Gangstarr?

[RichMan]

I checked out D Kane. Some strong words!!! A true poet. It's artists like him that are overlooked by main stream, yet offer an honest open eye as to how the wheel turns in society. It's a shame that "commercial" is the only thing that sells. Oh well, more material for true cats like me to enjoy.

The problem with the new school is the values, the priorities. Back in the day, you represented your name and let your skills speak for themselves. Nowadays their status is based upon the rides they roll with, how fat they money clip is, how many girls to get a night and how many peeps they've iced. Alot of it is just show, no street cred. But, unfortunately, the kids that listen to it are far to impressionable and don't see through the smoke. The only reason why these new, so called MCs, are still in the biz. Even some of the original MCs are speaking out about this, and quite a few are disappointed. Can't blame 'em...they took the culture and pimped it to the max, but with wrong intentions.

Now do understand, some new cats are for real and understand the responsibilities that come into play representing the Hip Hop culture and community. Sadly, they are but a few.

For a more eclectic sound of Hip Hop, y'all can check out Common and The Roots and C-lo, to name a few.

[phizix]

Originally Posted by RichMan

The problem with the new school is the values, the priorities. Back in the day, you represented your name and let your skills speak for themselves. Nowadays their status is based upon the rides they roll with, how fat they money clip is, how many girls to get a night and how many peeps they've iced. Alot of it is just show, no street cred. But, unfortunately, the kids that listen to it are far to impressionable and don't see through the smoke. The only reason why these new, so called MCs, are still in the biz. Even some of the original MCs are speaking out about this, and quite a few are disappointed. Can't blame 'em...they took the culture and pimped it to the max, but with wrong intentions.

Now do understand, some new cats are for real and understand the responsibilities that come into play representing the Hip Hop culture and community. Sadly, they are but a few.

For a more eclectic sound of Hip Hop, y'all can check out Common and The Roots and C-lo, to name a few.

I'm just as much of a fan of 80's & 90's rap as anyone. But im tired of hearing about how the MC's of that era weren't materialistic. They absolutly were. Just look at some Big Daddy Kane, EPMD(hell, their name means Eric and Paris Makin Dollars), Slick Rick, Special Ed, Biz, Etc. album covers. Lots of gold ropes, fancy cars, and half naked women. Rapping has always been a braggadocios art form. It was even like that in the 70's, but nobody was making money off rapping to flaunt. Thats just the way it is.

Sure there were more "conscious" MC's of that era...Rakim, KRS, P.E.. But we have that catagory today aswell. So basicly nothing has changed. The only thing that is different now is money. Cats back then weren't making anywhere near the same level of money...which in my opinion has taken the hunger out of the art form of rap. Dudes today are getting into it for all the wrong reasons. Today rap (and hip hop culture in general) is big business, which has had a dramtic impact. When i first got into this culture (early 80's), there was little to no mass media exposure. Hell, even in NY, radio stations wouldn't play any rap before 9pm because it just wasn't popular. haha i remember as a kid staying up late to listen to Mr. Magic & Marley Marl and then talking about what they played the next day on the playground.

[woody36]

^^^^^ this is a really good, educated post.

There are different styles, and it's not about new or old. New artists are encompassing the culture, J5, Quannum, People under the stairs, to name but a few, just like in the old days, many artists were all about materialistic things. Its not about the era, i guess it's more about the individuals making beats and rhymes.

[RichMan]

I hear what you're saying, but see, when i used to look at Rakim and Big Daddy and Run...i wasn't looking to pimp myself up with them fat gold chains(and we all knew that **** wasn't real). It was about learning the dance moves, and the rhymes and the history, bringing it out to our friends so they can share in what we heard and saw and have them do the same with others.

I knew i was the freshest kid with my Kangol hat, my Adidas silk track suit, my toe shells or puma swedes with them fat laces. THAT was the illest!!! And of course, being a b-boy, i had to bring my game everywhere i went. I shared my new found knowledge and having respect and clout was the big deal.

Now, the new school are talking 'bout all the benjamins and low riders they own, when they know that the majority of the audience can't even afford or will have the chance to experience all that, and the artists flaunt it like a dis...WTF!?!

A perfect and very accurate movie/documentary you can see that portrays what i grew up to know of Hip Hop is Wild Style. If you can get your hands on that, you'll get a feel for back in the day. For b-boys there was Beat Street(my favorite). Shows how we were kickin it on sidewalks tightening our moves on the concrete and in our rooms, sharing all the elements that compose Hip Hop.

[phizix]

Yeah wildstyle is a cool movie. I have it on dvd.There is some classic lines in that movie. Another good one is stylewars, which is more graf based, but still a good watch if your into hip hop. Oh and another movie from that era would be Krush Groove, which was all about the beginings of Def Jam Records.

[RichMan]

Originally Posted by phizix

Yeah wildstyle is a cool movie. I have it on dvd.There is some classic lines in that movie. Another good one is stylewars, which is more graf based, but still a good watch if your into hip hop. Oh and another movie from that era would be Krush Groove, which was all about the beginings of Def Jam Records.

YES...that's where i first heard LL. When i saw him walk into Russell ******* office with his huge ghetto box, i said i gotta get me one of those cause "I can't live without my radio!!♪" , and i did, a HUGE Clarion(the one used in the Breakin' movie). Fat boys raiding the pizza shop. And Sheila E...so so so fine!!!

StyleWars was really the first Hip Hop based movie prior to WildStyle. Both are true classics in Hip Hop.

[albertaboy]

Just pulled my 1200s out of storage...need to find the milk crates tomorrow...

[RichMan]

Originally Posted by albertaboy

Just pulled my 1200s out of storage...need to find the milk crates tomorrow...

WORD! That's what i wanna do when i can't really dance anymore. My way of keeping the culture alive.

Now if i could be so lucky as to find 2 1200s with a mixer for VERY cheap

[phizix]

Originally Posted by RichMan

WORD! That's what i wanna do when i can't really dance anymore. My way of keeping the culture alive.

Now if i could be so lucky as to find 2 1200s with a mixer for VERY cheap

Funny enough, I can help you out with that. I have been trying to sell two 1200's and a one of my mixers for a while now. PM me if you want some details.

Dan

[woody36]

Mine are not for sale RichMan, they still get lots of use!!!!!!!!

[phizix]

Originally Posted by woody36

Mine are not for sale RichMan, they still get lots of use!!!!!!!!

hmmmmm.......you wouldn't happen to be DJ Woody the 01 ITF World Champion would ya?

[woody36]

Originally Posted by phizix

hmmmmm.......you wouldn't happen to be DJ Woody the 01 ITF World Champion would ya?

eeeerrrrrrrr, No, I wish I was, lol

Check us out

MySpace.com - Size DJs - Cardiff, UK - Funk / Hip Hop / Nu-Jazz - www.myspace.com/thesizedjs

[leaferguy]

Through my Youtube searching of artists in this thread, I got to the Black Star debut album. So, is this one of those good ones or am I an MTV sellout ?

I like this a lot.

[RichMan]

Originally Posted by woody36

eeeerrrrrrrr, No, I wish I was, lol

Check us out

MySpace.com - Size DJs - Cardiff, UK - Funk / Hip Hop / Nu-Jazz - www.myspace.com/thesizedjs

Woody, which one are you...the glasses or the no glasses? I love the Erikah Badu track, i have 2 of her albums. She so soft and smooth like some Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday.

Check out this online station: WEFUNK Radio - Hip-Hop & The Original Funk . They're from Montréal and play mostly funk with some Hip Hop and jazz.

If you wanna look me up on My Space..."/BMR38"(Rich aka Bboy4Life). I can add you on my friends list, help spread you around.

[phizix]

Originally Posted by leaferguy

Through my Youtube searching of artists in this thread, I got to the Black Star debut album. So, is this one of those good ones or am I an MTV sellout ?

I like this a lot.

That would be one of the good ones, Leafer

enjoy