critical minded (news)

[STILLDRE IS THE GODFATHER]

Critical Minded
Thursday - February 20, 2003
J-23
Most of you know that I have never pulled any punches when it comes to criticizing The Source, and I stand by everything I have ever said. Given their antics in the last few months that have brought them to new lows in professionalism and integrity, I am surprised to be giving them props for their latest issue. Not only are they targeting hip-hop’s problems (as opposed to helping to create them), but they are accepting responsibility for their negative contributions. Now let’s just hope that they stay on this path, they could keep it up by promoting some real hip-hop for a change. How about a J-Live cover instead of a Ja Rule cover? I know, I know, it won’t sell as many issues, but if a difference needs to be made then turning 50,000 young people onto someone like J-Live or Mr. Lif will sure as hell make a difference. All of the problems that they address in their latest issue have been tackled by plenty of artists, the same artists they shun in favor of the usual bullshit. Wouldn’t it make more sense to get behind the artists that are speaking out against the same evils??? As far as the state of emergency goes, I can’t say I really agree wholeheartedly though. As a culture, I think hip-hop is growing by leaps and bounds; interest in graffiti and breaking is as high as it has been in at least 10 years. DJ’s are once again being recognized as the anchor of hip-hop, and most importantly, hip-hop is worldwide, moreso than ever. The state of emergency primarily lies in the financial side of things, but isn’t that part of the problem in itself? Money is the priority. Hip-hop’s best year was in 1988, long before it was a multi-billion dollar industry.

Just when you thought it was over...both Jay and Nas have recently said that neither are interested in dissing one another anymore, don’t bet on it. Word from the UK is that Nas is saying plenty at his shows...”throw your middle fingers up for Jay-Z.” It ain’t over in 2003, just wait and see.

Speaking of beef, what the fuck is up with these females? Foxy dissing Eve, Kim dissing Eve, Foxy dissing Kim. Dare I make a cat fight joke? And shit, you’d think all this squabbling would have brought back Roxanne Shante by now. Personally, I don’t really give a fuck about any of it, but still, MC Lyte would fuck’em all up. Don’t forget, after taking a verbal ass-kicking from J-Ro, Xzibit is bound to put the gloves on to get his liks (pun intended). X is dope, but I got Tha Liks on this one...Dre wouldn’t know you if Tha Liks and King Tee hadn’t put you on. The latest to pop up (although it has been brewing for a minute) is Royce and D-12. The Dirty Dozen (minus Proof and Em) bombed first but Royce easily took round 1. Man, Bizarre caught a bad one.

With all these battles as of late, something tells me that things are going to escalate in 2003. I just have a bad feeling that some dumb shit is gonna happen again. Don’t forget about Big and Pac, it wasn’t that long ago. Keep it on wax, and if you can’t keep from bugging out then fuck the guns, fuck your crew, and meet one on one and throw some dukes. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing 50 hand Ja Rule his ass. Can’t you just see the aftermath (no pun intended)? Ja sniveling with a busted lip, all cuddled up to Irv who is downing like 4 large pizzas.

Back to The Source thing for a moment though, in Chuck D’s latest online commentary (which every hip hop head should be forced to read on a regular basis), he said at that Fabolous admitted to knowing nothing during the panel discussion. Hahahahaaha, I’ve been saying it since he came out. I wonder if he can spell ‘manufactured artist?’ At least he is accepting reality though. And yo, check out Chuck’s vicious jab at Def Jam, I know Russ felt that one.

A few weeks ago I received an interesting email from an admitted new fan to hip-hop. He had recently been exposed to some first-class breaking and graffiti for the first time and he was astounded as to how two things so incredible could be so far behind the music in terms of recognition. Most new-school cats may not know this, but in hip-hop’s infancy it was rapping that took the back seat as it was the last element to come. The answer is fairly simple though, as hip-hop grew in the 80’s and became more popular it was taken into the arms of corporate America. Profits became the name of the game and breaking and graffiti could not be packaged into a consumer product. Major labels and the like could not sell The Rock Steady Crew to the public, it didn’t matter that their talent was every bit as impressive as Rakim’s mic skills. The pimp chose rap to be his whore, simple as that. Thankfully, crews like Rocksteady were insanely dedicated and the b-boy never died. As a result, breaking is flourishing today.

Time for another list that so many seem to love, the topic via request this month; most slept on emcees. In theory any underground emcee is slept on since the masses don’t recognize, but this list is for those who are largely slept on by the underground or are fairly well-known but just don’t get the props they deserve. So here they are, in no particular order:

1. Del
2. C-Rayz Walz
3. Percee P
4. ManChild (Mars Ill)
5. Devin The Dude
6. Louis Logic
7. Mr. Lif
8. O.C.
9. Breezly Brewin (Juggaknots)
10. Aloe Blacc (Emanon)