2008
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Album Spotlight # 5
Coast II Coast by Tha Alkaholiks I’ve known alcoholics and it is not a cool thing. That’s why when this rap group first came out I shunned them. I didn’t want to hear a group that just talked about getting drunk all the time. Their first album 21 and Over got a lot of play…
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The Third World is Right Here!
There are forgotten people and towns in Canada that are forced to live in Third World conditions. I never would of thought anything like this could happen in the rich and abundant country we live in, but it does. My eyes were opened to this fact when I when to a teaching conference last week.…
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A Brief History of Hip-Hop – Part 6 A Piece
Read The Introduction, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 Graffiti rose in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s in New York. It went from simply writing a name on the wall or subway car, to painting larger, more complicated designs. This new form of graffiti art was called a piece,…
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A Brief History of Hip-Hop – Part 5 Graffiti Art
Read The Introduction, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 To most people, graffiti has a negative connotation. It is often associated with vandalism and crime to those outside of hip-hop culture. It is probably the most misunderstood of the four elements. It is an element that often gets overlooked. It shouldn’t. It is significant and plays an…
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Be Happy With The Little Things
Sometimes it takes something small to make you appreciate all of the things you have. For instance, I was housesitting again last week. I like to help my friend out by doing this for him. It gives me a chance to get some privacy and to enjoy all the toys that they have. I like…
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Album Spotlight # 4
Big Red Letter Day by Buffalo Tom The year is 1993 and I am glued to my television set every Thursday at 8:00 p.m. Claire Danes fills up the screen as a 15 year-old teenager in the critically acclaimed My So-Called Life. I am captivated by her character and this little show and tune in…
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Everything You Want out of Life
You can get everything you want out of life by helping others get what they want. At first glance, this saying doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense. Conventional wisdom tells us that if you want something that you have to work hard for it. While I believe that this is true, I think…
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A Brief History of Hip-Hop – Part 4 Rap Becomes Popular
Read The Introduction, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 Run-DMC signaled the new era. Their music was able to appeal to a very wide audience. Hip-hop moved beyond the ghetto and white fans gravitated toward the music. Run-DMC released three albums; a self-titled one in 1984, King of Rock in 1985, and the ground breaking Raising Hell in…
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A Brief History of Hip-Hop – Part 3 The Shift to the MC
Read The Introduction, Part 1, and Part 2 In 1978 a subtle shift happened to the culture of hip-hop. The music industry needed a name to call this music and started referring to it as “rap music.” Most people didn’t mind the new term. In fact, people started to call themselves rappers. This term shook…
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Album Spotlight # 3
Huh!? Stiffenin’ Against The Wall by Organized Rhyme The year is 1991. I catch this strange music video called, “Check the OR.” I’m fixed to the television. The song and video are captivating. The old school vibe and sample have my head nodding. The comedy on the screen makes me chuckle. The three guys in…