America. Land of the free. Home of the brave. In America we have been indoctrinated with superficial patriotism. We have been indoctrinated with images of pride and freedom. We have been imbued with an almost overwhelming sense of self righteousness. If you allow the average American to tell it, America is a free and open country where anyone can be and do anything regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, or religion. This image persists even in the face of the undeniable fact that nothing could be further from the truth.
You see there is America and then there is the America that exists in our minds. There is the real America and the America that has been manufactured and indoctrinated into the hearts and souls of it's citizens. What's amazing is that the manufactured, illusory image of America is always the dominant one. We consistently reject the truth. We always accept the false image. In fact, not only will we consistently reject the truth, we will take issue with anyone who even attempts to speak it.
For example, we are taught to believe that the Founding Fathers of this country were champions of freedom who discovered a new land and built a nation where all men and women could live free and prosper. We eat that image up. But it's not the truth. The truth is that the Founding Fathers were slave owners who saw blacks as 3/5 of a person. They were misogynists who believed women did not have the right or even the intellectual capacity to vote or own land. They were murderers who drove Mexicans south and brought the Native Americans to the brink of extinction.
Now those are facts. I didn't make a single word of that up. But if I were to speak that truth, most Americans would lose their minds. They would seethe with rage and anger. I would be called everything from racist to unpatriotic. I would told things like "If you don't like this country, LEAVE!" Even though nothing I've said is false.
I'll give you another example. America is a racist nation. That is an undeniable truth. America was founded on white male supremacy. Again blacks were considered 3/5 of a person. Women did not possess the same rights as men. Native Americans were viewed as savages and pushed from their land. America has a history of racism, discrimination, and civil unrest. Less than 50 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King was violently shot and killed. Dr. King fought tirelessly for equal rights and change. He was an advocate of non-violence, even in the face of it. Even as he was stoned, jailed, and attacked he still refused to raise his hands to his opponents. Ultimately he was shot in the head. Even today black people do not enjoy equal justice and opportunity under the law. Blacks still make less than their white counterparts per average for doing relatively the same work. Hate speech is a regular occurrence. Then there is the criminal justice system. One has only to ask the families of Eric Garner, Mike Brown, and Tamir Price about justice to understand that the criminal justice system sees blacks in particular as criminals almost by default.
Again, those are facts. Harsh facts to be sure. But facts nonetheless. But if I speak those facts aloud? Well, I shouldn't have to tell anyone what will happen and what will be said about me.
It's not just from whites. Should I speak the truth to power many other black people will rage as well. I've learned a long time ago there are black people who are completely invested in Illusory America. I like to compare it in some ways to the Matrix. It doesn't matter if they aren't really eating steak. As long as they believe they are eating steak, that's all that matters. When given the option to see America as it exists versus illusory America, they will choose illusory America 10/10 times.
So here we are. Living in two Americas. The America that exists in reality and the one that exists in our minds. What's sad is that the more the America that exists in reality asserts itself, the harder we cling to the America that exists in our minds. Because of this, any progress we make toward making our nation truly better will be slow and painstaking. You don't fix what you wont acknowledge as broken. We will never escape the hell as long as we collectively cling to the illusion that we are living in heaven.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
You Don't Know Bill Cosby. Stop Pretending You Do
I want to preface this blog posting by saying by no means am I implying guilt or innocence with this post. I do however want to make a clear point.
I've heard several people say over the past few weeks that there is no way that Bill Cosby could possibly be guilty of the allegations of rape and sexual misconduct that have been brought against him. I've talked to people who have staunchly and rigorously defended Cosby against his accusers. What has baffled me to be quite honest is not that they are defending him but the reasons why they are defending him. I've heard people say "I grew up with Bill Cosby. I grew up watching Bill Cosby. Cosby could never do anything like that." If you are one of those people then I must tell you that I find your position...well...ridiculous.
First of all let's deal in reality. Bill Cosby is a comedian and an actor. The beloved characters you grew up watching are just that. Characters. Heathcliff Huxtable is not real. The animated characters you grew to love are not real. The man that was on stage telling jokes that made you laugh until your sides ached was simply doing what comedians do.
Let's be honest. Bill Cosby has touched all of our lives in some way and many of us have fond memories of him whether it be from stage, movies, TV sitcoms, or animated cartoons. But we should not dismiss the charges against him just because at one time he made us feel good. We should not be so quick to defend him simply because he made us smile or laugh. Rape is a very serious crime and we should treat it as such. Blind reverence is a very dangerous thing and if Mr. Cosby is guilty of these charges he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
I've been very critical of Cosby for a long time and I will readily admit that. I've taken issue with Cosby's condescending approach and tone to young black people. I've sharply criticized his comments regarding struggling black Americans. That said, this is not an attempt to strike at Cosby. As I said, this blog posting is not about suggesting guilt or innocence. It's about why we shouldn't dismiss these allegations simply because it's Bill Cosby.
You didn't grow up with Cosby. You grew up with characters on television, stage, and movies. You grew up with animated shows and stand-up routines. You don't know Bill Cosby. Stop acting as if you do.
I've heard several people say over the past few weeks that there is no way that Bill Cosby could possibly be guilty of the allegations of rape and sexual misconduct that have been brought against him. I've talked to people who have staunchly and rigorously defended Cosby against his accusers. What has baffled me to be quite honest is not that they are defending him but the reasons why they are defending him. I've heard people say "I grew up with Bill Cosby. I grew up watching Bill Cosby. Cosby could never do anything like that." If you are one of those people then I must tell you that I find your position...well...ridiculous.
First of all let's deal in reality. Bill Cosby is a comedian and an actor. The beloved characters you grew up watching are just that. Characters. Heathcliff Huxtable is not real. The animated characters you grew to love are not real. The man that was on stage telling jokes that made you laugh until your sides ached was simply doing what comedians do.
Let's be honest. Bill Cosby has touched all of our lives in some way and many of us have fond memories of him whether it be from stage, movies, TV sitcoms, or animated cartoons. But we should not dismiss the charges against him just because at one time he made us feel good. We should not be so quick to defend him simply because he made us smile or laugh. Rape is a very serious crime and we should treat it as such. Blind reverence is a very dangerous thing and if Mr. Cosby is guilty of these charges he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
I've been very critical of Cosby for a long time and I will readily admit that. I've taken issue with Cosby's condescending approach and tone to young black people. I've sharply criticized his comments regarding struggling black Americans. That said, this is not an attempt to strike at Cosby. As I said, this blog posting is not about suggesting guilt or innocence. It's about why we shouldn't dismiss these allegations simply because it's Bill Cosby.
You didn't grow up with Cosby. You grew up with characters on television, stage, and movies. You grew up with animated shows and stand-up routines. You don't know Bill Cosby. Stop acting as if you do.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Why Marching and Non Violence Isn't Enough: The Genius of MLK
I want to talk a bit about the genius that was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In the wake of the grand jury decision regarding Darren Wilson I can't help but think of him. He was more than just a charismatic leader of men. He was more than just a well spoken minister. He was an incredible man. He was a genius.
We often lose sight of the true MLK and the magnificence of what he was able to accomplish. We are often blinded by the light so to speak. We often try to put MLK into a box. When we think of MLK we think of "I have A Dream" and "We Shall Overcome". We think of marches and speeches. We often miss the true substance. We often forget one of the most important lessons MLK tried to teach us. That lesson is that marching and singing alone isn't enough. If we want to see true change we must decisive and definitive actions.
MLK chose the path of non violence for a number of important reasons. He knew that we could not over power the system at that time. He knew that we were outgunned and outmanned and force was not a feasible option. He knew that our message would be diluted through violence and bloodshed. So he chose a different path. That said, he also knew that marching and singing would not be enough. He knew that while non violence would ensure that we could not be dismissed or framed as violent thugs looking to cause harm, it would also not be enough.
MLK knew that it is impossible to appeal to the morality of your oppressor. Your oppressor is completely aware of their actions. They are completely conscious of what they are doing to you. Appealing to their morality is useless. So MLK chose a different path. He attacked the system economically and socially. And it worked.
Think about the bus boycott for example. Black people showed their collective economic power and crippled the public transit system. He showed our oppressors that he knew where to strike them and that he had the ability to rally black people together to make that strike. That's why the American establishment was so afraid of him. Because they knew that through King's inspiration Black people could cripple the system. J.Edgar Hoover called MLK the most dangerous negro in America. They knew what King knew. That those marches and songs were not the means to fight. They were the rallying cry.
Those marches and songs were for US not for our oppressor. They were meant to inspire us. They were meant to encourage us. They were meant to embolden us. Once inspired, encouraged, and emboldened we had the fortitude to do what was necessary. Imagine what we could do today. Imagine if we decided to stay home from work and keep our money in our pockets on Black Friday. Imagine if we came together and did something of SUBSTANCE.
We are so busy marching, singing, rallying and listening to weak ass milksop leaders that we are missing a great lesson that Dr. King tried to teach us. Non violence isn't enough. Marching isn't enough. Unless we want to see cities on fire we need to do more than just sing and march. Our people are crying out for justice and they will have it one way or the other. It's time we remember one of King's most important lessons.
We often lose sight of the true MLK and the magnificence of what he was able to accomplish. We are often blinded by the light so to speak. We often try to put MLK into a box. When we think of MLK we think of "I have A Dream" and "We Shall Overcome". We think of marches and speeches. We often miss the true substance. We often forget one of the most important lessons MLK tried to teach us. That lesson is that marching and singing alone isn't enough. If we want to see true change we must decisive and definitive actions.
MLK chose the path of non violence for a number of important reasons. He knew that we could not over power the system at that time. He knew that we were outgunned and outmanned and force was not a feasible option. He knew that our message would be diluted through violence and bloodshed. So he chose a different path. That said, he also knew that marching and singing would not be enough. He knew that while non violence would ensure that we could not be dismissed or framed as violent thugs looking to cause harm, it would also not be enough.
MLK knew that it is impossible to appeal to the morality of your oppressor. Your oppressor is completely aware of their actions. They are completely conscious of what they are doing to you. Appealing to their morality is useless. So MLK chose a different path. He attacked the system economically and socially. And it worked.
Think about the bus boycott for example. Black people showed their collective economic power and crippled the public transit system. He showed our oppressors that he knew where to strike them and that he had the ability to rally black people together to make that strike. That's why the American establishment was so afraid of him. Because they knew that through King's inspiration Black people could cripple the system. J.Edgar Hoover called MLK the most dangerous negro in America. They knew what King knew. That those marches and songs were not the means to fight. They were the rallying cry.
Those marches and songs were for US not for our oppressor. They were meant to inspire us. They were meant to encourage us. They were meant to embolden us. Once inspired, encouraged, and emboldened we had the fortitude to do what was necessary. Imagine what we could do today. Imagine if we decided to stay home from work and keep our money in our pockets on Black Friday. Imagine if we came together and did something of SUBSTANCE.
We are so busy marching, singing, rallying and listening to weak ass milksop leaders that we are missing a great lesson that Dr. King tried to teach us. Non violence isn't enough. Marching isn't enough. Unless we want to see cities on fire we need to do more than just sing and march. Our people are crying out for justice and they will have it one way or the other. It's time we remember one of King's most important lessons.
Missing Our Leaders....Especially Now
When I was young I was a troubled young man with anger issues. I often fought and got into all manner of trouble. One of the ways I was taught to control my emotions is to write. I find that when I'm consumed with emotion, writing helps me "see my thoughts" and control my energy. On the eve of the grand jury's decision regarding Darren Wilson I again find myself consumed with emotion. I imagine I'll be writing quite a bit.....
It's times like these when I wish we had leaders like Malcolm and Martin still with us. It's times like these when I wish we had leaders with the fortitude of the elders and not these milksop cowards we've got running around now.
These fools don't do anything. They'll show up and organize a rally or march, run their mouths, march, raise some money and disappear. They'll placate us with honeyed words and patronize us with useless platitudes.
Most importantly they'll tell us "violence is not the answer" without providing any answer of their own. Our young people need guidance. Help. Leadership. They are despondent and frustrated over a society that seems to want the dead. They aren't receiving equal justice under the law. They tell our young people to "be smart" but they wont provide a reasonable and pragmatic solution. They wont arm them with a means to properly resist and oppose the system. Again they'll just offer useless platitudes and nothing of substance.
Then it hits me and I'm reminded of the truth. We can't rely on our "leaders". We must be our own leaders. Each one must teach one. We have to find our own way and not depend on these suited weasels to assist us. Still, even with that understanding, we could sure use Malcolm right now....
It's times like these when I wish we had leaders like Malcolm and Martin still with us. It's times like these when I wish we had leaders with the fortitude of the elders and not these milksop cowards we've got running around now.
These fools don't do anything. They'll show up and organize a rally or march, run their mouths, march, raise some money and disappear. They'll placate us with honeyed words and patronize us with useless platitudes.
Most importantly they'll tell us "violence is not the answer" without providing any answer of their own. Our young people need guidance. Help. Leadership. They are despondent and frustrated over a society that seems to want the dead. They aren't receiving equal justice under the law. They tell our young people to "be smart" but they wont provide a reasonable and pragmatic solution. They wont arm them with a means to properly resist and oppose the system. Again they'll just offer useless platitudes and nothing of substance.
Then it hits me and I'm reminded of the truth. We can't rely on our "leaders". We must be our own leaders. Each one must teach one. We have to find our own way and not depend on these suited weasels to assist us. Still, even with that understanding, we could sure use Malcolm right now....
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
The Ray Rice Incident: Why Some of My Brothers Need to Stop the Nonsense
I'm going to be short and to the point.
My brothers we need to stop. Seriously. Stop. I'm growing weary of hearing the same bigoted, oppressive, and privileged logic used by racists being applied to black women. The Ray Rice incident has really exposed some of you. It's really frustrating for me as a seasoned brother trying to do what little I can, to see us being set back by our own arrogance, ignorance, and misogyny.
We are never, and I repeat, NEVER going to heal the rift that exists between black men and women if we engage in the same type of victim blaming, excuse making fuckery we constantly go in on racist whites for. We love to go on at length about how Black women are Queens and how they are the Mother of the Earth and the foundation of the family. But for some reason when the time comes for us to speak on her behalf, far too many of us lose our voice and even more of us start parroting the same demented foolishness we hear coming from bigoted racists.
Cut the shit. Please. Domestic violence is a serious problem. I don't want to hear shit about Rice losing his job, how women are gold diggers, how she provoked him, how this is a distraction, or any of that other shit you're using to justify domestic violence. Just stop it.
I don't believe you when you say you care about black people or the black experience when you've got all kinds of excuses for Rice dripping from you lips. I don't hear you when you speak of social injustice but then take an apologetic tone to domestic violence.
You get angry when racist whites suggest Eric Garner had it coming. You get angry when racist whites suggest Trayvon had it coming. You get angry when racist whites suggest Mike Brown had it coming. Then you sit there and suggest that Janay had it coming. Stop that nonsense. Enough with the victim blaming. I really can't stand it. Cut it the hell out. I will hear no more of it.
Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
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Check out the radio show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/docsinn
My brothers we need to stop. Seriously. Stop. I'm growing weary of hearing the same bigoted, oppressive, and privileged logic used by racists being applied to black women. The Ray Rice incident has really exposed some of you. It's really frustrating for me as a seasoned brother trying to do what little I can, to see us being set back by our own arrogance, ignorance, and misogyny.
We are never, and I repeat, NEVER going to heal the rift that exists between black men and women if we engage in the same type of victim blaming, excuse making fuckery we constantly go in on racist whites for. We love to go on at length about how Black women are Queens and how they are the Mother of the Earth and the foundation of the family. But for some reason when the time comes for us to speak on her behalf, far too many of us lose our voice and even more of us start parroting the same demented foolishness we hear coming from bigoted racists.
Cut the shit. Please. Domestic violence is a serious problem. I don't want to hear shit about Rice losing his job, how women are gold diggers, how she provoked him, how this is a distraction, or any of that other shit you're using to justify domestic violence. Just stop it.
I don't believe you when you say you care about black people or the black experience when you've got all kinds of excuses for Rice dripping from you lips. I don't hear you when you speak of social injustice but then take an apologetic tone to domestic violence.
You get angry when racist whites suggest Eric Garner had it coming. You get angry when racist whites suggest Trayvon had it coming. You get angry when racist whites suggest Mike Brown had it coming. Then you sit there and suggest that Janay had it coming. Stop that nonsense. Enough with the victim blaming. I really can't stand it. Cut it the hell out. I will hear no more of it.
Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Check me on FB at https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Check out the radio show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/docsinn
Sunday, July 27, 2014
No One is Safe From Police Brutality
I am going to be straight, blunt, and to the point. There is no point in dancing around this issue any longer. It's time we accepted the undeniable truth. If you live in America you are not safe from police brutality. In America today anyone runs the risk of being beaten, assaulted, and killed by law enforcement. It is a fact.
Children. Women. The elderly. Doesn't matter. We are all targets and at any given time we could easily become statistics. It boggles the mind how often police brutality occurs. We've almost become desensitized to it. The killings of brothers like Eric Garner, sisters like Rekia Boyd, and children like Aiyana Stanley have become commonplace. Beatings and assaults have become a regular occurrence. We have become fodder. They were put here to protect us, but no one protects us from them.
This is not just the truth for my black brothers and sisters. This is not just the truth for my Mexican, Spanish, and Latino brothers and sisters. We've lived with this truth since this country was founded. Guess what white people? Today you aren't safe either. Some of you seem to believe you are immune to police brutality. You believe that those who have been brutalized by law enforcement brought it on themselves. If only they hadn't resisted right? If only they just complied right? If only they learned to respect and obey the law right? Wrong. Your naivete is largely the reason why police brutality exists. What's more, the odds grow stronger every day that you too will become a victim. A victim of police brutality and of your naïve viewpoint.
Don't believe me? I could tell you the story of how the police threw a disabled man out of his wheelchair and onto the ground. I could tell you the story of how an elderly white man was assaulted after leaving church. I could tell the story of police beating a homeless man to death as he screamed. I could tell you the story of a white woman kicked in the face by police during a peaceful protest.
It doesn't matter who you are. Your children are not safe. Your loved ones are not safe. You. Are. Not. Safe. What's more, it's only going to get worse until we come to this undeniable conclusion and start speaking out against this injustice. Or you could stay silent. As I often say to anyone who will listen your silence condemns us all. Including you. One day it will be your son. Or your daughter. Or your father. Or your mother. Or....you.
Find your voice. Speak out. No one is safe from police brutality.
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Thanks for reading
Children. Women. The elderly. Doesn't matter. We are all targets and at any given time we could easily become statistics. It boggles the mind how often police brutality occurs. We've almost become desensitized to it. The killings of brothers like Eric Garner, sisters like Rekia Boyd, and children like Aiyana Stanley have become commonplace. Beatings and assaults have become a regular occurrence. We have become fodder. They were put here to protect us, but no one protects us from them.
This is not just the truth for my black brothers and sisters. This is not just the truth for my Mexican, Spanish, and Latino brothers and sisters. We've lived with this truth since this country was founded. Guess what white people? Today you aren't safe either. Some of you seem to believe you are immune to police brutality. You believe that those who have been brutalized by law enforcement brought it on themselves. If only they hadn't resisted right? If only they just complied right? If only they learned to respect and obey the law right? Wrong. Your naivete is largely the reason why police brutality exists. What's more, the odds grow stronger every day that you too will become a victim. A victim of police brutality and of your naïve viewpoint.
Don't believe me? I could tell you the story of how the police threw a disabled man out of his wheelchair and onto the ground. I could tell you the story of how an elderly white man was assaulted after leaving church. I could tell the story of police beating a homeless man to death as he screamed. I could tell you the story of a white woman kicked in the face by police during a peaceful protest.
It doesn't matter who you are. Your children are not safe. Your loved ones are not safe. You. Are. Not. Safe. What's more, it's only going to get worse until we come to this undeniable conclusion and start speaking out against this injustice. Or you could stay silent. As I often say to anyone who will listen your silence condemns us all. Including you. One day it will be your son. Or your daughter. Or your father. Or your mother. Or....you.
Find your voice. Speak out. No one is safe from police brutality.
Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Visit me on FB https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Check out my vids http://youtube.com/officialdocsinn
Thanks for reading
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Why I left the Game Years Ago
Respect. Thank you for reading. For those of you who know Doc Sinn well, you remember that at one time I was an emcee. I was once a part of one the most influential underground Hip Hop groups in the Carolinas. If you've been following me long enough, you also remember that even before that I had a record deal and my group was distributed by Atlantic records. There was a time in my life where Hip Hop music was all encompassing and there was nothing more important to me than writing rhymes and making songs. You also know that I abruptly left the game in my early 30s and started focusing strictly on producing, writing, and social activism. Many have theorized why I left the game and I've never talked about it much. I've heard people say I did it because I wanted to focus on my family. I've heard people say I became disgruntled with my associates and bandmates. I've heard people say a lot of things. Well I want to clear the air. Just for my own benefit. It's just something I want to write about and something I want to do. And I want to do it now.
I didn't leave the game because of family. My wifey and family are the ultimate support unit. They'd follow me and stand behind me no matter what. I had all the support that I needed. They didn't take me away from Hip Hop. I also didn't do it because I fell out with my people. I love them. They are my brothers and sisters. Sure there were tough times. Sometimes there were cross words exchanged. But those were also some great times and I don't regret a second of it. There isn't a single negative feeling I have about anyone I shared a mic with. In fact, right now I want to acknowledge Shef Seenya, Mr. Rozzi, TreZure the Black Widow, Big Ski, Dreadswaye, LS, and Doc Hairston. They are family. They will always be family. I will always be there for them and they for me.
I left the game for one reason. The game changed. Or should I say, the direction of the game changed. When I was going hard and emceeing heavy, emcees were considered artisans. We were wordsmiths. We were judged by our ability to create rhymes. By our ability to formulate our thoughts and weave them into verses. Emcees were lyricists. Not only that but Hip Hop was more than a business, it was a culture. I immersed myself in that culture. I was an apex predator. My goal was to be the most prolific lyricist possible. To manifest every aspect of Hip Hop culture. I loved it. I lived it. Then, as I said, the game changed.
At first, life was good. Hip Hop became mainstream. Hip Hop artists were enjoying massive success. The type of success one can only dream of. Double and triple platinum records. Multi-million dollar deals. Endorsements. You name it. Hip Hop music had arrived. It was what we thought we all wanted as artists. Unfortunately there was also a horrible side effect. Record labels and music companies who had neither care nor interest in Hip Hop culture saw the music as simply a cash cow. As such, min/maxing became the law of the land. Labels wanted maximum profit for minimum effort. Music became disposable. Artists became disposable. Hip Hop culture became disposable. The seeds were sown for what we see today. A broken genre. A mirage. A facsimile of what Hip Hop was and what it used to be.
At first the change was gradual. The DJ was phased out as an integral part of Hip Hop groups. Song production became more and more simplistic. Then the floodgates opened. The standard bar plummeted for what qualified as an emcee. This had a massive impact on female rappers in particular. A woman's skill on the mic meant nothing. If she wasn't selling her ass, she wasn't selling. As such, the female emcee went from prominent to nearly extinct within a few short years. The culture was no longer a focal point. Getting as much fast money as you can was all that mattered. Suddenly it didn't matter so much how skilled you were. Or how hot your 16s were. If you had the right gimmick and could turn a fast dollar, little else was important. Now I love fast money as much as anyone. But I also love Hip Hop culture. I knew at that moment I had to make a personal decision.
I am a proud man. I am a principled man. I live by my own code I live by my own sense of honor. After everything I had invested in the game, there was no way I was going to dumb down who I was. What I was. What I do. I couldn't. I couldn't be a part of it anymore. I also realized that as long as I was still emceeing there would always be a part of me that resented what the game became. I would never love Hip Hop the same way. So I unplugged my speakers, dropped my mic, and walked away.
I still write. I'll likely write until I die. But I don't ever think about coming back. For one, I'm too old. I'm in my early 40s now. Hip Hop is a young man's game. But more importantly, I'm just not inspired anymore. I don't love it like I did. Maybe one day that'll change. Maybe something will hit me and I'll pick the mic back up. But as of yet, that hasn't happened.
I also want to be clear about something. This isn't some old man's rant or an older man whining about the "good old days". To be clear, as I said before, Hip Hop is a young man's game. When I was 20, I wasn't going to let some 40 year old cat tell me how to rock. So now that I'm that 40 year old cat I'm not going to try to talk down to the youth. It's not about old vs. young or new school versus old school. It's about the quality of music. There are several artists near my age rocking who quite frankly sound terrible. I still see Hip Hop through the eyes of an artisan and the art as been lost.
Emcees should care about their music. They should work at it and that work should reflect in their music. I don't see it.
I don't pass judgment on those who are still grinding in the name of true Hip Hop culture. I applaud them. I don't set myself above them. In fact I admire their fortitude and willingness to press on in the name of good music. I just couldn't do it. In many ways they are far better than me. To those emcees I say "Keep rocking. Keep doing what you do."
Twenty years ago if you told me that mainstream Hip Hop would be little more that sugar coated pop music in a hard candy shell I'd have laughed at you. If you had told me emcees today would be a joke compared to emcees then I would've told you to go fuck yourself. But that is where we are. I made a decision. This why I made it. I don't know if it's the right one or the wrong one. But it's the one I made. I stand by it. I live with it. Thank you for reading.
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I didn't leave the game because of family. My wifey and family are the ultimate support unit. They'd follow me and stand behind me no matter what. I had all the support that I needed. They didn't take me away from Hip Hop. I also didn't do it because I fell out with my people. I love them. They are my brothers and sisters. Sure there were tough times. Sometimes there were cross words exchanged. But those were also some great times and I don't regret a second of it. There isn't a single negative feeling I have about anyone I shared a mic with. In fact, right now I want to acknowledge Shef Seenya, Mr. Rozzi, TreZure the Black Widow, Big Ski, Dreadswaye, LS, and Doc Hairston. They are family. They will always be family. I will always be there for them and they for me.
I left the game for one reason. The game changed. Or should I say, the direction of the game changed. When I was going hard and emceeing heavy, emcees were considered artisans. We were wordsmiths. We were judged by our ability to create rhymes. By our ability to formulate our thoughts and weave them into verses. Emcees were lyricists. Not only that but Hip Hop was more than a business, it was a culture. I immersed myself in that culture. I was an apex predator. My goal was to be the most prolific lyricist possible. To manifest every aspect of Hip Hop culture. I loved it. I lived it. Then, as I said, the game changed.
At first, life was good. Hip Hop became mainstream. Hip Hop artists were enjoying massive success. The type of success one can only dream of. Double and triple platinum records. Multi-million dollar deals. Endorsements. You name it. Hip Hop music had arrived. It was what we thought we all wanted as artists. Unfortunately there was also a horrible side effect. Record labels and music companies who had neither care nor interest in Hip Hop culture saw the music as simply a cash cow. As such, min/maxing became the law of the land. Labels wanted maximum profit for minimum effort. Music became disposable. Artists became disposable. Hip Hop culture became disposable. The seeds were sown for what we see today. A broken genre. A mirage. A facsimile of what Hip Hop was and what it used to be.
At first the change was gradual. The DJ was phased out as an integral part of Hip Hop groups. Song production became more and more simplistic. Then the floodgates opened. The standard bar plummeted for what qualified as an emcee. This had a massive impact on female rappers in particular. A woman's skill on the mic meant nothing. If she wasn't selling her ass, she wasn't selling. As such, the female emcee went from prominent to nearly extinct within a few short years. The culture was no longer a focal point. Getting as much fast money as you can was all that mattered. Suddenly it didn't matter so much how skilled you were. Or how hot your 16s were. If you had the right gimmick and could turn a fast dollar, little else was important. Now I love fast money as much as anyone. But I also love Hip Hop culture. I knew at that moment I had to make a personal decision.
I am a proud man. I am a principled man. I live by my own code I live by my own sense of honor. After everything I had invested in the game, there was no way I was going to dumb down who I was. What I was. What I do. I couldn't. I couldn't be a part of it anymore. I also realized that as long as I was still emceeing there would always be a part of me that resented what the game became. I would never love Hip Hop the same way. So I unplugged my speakers, dropped my mic, and walked away.
I still write. I'll likely write until I die. But I don't ever think about coming back. For one, I'm too old. I'm in my early 40s now. Hip Hop is a young man's game. But more importantly, I'm just not inspired anymore. I don't love it like I did. Maybe one day that'll change. Maybe something will hit me and I'll pick the mic back up. But as of yet, that hasn't happened.
I also want to be clear about something. This isn't some old man's rant or an older man whining about the "good old days". To be clear, as I said before, Hip Hop is a young man's game. When I was 20, I wasn't going to let some 40 year old cat tell me how to rock. So now that I'm that 40 year old cat I'm not going to try to talk down to the youth. It's not about old vs. young or new school versus old school. It's about the quality of music. There are several artists near my age rocking who quite frankly sound terrible. I still see Hip Hop through the eyes of an artisan and the art as been lost.
Emcees should care about their music. They should work at it and that work should reflect in their music. I don't see it.
I don't pass judgment on those who are still grinding in the name of true Hip Hop culture. I applaud them. I don't set myself above them. In fact I admire their fortitude and willingness to press on in the name of good music. I just couldn't do it. In many ways they are far better than me. To those emcees I say "Keep rocking. Keep doing what you do."
Twenty years ago if you told me that mainstream Hip Hop would be little more that sugar coated pop music in a hard candy shell I'd have laughed at you. If you had told me emcees today would be a joke compared to emcees then I would've told you to go fuck yourself. But that is where we are. I made a decision. This why I made it. I don't know if it's the right one or the wrong one. But it's the one I made. I stand by it. I live with it. Thank you for reading.
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