[Kamikaze] Heaven's Bus
Sometimes the hypocrisy in modern society troubles me. I've known for years that the playing field for African Americans has never been level. I've always known that those who disagree with that fact probably have a slightly skewed view of reality. But whatever those feelings are, I knew we could be assured that with death, there would come some semblance of peace. Whether you did good deeds or raised a little hell, you at least had the right to spend eternity where you saw fit. Ironically though, even in death, we've found a way to separate ourselves. The classism that exists even in the African-American community has found its way into the afterlife.
[Kamikaze] Don't Be Cool
Parents. Stop. Put down whatever you're doing and ask yourself: Do I know where my kids are? Better yet, do I know what they're thinking?
[Kamikaze] A Wave Of The Finger
My hat is off to Cyrus Webb and ShadowPlay Entertainment for raising issues affecting the hip-hop nation recently. His Free2Flow Summit last week was an attempt to enlighten the public at large about the rap world and a chance for some area kids to learn about the "business of music." I was fortunate enough to be one of the panelists, and more fortunate to engage in some in-depth discussions with a few very intelligent ladies and gentlemen.
[Kamikaze] Hamster On A Treadmill
I've been intrigued reading some of the posts on the JFP Web site in response to the New York Times story "Plight Worsens for Black Men." Although I didn't need the Times to point out the obvious, folk should know the trials of one of America's true endangered species. Between death and jail, we're losing black men by the thousands daily. The vicious cycle of poverty-to-crime-to-incarceration has got some black kids feeling like the proverbial hamster on a treadmill. Society offers plenty of condemnation followed by conversation, but often does little in the way of solutions.
A Pimp's Revenge
I couldn't help but smile as I watched Memphis rap group Three 6 Mafia accept their Oscar this month for Best Original Song. Not because they didn't deserve it. Oh no, Three 6 has been holding it down for nearly a decade. They've cruised just under the crossover radar since the mid-'90s with several regional and a few national hits. Of course, being that they're so close to Jackson, they're extremely popular here.
[Kamikaze] Local Music Stands Up
Well, we've come to another music issue. I'm sure this one will prove to be bigger than the last. Each one in the future will be bigger than the one before. I must say I'm very proud of the progress I've seen in our blossoming music scene. From rock to rap, we've made huge strides. Local artists are packing clubs and selling records. I remember a time not too long ago when local radio totally ignored its homegrown talent.
[Kamikaze] Spike's Daze
I've always been a fan of Spike Lee, especially for his "take no crap" stance against the Hollywood establishment.
[Kamikaze] Our Victories Are History
I've never really liked the idea of Black History "Month." There'll be another slew of black history programs (yawn). We'll hear the same speakers speak, and my kids will once again hear about Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman in school. Pretty standard stuff. We'll sing, we'll pray, we'll celebrate the lives of Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King. We'll talk about the marches on Selma and Washington. We'll talk about slaves traveling the underground railroad and black folks getting attacked by police dogs in Birmingham, Ala. We'll applaud the passage of the Voting Rights Act and affirmative action. Basically, we'll let America give us a collective pat on the head and a hearty "good job."
[Kamikaze] Relax, And Hire Young
Without thrusting myself into the political fray, I must say that Ward 4 Councilman Frank Bluntson and Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman were dead-on last week in response to Mayor Frank Melton's appointment of Marcus Ward as city lobbyist. There certainly does need to be a place in government for the next generation, my generation.
[Kamikaze] Disrespecting Rappers
The year 2005 was a great one for hiphop. As a genre, it continues to dominate the music industry and pop culture in general. Here locally, hiphop has almost (and I stress almost) gone from a red-headed stepchild to a respected art form. Surely now Jackson's intelligentsia would think twice before blaming hip-hop for this city's ills, right?
[Kamikaze] The CNN Of The Streets
Over the years hip-hop music has been effective in uncovering many truths. The L.A.-based group NWA shined a bright light on rampant police brutality in songs like "F_*ck the Police." Rapper-turned-actor Ice T practically predicted the L.A. riots that followed the Rodney King verdict on his sophomore album, "Rhyme Pays." Quite frankly, rap music has been, as Public Enemy front man Chuck-D once said, "the CNN of the streets."
[Kamikaze] A Simple Plan
The equation seems simple. In order for society to create productive adults, it must first nurture them as children. Young people are the foundation of our future. Some will be our next teachers, doctors, lawyers, bus drivers, skilled laborers, star athletes and music moguls. Still some will run afoul of the law, becoming yet another crime statistic.
[Kamikaze] Hold The Beef
There is great joy in understanding. Simple communication doesn't get nearly as much hype as it should. Conflict managers through the ages have championed the benefits of true conversation, but in this age of beefs (real or perceived) people have yet to simply talk to one another.
[Kamikaze] Bush's Report Card
My kids got their first report card of the year recently. As most parents know, it's that initial indicator that lets you know just where your child stands with his schoolwork or his behavior. It's those infamous letter grades that say either "good job" or "some improvement is needed." Either you're on your way to success or headed toward failure.
[Kamikaze] The Apocalypse Is Nigh
I'm back from a couple of weeks in the media capital of the world—New York City. Bright lights, big dreams and bad weather. Unfortunately while I was there, the Northeastern seaboard experienced some of its worst weather in years. Here I am running from the remnants of Katrina and Rita and, POW!, seven straight days of blinding rain and flooding in New Hampshire. Methinks this is yet another sign that the Apocalypse is nigh.
[Kamikaze] God Is Smiling
It's a testament to the human spirit to see how Mississippians have responded in this time of crisis. Hurricane Katrina may have devastated property, homes and businesses, but it didn't crush hope. Out of the rubble that is now the Gulf Coast rose a renewed sense of worth.
[Kamikaze] The Beat Goes On
I have been busy planning the Music To Heal Mississippi Benefit (which was a huge success, thanks) and recording a new album. But I'm back this week and talking directly to music lovers of all ages and colors who always whine that there's nothing to do in Jackson.
[Kamikaze] I Am Hip-Hop
Looks like I'm going to have to get on my soapbox, yet again. Folks around here should know by now that if you say anything derogatory about hip-hop, I'm going to come after you hard. Especially when your comments are not stemmed in fact, but based on outdated stereotypes and profiling, you are sure to read about yourself in my next column.
[Kamikaze] Racists Win Again
Excuse me if I'm a little cynical when it comes to the American judicial system. Any system run by human beings is going to be flawed. Being that we are supposed to be the superior species on the planet, we're often too smart for our own good. We're a civilized society (sometimes), so we have laws and rules. Sometimes, however, our predilection to interpret and follow rules overrides basic common sense.
[Kamikaze] Pump It Up
I've been an athlete all my life. Since I can remember, I've participated in organized sports, whether it was soccer in elementary school; baseball, basketball and track in junior high school; or football in high school and briefly at Jackson State.
[Kamikaze] The New Racism
You guys should know me by now. I'm that radical, angry rapper-guy who seems to have an opinion on everything. The guy who likes to stir it up, make you think. So as par for the course, I simply must reply to a letter printed in the JFP last issue. Phillip Ley of Flowood obviously took some exception to my last column blasting Sens. Thad Cochran and Trent Lott for not co-sponsoring an anti-lynching resolution. While I have no problem with open dialogue (or criticism for that matter), I do have a problem with abject denial. And after obviously missing the point of my column, your response is, Mr. Ley, akin to your sticking your fingers in your ears, making annoying noises to tune out the truth.
[Kamikaze] Two Steps Forward, Two Back
"If you don't learn from the past, you're doomed to repeat it." Well, don't be surprised if the drama that is the real world has started looking like a rerun. Too often, when Mississippi appears to be discarding the vestiges of racism that has crippled it for decades, someone here does or says something, well, stupid. Needless to say, it's kind of embarrassing how we've yet again given a platform for ignorance to rear its ugly head.
[Kamikaze] Jam On
Whew! It's been a whirlwind two weeks. Quite honestly, my head is spinning. But it seems a bit of progress has been made. If you haven't been out of town or off the planet recently, then you've heard about the stir Jubilee!JAM officials caused when this year's line up was announced a couple of weeks ago. Much to the chagrin of hundreds of JAM supporters, this year's festival was originally devoid of any hip-hop. Save for a performance by rock/rap hybrid Free Sol, there wasn't one hip-hop act—local or otherwise—on the bill.
[Kamikaze] Don't Get Nuked
What you don't know: filibuster, n. the use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action.
[Kamikaze] All Over But The Crying
Well, it's all over but the crying (although I may be late on that one). One of the most storied elections in the history of Jackson is indeed that— history. On June 7, the Bold New City will have a new mayor. And currently, all the signs point toward the enigmatic figure that is Frank Melton. In fact, most pundits say that Melton's opponent, former news anchor, Rich Whitlow, has about as much chance of winning as Jim Giles does of becoming head of the NAACP. But I digress.
[Kamikaze] Give Raines A Second Chance
I guess there's no such thing as second chances. Mistakes, accidents, lapses in judgment—it doesn't matter. Mess up once, and you've got one hell of a road to travel back to public approval. Commit a crime, serve time, and America would rather you just sit over in a corner and keep your mouth shut. Commit a crime, serve time and be black, and you're a pariah.
[Kamikaze] The Choice Is Yours
Come election time, there's always a slew of PSAs—on both TV and radio—stressing the importance of voting. Each time, this election is more important than the last. "Vote or Die" is the new mantra. Even I, during the last presidential election, urged readers to vote "no matter who you vote for."
[Kamikaze] Look Inside The Matrix
I had the honor of speaking on a panel recently at Tougaloo College to discuss sexual imagery in hip-hop. It was apropos because my last column spoke to a similar issue. It was a spirited debate to say the least, and one that made me want to even go deeper into this controversy.
[Kamikaze] Don't Blame Nelly
My condolences go out to rap mega-star Nelly and his immediate family. In case you haven't heard, Nelly's sister, 31-year-old Jackie Donahue, lost her battle with leukemia recently. What a lot of people don't know is that Nelly spent a lot of his time trying simply to save his sister's life. As some families can attest, fighting leukemia, or any other terminal illness, is not cheap. Luckily for Nelly, the blessings of the music industry allowed him the means to start the Jes Us 4 Jackie Foundation. His fame and fortune helped shine light on the condition of his sister and those like her.
[Kamikaze] Let's Get ‘Real'
Listen, this proposed "council" on racial reconciliation that I've read so much about in previous weeks appears to be a good idea ... in theory. But here's the thing, while this "council" is a necessary tool in the healing process, it will only work if two key pieces are in play.
[Kamikaze] Hello, Mayor Jones
I was reading The Clarion-Ledger recently, and I came across something that made me laugh. Some parents in Florence are up in arms over their kids allegedly being harassed by police, in particular, by Sgt. Mike Crowdus. About 30 parents are outraged because Crowdus demanded wallets from their teen kids, used inappropriate language to them and arrested one, 16-year-old Glenn Wynn, during a traffic stop
Stokes: A Friend of Hip-Hop
There are few people who I feel are truly allies to the hip-hop nation. The press condemns us, most parents hate us, and advertisers use us. But around these parts, there's one person who seems to understand our work, and respect our strength—Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes.
Why I'm Voting Tuesday
<b>Web Exclusive</b>
The hip-hop generation has been much maligned—partially because apathy runs rampant in our demographic. "Why should I vote?"or "My one vote won't make a difference" or even better, "I'm too busy" are all these familiar excuses? The scary thing is ... every vote counts. This is probably one of the most important elections in the history of politics. The very welfare of this country and the lives of thousands of servicemen overseas hinges upon the decisions we make this November.
Prev Next