MUSIC IS LIFE P.XV: THE BREADBASKET

"OPEN UP YOUR EYES...DISCIPLINE THEMSELVES YOURSELVES TO STAY ALIVE"-

KRSONE

"Popular culture (commonly known as pop culture) is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes,[1] images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the late 20th and early 21st century. Heavily influenced by mass media, this collection of ideas permeates the everyday lives of the society. By contrast, folklore refers to the cultural mainstream of more local or pre-industrial societies."-

Wikipedia

"The Breadbasket of pop-culture": is a coined term i gave america, due to even my years seeing the global influence america has on the nations. From todays giants/sensations as lady Gaga, the multi-genre's of rock music, to the years span of the progressive movement of hip hop/rap; down to our manifold cultures, the nations have feasted from the united states culturally. Reckonized and criticzed, are some of the negative themes addressed in today's pop culture, and there effect on societies. I advocate especially in music more artists to be conscious of the their messages; and their global influence. This train of thought is shared and reflected by the likes of prophetic voices as lauryn hill:

"Of the world, spun by evil men with lies
only programmed to agree with what we see before our eyes"-

LAURYN NOEL HILL(The world is a Hustle)

-Art imitates life to umpteenth degree; to address the realities and issues we face as a whole is imperative, and entertainment has its place. Yet in the influx of messages, fads, images and propaganda, especially in relation to a code of ethics, it is also imperative for one to think for his/herself. An artist/contemporarie of mine stated to me that "The industry is ran by corruption(paraphrased). There are grassroots movements and independent labels to aid in its revolutionizing." Or due to the masses and capitalism of pop-culture, create a strong balance. Thee Urbanpriesthood Group LLC is one grassroots movement as many others. One example/view bears in the alternative voice of Dante Smith(Mos Def). We close this brief reflection of pop culture with a feature from his new project with Ski-Beatz(Jay Z's "Dead Presidents"):




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MUSIC IS LIFE P. VII STREAM OF CULTURE

"We can come from our own particular point of view and lay it down. We should not be throwing verbal rocks at each other. We're all responsible to continue the growth of Hip Hop."-

Grandmaster Flash






"MCing, DJing, break-dancing, and graffiti writing. Other elements include beatboxing, hip hop fashion, and slang. Since first emerging in the South Bronx, hip hop culture has spread around the world.[6] When hip hop music first began to emerge, it was based around disc jockeys who created rhythmic beats by looping breaks (small portions of songs emphasizing a percussive pattern) on two turntables, which is now more commonly referred to as sampling. This was later accompanied by "rap" (a rhythmic style of chanting or poetry more formally in 16 bar measures or time frames) and beatboxing, a vocal technique mainly used to imitate percussive elements of the music and various technical effects of hip hop DJs." -wikpedia





The second week in may visits the foundations of a culture, that exceeded far past the boundaries of a sub-culture for the last 30 years. Monday gives insight to the ediface of the new hip hop museum, located in new york:

"For at least 15 years, the New York City community, as well as an international hip-hop fan base, has sought to establish an institution that celebrates and commemorates the accomplishments of the various professionals who have helped to pave the way for the development, progression and regional/global expansion of the hip-hop industry. The Board of Governors for the National Museum of Hip-Hop, a museum organization that has been chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, has responded to this by arranging for the development of this facility."-

http://www.hiphopmuseum.org/

-Peep info from recent media coverage, and a social discourse from "the teacha" himself live at the museum, discussing the institution and current artists role.

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1917 -2010

MUSIC IS LIFE P.VI THE AFRICAN DIASPORA P.II

"Message to the Grass Roots" is the name of a public speech by Malcolm X at the Northern Negro Grass Roots Leadership Conference on November 10, 1963, in King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan.[1] In the speech, Malcolm X described the difference between the "Black revolution" and the "Negro revolution. "Message to the Grass Roots" was ranked 91st in the top 100 American speeches of the 20th century by 137 leading scholars of American public address"- wikipedia












Monday hosts a cultural throwback to a formative time in america: the civil rights movement. The seat of politics always held relation to the african diaspora in many forms, specifically in the civil rights struggle of the 1960's many movements were born. from united fronts, organizations to idealogies to gear the "black revolution". Legendary controversial figures as malcolm was part of a wave of activism, and idealogies like black theology,accompanied with others as martin; and political groups as the black panther party (pan-african socialist group). Below is an example of malcolm's worldview, communicated during a heated time in american politics:


-Strong words at a time that called for social justice- fast forward to the modern day. Where we feature a brief introduction of international artist of social justice, Nneka, whose origins hail from nigeria, africa.

THE ARCHIVE P.III: CHRONICLE OF THE FEMCEE

"I AM AN REVOLUTIONARY WRITER"-
JESSICA CARE MOORE





This week in april opens with homage to the femcee once again, this time with a double edged sword..the music the artists produce and the life and times behind it.
Out of a plethora of pioneers we host two..motor city's invincible and fellow associates, and my fam, blackwacth movement veteran lin que. We discover the voice they apply to social issues.. insight to their personal careers, and their currents. We cacth detail to invincible's "revival" documentry, following with a span of linque's career, to a single off her newest project "GODspeed".

THE REVIVAL from EMERGENCE Media on Vimeo.

"One of the most talented emcees I've ever heard black or white, male or female..." -Talib Kweli
"Invincible is one part emcee, three parts revolutionary, but the recipe is all Hip Hop." -Shook Magazine

http://www.emergencemusic.net//T>
This Queens New York native takes it back to the original feel and grit of True Hip Hop with an up to date twist, on the rocks, that you can knock back for your pleasure. You might remember her as Isis when she was down with the messenger group X Clan and The Blackwatch Movement. There was no question as to how she ended up with the nickname Lady of Thunder. Her powerful yet graceful technique was both moving and inspiring. Blackwatch played an essential role in guiding and molding the young minds of the Hip Hop community.- Linquemusic

http://www.wearethegirl.com/

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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".





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STREETS CONSCIOUSNESS P.IIV ..OF FAITHS AND PHILOSOPHIES

" So what's left when there ain't no God..and a whole lotta pride..you might see a homicide" -SPECIAL ED -Crooklyn Dodgers

Thursday provides insight to the ever streaming influence of spiritual/ philosophical perspectives in the modern day; both in life and music. Thoughts, faiths and idealogies carried heavy influence through the upper and underground forums of the industry, to the heights of commercial success, to the simplicity of "poor righteous teachin". Here's some of the perspectives, and the voices that carried it in retrospect:

"The Nation of Gods and Earths, sometimes referred to as NGE, Allah's Nation, the Five-Percent Nation, the Five-Percent Nation of Islam, or the Five Percenters was founded in 1964 in the Harlem section of the borough of Manhattan in New York City by Clarence Smith, known most commonly to the public at large as Clarence 13X, but referred to by his contemporaries and students as Allah (the Arabic word for God) or the Father. The Nation of Gods and Earths angered religious and political leaders, who viewed the group as little more than an offshoot of the Nation of Islam (NOI), which was already viewed by Muslims as heretical. While the Nation of Gods and Earths is commonly characterized as an organization, an institution, a religion and/or even a gang, representatives of the Nation teach that it is a way of living. The Nation of Gods and Earths teaches that the Original Blackman is God, the Original Blackwoman is the planet Earth, and through the inner esoteric powers of the Gods and Earths, people can transform and possess their true potential" -wikipedia




Rakim gave jewels during the early years of hip-hop that expressed views of the nation..in pop-culture and in hip-hop the nations voice was heard in artists as big daddy kane, brand nubian, and the legacy of the wu tang clan. The culture of the 5 % nation became assimilated with hip hop, so close that it streamed as a trend..especially in the inner city's. Part of my youth, though having my own spiritual foundation, i studied religions...in regards to the mathematics, (5% lessons) i also studied for my own knowledge, out of curiosity to why it had such an impact on hip hop culture. Though its prescence was stronger in the late 90's and early 2000's compared to today, its clearly part ofhip hop history.

The Nation of Islam is a religious organization founded in Detroit, Michigan, by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930. He set out with the goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of the African American men and women of America. The N.O.I. also promotes the belief that God will bring about a universal government of peace.[1] Mainstream Muslims consider the group to be a non-Islamic independent religion that has adopted Islamic terminology rather than an Islamic sect due to differing beliefs about God, race, and prophecy, among others.[2][3]-wikipedia

Clearly the drive of artist as gangstarr's guru, the revelations and reverence of artists like beanie sigel, and the humble refrences of mos def, islam is still a testament of faith to many artists.

"Black Hebrew Israelites (also Black Hebrews, African Hebrew Israelites, and Hebrew Israelites) are groups of people mostly of Black African ancestry situated mainly in the United States who believe they are descendants of the ancient Israelites. Black Hebrews adhere in varying degrees to the religious beliefs and practices of mainstream Judaism. They are generally not accepted as Jews by the greater Jewish community, and many Black Hebrews consider themselves — and not mainstream Jews — to be the only authentic descendants of the ancient Israelites. Many choose to self-identify as Hebrew Israelites or Black Hebrews rather than as Jews."-wikipedia
An historic religious sect, adjacent to the african diaspora, exceeded the walls of subculture. Exemplied through the knowledge and artistry of killah priest, (maccabee house) shabazz the disciple and many others..it is a movement by itself. We close thursday's blog with an introspective look into a possible future "blackstar" reunion, words by mos def himself.. and a throwback from "the teacha" himself, krsone, who shares my train of thought, someone who is aware of the spiritual climate of the culture.





"My philosophy" One of the cornerstones..88' archive..enjoy..

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

THE ARCHIVE: HIP HOP IS LIFE

THE DJ/THE MC/THE GRAFFITI/THE B BOY/B GIRL-

At one point in time substantiated as the 4 elements of the culture of hip hop. The face of the culture has undergone change through time, and veteran D-nice has expounded his career from production/mc to photographer to journalist. On thurs we showcase the very fruits of his labor on our humble blogspot/eblast; a documentation of hip hop in the flesh through the life and times of dres, sadat x, and monie love. Their stories are heard clearly.,capitalism, exploitaion and commercialism certainly has its place in today's industry..but every movement has its roots. These vet's take us to a simpler time..peep all three profiles in good retrospect.

________________________________

Dres (born Andres Titus) is a rapper of the alternative hip hop duo Black Sheep. On their 1991 debut album A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, Dres has a smooth rhyme flow, with a dose of light humour. Later his style became more serious, which suits the name of the 1994 album: Non-Fiction. Shortly after this album, Dres and Mista Lawnge split up and started independent projects.[1] In 1999, Dres released a solo album Sure Shot Redemption. On the cover, he is credited as "Dres - The Black Sheep". In 2000, the duo reunited and recorded Redlight, Greenlight (EP) and the title track for the film Once in the Life. In 2006, just before the release of the Black Sheep album 8WM/Novakane, Mista Lawnge left the group to go solo. Mista Lawnge's contributions to the album are limited giving it the appearance of another solo album from Dres. A Tribe Called Quest member Q-Tip is his cousin.

Sadat X (born Derek Murphy) is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.

Simone Wilson or Simone Gooden[1] (born 2 July 1970) known by her stage name Monie Love, is a female, English emcee and former radio personality in the United States. Love was a well-respected figure in British hip hop, and made an impact with American hip hop audiences as a protégé of female American emcee Queen Latifah, as well as through her membership in the late 1980s/early 1990s Native Tongues.[2] Love was one of the first BritHop artists to be signed and distributed worldwide by a major record label.SOURCES WIKIPEDIA[2]

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