Women And Happiness

I was at a dinner party earlier this week just talking and relating on different experiences. A bunch of young professionals talking about politics and family and careers and of course relationships. Now I must say that I’m used to these sorta talks, especially when women are around. Although, quiet as it’s kept men discuss it too. For different reasons and in hopes of finding a solution but still we discuss it. I’m not sure how the discussion started because I got up to wash my hands and when I came back it was already in full conversation mode. One guy and one girl were discussing the choice mother phenomenon (which is when a woman stores her eggs for the future and then uses them when she is established in her career. The choice is that she purposely doesn’t have a husband. She hits up the sperm bank. Yeah!) which I knew a little about from a NY Times article that came out last summer. The woman’s point was that for her it was the best option since she hadn’t had any luck with finding in her estimation a suitable man. She is 33 and has her own place and a good career as trial lawyer in Brooklyn’s Appellate Court. She was tired of dating cheaters and dudes who didn’t work. The dude at the table barked back that this is a stereotype that is tired. I was eating guacamole and chips but I was listening as other people chimed in. Then when I was ready I dropped this masterpiece. I said, “ women don’t know what the hell they want. They don’t know how to be happy.”

Now I love women. I love Black women especially (not to offend anyone but I love my own kind and I don’t see anything wrong with saying that), but women these days are out of their minds. I made reference to a report that came out earlier this month
by a group of researchers at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. They found that the average woman is much more unhappy then say her mother was. Here is a quote.

"We find that women have become less happy or less satisfied with their lives over time and less happy relative to men," said Betsey Stevenson, an economist at the Wharton School. "Surprising, perhaps, given the increased opportunities and choices for women in the modern world."
The study found that women feel they have too many choices and too many responsibilities, which adds to their feelings of sadness. Women are now often stretched and stressed between the workplace and home. "Women end up with a lot more responsibility and men play a lot more than women do," one subject said.

The report didn’t factor in age or race and I’m speaking of mainly African-American women in their late 20 and early 30’s. But I still see it. Women always seem so dissatisfied with everything. Especially men. Labeling us as dogs or players or liars or underachievers or whatever. You can even see it on TV. All the new shows and movies have women on top of their game and they have to settle for some loser dude. Like in the movie “Knocked Up” where all the females in the movie walk around like their sh*t don’t stink and act like they’re doing the men a favor by being with them. But what I’ve found since I’ve returned to the dating market are a bunch of selfish, negative minded people.

Its like today’s women are never satisfied. I’m all about aspiring for the best but you gotta be the best yourself too. Just being sexy isn’t enough. And just making 100 Grand isn’t enough. You have to have a good personality and be someone we would want to raise our children. Just be okay sometimes and stop with the crazy expectations. For instance I went out with a girl last month and when she got to the restaurant (late at that!) she brought along her friend from college. I was like that’s cool, it no big deal. Now if I ask a girl out I always pay so when the check came I paid for her but not her friend. Do you know that the girl was bothered by this? Saying it was rude and inferring that I was somehow in the wrong. Her friend was shaking her head like she was appalled. Now, mind you this other girl wasn’t even supposed to be there. And the girl I did ask out is not my girlfriend. We had only met a few weeks prior. Lets just say that I don’t associate with her anymore. And throughout the summer i've met a lot of women who are just boring or corny. All they want to talk about is their careers or something superficial. Yet we are the ones with problems.
They just complain about the last person they were with. How he didn’t do this and that or whatever. Yeah there are a lot of idiot dudes out but i'm sick of women not taking any responsibility for their actions. They’re too promiscuous and then they complain when men objectify them. Or they spend all their time on their looks and wonder why I get bored with their minds. Or the most popular, “im a lawyer/doctor/executive and I’m doing this and that and I can’t find a dude on my level” type of chick. Those are everywhere in NYC. Women forget or maybe don’t know but us men we have a lot of things to deal with too. Yeah some of us are scum and some of us got kids we don’t support and criminal records and some of us just don’t really care about the women we date and their feelings and some of us are corporate sell outs and some of us are corny and boring. Some.

Many of us are good dudes. The truth of the matter is I’ve always been a good dater (I just have good taste in food and clothes and i'm funny and that other stuff that women like. I don’t think they really understand me though) and women are interested but get confused when I back off. And I sometimes tell them, being pretty and getting your hair done and having a great career is just part of the equation. We also want women who are fun and humble and intelligent but most of all positive. Who believe in the goodness of the men they’re dealing and not the negative stuff all the time. We’re not all assholes.

So going back to the dinner party the women who was tired of dating losers asked me since I knew so much why was I single? My reply, “ I’m waiting on the person who treats me like a friend and a lover instead of as an asset. I have faith.” Her reply to me?
“ I don’t care about faith, I want to be happy.”
Wow. Don’t you need one to have the other?

-Khalid

The Passage of Can and Able

What's up to the Collective Massive,
I wanted to share a poem with you that I wrote in a time of powerful transition in my life. I wrote it slowly and I hope you read it slowly. Remember that you are impenetrable and able to achieve all things in life. Peace


Can you only imagine your true ability
Suppressed by the media and society
Supplemented by your sobriety
Sprouts up when you suspend your anxiety

Can you survive your true courage
Your equal opposite hinders its flourish
Supplemented by your self knowledge of nourish
Conquer the ultimate fear and your no longer a tourist

Can you find balance with your own cleverness
Realize that if something dies it never perishes
Supplemented by the knowledge of your heritage
Smart when repetition and correlation enjoy their marriages

Can you run fast enough to reach the zenith of patience
Realize that a steady stroll never needs maintenance
Supplement life’s rhythm and it will form cadence
Sprouts from organic to man-made, individual to nations

Hip-Hop: The Bigger Picture

Kanye vs. 50.

In this corner we’ve got the outspoken, passionate underdog; the backpack wearing, Louis Vuitton Don of overindulgence, who will never produce enough albums to explain his humbleness/greatness. In the other corner, we have the instigator with the laid-back gangsta swagger; Gorilla Unit’s ringleader, who will offer to pay child support before the kid’s born. It was one of greatest and least violent hip-hop battles in recent history- Martin would have been proud. Hyped by ego and fueled by sales; yet there was much more riding on this battle than that. In the balance lay the fate of hip-hop.

So I present to you an argument that I thought the urban culture intellectuals (i.e Michael Eric Dyson, Cornell West) would have started weeks ago, but it looks like I’m gonna pop this one off right here myself: What does Kanye’s “triumph” over 50 say about the state of hip-hop today?

For starters, a good fight (and a little bit of press) always attracts a crowd. Buying either one of these albums was like placing a bet on hip-hop. In any case, the record industry doesn’t care how it goes down because at the end of the day, a sale is sale.

Next is the issue concerning musical content and character. Strictly on principle, I used that $15 iTunes gift card I got for Christmas last year to cop Graudation, then I downloaded Curtis from LimeWire, just to throw salt in his game. For me, what Kanye represents to hip-hop, though doesn’t always present very well, is an intelligence that reaches far beyond rhyming gat with black. I respect 50 for his hustle, but in his shadow are a bunch of nobodies trying to hustle the same formula. If music is the small dot in the Seurat picture, then the larger picture is a reflection of the morals of today’s society. In the process of the hustle, a younger hip-hop audience degenerate their cultural morals.

Does Kanye’s apparent victory mean that there is more to mainstream hip-hop than the illiterate, instructional dance shyt we been jamming to since ‘01 (please note lean with it, snap your fingers, and Soulja Boy Crank That- if this ain’t a bit of some new millienium hokey pokey than I don’t ‘know what is)? I sure hope so. Even though XXL has deemed Rich Boy (eat something) Lil Boosie (sounds like a woman), Gorilla Zoe (who?), Joell Ortiz (never heard of you either) Crooked I (what letter is that really?), Papoose (still tryna make it) Young Dro (one hit wonder) among the “Leaders of the New School,” one can only hope that Kanye’s album sales proved otherwise.

With that being said, truth be told, I had higher expectations for Kanye’s latest effort. “Stronger” and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” were appropriate singles, while “I Wonder,” and “Flashing Lights” were instant classics for me. However, the rest of the album fell a little flat to me. Gone are the comedic intros which made College Dropout and Late Registration both musically and comedically genius. But you’ve got it give to Curtis for its consistency; hoes, money, hustle are the same popular themes he’s been pushing since Wanksta. His product is wanted and he’s smart enough to provide.

However, if 50 holds true to his word, than Curtis is it for him; and Kanye’s apparent victory proves that educated cockiness indeed trumps thuggery.

N

Seven Simple Words

This is my introduction to The Collective. For the past few days, I’ve debated with myself as to what I wanted my introduction to all to say. Yet, as I’m learning, that with which we need comes to us when we are patient. And my inspiration came to me this morning 7:47 a.m. in a text message from my soror:

WEAR BLACK TODAY TO SUPPORT JENA 6*

So here goes:

I missed New York Fashion week, so I found myself heavily anticipating the showcase of "Black" fashion on the A-train this morning. I couldn’t wait to see my people dressed to the fives in support of this throwback injustice (we save the nines for church and the club). Disappointed and disheartened, instead I saw the usual rainbow of colors: pin-striped suits with pink button downs, purple chemises with charcoal grey skirts, red scarves, brown pumps, etc. . .

It’s ironic that I live in a city where people pop off at the mouth about any and every possible type of injustice; and rightfully so in most cases (and the list goes on). However, today, where no sound was needed to make a statement, few took a stand. I counted four on my rush hour train this morning: two black men, a white woman, and myself.

The question today is not whether the situation in Louisiana is wrong or how it will be resolved. The question remains why as a nation of mistreated minorities do we fail to show our unified support for each other?

Is it because we are ignorant to the plight of our brethren? Or because we don't really care about black people?

N

*If you're reading this and thinking "Jena what?," click here

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Daily Data

Every morning I fulfill my regimen of reading web based news sites. I meander through AOL, USA Today, MSN and MSNBC to get the near mandatory scoop on all the worlds new statements, gossip and policy. As I browse these publishings and on-demand videos, It’s my natural tendency to disregard the articles that don’t have juicy titles and gravitate to the ones that provide sustenance for the mischievous voyeur in every one of us. Stories about O.J., tasered college students, terrible weather tragedies, and University shootings have now become a palpable accompaniment to ones morning coffee and muffin. These shattering chronicles seem but a mere reflection of the “real world” to those warmly nestled behind their desks at their jobs. We see technological, educational, and economic gaps increasing within our borders, but do we feel a personal inclination to actually try to help those conditions? They say it’s a recession when your neighbor is out of work but it’s a depression when you’re out of work. So I ask, has the plethora of information distributed and consumed by the public made us jaded and impervious to the strife of others? As I stated before, this is truly and information age. One statistic states that a person living in the mid 1800’s would receive as much information in one year that is available today in one issue of the New York Times. Has all this processing of data not given us time to be as empathetic as we should be as concerned citizens and human brethren? I think so. My advice is to fight the battles you can win everyday. When you can personally help and enrich someone’s circumstances by giving a dollar, holding a door, having an opinion, or (even more dangerous), voicing an opinion, you will prove the fading perception that there is in-fact intelligent life on Earth. Peace.

Thinking About Getting an Ipod? Now is the time.

Apple released so many new Ipods last week that it's hard to keep track of them all. I will review everything except the shuffle which is the same as the previous one but with a new brushed metal finish.  This article is focused on the Ipod Classic, Ipod Nano and the Ipod Touch.


Let's start with what everyone wants to know about. The Ipod Touch, available later this month, it is essentially the iPhone without the phone. This new Ipod contains the usual Calendar, Clock and other small apps. But now, with this Ipod, you have the ability to browse the web at any Wifi hotspot, which is awesome and very useful. Sure other products can do it but nothing ever has done it as beautifully as this. And of course you have the smooth touch screen interface, and, you can shop the Itunes store right on the phone or watch you tube videos. It's available in 8- and 16-gigabyte models, for $300 and $400.

Ipod Classic now has a brushed metal finish and comes in a HUGE 80 or 160 GB drive version. This is good for audiophiles who have a CD Collection of 40,000 Songs that they want want to back up. Some may think the Ipod touch is nice, but the hard drive space is hardly hold much in comparison.

The Ipod Nano now has the ability to play video on on it's 2.5 inch screen. But it's a little wider now, which makes it stand out a bit from its brethren.

So here's the run down: Whether you like tiny size of the Shuffle or Nano, high storage of the iPod Classic, or the touch screen wireless Internet features of the Ipod Touch, there is one to satisfy everyone's need.

Event Notice: Oct. 3rd

Our peoples over at HustleMode (the cats who provide us with the hot tracks and new random releases) are having an event in NYC at S.O.B.'s. This event should prove to be nothing less than fly. We like to support those who are grinding just as hard as Tinalee Media & Events. The info is below...

Weds Oct 3rd 2007 The Cool Weirdos and HustleMode Present:

Peter Hadar and Friends:The Hipster Extravaganza

Live performances by:

Peter Hadar http://www.myspace.com/peterhadar

Janelle Monae http://www.myspace.com/janellemonae

Mishal Moore http://www.myspace.com/mishalmmoore

and special surprise guests. Broadcasted internationally by Dj Barry King

@ Sounds of Brazil - 204 Varick Street at West Houston

Doors open @ 9pm

$10 in advance/$12 at the door

Free gift bags, and other giveaways

Sponsored by:

Leroy Jenkins http://www.leroyjenkinslimited.com/

Coup D'Etat Brooklyn http://www.cdtbk.com/

Pieces http://www.piecesofharlem.com/

Kiser http://www.kiserny.com/

FDL International http://www.myspace.com/distroleague

Creme Magazine http://www.creme-magazine.com/

Cornerstone Promotion http://www.cornerstonepromotion.com/

Spotlight Grooves http://www.spotlightgrooves.com/

Lemar & Dauley http://www.lemaranddauley.com/

The Collective Spotlights...

EXPLORING CULTURAL ACCEPTANCE WITH A BUMBLEBEE,

A T-SHIRT AND A DREAM

Beeing is a culturally inspired lifestyle brand aimed at spreading cultural acceptance through the iconic use of a bumblebee. This may sound easier than it actually is. How many people are completely comfortable in their skin? Now, how many are completely comfortable with other people’s skin? Co-founders Mfon Idiokitas and Feginse Youance set out to show the world that appreciating yourself and others is a basic and empowering concept. As straightforward as “Love Beeing Nigerian” or “Love Beeing Japanese.”

Officially founded in June of 2005, Beeing was first tested a year prior on NYU campus and the SOHO area before selling to a broader market. The line has since grown from a single t-shirt to a Men’s and Women’s Classic T-shirt and Signature collections. The Classic T-shirt collection consists of cottons tees emblazoned with various cultural acceptance phrases and images of the bumblebee. The Signature collection consists of T-shirts and thermals with the cursive Beeing signature logo. Hooded sweatshirts and zip-ups are also included yet have more intricate designs such as honeycombs, a compass for world positioning and a varsity style inspiring world education.

The two met as graduate students at New York University. Mfon and Feginse started Beeing with a single shirt to offer a stylish way to embrace and express one’s ethnic background. They chose an iconic bumblebee as the logo to inspire customers to cross-pollinate themselves with the cultures of the world. Before long the culturally inspired brand was developed. “We thrive on using style and fashion to empower people to embrace and express their identities as well as others,” says Feginse.

The company is based in Manhattan and is currently available at the online store http://www.ilovebeeing.com/. Consumers can soon purchase items at small boutiques around the world.

They're Bringing Home the Troops!

Only 5k by Christmas? Are you serious? So maybe, perhaps, there's a chance... that they are REALLY going to come home. You know dag-on well that they aren't. I'm sitting here watching President Bush's special report (it blocked out all local programming so I'm sure you saw it too) recite the words someone wrote from him and I'm thinking to myself "Are you serious?!" I mean, I'm glad that Iraq is safe (is it really?) and that they feel save on their streets, but what about my 'hood? Can I feel safe in my own country? He says they are finding the rebels and disbanding the gangs... does he realize we have gangs in our own military and that they are coming home and teaching military tactics to their fellow gang members back home? Hot mess!

Now he is giving shout-outs to the troops and everyone involved with his shennanigans. Justifying the deaths of the young lads. Fast-forward, he says goodnight and God Bless America.

Now the bantering from D-Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed stating that he has been against the war from the beginning. Aren't we tired of the fingerpointing? As Larry the Cable Guy says "Get-her-done!" Just get the job done. That's all we really want. Even the callers vented about the maddness and

If you are so moved, use these numbers to voice your opinion

Democrats: (202) 737-0002
Republicans: (202) 737-0001
Independents: (202) 628-0205

If you missed the chance to call or the program, visit: http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS

Until next time...

Be Seen at the Top!

Save the Babies

Im sure that I share the same sentiment as most conscious young Americans in that I am frankly worried about the longevity of this great country we call the United States of America. Notwithstanding the current turmoil in domestic and foreign relations of the present, it is our future that I’m concerned about. Why does it seem that every futurist is also a blazon pessimist as well? We have all seen the Minority Reports, Terminators, Mad Max’s and the Blade Runners out there and I don’t see much hope being portrayed to the masses about the stability that our current course is offering for our offspring. America is roughly 400 years old and already it shows signs of instability within its borders. Do you see the U.S., as great as it is, having a run comparable to that of say a China where they have been prospering for millennia? I want to. Have the gatekeepers of society been feeding us these pessimistic portraits of societal demise through entertainment just to cushion us when we have arrived at that era. Look at the book 1984. I have never read it but I’m sure that in the actual 1984 we were chillin compared to the outlook of society that that book gave in its pages. Are we all preparing for the worst while actually living the best? I just know that we are growing and influencing at a startling rate. I once read a stunning statistic that said that 90% of the scientists that have ever practiced are living today. This is truly an information age. What is also interesting is that in the bell curve for an industry there is inception, growth, maturity, decline and the end in its cycle of existence. The industrial revolution, if you ask me, is somewhere in the late decline area. However, the technological revolution will be in a growth mode for centuries to come. I hope is that we as a people and a country really put an effort into crafting these new technological tools for our long term benefit and proper prosperity of our generations into perpetuity.

The War Continues

I moved to the NYC area the year after the September 11th attacks (Even though almost everyone I knew thought I should reconsider I felt right about it. Still do btw) so I’ve been here for every remembrance. This year is the first year that people seem to have really moved on, of course people are still showing respect for the lives lost but there wasn’t that heavy sense of sadness in the local media and I didn’t hear people in the streets talking about it as much as I have in other years. Instead of mourning the news programs focused much of their coverage on the ongoing war in the Iraq, the overall turmoil in the Middle East and the United States dependence on foreign fuel resources.

Yesterday General David Petraeus appeared before a meeting of the members of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees and detailed the war’s progress. Petraeus mentioned that troop withdrawal will initiate something in the next month or so in small amounts with the hope that as much as 30 thousand will be home by next summer. Still that leaves over 100,000 men and women over there battling in a war without a real objective.

After 9/11 there was such a wave of patriotism and there was this thought that America would be avenged for the attacks but here we are six years later and I don’t think any of us feel any real sense of satisfaction. Furthermore very few people buy the fact that the US is over there trying to build democracy. By now even the most consistent defenders of the war will admit that America’s main reason over there is the procurement of more and more oil. To control the marketplace to ensure that the US’s insatiable demand for fuel is met. Now why is this so important to the Bush administration? Because the big time Oil companies financed his career. And even in this day and age of environmental awareness few people have the balls and the power to combat them. Iraq has approximately 100 billion barrels of crude oil and Exxon, etc want a piece of it. And until we are able to control this area of the world we can’t get to it and so we stay.
Now how specifically does this affect us? Well for one it beneficial to keep pounding home the threat of future attacks and giving credence to certain stereotypes in order to fuel those generalities. Now are all Muslims involved in terrorism? Most people will say no but there are still a lot of people who say yes if only that they hear it so much. Now for those out there who have names like yours truly it can be a minor annoyance, one which I accept usually. The real problem with these stereotypes is that they lead to fear and that leads to voters putting in office the people who they believe will protect them. Whether that is true or whether that person is competent enough to hold office is another story. Just as long as the perception says they are that’s good enough for most people.

The real problem is that money that can be used to maintain life at home is going to waste. I understand the need for the military, as sometimes war is necessary. But when it is not it should not be used because real lives are at stake. In the meantime money is being funneled away from things like ensuring that our import market is well monitored (the situation with China right now and the lead paint covered toys is a great example of that). Not to mention immigration, gun control, health care, stem cell research, etc. Please remember all of this the next time someone is defending the war. Tell them they are full of shit.

The Looking Glass

I wanted to share a poem with the Collective massive which was written when I lived in the suburbs of Detroit. It seemed like my life was shrouded with solitude because I was trying to better myself and unfortunately that path can sometimes be lonely. I was confident that I was doing the right thing for myself personally though and that kept me moving forward. This is for those who sometimes have to observe more than they participate before the game welcomes them.


Have you ever seen a man blow glass.
Surpassed 10:00, sunset four hours past
Put down your pen leave the office satisfied with yourself
Barkeep! Fill a frosted glass
Have you ever been to a syrup factory
Found out how they cracked wheat
Cured the leather on you new car seat
Alchemize the mixture for you athletes feet
Is it boring to you?
You 13%, expand your mind, or are you content
N----S—What do you do?
Are you above it
Make it and you will not covet
Craft it, grow it. I’ll bet you’ll love it
N----S—What do you do?
What am I asking? You didn’t do you homework in Jr. High
You could write the alphabet faster than anyone in 1st grade
By 12th your ready to die
Cheat in community college for 4 years
Aced rollin up lie
At least philosophize over a blunt and master your high
But what happens
You discover knowledge of self
In the suburbs aint no n----s wit you on Borders book shelf
So you digress
Ignorance is fun and your old n----s aint oppressed
Cop a cool ass chic wit some sass and a whole lotta ass
You down
Two $9.50 an hours gets an apt on the city’s ave
N----s in the mass
What’s that in the alley
Oh
I guess I have seen a man blow glass

Class Is In Session

By now most of you are familiar with the dual release dates of new albums by Kanye West and 50 Cent. Both are scheduled to release next Tuesday (why they both chose Sept 11th is strange in my opinion but that’s for another conversation) and the recording/entertainment/publishing industry (also to be described in this blog occasionally as the crazy ass industry TM) is all a buzz about it. In a year in which record sales are down substantial double-digits numbers any excitement over new releases is news. But for Hip-Hop, already gasping for breath both commercially and artistically, its cause for a celebration. The music has lost its relevance in many aspects but next week all that changes.

Most of the buzz revolves around which album is gonna be the hottest and which is gonna sale the most. 50 has gone as far as to say that if his album sales the 1st week are less then Kanye’s, he will stop making solo records. Now whether this is true or not is beside the point, it makes for great entertainment. And much debate as to whether you prefer 50’s brand of braggadocios neo-gangsterism or Kanye’s post-Black, outsiders are the new insiders brand of reinterpreted boom-bap. I’ve already heard both albums and it seems easy to say that Kanye is gonna win in a blowout. At least in quality it’s just a better album (wait until you hear “Champion”, Good Life”, “Good Morning” and “ The Glory”) and the debate for that, for me, is nil. Funny thing is happening on the way to soundscan though, that debate is more than just between two artists. It’s a debate between classes and what upward mobility really means.

It’s more complicated then saying it the projects kids against the Jack and Jill set, it’s a battle between ideals and values. The same battle Black folks have been having for generations. (Not to say that other races don’t have the same battles, because as has been stressed before this is not only a “Black people’s” blog.) People tend to side with those most similar to them. You relate to those who have gone through the same things you’ve gone through, been the same places you have been, speak the language you speak, etc. Regardless of the many advances Black people have made in this society there are still a lot of impoverished and lower middle-class families and the incarceration rate is still amazingly high. It’s still real out there Kenneth Chenault and Condoleeza Rice be damned and people definitely relate to 50’s by any means necessary story of self-preservation. There still needs to be a way to hope and dream of a life filled with prosperity for those who never rocked a cap and gown on warm Spring afternoon. But for those out there who know what it means to see girls decked out in crimson and cream means and understand that the term work-study is one of the greatest things in the world the allure of Kanye West is easily understood. His songs hint at certain buppie sensibilities and the optimism in many of his songs can serve as a de-facto soundtrack to career advancement. A mentality that says you can look past old accepted cliche's and stereotypes and create a new reality based upon what you feel are the important things in life. Either way a line in the sand has been drawn. The hood acts like Kanye’ music is soft and somehow irrelevant while 50’s stuff is harder, more muscular. Believer of Dubois’ talented tenth ideology say that much of 50’s music is borderline cooning, boring and ultimately adds nothing to the community while Kanye’s stuff is more honest and intelligent and just more interesting.

These debates often spill out in other forms. Forms such as gentrification, where clashes between the haves and have-nots are raging all across the country. As career-minded people move back into the cities to buy up condos and open businesses, the old guard, been here for years folks are getting pushed out or simply discarded. Jealousy, anger, miscommunication rise up and problems arise. Wanna know why? Because people don’t understand each other and all you hear are word like “bougie” and “ghetto”. I work for a publishing company that produces several important mags (SLAM, XXL, KING, etc) and I hear it at the office and at industry events as well. People choose sides without thinking twice. So I ask any readers out there, right now think twice. In your viewpoint what are some of the biggest class problems and misconceptions and what do you think can be done about them. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

peace

THE READ A BOOK VIDEO - ARE YOU SERIOUS??

Have you seen this video? Um, this is sad. I understand the message of the video, but it is really sad that they had to 'dumb it down' for the masses to really understand. And to read the YouTube comments... This video does more harm to African-Americans than good.






This is what tcphilosopher had to say about why he/she uploaded it:

"This was shot on BET Animation and 106 and Park. IT IS A SATIRICAL OBSERVATION ON THE CURRENT RIDICULOUS, OFFENSIVE, AND EMBARRASSING STATE OF THE ONCE NOBLE ART OF HIP HOP. THE RAPPER WHO MADE THE SONG IS ALSO SATIRING THE CURRENT POPULAR RAP MUSIC WHICH IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO EVERYTHING RAP WAS. WHILE MAKING THIS SOCIAL SATIRE, HE ALSO PROVIDE A POSITIVE MESSAGE AND A SOCIAL COMMENTARY. African Americans, open your mind. This man is not offending us. He's smaking us in the face and saying Wake Up. This is what they think of us...and the reality is...most of it is true.Unfortunately I have no connection to the authoring of the video. I merely uploaded it as a show of support and like-mindedness. I feel that the video was a clever, harsh, striking, and much-needed parody/satire on the current state of hip hop. Hip hop, originated as a black folk style of music, the voice of the innercity. A conscious, aware, if hardened by it's environment, expression of the life of middle/poor-class African Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans in America. It has, like EVERY style of music before it, finally succumb to commercialization and thus the current POPULAR hip hop is little more than brain-mush over percolating beats. This song highlights that, with the line: "I used to makes song with concepts and shit, but now I wanna go platinum". The irony of that line, says it all. In addition to being a strong satire/parody, it also instills some very strong positivities: reading, hygiene, ownership of things that cultivate wealth and worth (buy some land), responsibility (raise your kids), etc...concepts that popular hip hop is NOT teaching to our youth anymore. So it parodies viciously, and instructs what is lacking concurrently. For this reason, as an African American male who is passionate about the origins of hip hop and a purist of the hip hop form sans commercialization, and as a human being in general worried for our future and our progeny, I couldn't HELP but support the creator of the song and video by uploading it."

WHO in their right or wrong mind thought this would be a good idea? There are many other ways to elevate a race. This isn't one of them. I didn't even touch on the parody of commercialized hip hop. That in an of itself is a hot mess. Hopefully, you all know the real deal and don't need a video to give you advice on life, hygiene, how to raise your children, etc. Until next time...

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