Owner: Hip Hop on My Mind URL:http://hiphoponmymind.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:27:12 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Hip Hop On My Mind is a blog on various topics in Hip Hop Culture and Rap music. The blog aims to educate and get discussions going on the various topics. Site statistics:Click here
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
Book Critique: Hip Hop Matters 2008-02-24 15:13:10 This is the second assignment in the Hip Hop
Culture class. The class had to finish the text and write a critique. Check out my critique below:From “Fad” to Field of Study Rap music has been around for almost 30 years in America. It has done a lot of things like going global and uniting people for a cause. Hip Hop Matters: Politics, Pop Culture, and the Struggle for the Soul of a Movement (2005) by S. Craig Watkins takes a look at this powerful movement. The book is a timeline of the music. It talks about the beginning of the music with the first successful record in 1979, Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” and ends with the music and culture becoming respected by many scholars. Watkins did a lot research for the book that included scholarly, trade, journalistic publications Read more:Critique
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:Internet
, College
, 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 Read more:Discussion
Hip Hop Class Discussion: The MC 2008-03-21 22:04:46 In this week's class, we talked about MCing. It was a good discussion. In today's world, people either do not know what a MC is or do not know the difference between a MC and a Rapper. KRS-One explained it well in The MC: Why We Do It. He said that a Rapper is a person who is of corporate interest. The Rappers make music to sell albums. As it is known in America, "sex sells" (sadly). Their music is mostly sexist and homophobic. KRS-One goes on to say that the MC embodies Hip Hop
Culture. MCs make music for the people (to educate, tell stories and make aware of certain issues), and he can be a Rapper. I agreed with KRS-One until he talked about a Rapper not being able to be a MC. I think that Rappers can see the light and become a MC. Lupe Fiasco is an example of that. If you don't know wha Read more:Discussion
Sampling in Hip Hop Part 1: Sampling’s Origins and Legality 2008-03-20 20:41:01 As I look for different ways to go about doing things with the blog, I thought it would be interesting to have guest bloggers. Recently, there has been a lot of discussions about sampling. I spoke to this producer I know about it. Then, I asked him if he would be interested in writing on the subject for my blog and he agreed. So, Hip Hop
on My Mind would like to present to you the first guest blogger Nick Cicero.-DJ Daddy MackSampling
in Hip HopPart 1: Sampling’s Origins
and LegalityA Hip Hop On My Mind 3 Part SeriesSampling has been a part of hip-hop since its very inception. It was the main lifeblood of a musical genre that grew out of the funk and disco scene in the seventies and early eighties. As of late, articles written by bloggers Gooch from XXL, and Ivan from Hip-Hop is Read hav
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.
Celebrate the end of my 1st year in the mixtape game 2008-04-01 20:12:24 It has been one year since I released Underground Hustle Vol. 1. It has been a great year. I look forward to year 2. UGH Vol. 1 has done really well with 1k listens and hundreds of downloads. All thanks to all of you. That mixtape is free as well as my other ones. I still cannot believe that I got it out. It took 2 years to complete. I thank all of the artists, producers and listeners who have supported me. Let's get year two popping off.Check out my mixtapes including UGH Vol. 1 under free downloads at: www.djdaddymack.com.Tune in this week to my radio show as we celebrate this great achievement. It is not about me. It is about all of you because without all of you I would not be where I am at today.We also got Mickey Factz on the show this week. Mickey has made a track called "I'm Sean ( Read more:Celebrate
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
Hip Hop Class Discussion: Gender 2008-04-14 01:24:21 This past week in class, we discussed the role of women in Hip Hop
. Back in the day, women were all over the place doing all aspects Hip Hop. Now, you have a few female rappers left. Even they are disappearing, getting locked up along with other things. Women are nothing more than sex objects in mainstream Rap music videos. It is sad to me that this is happening. I am currently writing a paper related to this subject for my Black Feminist Thought class. I might post it in many parts in the future. My club, Hip Hop Alliance, did a discussion on the role of women in Hip Hop. I will post the videos of it in the future. I would love to hear a woman Rap. If there are any female MCs, e-mail me at DADDYMACK31@HOTMAIL.COM (seriously). Let's get this popping. I know that some are out there. Shout o Read more:Discussion
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
Hip Hop Class Discussion: Globalization 2008-04-19 19:37:03 This past week, the last group led a discussion on Hip Hop
around the world. I was apart of this group. The discussion was wonderful. But, I have to say that doing research on this topic has been very enlightening for me. I was amazed by the amount of music I found from all over the world. My group is doing a documentary on this now, and it is great to hear about International Hip Hop from various students on campus who lived in various countries. Today, I just narrated the introduction to the documentary. We are trying to make it at least 20 minutes long. I hope to share it with all of you here very soon. Shout out to my group. We did our thing, and I look forward to finishing the documentary this upcoming week. Below is some materials we found and some other materials I really wanted to Read more:Discussion
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
What Happens When a Person Does Not Know History and What Others Face Today? 2008-04-29 00:52:47 A few days ago, I was shown a letter written about me from an alumni in my school's magazine. Well, this is my response to that letter. Before I post the letter and my response, read the article that the letter is responding to: letter:In “Hip Hop, Rap, and Race” [winter Scope Quarterly], Danny Tejada ’09 urges rap fans to avoid music with lyrics they find offensive and recommends the following songs as “conscious rap.” Let’s sample some of these songs:Dead Prez’s “Police State” uses the word “niggers” and advocates violence against the police. The group recommends socialism, hates Rudy Giuliani, and wants black people to get together for (you will be shocked) revolution! Mos Def’s “Umi Says” is mostly about how he wants “black people to be free.” Apparentl Read more:History
, Others
, Today
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
What Do You Get When You Mix Modern Dance With Hip Hop? 2008-05-07 01:43:51 You get a wonderful masterpiece. Enjoy.Contemporary Modern
dance pieceMusic - US Placers by Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams (CRS) Featuring Thom YorkeChoreography by Amira StreeterDance
rs - Amira Streeter, Chelsea Muroda, Meredith Robinson (students at Skidmore College)Performed - Dance Studio at Skidmore CollegeSponsored by Terpsichore for the "Terpsichore Spring Show" Read more:Hip Hop
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
Global Hip Hop Documentary 2008-05-11 14:42:33 Here is the documentary that my group put together. I really enjoyed doing it. I learned a lot just from hearing the people we interviewed. It is really amazing to see how Rap music took over the whole world. Shout out to my group and the people we interviewed. Make sure you watch the whole thing. It is very interesting.This is a documentary produced by the Global
ization group in Skidmore College's Hip Hop Culture Class.In this film, students from Skidmore College share their experiences with Rap music in their home countries or countries they visited.The people interviewed in this film are from or have study aboard in various places including...Nigeria, AfricaAfghanistanSwaziland, AfricaRepublic of Guinea, AfricaLondon, United KingdomKenya, AfricaCroatiaChinaArgentinaSierra Leone, AfricaW Read more:Documentary
Getting Rid of a Homegrown Evil Part 1 2008-05-15 22:33:47 For my Black Feminist Thought class, I wrote a final paper on sexism. There is a little mention of Rap music in there. I really enjoyed doing it. I wanted to share it with all of you. I will break it up into four parts (not including this part). Here, I will post videos from a discussion I led called "Degrading and Sexual Lyrics/Images." It is a great opening to my paper. Enjoy.This is a discussio
Mixtape Spotlight: Swaggz 2008-05-15 00:39:57 Another mixtape to feed your soul. This is my second mixtape with Swaggz, and I got to say that he has improved a lot. He will keep on improving. There are some great tracks with dope lyrics on this mixtape. Some key joints are "Good Ol' Days" Feat. WB, "Nothings Gonna Stop Me Now" Feat. Wordgames, and "The Same Thing." Don't sleep on Swaggz. Listen to and download this free mixtape.Check out the 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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