Blog
Welcome to the sounding board for Chase March. Here you will find my various articles about a variety of topics (DJ Events and news, book reviews, skatepark tours, teaching-related articles and resources, and much more)
Please use the buttons on Explore page to navigate to the topics that interest you.
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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…
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Jericho Returns
Jericho is television at its best. That’s why when it was cancelled last season, the fans stood up in unison and said, “Nuts!” The fans rallied behind the show and used a line from the season finale episode as a battle cry. The way the fans fought for the show mirrored the way the characters…
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Hip Hop Represents at The Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards celebrated their 50th anniversary last night in style. While very few awards were given out, the show was a powerhouse of live performances. Alicia Keys opened the show with a duet with Frank Sinatra. He was shown on a black and white video behind her. It was a great performance. Alicia Keys…
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A Brief History of Hip-Hop – Part 2 Rap is Born
Read The Introduction and Part 1 Part 2 – Rap is Born In the mid 1970s, DJs still owned the parties and were held in reverence. DJs such as Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grand Master Flash quickly became legends. They all strove to improve their DJ skills and soon employed MCs (masters of ceremony) to help them…