocked the crowd with a few more records, Ghostface Killah came out.The crowd really got amped. To be honest, he pissed me off with his multiple hypeme
Read more: Concert , Recap

The N-Word
2008-05-01 00:51:51
A few days ago, I posted links to articles of a discussion I was leading on the N-Word. The discussion was a success, and it got me thinking about a lot of things in reference to the word. I got the video of the discussion for all of you, but I want to give my own two cents first. I do not get the chance to do that during my club’s discussion. Being the discussion leading, I feel that I have to be objective for the better of the discussion. Giving my own thoughts on topics like this is the reason why I started this blog. The word is a very powerful one. It has so much history behind it. Some people think it should not be used. Others feel that it is ok to use for various reasons. I’m not going to lie. I have friends who use it. I use to say it a lot before I came to college. After hea


Mixtape Spotlight: Tha Q and Fresh
2008-05-07 23:58:53
So, it has been a long time since I released a mixtape. I have to confess that school has been getting in the way. I have been backed up on material for two mixtapes (one of them being Underground Hustle Vol. 3 due out this Summer!!!). The last couple of weeks I had the chance to focus on mixtapes. Now, I am releasing two at once. Both are free to listen and download.The first one is from this Rapper called Tha Q. I met him on the forums at LyricKings.com. This cat got some dope rhymes and some stories to tell. This mixtape is very powerful. It plays like an album. I really cannot say what the standout tracks are because I feel that they all should be listened to. There is also one surprise on the mixtape. A track from Underground Hustle Vol. 3 is on it. It is produced by my good friend Ni
Read more: Mixtape , Spotlight

Getting Rid of a Homegrown Evil Part 3
2008-05-17 23:35:02
Previously: -rid-of-homegrown-evil-part-1.html-rid-of-homegrown-evil-part-2.htmlSome enslaved Black women left the South to go to the North. They were called “Southern leaves blown North” (Guy-Sheftall 381). Darlene Clark Hine in her essay said, I believe that in order to understand this historical migratory trend we need to understand the noneconomic motives propelling black female migration.


Getting Rid of a Homegrown Evil Part 2
2008-05-16 22:27:30
I present to all of you the paper itself. Make sure you come back over the next few days for the other parts.Part 1: -rid-of-homegrown-evil-part-1.html One subject that is new to me, but I hold very close to my heart is sexism. When I speak about sexism, I am talking about rape, physical and mental violence, degrading images and words, and unfair treatment in the workforce and justice system. Thro


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