2008
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Improving Self Through Others
When I was younger, I used to put myself down at every available opportunity. I did it in what I thought was witty and funny ways. I did it so much that it actually became a problem. I then found a girl that I really liked and a relationship developed. She wouldn’t let me put…
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A Brief History of Hip-Hop Conclusion – Hip Hop is Alive and Well
Read The Introduction, Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 9 10 11 When Nas came out with Hip Hop is Dead last year it sparked a lot of debate. Some people were angry that he could say such a thing. I understood where he was coming from and agreed with him. It…
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A Brief History of Hip-Hop Part 11 – East vs. West
Read The Introduction, Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 9 10 Since its very beginnings, hip-hop has had distinct regional sounds. The art form was born in the Bronx but even then there were distinct styles in three different sections of the town. In the late 1970’s DJ’s three DJs were representing the sound of their respective neighbourhoods. Kool Herc held down…
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Too Attached to Image
I find a lot of people are taken aback or surprised by the fact that I am so passionate about hip-hop. I don’t seem to fit the typical audience. It throws people off. I love hip-hop music and culture but I try to remain open to other forms and genres of music. I think that…
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Album Spotlight # 6
2Pacalypse Now by 2Pac This is the debut album from “the greatest emcee to ever touch a mic,” at least I have been proclaiming that ever since I was first introduced to this amazing artist. There is something intangible about his music. It could be the raw emotion that he seems to evoke on every…
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Conversation Builds Vocabulary
This was an idea thrown out there during a recent workshop I took on Supporting Adolescent Reading. As soon as I heard the presenter say, “Conversation builds vocabulary,” I knew she had something there. I have known this all along, although I have never really thought about it. I have never spoken down to children…
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A Brief History of Hip-Hop Part 10 – The Production
Read The Introduction, Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Rap songs started out simply enough. It was what the DJs had available. They had record players and they had plenty of records. That was all that was needed, at the start. DJs could extend the break of the record to make a repetitive loop of one part of a song. In…
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A Brief History of Hip-Hop Part 9 – The Turntable as an Instrument
Read The Introduction, Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Hip-hop started with the DJ. This is a point that I cannot emphasize enough. From the very first block parties, DJs used record players in very creative ways. They didn’t merely play a record for people to dance to. They mixed up two…
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The Key to Good Production
The key to good hip-hop is this – the music and lyrics need to work together. They need to enhance each other like a movie script and an actor. A script is great by itself but it doesn’t truly come alive until it is produced. Rap music goes way beyond beats and lyrics when it…
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Simplicity Needs to be Taught
The simple things in life need to be taught and understood. We have forgotten a lot of the simple things. We think simple doesn’t need an explanation, so we say nothing. Why waste our breath? Everyone knows, for a while, but then we forget. We’ve forgotten more than we know. Some cultures are dying out.…