“Other People’s Property” is a very good book that is at its best when its author acts like a DJ. But don’t get it twisted: [Jason] Tanz sees hip-hop as text more than as sonic phenomenon or, for that matter, stone groove. “Other People’s Property” is made up of nine journalistic pieces, each a mix of reportage and personal reflection about race and the industry of hip-hop. It’s freaky, equally in love with Western philosophers such as Jean Baudrillard and the classic albums from hip-hop’s golden era. In a very hip-hop effort to get his shine on, the author mashes up his prose, cutting in and out of reportage and confessional styles.
This cutting edge documentary not only unmasks the faces of seven individuals addicted to graffiti, but it exposes their thoughts, feelings, faults and fears — an avenue unrivaled by any graff film to date[…]”Graffiti is like the United Nations. There is a representative from all corners of the earth. Black, white and the many shades in between, man or woman.”
In further support of Hurricane Katrina victims, Vibe Magazine’s VCares charity organization announced that it will auction off a pool table autographed by celebrities who attended the third annual Vibe Awards. The auction for the celebrity-signed billiards table will take place between January 16 and 22 on vibe.com/vcares.
If you’re not a rap enthusiast or an avid BET watcher, you may have missed one of the biggest style trends of the past year: pimp cups. These colorful, goblet-sized glasses, decorated with sparkly paint and shiny objects (read: bling) are some rappers’ favorite accoutrements, something to wave to the beat of crunk music.
There is opportunity within black communities. The untapped economic and intellectual capacity of black communities is mind-numbing. Mainstream solutions that promote community economic stability often result in more nail shops, hair shops and liquor stores emerging in our community or a chain store, whose owners are not local. There is nothing wrong with any of these fine establishments. The only issue is one that has been discussed before. Generally, these stores are not owned by African Americans or local residents.
SNL’s plain whitebread rappers toast pastries, weed and Narnia. “Saturday Night Live” has become relevant again thanks to a comic rap video inspired by Hollywood’s latest fantasy blockbuster, cupcakes and marijuana. The sketch, “Lazy Sunday,” which aired on Dec. 17, has turned into an Internet sensation under the name “Chronic of Narnia Rap.”
Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is working on an untitled documentary that explores the relationship between Jazz music, Hip-Hop and basketball. Abdul-Jabbar told Hoopsworld.com that the documentary was in the production phase, as producers were filming interviews and locating hard to find archival footage. “We’re doing a documentary, and hopefully it will have a very strong music element,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “We want to show how hip-hop, which kind of fuels today’s basketball stars, is directly related to jazz. When we show that connection we find that things haven’t changed at all.”
“Style Wars,” the seminal film on graffiti and the early roots of hip hop culture has just been re-released in DVD format. Music Video Distribution has taken the 1983 original PBS documentary release and dubbed it into digital form, in accordance with director, Tony Silver, and producer, Henry Chalfant.
The double-disc package includes over 3 […]
Rap artist Sadat X, known for relating messages inspired by the Five Percent Nation thru the music of the hip-hop group Brand Nubian, was arrested Thursday in New York. Police have charged the politically and strong minded rap artist with criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest.
