MUSIC IS LIFE P.XXII: THE BREADBASKET II

"An American Dream" -
Norman Mailer
(Late American Author)









The term "popular culture" itself is of 19th century coinage, in original usage referring to the education and "culturedness" of the lower classes, as was delivered in an address at the Birmingham Town Hall, England.[1] The term began to assume the meaning of a culture of the lower classes separate from and opposed to "true education" towards the end of the century,[2] a usage that became established by the interbellum period.[3] The current meaning of the term, culture for mass consumption, especially originating in the United States, is established by the end of World War II.[4] The abbreviated form "pop culture" dates to the 1960s-

Wikipedia


2011.I easily thought to use the late norman mailer as a feature to today's A.L.I.H.S.T blog, as in his lifetime a s a writer/author he inked some of the greatest insights to pop culture during the late 20th and 21st cenuries. Post 21st century, pop culture is a breathing mass of film, entertainment, musical cult followings, political iconizations and agenda's; that influences the entire globe. As a sequel to the first, the breadbasket II looks briefly at american pop culture and its many relationships; another one being with faith and politics.

"F&R incorporates my original Idea Club blog (a weekly question on an issue in the news) and allows me to jump quickly on ideas and news in the public conversation about religion, spirituality and ethics"-

Cathy lynn Grossman (USA TODAY Faith and religion column)

- An active blog on the staff of the publication USA Today, its clear to see how the voice of movements, both political and faith-based from conservative christainity to the controversies of Islamic agenda is well into the fabric of pop culture.

"I don't want to sound presumptuous, but I've made it my goal to revolutionise pop music. The last revolution was launched by Madonna 25 years ago.

When you’re in the public eye, you’re a role model whether you want to be or not, and I want to be. I’m not one of those self-obsessed artists who don’t care about their fans. It’s not just about the music. I look out into the O2 and there are 18,000 screaming young people and I have a responsibility to them — and you’re an idiot if you don’t know that." -
Lady Gaga

April 12, 2010.

-Along with figures as Kanye west, Artist lady gaga's voice is influential in the entertainment aspect of pop culture. Above she stated her role of responsibility. Music has power over generations. For example the messages inflected in Hip Hop music is manifold. In all facets of pop culture, what is understood as negative messages usaully serve as exploitations of the consumers for the capitalism for the elite in these industries. One brief documentry shows the balance of faith, politics and pop culture:


"This is for the day trippers and the hipsters, wars and the fashionista's, spiritual leaders practicing all the laws of attraction and teachers who read the passages from the Bhagavad gita" -Talib kweli (Cold rain)

-In conclusion one easily rule out that faith-based fundamentals or ethical standards challenge the influence of pop culture (as the view of conservative groups) or in some cases it balances it. American pop culture, from then till now, will generally have influence. Media is its main conduit, in its grand scheme, from fads, televison to issues of demoralization, its up to the person, or persons to be the judge how much influence it will have.

THE URBAN CRY LLC 2011

MUSIC IS LIFE P. XIII: CONSCIOUS VS. COMMERCIALISM(THE PRELUDE)

"CASA DE MUSICA"-



NNEKA

"Popular music belongs to any musical genres "having wide appeal",[1] and stands in contrast to art music,[2][3][4] and traditional music which was disseminated orally.[2][3][4] Although popular music sometimes is known as "pop music", the two terms are not interchangeable. Popular music is a generic term for music of all ages that appeals to popular tastes";[5] on the other hand, pop music usually refers to a specific musical genre."


"Conscious hip hop or socially conscious hip-hop is a sub-genre of hip hop that focuses on social issues. It is not necessarily overtly political, but it discusses social issues and conflicts. Themes of conscious hip hop include religion, aversion to violence, African American culture and advancement, the economy, or simple depictions of life in the projects/ghetto that reveal the struggle of ordinary people. Grandmaster Flash's "The Message" was an early and hugely influential political and conscious hip hop track, decrying the poverty, violence, and dead-end lives of the black youth of the time."-



Wikipedia



Thursday hosts the prelude to an exclusive blog feature: "CONSCIOUS VS. COMMERCIALISM"; 1/3 part of a U.P.G blog series called "CONTEMPLATION AND RESISTANCE" (Authors Zion Antoni and Cesar "Yedeed" Espinoza). Contemplation and resistance is a blog series that moves in the train of thought to simply "stop, look, and think" at a present situation or circumstance. Conscious vs. commercialism takes a brief view in the contrasts between the two. We start with a video on the reflection of the messages exchanged in pop music, and cultural influence, featuring today's leading figures.

With this.. we conclude with the official "Contemplation and Resistence" series:(click link)

http://contemplationresistance.wordpress.com/

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010.

THE LANGUAGE OF ONE P. VIII MINDS OF SENEGAL

"Experience is always the best teacher Look at the signs, feel the vibes, I'm tryin to reach ya"



KEITH "GURU" ELAM

1961-2010

"Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, is located at the westernmost tip of the country on the Cap-Vert peninsula. About 300 miles off the coast, in the Atlantic Ocean, lie the Cape Verde Islands. During colonial times, numerous trading Counters, belonging to various colonial empires were established along the coast. The town of St Louis became the capital of French Western Africa (Afrique Occidentale Francaise, or AOF) before it was moved to Dakar in 1902. Dakar later became its capital in 1960 at the time of independence from France"-

Wikipedia

June opens with insight to the east: the world according to senegal. The language of one series of the A.L.I.H.S.T blog brings the minds and culture of a people to the forefront; a brief look away from the states to feel global rythym. In this time its more than safe to say hip hop is empowerment. My personal interaction with the senegalese was a lasting impression; specifically in mediterreanean countries like italy, they are a minority, a subculture of ambition, arts, and extrodinary academics. Some of the most intelligent people of west africa. Monday allows them to tell their story to us, one of their greatest influences:

-We close with an interview with the student of truth(Talib Kweli) himself, also in tune with african culture. An exclusive interview from Norway radio with talks of the new reflection eternal project, and current movements.

Goodshit Radio: Talib Kweli interview

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP 2010

MUSIC IS LIFE P.IX SHADES OF JOURNALISM

"All That I Can Say ”-

LAURYN NOEL HILL
















Tavis smiley
Taina hernandez




Thursday highlight's the journalist: notably the african-american and latino voices in mainstream and democratic journalism. Though some roles in mainstream journalism are controversial to some; due to the fact that by popular belief figures as tavis smiley and soledad o'brien are the voices of people of color in mass media, whether radical, or conservative to the approach to their work, their impact is potent regardless. Exceptional leaders on the forefront are Taina Hernandez and Soledad O'brien; and also the explosion of philadelphia influential black journalists as the late Reggie Bryant, and incarcerated but active, Mumia abu Jamal.













"Taina Hernandez ( born July 30, 1974 in Brooklyn, New York)[1] is a correspondent for ABC News. She is graduated from Brown University in 1996[2]. A native of the New York City borough of Brooklyn,[3] Hernandez joined ABC News in 2001 as a correspondent for NewsOne, ABC's affiliate news service. She anchored the overnight broadcast ABC World News Now from 2005–2007, and appears regularly on Good Morning America and World News."


"María de la Soledad Teresa O'Brien[1] (born September 19, 1966) is an American television journalist. She is currently the host of the "In America" documentary unit on CNN, and is best known for anchoring the CNN marquee morning newscast American Morning from July 2003[2] to April 3, 2007, with Miles O'Brien. "-



wikipedia


-Below is is an interview of Soledad O'brien, on recent coverage of the controversial CNN series "In america" focusing on the latin and african diasporas, along the trailers of both series, a series that had progressive work throughout 2007 -2009:





-We close with a exclusive feature from writer/recording artist immortal technique, off his latest lp "The 3rd world" ft Jean Grae.




THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP 2010.

LANGUAGE OF ONE P.IV: "VIV AYITI"

"Young Artists for Haiti is a movement to engage Canada's young musicians to continue to inspire an ongoing effort and contribution to Canadian charities for their work to help the people of Haiti overcome the devastation from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked the country on January 12, 2010. More than 50 of Canada's best and brightest artists gathered at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia to record a rendition of renowned hip hop artist K'naan's "Wavin' Flag". -

wikipedia

"Three months after the earthquake, some of the customary cadence of life has returned. People still argue and laugh, they still fight and kiss under the trees. Babies still cry in the middle of the night. But the neighborhood has changed. We fervently wish that the precarious tents and other reminders of the catastrophe would disappear, yet we remain aware that to go forward we must rebuild with that infamous Tuesday in mind." -







Monday hosts a brief reflection of janurary 12, 2010, where the poorest country in the western hemisphere was hit with a massive earthquake. This particular tragedy culturally awoke the world to high degree; in personal reflection, and global relief efforts. One current example is canada based "artists for haiti" which includes drake and many others. The harvest of the earthquake brought the globe under one collective train of thought: "viv ayiti" which means "long live haiti". In conclusion we close with two great minds at that: mos def and blacksmith's tsidi ibrahim, (jean grae), live at the every drop counts benefit concert.
Mos Def Speaks On Haiti Live @ The Independent:




THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

THE PENDANT P.II: STRIPES OF A SCHOLAR

"My alma mater was books, a good library.... I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity."







MALCOLM MALIK EL-HAJJ SHABAZZ -


http://www.brothermalcolm.net/

"Scholarly method or scholarship — is the body of principles and practices used by scholars to make their claims about the world as valid and trustworthy as possible, and to make them known to the scholarly public."-wikipedia








One element any leader, in any forum has to implement change: dedication. Thursday shows respect to the scholar, the individual who takes essential education on any plain to utilize to a personal effect and abroad. To stay conscious requires an effort, to study for a specific purpose takes work, to my understanding in reference to the coined term "knowledge is power" wisdom and understanding always follow. Education is still the pendant, not only academically, but in all aspects. In the above cases, Dr. cornel west studied through the ranks of academics, but developed his philosophic perspective through social study, and observation. Rapper immortal technique developed his revolutionary "statements" to the industry, perfusely studying while incarcerated. Hip hop legend Chris parker, already dubbed as "the teacha" saw the need to perserve hip hop culture, through religious studies to give to hip hop a spiritual foundation:




"The Temple of Hip Hop is a Ministry, Archive, School, and Society (M.A.S.S.) founded by KRS-One. Its goal is to maintain and promote Hip Hop Culture. The Temple of Hip Hop maintains that Hiphop is a genuine political movement and culture, as it has been accepted by the United Nations as a culture. The Temple of Hip Hop calls on all hip-hop fans to celebrate Hip Hop Appreciation Week, occurring in mid-May. It encourages DJs and MCs to teach people about the culture of Hip Hop, to write more socially conscious songs, and radio stations to play more socially conscious hip-hop. Hip Hop Appreciation Week is celebrated on the third week of May each year. Hip Hop History Month (November,) founded by the Universal Zulu Nation, is also recognized."-wikipedia

-Collectively we are all students of life itself. We close with "student of truth" himself" (talib kweli in arabic and swahili) with a refletion eternal interview..and another deposit.. revisioned words of "the teacha".





THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

THE MANY FACES OF RUSSELL JONES

" "This evening, I received a phone call that is every mother's worst dream," she said. "My son, Russell Jones, passed away. To the public, he was known as Ol' Dirty Bastard, but to me, he was known as Rusty, the kindest, most generous soul on earth. I appreciate all the support and prayers that I have received. Russell was more than a rapper, he was a loving father, brother, uncle, and most of all, son." -

CHERRY JONES (Mother)



"N----s really loved ODB," the Chef emotionally told the crowd. "I don't even know if this rhyme is gonna come out. Play it my n---a. ... Sh--."

"The funeral of Old Dirty Bastard took place yesterday (18 November)
with almost 3,000 mourners turning up to pay their respects.
ODB, a.k.a.
Russell Tyrone Jones passed away on Saturday at a Manhattan recording studio. An
autopsy took place immediately after his death but coroners are yet to establish
a cause.
Amongst the attendees were members of the Wu-Tang Clan, rapper
Kurtis Blow and Mariah Carey who recorded the track ˜Fantasy with the rapper in
the mid-nineties.
The rappers cherry wood coffin was draped with red
velvet and mourners turned up in traditional funeral black as well as obligatory
hip-hop attire.

The funeral was followed by a public memorial service.

-gigwise.com"

Chronicles of 2004..Monday reflects one of the pillars of the wu tang legacy.. the talent, and personality spoke for itself and still speak today. We show the late russell jones in retrospect, legacy and tribute. A 2003 documentry about his transitions from the prison system to the industry.. and insight to his last days. Peep insight into the man: the years of ODB, to the present day.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

THE ARCHIVE P.II:FALLEN ANGELS

“A coward dies a thousand deaths... a soldier dies but once.”
-TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR


Quoted from a shakespearean text, tupac issued this line in regards to the philosophy of an individual who pursues his/her destiny at all costs. In archive p.II we honor the fallen angels who left a mark in the pop-culture of yester-year; Aaliyah, freaky tah, and harlem bred big L. All who left at an early age due to divine will, and tragic circumstance. Aaliyah left behind a natural tone of honesty, sweet soulful reasoning and a prescence to remember; both on and off-stage. At his departure at 27, tah left behind loyalty, and love for the music/extended family he called his own. Lamont coleman issued out a gemstarr talent; one of the voices of harlemworld n.y, a promising mc gone too premature. Thus 2g10..i archive the history as a guidepost to the directions of the present day and future generation..the angels, came, gave and flew home..enjoy the legacy.



Aaliyah Dana Haughton
Born January 16, 1979(1979-01-16)
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
Origin Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died August 25, 2001 (aged 22)
Marsh Harbour, Abaco Islands, The Bahamas
Raymond Rogers (FREAKY TAH)
Born May 17, 1971(1971-05-17)
Origin South Jamaica, Queens, New York, USA
Died March 28, 1999 (aged 27)
Genres Hip hop

Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974 – February 15, 1999), also known by his stage name Big L, was an American rapper who made significant contributions to the New York City music scene in the 1990s as a member of the hip hop collective D.I.T.C. He was shot and killed in February 1999 before releasing his second album. He remains highly regarded in the underground hip hop community as one of the most skilled MCs of all time
MURAL DAY FOR L..

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

THROWBACK P.II: SCRIPTURES OF 1994

"IM JUST A SOUL WHOSE INTENTIONS ARE GOOD..O LORD PLEASE DON'T LET ME BE MIS-UNDERSTOOD"

-NINA SIMONE 1964



Tupac Shakur Legacy is an official interactive biography of Tupac Shakur released on August 16, 2006. The author of the book is Jamal Joseph, a friend of the Shakur family and a former Black Panther Party member. The book is published by Atria Books a division of Simon & Schuster. It features unseen family photographs, intimate stories, and over 20 removable reproductions of his handwritten song lyrics, contracts, scripts, poetry, and other personal papers. - WIKIPEDIA

Clearly one of the most influential figures of the late 2oth century..though glorified in influence, talent, and controversy..few highlight the drive, scars and the mind of tupac amaru shakur. I highlight this thursday one of the crucibles of countless men/women who made credible societal impact for greater change: being misunderstood. Today's early 90's footage allows tupac to be heard even now in 2010, fifteen years deep from his departure. Journalist ed gordon(bet.com) opens the door to tupac's prophetic resonance, from the current events of 1994, in relation to the present day. I believe one place you can always find the truth: in the contents of a person's heart.







THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP


WWW.TASF.ORG

THE PENDANT: EDUCATION

-Z.A

A philadelphia based educational/self-improvement program, located in temple university, has served and helped the community for close to 33 years. Monday feature highlights not just through the ladder of academics, but consciousness of self, environment and world. A program i attended, and that mentored me at a pivotal time of my youth, still exemplify a light of progressive movement in the community. The feature is a two part tutorial and introduction and guide to P.A.S.C.E.P. Pan-african studies continuing education program. Peep the very corridors i walked, as well as many who had their life enriched in some way by this program. On the flip we have a behind the scenes from one of hiphop's scholar himself.. the student of truth..talib kweli and the movements of reflection eternal.






THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP