America's Pastime

While some prefer the term tainted, I like to adhere to the belief that a persons views are heavily influenced by their past. Yes multi billion dollar media conglomerates and political talking points so precise they seem German Engineered leave their imprint upon us all, but some vestiges of ones feeling are personally his or her own. Formalities accounted for please allow me to state I'm a Barry Bonds fan, and have been one for most of my life. Since I've haven't had the pleasure of any out of body experiences, some may surmise my allegiance of fandom to Bonds biases my assessment of issues which concern him. To those who believe such foolishness I patronizingly laugh at, if only to not unleash my anger towards perceived slander ,sorrta like friends who feel I'm just a complete Republican when it comes to the Steelers. Simply not true lol...

Yes it is factual Mr. Bonds firmly replaced Mike Diaz as my favorite baseball player during a time when I had a strong affinity baseball and had no concept of Puerto Rican nationality, so during my grade school tenure I would have put my 124 mph driving, Madonna banging, pre spiteful steroid informer/snitch Jose Canseco, rookie card up as collateral to back my "Bobby Bonilla is Black" beliefs. Since the Steelers sucked for most of the 80's I transfused my black n gold blood to the baseball diamond attaining many great memories along the way. Overcoming the hated Howard Johnson lead Metropolitans, witnessing the stoic half twisted both arms extended towards the heavens game winning homerun Bond's stance, rocking Pirate Eastern division t shirts, yes those where the days. My devotion to Bonds fandom has easily withstood his amazing ability to craft scenario that made all early 90's Braves pictures appear to the eye to be Cy Young reincarnations or Sid Bream a Judas and Francisco Cabrera a hero. Yes I am and have been for since Bush the 1^st a proud, but impartial Bonds fan. Sans Hines Ward (who happens to be my favorite NFL'er) crying like a bitch at the apparent thought of Jerome Bettis possibly retiring, I've probably never witnessed a sadder moment than Bonds pathetically stating "You've broke me is this what u want?" while parading is son around like a Nino Brown shield against media assassins. Joining the ranks of famous cross dressers while undergoing a Paula Abdul transformation during spring training was definitely also a regressive step exercise. Those are just trivial person opinions, the billion dollar question (millennium inflation) is which side one falls on the Bonds did or did not take steroids debate. That's a simple one. Yes Barry Bonds used Steroids. I'd gladly risk a chance at a sexual rendezvous with Amerie, or my chance to be smarter than a fifth grader on such an assumption. My assumed guilt doesn't come attached with complicit disdain nor apologetic prose, just plain rational thought. In the interest of word conservation I make just make a few points designating why I've always felt that the "Bonds Steroid" issue was bullshit.

The NFL, by far Americas most popular league was the best steroid junkie haven, next to professional wresting and eastern block women's Olympic locker rooms for countless years and nobody gave a fuck about it. How else do you know who Lyle Alzado is?

Major league baseball from owners down to club house trainers voluntarily looked away or where silently complicit with the injecting of horse hormones in the ass. Hey Chicks Dig the long ball, and America loved the idea of a Irishmen and Dominican becoming brothers in chemically enhanced arms, in another example of profit over principle. How can a institution be saddened and embarrassed by a action it endorsed?

Bonds during his alleged steroid use was playing during what is near unanimously agreed upon to be the "Steroid Era" i.e. he was cheating, while everyone else was cheating, which by my logic would level the equation out.

Now I bring this up due to a news event. Espn recently conducted a poll which states:

"Blacks are nearly twice as likely to think Bonds has been treated unfairly (46 percent to 25 percent). Why? The survey found that 41 percent of black fans think this is due to the steroids issue, 25 percent think it's because of his race, and 21 percent blame Bonds' personality.

"For whites who think Bonds has been treated unfairly, 66 percent blame steroids. Virtually none blame race".

I feel for the surprised.

During the omni present barrage of against bonds, federal perjury charges, spousal abuse allegations continuous public slander, I've steadfastly held on to the belief that only a fool would deny that race had nothing to do with how Bonds has been treated in the media and viewed by the general public. Conversely only idiots would subscribe the theory that race is the sole motivating factor dictating Bonds treatment. Although the vast stupidly of Americans is paraded before my eyes on a daily basis, it still amazes how in a admittedly racist land, race is never a element nor factor which influences decisions made by the self analyzing white mind. Oh the pleasures of denial. Look, native region, height, career, physical appearance, and a host of other factors daily influence our daily conceptions, and emotional response towards people. Somehow though what is often the most readily apparent feature of a person is regulated to the corridor of non influence. Rather its based in self imposed delusion, or plain avoidance of self incrimination, the poll results and present reality is just sad. Yes Bonds is an asshole, and I fully believe millions of people despise him solely upon them grounds, but am I supposed to believe in thousands of eyes he's not a "Black Asshole"? Of course millions despise him based upon his soling the sanctity of the game, but how many Yankees fans who hate Bonds cheer ferociously for Jason "I can't admit what I did but I did it" Giambi. Just because something is the dominant factor, doesn't mean it's the only factor.

I myself personally subscribe to Bonds being a steroid user with a personality that rubs people the wrong way like a cheating wife's husband, but I refuse to let that action and trait overrule sane thought. What I do admit to is letting race influence my defense, not judgment, but defense of Bonds, if not solely due to, no matter how hard it is to fathom 15 million dollar salary earning athlete as being persecuted, Bonds is being persecuted, and I happen to be a avid underdog supporter.

Double standards are funny things. One sad aspect of them is that they usually remain invisible to the conscious amongst those not affected by, or receiving preferential treatment from them. In the days of "athletes" being booked for dui and marijuana possession in a all media out lets cameras invited event which eventually manifest itself in to "today's" athlete being "out of control", drunk ass hell 1.57 BA.C Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock who also had a little Jamaica along for his last ride ride, death is viewed as a terrible tragedy. In the era of the over paid spoiled and selfish athlete, admitted age defying marvel Roger Clemens, endures nearly no condemnation for a contract that will pay him about 1 million per game pitched, and gives him permission to abandon his team at will.

I'm definitely going to be rooting for Bonds to break Babe "the drunken racist that John Goodman almost made me like" Ruth's homerun record this summer, and hope to whatever power that is in control of things that it doesn't occur in Boston, all the while knowing that Josh Gibson conceivably was better then both. I'm convinced that a polarized heated debate about the soon to occur historic event will show If the truth shall set you free, we all are still trapped by dishonesty.

But what do I know, Katrina had nothing to do with race either…..

We Like our Niggaz Thugs and our Black Women Hoes Part II

How It Was Framed.

Long before the Imus story became the massive all engrossing issue it has manifested into I was already pissed. Not so much at Imus, but particularly at a certain world wide sports leader.

While watching "Sports Center" ESPN last week, I was angered at their reporting or lack there of , concerning Imus's derogatory comments. The anchor briefly mentioned Imus made what "some have called racist and sexist comments" and a retort by Imus of "It was a bad joke, get over it".

The audience wasn't exposed to audio, or video of the comments. Not even a transcript seemed warranted of his quotes seemed warranted. This angered yours truly greatly, because it was yet another example of the media in this case, ESPN's lack of caring of those it compounds its massive profits upon. I wasn't surprised mind you; they gave the same treatment to Serena Williams, when she was heckled by a fan during a recent match with racial slurs. They stated the fan "allegedly" made racial remarks towards Williams during her time on the court. Alledgedly? He did, it was on tape. Other fans saw him and pointed him out. Yet in still her statement was not enough to be credited as fact.

Athletes showing animosity towards fans, huge story, fans spewing racially based hate towards athletes, who really cares? It was pointed out to me that a large part of the rational for not propagating these stories or taking a stance on them was due to the networks audience. They (fans) simply just didn't want to hear about it. If a sports network's viewership is made up of fans, deriding fans for their racist behavior, would cause those same fans to recind their observing. If fans who feel that Black people are always complaining, see ESPN immediately take a stance against Imus in support of a NCAA basketball team, which was just on it's airwaves last week, many would turn away.

First rule of marketing, know your target audience.

The target audience, quite frankly, wasn't trying to hear that shit. The target audience is America.

I See Nappy Headed But I Don't See Hoes..

Yes this whole spectacle involves race and sex, but attempts to somewhat pry these two apart in regards to meaning, are just plain idiocy. Many have taken adopted the course of thought that, yes nappy headed was wrong to say, but Blacks call they women hoes anyway so he's not wrong for saying that.

................

A phrase is a phrase is a phrase. Like it's cousin, the saying, phrases are built on congruity. The full meaning and intention of Imus's statement can't be grasped if the phrase is broken apart. I mean hey it was a joke right?

Saying Nappy Headed Hoes, is basically akin to spewing out "Cotton Picking Niggaz". It was a raced based comment centered on a particular sex. Those trying to break up the phrase would in theory surmise that a non Jewish person uttering "Money Grubbing Jew", would only be guilty for saying "Money Grubbing", because Jewish people relay the term "Jew" amongst themselves. For those who are still in disagreement with the aforementioned view, Imus even threw in "Jiggaboos" for good measure. I'll let that stand for its self.

Now are there issues with how women are treated within Black society? I respond with an emphatic late 90's Steve Austin like HELL YES, but the singling out Black people as if we are the only ones who treat our women in ways deserving of immediate and dramatic change, is unfair, and plain simple minded. Arab culture, Asian culture, "Spanish" and yes even the infallible White culture all have features within it's treatment of women that could use a huge face lift. We are not the only ones, so please don't insinuate that we are, and in tandem insult our intelligence.

Speaking of intelligence, since when is it logical for grown ass men to utilize the "They do it, so its okay if I do it argument?" Has the parenting in this land been that bad for such a long time?" I thought it was a common sentiment, that just because somebody else does something, it doesn't inherently make your following of their act righteous. If that rule doesn't apply, should all those who go kill they enemy without being attacked first becase they "perceived" a threat be absolved of their prison sentences? America does it, so it must be right. Right?

What's really trying is that a large segment of America believes that all or most Black men treat or view in a wholesale manner, their women as purely sexual objects. To quote John Austin, "Not true". The millions of Black men who love and respect Black women are seen and painted as exceptions to a standardized rule. And what is this based on? A subgenera of a particular form of music, that dominates the market because the same demographic that lays blame at it's doorstep whenever possible, voraciously consumes it.

Here's a double standard for you. "They act like that on tv and the radio so they for the most part they're like that in general". Such thoughts lead to, "They think they hoes, well shit they hoes to me to." Oh the power of imagery and ignorance..

I'm Mad They Fired The Man.

After previously being relinquished of his MSNBC simulcast, today CBS followed suit and relived Don Imus of his radio program. I'm not happy with these events at all. Sacrificing Imus solves nothing. He might be away from the airwaves, but in reality he's gone nowhere. Imus is omnipresent, because Don Imus is reflection of America. Firing Imus is akin to arresting a drug dealer. You take one distributor of the street, but you still have millions of fiends ready to line up for the product he supplied.

It's by no means an exact science, but you can generally grasp a decent understanding of an individual based upon the palette of what a person reads, watches and listens to on a constant basis. These are sentences not mathematical theories so

I'm not stating X= Y. What I am relaying is, people for the most part do not support what they personally find disturbing revolting, offensive, or outright wrong.

Individuals also tend to support with more passion forms of media, and art that share some degree of their ideals. The more you can concur and relate, the more fervent your support.

Imus has been in the broadcasting business for 30 years plus, attaining much success and adulation along the way. A person in his profession can only sustain such longevity and garner channels such as MSNBC, millions in profit, with the support of a ardent fan base. A fan base that thinks like he does. Media and entertainment in their many forms are just manifestations, of the American Psyche.

America stop lying to yourselves.

This country bathes in a façade of civility, while concurrently repressing it's true feelings from common view. Imus, and others similar to him, offer persona's individuals gladly vicariously live through. The host is gone, but the sentiment remains. Fakeness continues as business maintains it's stalwart course. It all about the business right?

Only the foolish, gullible and ill informed would think Imus's firing was due to an injection of principle into the mentality of MSNBC and CBS execs. Countless opportunities have been available for them to fire Imus over racist and extremely sexist comments, yet the ousting never occurred. Why would it? They where raking in money, some prolly agreed with him on some level, and the massive out cry wasn't there against him.

Imus was fired because companies didn't want to be vividly aligned with a racist. Hey its America, it's cool to be racist, but not many have the "heart" to be out in the open with it..

Money dictates action in our society, not morals, and its up for debate if certain morals even exist in particular circles. Imus wasn't fired for what he said, he was fired, because he couldn't make money (at least not as much in the immediate future) saying what he has always said. Nothing is solved.

To get firings based on principle, you need company heads that wouldn't hire a outright an outright racist and sexist individual for the purpose project his views in the first place. If society doesn't like racist and and sexist individuals on the airwaves, society mustn't hold the same traits.

Pssst….

Let me tell you something for a second…
Come here,….. nahh closer yo…..

THIS COUNTRY CONTAINS MILLIONS OF RACSIT AND SEXIST INDIVIGUALS.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How far we've come as a nation concerning race, and opposing sex relations is by far more of a indication of how horrid things where, then how good things are presently are.

Must I only get my reality from fiction? One reason I love the "Wire" is because it shows realistic race relations. The seemingly non prejudiced White man states angrily "I'm not going to end up like some project nigga!!!" before he goes with his Black co worker and friend to the hood to try to save his cousin from impending peril. I appreciate the racist rants of the Soprano family gangsters, which reflects a reality that not all Italians have the rosiest views of Blacks. Even a show that is sure to lead me to a early demise do to high blood pressure like "The Shield" garners my respect by showing some the less prestigious leanings of law enforcement. Why can fiction represent reality, while reality is snuffed out when the focuses on it becomes to bright?

I repeat, we are solving nothing. Instead of a true dialogue, and understanding, we are mired in zero sum, extremist arguments that raise contempt and animosity among us.

Oh..

To all of you, especially the Black people out there who where clamoring for Imus to get fired, you should be vvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrry worried about the gift you received.

A dangerous, largely ambiguous and distinctly vague precedent has been set for the immediate termination of individuals based upon forms of dialogue. Will you experience satisfaction when a nefarious proclamation silence, what you feel is justified communication?

The Double Standard and…. Of Course Blame Hip Hop next………….

We Like our Niggaz Thugs and our Black Women Hoes Part I

Some times you just gotta fucken love America.

Michael Richards, Isaiah Washington, Tim Hardaway, and now Don Imus.

And of course the intelligent public discourse that follows.

(sigh)

By now most if not all of you have heard seen and probably discussed Mr Imus's comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team which he neatly juxtapose with Tennessee's squad. If you haven't here is a convenient link for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF9BjB7Bzr0

Now for those who are referenced…shall we proceed with the festivities?

Save the Apoliges

Say what you mean, and mean what you say. It's a rule that everybody should follow and most people follow even when they don't admit it. All human utterances are spawned by thought, no matter what context they are meant to be formulated into or the emotional state of the person speaking. When someone calls Black women "Nappy Headed Hoes" and "Jiggaboos" somewhere ingrained in their mentality, is the thought Black women are nappy

headed hoes and jiggaboos.

When one makes such a statement, in their person they, inherently think and feel that that way about the subjects of their adjectives. Ideologies are constructed and stalwartly solidified during great swaths of time. So when one decides to apologize for the convictions in a span of less then of week, skepticism permeates the air
.
Apologies are always prone examination, and almost never seem as authentic or make the impact as the act the spurred their birth. With Imus,.his apology and his predictable subsequent actions are damn near laughable. When listening to the curmudgeon host talk about the Rutgers team, he seemed quite at ease enjoying another day at the office. Nothing a good laugh at work right. Especially when your craft entails that you make such comments on a fairly consistent basis. As noted by various outlets and those who regularly listen to Imus or happen to drop through every once in a while like my self, Don has been speaking in a manner know to be "offensive" longer than most of us have been alive.

Life long connotations are not melted away with immediate epiphanies. Long held beliefs are also less likely to be believed to be relinquished, so when after spouting them you say people "need to get over them" and only after it seems like the whole world is mad you, then an apology seems appropriate, in reality its just a hollow and fake action.

Imus thought what he said was funny, because people where mad at what he said doesn't make it less funny to him. Depending on what aspect it's viewed from, I'll be the first person to admit race base jokes are funny, but the expense account upon those being savaged has long been over drafted. What ever happened to standing on your own two a backing up your convictions?

Since people want to bring Hip Hop into this, (more on that later) how about sitten 24 inches off the ground, and speaking your mind freely, because, hey that's how u feel. No, we as a public aren't subjected to such treatment these days. Instead any White person whose done "bad" runs to Al Sharpton's radio show to ask for forgiveness, supposedly to placate the Black masses, and explain there out of body experience. Fuck that. Contrary to many I happen to respect, and like Al Sharpton. I don't' always agree with Al, nor do I think he's a "Black Leader". If you don't know, I subscribe to the Nasir Jones train of thought of "Fuck Black Leaders Whites don't got nobody leading them". Well they actually they do, there called Congressman, and the Presidents but for the sake of this conversation I'll just digress and call White leaders invisible.

Back to Sharpton, whose show I also occasionally listen to, Imus going on his show solves nothing. The conversations which insue are not productive and the only sincerity involved from the persecuted arises in the form of intense pandering. You said what you said. Fuck it. Now because of this interview, which from a business standpoint can be understand fully, the whole "Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are opportunist" diatribe gets rehashed. Shit like any talk show host across the nation wouldn't have love to have Imus on when Al did. Yup, the whole "Al doesn't represent all Black people", sentiment has arisen again . Well of course no human of one group represents that whole group. If Al really represented us though, he'd be dead by now.

The animus towards Sharpton and Jackson is understandable, if not fully justified, but also creates some of the most ludicrous talking points know to man.
"Why are they picking on Imus, why don't they go after the rappers who say stuff like that?"

The ideological l foundation of that question speaks volumes to those who choose to spew it at every possible opportunity. Such a query holds no regard for the Rutgers players, or Imus's ignorance, it just implicitly calls Sharpton and other so called black leaders hypocrites, and states that such decretory language towards Black Women is status quo. Do your homework, Sharpton was just marching against G-Unit last week, and countless "leaders of Black origins" protest and clamor against the proliferation of misogyny in Hip Hop every year. Mother Fuckers aint quit after C Dolores Tucker and Dionne Warwick did. It just so happens that like all struggles with corporate giants, its hard to put a dent, let alone a stop to a billion dollar industry. When is the last time you proceeded with glee to pursue actions? Thought so, and that would be exactly the tract undertaken by global media conglomerates if they fully reported the displeasure of many in the Black Community about the rap put out in the mainstream let alone from a Black perspective. The fact is no prominent White person, or at least one of enough stature or power came out and decried this incident. The the general masses of America "ie white people" plain didn't give a fuck. So is it not plausible to say Sharpton filled a void? A tree fell in the American Forrest. and many didn't hear it, or just ignored the echo initially.

"You Should Be focused on other problems, like Black on Black Crime or Education"

Once again do your homework; millions of Black People are concerned, involved and deeply troubled by violence and education. Say what you wanna say about those labled as rabble rousers, but what a lot white people are stating what they/we "should" be doing, has already been done. The sinister bent of a statement such as that one is, Black Women aren't worth fighting for. "Why are you so bent out of shape about this?" Why shouldn't Black people be incensed at disrespect at the highest for of its women? White paternalism stirs immediate discomfort and some anger because it's largely insincere. Generally America is quick to state what Black people should do, but honesty they could care less either way. Instead their artificial advice is used as a deflection tool.

More coming…….

Hip Hop Isn’t Dead….It’s Poison??

About a month ago I had a idea for a Blog that would have been aptly titled "Nigga Hate". Subtle I know, but the heading would have been extremely relevant to the text it preceded. After repeatedly listening to lines like ("IF I WANT YOU DEAD NIGGA I'LL TAKE YA SOUL" ) and ("I RATHER WASTE A NIGGA THAN WASTE TIME") while sharecropping at work, I began to ponder how much self hate I listened to during the course of the week. No matter how much I wanted to disregarded or deny it, the vast majority of the lyrics I listened to sounded like the drunken ranting of past overseers, or possible future proclamations of Neo Nazi's during a race war. I'm firm adherent to the belief that if you hear anything repeatedly for long enough duration, you will internalize and attain and believe of some, if not all of the rhetoric you've been exposed to, such a conviction is exacerbated by the fact the subject matter alluded to, most including myself have been listing to for at least half of there lives. So at the risk of seriously hampering my productivity, I began logging in the music I listened to at work by album, and pin pointing the most egregious lines. You know stuff like (YOU KILL ONE NIGGA YOU MINES WELL KILL SOME MORE") ()Then something happened that abruptly caused a change of plans. While browsing (Allhiphop) I hapend to see a news clipping (yep I'm old enough to say "clippings") mentioning a CNN special dealing with "Hip Hop". Now my initial inclination was "I'm not watching this s$&*". CNN has long been on my "fuck you list" of television stations, long before I basically gave up own cable news as a whole. I immediately conjured up visions of a show constructed by inept producers with a woefully inadequate knowledge of Hip Hop culture, let alone the music, spewing ignorant rants akin to 1950's rhetoric of Rock n Roll being the "Devils Music". My inclinations where further spurred by programs title "Hip Hop… Art or Poison", and the subsequent advertising which asked insidious leading questions like "How do they get away with it?". The power of DVR technology and resonant words of a former professor who stated "You should always want to know what your enemy is saying about you" prevailed over my, I hate CNN and Paula Zahn isn't that talented or attractive thoughts, and I decided to give hilariously labeled liberal channel a hour of my life..

At the shows inception, as expected it went thru the quick ubiquitous 3min synopsis of history. You know, some kids n the Bronx, Rappers Delight, Run DMC, NWA, and gangsta rap, Tupac n Bigge, then the hedonistic times of the present. Of course pertinent facts had to be mentioned, such as 80% of the purchasers of rap cd's just happen to be White, and 1 out of every 5 cd's sold in America (and prolly downloads excluding porn) are of the Hip Hop variety. Now a devout cynic would look at such a display of information and decipher from code "White people wake up, you and your kids are being infected with this insidious negro creation" but life didn't afford such a choice. for a common target of ire was beckoned for his opinion. When Chuck D appeared on the screen via satellite, the urge to change the channel never was stronger in my being. Lately when Chuck is asked to opine on Hip Hop matters it seems like the equivalent of asking Isaac Newtown to discuss nuclear propulsion, might have set the foundation for such a thing, but really not an expert on the subject. With right thumb placed in strategic position, I began to listen to the man who couldn't save Flava Flav's soul speak. Expecting the worst, and the best nonsensical punditry, literal amazement befell me as he refused to be a pawn in CNN game. Utilizing Fox News perfected tactic of suggestive questioning "Isn't it a fact that this type of music really can't be condoned?" Zahn peppered Chuck with far from fair line of questioning, he responded in a beyond adept manner. When the culture of Hip Hop was assailed, he posited about genuine American ideals and values that Rap had just adopted and adjusted to conjure its own manifestation. When rappers where continuality blamed for their product, the legendary group front man asked, "How come nobody brings up or asks about the Jimmy Iovines or Lyor cohens who really dictate what is put out in this industry??" At that moment I was instantly taken back to the days of "Don't Believe the Hype" and "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" and remembered why P.E is legendary even if one of its members is coon of the year. Just when I started to feel good about the show, the teaser before the commercial break came on. "Next up we are going to show you how urban kids think and Hip Hop's affect on it". Shit why don't we just put this show on Discovery H.D and resurrect Steve Irwin at least it would look better and be more entertaining. Note to you I hate the term "Urban" .
Bills where paid and then the audience is swiftly whisked to North Carolina, for an episode of "Youth Out Of Control". Teenagers are asked if they desire the expensive items they see in rap videos, they say yes. Kids are asked if they know anyone that has undertaken illegal means to attain objects in rap videos, they say yes. If my roommates T.V didn't cost more than my first car I think I would've committed High Definition sacrilege. Not content to just on relations from kids on the street, and local criminologist was summoned in to state her view that "I have no doubt in my mind Rap is influencing these kids to commit crime, due to them trying to attain the extravagant items they see in the videos". Just when I thought this Emmy award wining piece was over I had to hear the reporter say "They call it getting paid" aggghhhh. The complete obscuring of American opulence and extravagance during that segment was maddening. The United States as a whole defines consumerism, and for Hip Hops effects to be placed above the omnipresent bombardment of advertisements everyone in this land endures daily is absurd. The individualistic desire to attain massive amounts of wealth is a true red white n blue standard, weather you shoot somebody in the head for a chain, or rob hundreds of thousands of people for their life savings. Different scale same principle. One true caveat not mentioned was standard of living, even though we live in the most affluent nation ever, disparities of wealth domestically inhabitants of to use their term "urban" (I feel sick) an extra motivational factor for nihilistic behavior, trying to garner more self worth. If you live in a abyss of poverty that nearly every one who your acquainted with and looks like you is mired in also, there is a good chance you will only see the trees in front of you (gaudy items in the hood and in music vids) for the rest of the forest or even out side of it, is concept not often pondered. Say what you will about the Feds and crime statistics, but rates of violent crime where much higher in the 80's when Rappers where on a Black Pride theme and everybody was rocken African medallions. Guess that means that Hip Hop then was more liable then the cocaine rap of today?

Credit should be given where it is due, and CNN did (at least on the first and only part of the series I watched) host a group of panelist that made me temporally question everything I read in (Cable News Confidential). Any time I see hear or read Micheal Eric Dyson, I'm reminded why the higher power gave us two eyes, two ears and one mouth, and when I witnessed the name Roland S Martin (Damn you NPR when u lost Ed Gordon you lost him) I thought that maybe I hadn't given up the Jamaica, for I never would have thought CNN would have given someone of his acumen and bent a platform. Even the individual who I thought was the token white guy was beyond great in his expression, I had no idea who Tom Wise was before the show, but he proved himself exceedingly proficient in the position he held down that night. I actually started to feel bad for those who feel Hip Hop is poison because those who represented there argument where really out numbered and out matched. Well they did have the host on they side, but with ignorant comments by a Black Lady whose name escapes me at th moment like "We as Black People are rhythm based so we become so immersed by the beat that we sometimes don't even think about the lyrics and the message and just sing along" hmmm so that same theory doesn't apply the main white purchasers of the product? I kept wondering, where is Maxine Waters when you need her to save you from loud individuals who say nothing. After a intriguing segment about the misogynic nature of Hip Hop degrading Black Women for a largely White audience and Isaiah Washington, Tim Hardaway like lets blame Rap for homophobia story line the panel rounded out the show, one last round table discussion was had. Dyson displayed it best when he stated the true wielders of power in the Music industry are not going market and promote Hip Hop that describes and criticize the structural inequalities of America, "there are plenty of rappers who do not divulge in the type of rhetoric you've brought up tonight, but the do not get nearly the same exposure". After he recited a very true line about OJ and Woody Allen from Mos Def's "Mr Nigga" Roland Martin interjected, "These corporations only care about profit, and sex and violence sells very well". After watching the special and witnessing the poll results stating the majority of viewers not surprisingly found Hip Hop to be poison, I was left with the same bothersome feelings. I worry about Hip Hop as an art form and culture. Sadly it's a creation we don't control, which has been manipulated and turned against us. The main elixir for Raps problems can easily be seen as balance, but the attainment of such seems sometimes like a distant non realistic possibility. We live in a land where there seems to be a new sadistic horror film in theaters every week, a government that condones torture has to tell a highly popular television to slow down with its depictions of it's use, and there's enough intrigue about death to sponsor 82 CSI's and 67 Law & Orders. Yes America we are some sick fucks....or at least are bread to be so. It shouldn't be surprising that the 180 of whats prominently displayed by the likes of Viacom, rarely if ever gets to be witnessed by you. Yes there are a lot of White Kids at Dead Prez shows, but the majority of "America" doesn't want to hear nor consume that shit or anything remotely like it. No huge profit, no shelf space for the product. That product should also be looked at keenly to. In a country where torture and murder of Blacks was a recreational sporting act, is it disturbing that there is such a massive non Black audience that loves to hear about Black destruction? Maybe being in the trunk is better that being on the tree, but still it isn't a beautiful scenario. If the Irish where the Niggers of Europe, than Blacks are akin to the Jews on that continent of earlier times, both where easy to blame for societies ills. The sad reality is that energy that should be spent trying rectifying some of Hip Hops maladies are exhausted in trying to defend it, because for a lot of people, defending Hip Hop is akin to defending themselves. The vicious cycle continues.

2008 The Barackomania Edition

One of the most crushing blows life delivers to those lucky enough to hold on its to precious finite quality, is the realization that something intrinsically important to us is utterly flawed without the slightest inkling of rectifying its self. Personally I've come along this tract concerning politics. Given recently attained understandings and realizations, the zeal which usually accompanies .a potential major political change has disappeared, eliminated by the often dogged truth that nothing adequately substantial will occur with the ascendance of a new candidate. Now I'm definitely not stating that voting is useless or uttering the apathetic mantra of "it doesn't matter", rather I'm exuding the pragmatic qualities within my being. Until it is no longer a necessity for candidates to acquire "Power Ball" equivalent "war chest" sums derived from fundraising to even be considered to be a legitimate candidate, and the American public shows the ability to stomach the serum of blunt truth from those running for office, the significant changes needed within the polity will never be derived from the executive office. Such a sordid reality was partly exposed to me when amazingly somehow Al Sharpton was making the most cogent arguments during the last election, and I'm predisposed t to be highly skeptical of all designs spouted by Black men who rock perms. Now, let it not be believed that the lack of significant positive change stemming from a election doesn't mean the choice the land won't cause catastrophic results for the rest of the world. In plain language, our commander in chief might not hold the world in the palm of his hands, but she/he directly determines the life spans of hundreds of thousands if not millions across the globe. So while I might view Al Gore as a soft ass punk, (and Mr. Gore your not special, Dr. Seuss told me about global warming in the mid 80's during a very informative elementary school film) and John Kerry as another incorrigible moderate Democrat, I voted for them both, for I required no Nostrodamus like qualities to foresee the cataclysmic results Bush's accession to the highest office in the land would ensure. I disseminate such views in the context of knowing that the 21 months until the next presidential election will rapidly expire like any recent non 9/11 tragedy from the American conscious. The habitually inept news media also seem to be aware of the object in the mirror being closer than it appears and have preformed in ways varying from informative to extremely patronizing. Well given these realities, and the fact that I've already spent precious hours of my life scouring the net for mock 2007 NFL drafts, I figure the least I could do as a "citizen" assess my early thoughts on a few of the 2008 Presidential Candidates. This week I shall focus upon...:

Barack Obama

My initial plan was to maintain a serious nature with this blog, but honestly the first thought that came to mind when trying to conjure up this opening sentence was, "Light Skin niggaz is back!!!". To all those non familiar with slightly ignorant inside Black humor I apologize, but sometimes you haft to laugh to avoid punching holes in inanimate and animate objects alike. I'm sure you've heard the story by now everybody seems to be in "love" with Mr. Obama. "He's so charismatic"." He's just what the country needs". "He embodies so much of what is great about this country". Did I miss something? Until a former Trim Spa hawking celebrity who should have been called up the Maury Povich show passed away I could have swore Jesus had come back, and yes indeed he was a Black Man, given the massive media attention given to him. The main question is why? Why are we daily updated on the seemingly fanatical "BarackOmania" tour stops daily, as if we will perish without them? I ask these queries for two simple reasons

"Sorry This Blog has been interrupted to announce that Damien Bradley Has Become The First Black Man Write a Blog while Smoking a Black N Mild, Downloading a Havana Ginger movie, and laughing at Camron screaming Cuuuuuurrrrrrrtiiiiisssss"

What on his scant political resume denotes rationale for such immense attention? ..And. Fuck Audacity of Hope, what has really given the masses the Audacity to think Obama can actually win? Maybe "Deep Impact" was more popular than I thought, and the populace has been watching just a little to much 24, so please allow me to snatch some from alternate realities back into the one which we all reside.

While not direct indicator of future immobility, history is great foundation to build summarizations upon. So what does American history tell us about our voting constituency and their propensity or lack thereof to elect a Black President? Bluntly, that the odds are slightly greater than attaining tickets to a 2Pac concert with Kurt Cobain starring as the opening act. Taking the highly manipulated and gerrymandered House of Representatives out of the equation, one only has to look at the Nations Governorships to surmise doesn't want to elect a Black President ( Asking if America is Ready is so misleading). There have only been 3…yes…3 Black Governors in our nations history and even that is debatable seeing that 1 of those wasn't elected but appointed as a temporary replacement. So? You belligerently state. Well the nations 50 states are a perfect platform for the Black President litmus test. While his or her politics, competition, and overall quality as a candidate are all factors that determined their electability, Americas states have repeatedly stated that Black candidates are not qualified to hold the highest office within a given state. If the race for presidential office can be seen as a battle for individual states, then the failure rate of Black candidates historically running for governor is very telling. So much is made of the "Black Vote" and the propensity of supposed racial voting solidarity amongst Black people, but the truth is getting White people to vote for Black candidates is often a Herculean feat to accomplish. Numbers talk and certain threads of ideology have the ability to traverse a state, while others are halted at regional boarders. There is a lot of pasture and forest between many metropolitan areas.

Another humbling fact hampering Mr Obama is the last 2 Democratic presidents where southern moderates. Now he has the whole moderate thing down, so much so that I haft to often question myself as to if I'm a Obama hater or just truly just not a fan of his politics and fraudulent witch like praise bestowed upon him, until he is fattened up just right as to be devoured by those who feigned, hope and belief in him. Know matter how moderate or religious he is, cannot change the fact that he is neither Southern or that he is Black in the South. I would put up my pittance of a paycheck every week that millions of Southern voters would gladly post a ballot for Ulysses s Grant before Barack. Now I'm not being overly cynical and stating no Black man could ever be elected in this nation, but I am saying its damn sure not going to be Barack Obama. Please let us be real with ourselves, the first Black president is going to haft to be Republican. No matter how articulate and safe Sen. Biden might think Mr. Obama is, the phrase Black Democratic is still acidic to the tongue of many, and congers up harrowing visions that aren't nearly as funny as that Dave Chappelle skit they love so much. When I say Black Republican I don't mean the walking punch line that goes by the moniker of Alan Keys (or a disappointing historic song by Nas n Jay-Z) I'm speaking more in terms of a pre lying his ass off committing credibility suicide at the U.N Colin Powell, he holds the soothing conforming political outlook America adores, and maintains a extremely reputable military and political background. Which reminds me…… what exactly has Barack done…and for how long? Now that question could and can be asked of many candidates, but for the sake of this discussion. If I had better HTML skill I would insert the sound of crickets here. I still haven't come to grips with which one was/is more madding, Barack's miniscule resume or Hillary Clinton refusing to take a stance on ANYTHING.

America pleased don't be fooled, a sole candidate can't and won't change us, only we can change us in concerns of the fairness in our thinking. Given how the majority of this land ponders political scenarios, all of this Barack watch stuff is almost nothing more than grandiose patronizing that makes a mockery out of reality or at worse creates a false one some would like you to believe exists.

Truthfully tho if I was to receive a phone call from the only type of telemarketers I can tolerate, political pollsters, I would say at the moment that Barack would be tied for first place with Hillary and an unnamed Green Party candidate for my vote.

I never said I liked my options

Peace

You Know It's Drama, But it Sounds..........

Outlandish, without warrant (well a legitimate one), and propagating plain idiocy, those where the initial thoughts wrought when I arose Wednesday morning to find the offices of DJ Drama had been raided by the police. Why would law enforcement utilize the same militaristic tactics undertaken against those suspected of narcotics trafficking, and invoke the mafia inspired RICO statute against a highly reputable legal enterprise? The official line given by the Fulton County (G.A) police, is that DJ Drama and the Aphilliates where participating in bootlegging and racketeering. Where did they come across such intel and impetus? The RIAA of course joyously blew the trumpets of supposed illegality. Now the advent of police performing hits for a trade union is far beyond disturbing, but when the logic behind the manipulation of law enforcement is mystifying at best, other rational must be extrapolated from such action. The RIAA have always been some insincere cock sukas who unabashedly claim to always hold the protection of artist interests in the forefront of their actions. The true reality of RIAA maneuvers, is they are motivated by the maintaining, and improvement of the profit margins garnered by the corporations from which it spawned from, while viciously attacking anyone one fucking with their money. To those hovering over Pyrex pots, with aspirations of turning children into bastards, sorry…these guys are more gangsta than you. Acting in conflict of ones manifesto is not a unique trait in business let alone humanity, but the recent Atlanta raid negatively affects all parties involved. Even for those who are in dire need of lasik surgery it is easily visible that the corporate titans whom run a record industry suffering from a continued advanced reduction of sales as a result of advanced modern technology and inferior product, are trying to hoard the bountiful scraps left on the music business plate. Such a summarization is reinforced by the self inflicted wounds RIAA members are willing to endure by undertaking such action. Hip Hop and the music business have always had a intriguing relationship. From being disparaged as a fad, to becoming Americas best selling music genera raps ascendance to the mainstream lends a plethora of insights into a myriad of institutions. During the late 90's and early millennium Rap finally surpassed Country and the most economically prosperous form of music in the land. The ascension had its draw backs and unexpected detriments though. Music sales where being vigorously eroded by file sharing and downloading, during a time when investment in hip hop was peaking due to its apex on the music mountain, and the quality of the craft began to fall, largely due to record label mandates and dictations wrought upon MC's to ensure (supposedly) sales. Thus while Rap dominated the charts, concurrently sales usually associated with such a position where noticeably deprecated. Ironically during this period one artist would radically adjust the usage of one of the staples of hip hop, the mixtape .Throughout the 90's mixtapes where coveted by aficionados for they broke new artist, contained exclusive material which prolly would never make the artist final album, or gave the listener at up to a 6 month advance on new singles. Many artist such as Big Pun benefited during that time from mixtapes, but do to the vast number of artist on each compilation, the main benefactors where the DJ's ala DJ Clue. Curtis Jackson before becoming the renown 50 Cent he known as today, did what would be akin to giving gunpowder to the natives, when instead of doing 2 or three songs on a particular DJ's tape, began to make his own mixtapes solely, consisting of his group or himself, which encapsulated the energy of mixtapes, but had the unmistakable feel of a album. 50's reapplication of the mixtape, propelled him from obscurity to the second most bankable rap commodity. This is where the crux lies. Labels cherish artist like 50 but they love overall profit even more. After the success of 50 and various G-Unit mixtapes, nearly every aspiring, up and coming, and established artist created there own mixtapes. What before was never a problem to the RIAA, began to arise angst for, they begin to see mixtapes as direct competition to retail cd's. The argument is palatable, but blindly ignores the fact that the mixtape product itself is far superior to the label creation, for record companies have been releasing stale sub standard hip-hop for far to long a duration. With introspection ignored, fact also was relegated to the sidelines, as labels intrinsically benefit from a MC ravaging the mixtape circurt. 2005 was the year of Young Jeezy, who without the boost that DJ Drama provided might actually be hovering over a Pyrex pot somewhere instead of being one of the industries most prized products. Lil Wayne, who for the sake of this conversation, might have captured the 2007 bitch move award for his comments on this situation, went from non reputable remaining group member to bankable star and "best rapper alive" thru the same path. In attacking the DJ's the labels are in essence killing the spawn, which is a perfectly germane policy for them, if there not seeing the percentage of profit they desire. The truly insidious nature of this raid however, lies in the precedent it sets. The administering one sole genera of music the surveillance (Hip Hop Police) is just as despicable in its genesis, then in the blasé reaction to toward it, but the assault on legitimate business and artistic expression sets a dire course. Music, no matter who usurps it, is ultimately a form of communication. What law enforcement and the RIAA have declared is, "We are the sole owners of this product". Given the deep interlocking of culture and music in the comprising of Hip Hop, and the current dynamics of its attainment, having such a standard established, maliciously attacks the freedom of expression, the RIAA claims to protect. Whether guise or not, the incarceration of artist for lacking a barcode on their product for fiscal reasons, can easily transform into the imprisonment of persons due to the content within there work. Dead Prez has a contract with Sony, Ras Kass is bounded to one with Priority. Both have a catalog of mixtaptes albums along with countless others. Let us not let become blinded by the myth of American exceptionalism, and a false belief that pure freedom of expression and speech is an inherent component of citizenship. Utilizing the ever sharpened blades of race, blatantly manipulated when the selling of mixpates was equated the illicit distribution of cocaine, and the customary constantly reinforced views of particular segments of society, law enforcement and the RIAA are attacking the innocent.

Support DJ Drama

By doing so you'll be supporting yourself.

Peace

Look It’s the Amazing Black Head Coach!!!!!

I'm a peaceful person, who feels violence can be condoned. Though I'm far from sensitive, I can be swiftly annoyed by particular actions. Why am I divulging personal charter traits? I dunno maybe its therapeutic to be honest about ones self, or maybe just maybe I'm tired and utterly exasperated just one day in, of all the "Two African American Coaches Made It to the Super Bowl", talk. It seems that every time I change the channel, listen to the radio, step, into the office at work, or buy a loaf of bread at the moment I have the near uncontrollable urge to say, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!. Why?.........

The Interchanble African American term.

I hate (sorry strongly dislike wont work) the term African American, if you know me or this happens not to be your first visit here, you should already be acquainted with my stance on the idiom.

The haughtiness if of the White establishment….to call them selves American….while hyphenated every one else…..which is highly ironic,when technically speaking the persons…who get the most flack for being immigrants, "illegals" and other sinister terms are inherently more American then any white or black individual….. but thats another convo…lets just say the unspoken arrogance of that display bothers me….

Second lets not play games….even tho its wrought with falsehood only a society like ours can perfect and propagate, Africans image is prolly one step bellow T.O's is the contemporary American mind regardless of race, religions or economic status. Yes ..Africa has problems…and some MAJOR issues, but the wholesale negative light its portrayed in is entirely unfair. I mean damn, we live in the earths Disney World and we know how fucked up things are here. Basically the dynamic runs as follows…"Africa's fucked up place, so be happy and feel lucky you're here, or those whom which you emanate from are inferior. Now I've done the knowledge enough to know those claims and assumptions are bullshit, but to be equated with them is just another straw on the proverbial back. The bothersome factor is ratcheted up ..do to the plain fact that relation and connection between Blacks and Africa is shaky at best in tragic shambles at worst. Do in large part to are educational system and the way which history has occurred. Whites (Or Asians etc etc with their respective "places of origin")people have a far better relations and association with Europe than Blacks with Africa. Yet no conation of their identity is ever directed associated with lands apart from this distinct country. So yes in my mind I'm definitely like fuck that, and to alleviate my angst ..until the Super Bowl is over I'm referring to all White People in my presence as European Americans in quaint protest, now. for the rub as they say……

The Omnipresent Black First

All I hear is "This is so important" "This is historical" "this will open up doors". Hmmm. Why? How come? And will it? Why is this so important? The fact that Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy can obviously coach has been well know for a minute, their making it to the Super Bowl does nothing to change that. In realms of importance, what does their reaching the zenith game tangibly do for all of the Black People this is supposed to be so good for? Why is it historical? If it wasn't for the primitive strain of racial thought innate within American society, this moment probably would have occurred decades ago. The extra perseverance and diligence required of Black coaches to attain such a feat should be recognized and praised, but the only reason this is historical is due to lack of true just opportunity. The disturbing sense one gets from all of this talk is…"Look, Look Black men Can lead a team to the Super Bowl!!!!" If it took last Sundays events to prove such to you, my friend you're a fucken idiot" A person of Philippine or Indian decent could coach a team to the Super Bowl. If you're a good enough motivator, judge of talent, have high enough intelligence, and are in good standing with the football Gods who doll out the all necessary luck, you to can be a Super Bowl head coach. The sense of hafting to prove to ourselves and society as a whole that certain task are possible to be achieved is ridiculous Blacks whether G.M Coach, Owner, will succeed and fail horribly ,because they are human…and humans are know to visit every point between triumph and disappointment. Joe Dumars, and Ozzie Newsome are great at their craft, Isaiah Thomas quite frankly may be the worst upper management persona ever to dictate orders from an office. Anything one human can do another one somewhere else on the planet can accomplish. A great White rapper shouldn't shock you, a great black head coach shouldn't amaze you, break down your constructs. To me, this being the biggest story in quite some time is utter bullshit and not accidental. Shamefully this reeks of another Brazilian like discussion of race in this land…which if it is fatiguing me now…I can only imagine how most of the "main stream" feels.

On Championship Sunday I rooted for the Colts. I became a Indy fan because:

I Hate the Patriots

I think Tony Dungy is a good coach who has came painfully close many times before, went thru a horrible tragedy, (no matter how you view suicide), is a former Steelers himself, and because someone very close to me wished for his success

The Bears and Saints game I could have cared less…..

Given the actuality of the situation, football easily superseded race.

I can dully respect those in the age ranges of lets say….50 and up for cherishing such a moment, for they lived more intently more visceral forms of injustice and at some point of their lives neva thought such a moment possible. For them empathy is most assuredly due. The question must be asked however, where did such a idea of impossibility and hopelessness come from? Yes it good to see Black management in the spotlight instead of an endless diet of performers, but Jesus Christ…do we haft to act like this is the greatest fucken event in the world ever? I wish the media would stop patronizing us, and Black People would sober there exuberance and focus on the how comes?)