D.C. Hip Hop

I thought I'd blog a little on what my final project will be for the class.

I'm doing a piece on the D.C. area hip hop scene and what it is and, more importantly, why it hasn't taken off and found the same success as New York, L.A., Atlanta, or even...Minnesota??? Yes even Minnesota has more of a national following than D.C., which is unfortunate because there are many talented artists in the region that should gain recognition. Seez Mics of Educated Consumers has toured with Atmosphere and rocked Scribble Jame. Flex Matthews was a URB Next 100 member. Guns n' Butter have made beats for NORE and Cormega. The one thing they all have in common is that they can't seem to break away from the Go-Go dominated D.C. metro region.

I will be exploring why this is and what the artists feel they can do about. I will also be showing the class a little of what the D.C. scene is and hopefully they may give it some support.

Skate or die

Ah good ol' skateboarding. Crazy kids grinding, riding, and kick pushing away from the police... and they make soem damn entertaining videos to watch and wonder "How did he do that?" or "That dude is F***ing nuts!" I had this video of William Spencer sent to me today and I found it quite interesting. I've never heard of the guy, but he has a unique take on skating. Check it out

Georgetown the Final Four

I'm supposed to go to Richmond next weekend, but I'm starting to think I should stay here and go to Georgetown instead. I unfortunately missed all the madness that came with Mason's trip to the Final Four last year and want to take part in what it is like to go absolutely ape over a basketball game.

My prediction for next weekend is Georgetown beating Ohio State and then demolishing Florida in the title game. Madness indeed

Music Festivals in the U.S. on the Upswing

When I was in High School it seemed the only place you could go to see tons of bands perform on one stage was either HFStival or somewhere in Europe. For the past couple of years the U.S. has been putting on larger and more iconic festivals such as Coachella and Bonnaroo. To an American who loves music this is very important.

Coachella has become the premiere music festival in the world and has featured such acts as Pink Floyd, Nine Inch Nails, and the Beastie Boys. This year they are putting on their best festival yet with the reunification of Rage against the Machine, Bjork, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more. It is becoming the annual Woodstock of my generation.

I haven't had a chance to attend any of these festivals (with the exception of Tibetan Freedom Concert and HFStival in high school), but I will be attending the Rock the Bells festival in New York this summer. It has been dubbed the Coachella of hip hop and it is being held on the east coast for the first time. This year it has promised to be a legendary show of hip hop greats old and new. Headlined by the iconic Rage Against the Machine and Wu-Tang Clan it is becoming better than it has been in the past. Others on the lineup include Cypress Hill, Nas, The Roots, Public Enemy and many more.

The U.S. has finally caught up with its European friends and are putting on memorable festivals for the masses to bear witness across the country.

March Madness

My bracket is wrong, but now that we are halfway through the 2006 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament I have a few predictions of who will be advancing and who will not. Florida, almost losing in an upset to Purdue, will make it to the Final Four trying to repeat last year's title run. I don't think they will get an opportunity to do so. Either Kansas (which my money is on) or UCLA will knock them off. Back to back titles are rare in the tournament. So it will be Kansas or UCLA in the title game, but I figure Kansas has the best shot at beating UCLA and then Florida.

On the other end I have Georgetown and Ohio State meeting in the Final Four. Oden versus Hibbert! Should be great. Although Oden is a better player, Georgetown is a more rounded team, so I pick them knocking off the number one seed and meeting, probably, Kansas in the title game. Once again I feel Georgetown is more rounded and has better depth which will carry it to its first national title since 1984. A team led by Patrick Ewing Sr., the father of current Hoya Patrick Ewing Jr. How fitting would it be if both father and son got the title?

My Seven Favorite TV shows

Here are some of the pleasure I indulge on TV when I get the chance. I only have about seven shows I really like so this will be MY TOP SEVEN:

THE WIRE - This is the best television show ever made. Period. Realistic as any thing that has ever been brought to any screen, big or small. It portrays police, politics, society, and criminals in such a realistic way that the NYPD pleaded with the producers to stop because criminals watching the show were learning tricks to avoid being arrested. The series takes patience and is more like a book with every episode a new chapter in the same story. Last season was as emotionally devastating, yet rewarding as anything else I can think of on TV.

ROME - Started off a bit slow, but then took off quickly. Full of double-crosses, vicious killers, and conniving amoral politicians that you actually feel for. Pullo, a simple, yet loyal man is a cold-blooded killer, but the writers of the show made him one of its most likable characters. Can't believe there are only two episodes left.

1. 
   

THE OFFICE - Haven't seen the British version, but Steve Carrell and Rainn Wilson make this comedy one the most hilarious, if not painfully awkward, shows on television.





ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT - I still hate Fox for cancelling this original and smart story of the most dysfunctional family ever on TV.










CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM - Larry David is a comedic genius... and a huge a-hole. This improvised series of Larry getting himself into one horrible situation after another is one reason I still have HBO. Now I just hope they bring the show back.






24 - Sure it is unrealistic, but no matter, it the most entertaining action series on TV. I can't imagine a Monday without Jack Bauer saving Los Angeles from certain destruction.









ENTOURAGE - This insider look at what it is like to be a young superstar nails my generations dialogue and actions to a tee.

My favorite albums of last year

In no particular order here are some of my favorite albums that came out in 2006 and, so far, in 2007.

• TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain - The best rock album I have heard in nearly a decade. Experimental, yet traditional these Brooklyn based guys managed to get a fan to lend his vocals for their first major release...a fan named David Bowie. This IS my favorite album of the year.
• The Roots - Game Theory - The Legendary come back with a dark and deep album. Their most socially conscious work to date, but never too preachy and Malik B. makes a triumphant return.
• Edan - Beauty and the Beat - Came out in '05, but I still listen to this album as if it just came out yesterday. Take Big Daddy Kane, Jimi Hendrix, Prince Paul, Led Zeppelin and throw them in a stew. Cook. Stir. You have Edan.
• El-P - I'll Sleep when you're Dead - I haven't heard all of it yet, but the few tracks I have heard have me drooling over the Brooklyn hip hop anarchist's second album.
• Ghostface - More Fish - Actually better than the more popular Fishscale. The Amy Winehouse collab on "You Know I'm No Good" is in heavy rotation on my Ipod.

Pretending I'm Peter King

Being a sports fan and being that is March Madness I figured I'd throw some random comments I have about sports out there:

• My bracket is done for. Two of my Final Four teams didn't even make it to the Sweet Sixteen (Texas and for some odd reason I picked Louisville).
• Kevin Durant is a beast. Durant had 30 points in the loss to USC, while the rest of the team barely beat him with 38. This goes to show that you could have the best player in the world, but need solid guys to help him out to get anywhere. Hello Minnesota Timberwolves.
• If Durant goes to the draft next year I think he should go before Ohio State's Greg Oden. I think in the end Durant will have a much better impact.
• That said if the Wizards had the number one pick in the draft next year I'd actually hope they wouldn't listen to my advice and get Oden. They're good, but they aren't going to get anywhere until they get a reliable big man. I want them to keep their big three, but if necessary trade Jamison or some other role players and bring in a solid big man.
• Caron Butler is out for probably ten days. I won't be watching a Wizards game for about ten days.
• I agree with Boswell that the Nats are going to be terrible. Period.
  
• I still have hope that Georgetown is going to win the tournament despite spotty play at times in their past two games.
• Was it just me or did you, for fleeting second, think VCU was about to become the next Mason? Two thrilling games that went down to the wire with respected teams Duke and Pittsburgh. I hate Duke so I was happy to see Coach K fail and clawing back from that huge deficit to send the Pitt game to overtime was simply top notch entertainment.
• The Mavs will be the next NBA champs.
• That stupid Around the Horn show on ESPN has got to go. I want to punch the guy who hosts the show right in his smug face.
  

The Roots rock Constitution Hall

The Roots at Constitution Hall on March 9 proved once again why they are one of the best live acts out there. They reinvented their show once more by putting their own music on the backburner and performing excellent tributes and cover songs.

I got there late and missed opener Lupe Fiasco, but did get to see DC legend Chuck Brown warm up the crowd with his call and response set. I don't know much of Brown's music, but it was and entertaining and lively show he put on.

After Brown was finished The Roots took the stage by marching through the crowd with a brass band performing their song "Duck Down". After taking the stage they wasted no time jumping into a few tracks off their recently released album Game Theory plus some older songs.

The real highlight though when they did their take on other artists' music. They did a tribute to the late hip hop producer Jay Dee and a funk jam session that featured several James Brown songs that really threw the crowd into a frenzy. They did a new and improved Hip Hop 101 where they do short covers of popular hip hop songs old and new. The best part of the evening though came towards the end when they expressed their displeasure with the war in Iraq by doing an eight minute version of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" with guitarist Captain Kirk singing the lyrics and looking a lot like Jimi Hendrix playing the guitar. Seeing them perform the song was one of the best performances I have ever seen.

This show was one of the better Roots shows I have seen and I liked the fresh take on their performance and the fact that they shortened their solos, which had been tedious at other shows I have been to, was a welcome fix. Next time they are in town do yourself a favor and go see one of the best live musical acts any genre has to offer.

You are now rocking with the legendary

When it comes to hip hop music live bands aren't the first thing that pop into people's heads. One exception is the adored hip hop crew The Roots, my favorite artists in any genre, who for more than ten years have been building a following with their amazing live performances and relentless touring. I first saw them for $15 at the 9:30 Club when I was 14 and I'm going to see them at Constitution Hall next week for $65. My what a long way we've come. I've been to close to thirty of their shows, but I wanted to talk about two that stuck out in particular and were probably the best shows I have ever seen.

A little under a year ago a buddy of mine and me hopped the Chinatown bus to New York City for two sold-out shows in two nights at Radio City Music Hall. The shows were, sadly, a benefit for the mother of the recently deceased J.Dilla who died from complications from lupus. We knew there were going to be special guests, but we only knew of a few who were going to be there: Nas, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli were performing with them, but we also knew there were going to be plenty other surprises.

The first night was the "hip hop" night and the second night was the "eclectic" night. The Roots would play their own music then back all the other artists who were performing. The show opened with Nas rocking the building within the first ten minutes of the show. Nas opening? Damn! What was coming next??!?!?!?! The way he came out was brilliant...The Roots playing the "Apache" beat then going right into "Made you Look". Nas treated the ecstatic crowd to classics such as "It Ain't Hard to Tell" and "The World is Yours" although he did forget one verse of the latter, luckily Roots frontman Black Thought took over for him.

Next up we were treated to classics from The Roots own catalog and performances by Talib Kweli, Common, Skillz, and the legendary Big Daddy Kane. Then something happened. You could tell by people running up to Questlove, the backbone and drummer for the band, towards the end of the show that something was wrong. Instead of bringing out another surprise guest, The Roots covered old hip hop tracks and Rahzel beatboxed. To those who don't know this is usually how they end their shows, so this was quite the shock to the crowd who at this point was expecting Biggie and Pac to rise from the dead to close the show. At the end Dave Chapelle came out and said good night to the crowd, but when he went to go hug Questlove Questlove pushed him. Yep, something went wrong.

The next day we found out via a blog by Questo that Chappelle showed up late and couldn't perform with them, Kanye West was a no show, and Ghostface and Raekwon were supposed to close the show, but they got there after the show had ended. Questo, while not ripping Chappelle or West, basically told Raekwon and Ghost that he would never rely on or work with them again. Damn, what an ending that would have been if certain people had the courtesy to do what they were supposed to do.

Ok, well on to night two... The show opened with some African singer who was pretty good and then J.Davey hit the stage. I had never heard of them before but damn if they weren't good. Erykah Badu came out and killed it and so did Mos Def who was running through the aisles like a madman. One thing I missed (stupid cigarette addiction) was, from what I hear, and amazing cover of Radiohead's "Everything In It's Right Place" by the crew and Bilal. Another pleasant surprise was Slum Village, Dilla's old group, coming out and doing a touching tribute to their friend. But that's not even the best part.

The Roots took a break towards the end and asked a friend to come out and speak to the crowd...Dave Chappelle ladies and gentlemen! He did a riotous fifteen minute stand-up that had the whole place roaring with laughter. The best of the night happened right at the end when The Roots were wrapping things up they brought out another friend... Jay-Z!!! I have never seen a crowd go so ape sh*t in my life. Radio City was shaking so hard I thought it was about to come down.

All in all and amazing experience and just thinking about it makes me look forward to next week's show even more. They won't have all the same superstar guests, but I'll settle for their always solid performance and openers Lupe Fiasco and D.C. legend Chuck Brown.

Be Succinct!

Jacob Nielsen's Be Succinct (Writing for the Web) is helpful in many ways because it points out many areas I have failed in some of my past blogs. Although I have used a lot of hypertexts instead of going into great detail about a subject, I also feel that some of my blogs go on for too long and my paragraphs may be a tad lengthy. I feel I don't always use enough key words to catch a reader's eye and I should start using more instead of using the same run of the mill nouns, verbs, etc.

His piece is a bit dated though because it fails to mention blogs or the use of pictures, audio, and videos in web writing. It really made me realize how internet writing has evolved so much over the past decade.

All in all the piece helped me focus on some things I may not have noticed before, but also made me realize that I am doing many things right in my blog.

Is Hip Hop Dead?

A few weeks back I was perusing the Broadside and one article in particular caught my eye. The article was questioning whether hip hop was on its last legs and may be down for the count. An interesting theory I thought since hip hop has been in a downward spiral, at least in the mainstream, ever since the "Golden Years" of the early to mid '90s, that produced such acts as Gangstarr, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Boot Camp Clik, Hieroglyphics, and The Pharcyde, ceased to exist. The article does state that hip hop can survive and I agree, but it misses several major points such as the fact that a) a lot of good stuff is underground and b) hip hop is evolving.

I am a hip hop junkie ever since I purchased my first Public Enemy album when I was ten years old and I never looked back. I've DJed at several hip hop events including Camp Lo and Non-Phixion shows, drank beers with Jedi Mind Tricks, wrote my senior synthesis arguing hip hop is a renaissance, know the majority of the DC hip hop community, promoted for Babygrande Records and DC mainstay Organized Theory, and judged the DC ITF DJ Battle and the DC 5 Elements of Hip Hop Battle. I feel I know enough to put my two cents in.

Mainstream hip hop has pretty much sucked for years. The author of the article points out that Young Joc, Dipset, and D4L all are reasons hip hop is in trouble and I couldn't agree more. But then he states that Nas, Jay-Z, and Young Jeezy are keeping it alive... Young Jeezy?!?!?! That's like saying crystal meth is keeping the family together. Nas and Jay-Z are both good and have paid their dues, but they are nowhere near their prime anymore and to be honest Nas needs to do that album with DJ Premier and Jay-Z needs to keep putting The Roots albums out and stick with that instead of doing Budweiser commercials using the same beat Wreckx N' Effect used more than a decade ago. Hip hop has always sampled, but to be the self-proclaimed "King of Hip Hop" you can't be using the same beats that have been used in a million and one hip hop cuts.

Last year another article in The Broadside was put out on the lack of a female presence in hip hop and I thought it was ridiculous. It mentioned the well-known Queen Latifah and MC Lyte, but failed to mention such talented artists as Jean Grae or Psalm One. What bothered me the most though was the mention of an up and coming new artist named Bahamadia... yeah, her first album was released in 1996 and is considered a classic in the hip hop community. Facts are important in journalism right? I'm not knocking the writing skill of either article, I'm just wish the writers would have done a little more research before putting out these articles.

So now onto the question at hand - is hip hop dead? Nope, not as good as it used to be, but then again The Killers are no Led Zeppelin and Jack Johnson isn't exactly Bob Dylan, but that's not saying they're bad. If you look you can find adventurous and exciting hip hop all over the place. Start with the labels and crews to keep it easy: Stones Throw, Def Jux, Okayplayer, Rhymesayers are all good places to start. They all have a fine collection of artists on their rosters including: Madlib, DOOM, The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Skillz, El-P, Murs, Atmosphere, Brother Ali and Mr. Lif just to name a few. Another exciting artist is Rockville's own Edan, who is critically adored and is a one man evolution of hip hop. He produces, DJs, and raps all of his records. Check out some of these artists to see why hip hop, minus the mainstream, is still alive and kicking.