The C.Y.N.I.C.A.L Side of: The Black- Eyed Peas

Like everybody was doing yesterday, I was watching the Super Bowl, loving the commercials (s/o to Em for his Chrysler commercial showing Detroit, it is much needed in this day in America), and eating lots of food. Unlike many of the Super Bowl fanatics, I just could not stand watching Bill O’Reilly given his no-spin zone to Barack Obama because Bill O’Reilly love going after people he know he can control and get away with it (try that with those protesters in Egypt then I will give you some type of credit.), nor did I watch the Super Bowl halftime show with the Black Eyed Peas because I have a disdain for people who sold out on hip-hop. Here is my gripe on “The Black-Eyed Peas.”

Me and my blogger brother in the N.C, Citizen Ojo, was having a nice conversation about this during the Chicago Bears- Seattle Seahawks NFC Divisional Playoff Game. Decades ago, I really thought that the Black-Eyed Peas were going to be the West Coast version of my favorite group “A Tribe Called Quest.” Not because the elements that was similar,(Will.I.Am being the next Q-Tip, Taboo and Apl.de.ap being the next Ali Muhammed and Phife Dog) but because they were different in their own way of race (one black, one Filipino, and one Hispanic). I remember the first album called Behind the Front due to their hit “Joints and Jam” with artist Kim Hill.

It is still to me a bonafide hip-hop classic in many cases. In 2000, they collab with singer Macy Gray on “Request Line”. It was a pretty nice song that it hit 2 on the Rap Single. Yes the same time the Hot Boyz (Juvenile, B.G., Turk, and some lil knucklehead name Lil Wayne) was blazing the whole U.S. The same year Bad Boy was at their peak. So the question to me from 2000 to 2001 what happen.

Well development at Interscope came. Dumped Kim Hill because she wasn’t black enough and got a singer that was not black at all to coincide with the Rainbow Coalition that was already happening. Fergie did so much up and down to this group. She gave them international appeal and killed the once coined “one of the last few rap crew in the game.” What happened is that they became more pop than hip-hop. Sometimes I really think the Black-Eyed Peas played a part of the “Who killed the hip-hop group?” theory. It was a big….and quick decision to either get back into hip-hop or go pop. Well, three double platinum LPs, a song (and parody thanks to Aaron MacGruder) for our nation’s president , and many tour around the world, we see where this group went.

Now I am sitting here thinking three things. “Was it worth it,” “Would I still think of Joints & Jam the same way I think of Imma Be,” “Are they the expanded version of A Tribe Called Quest?”

….Well I don’t know, but I tell you my friends. That playing College Football 2010 on PS3 was worth playing than the halftime show.

--Stay Chiefin My Friends

-SA.

The Worst You Ever Had With "The Best You Ever Had."

Being a blogger, I like to read so many of other bloggers. It is like they are family to me. One of my favorite bloggers, is my man AverageBro (check him out if you have time. He has some of the most sense-worthy posts I have ever read). I always check out Average’s “Name That Sample” post because of my love for the digging in crates of old school music that I have checked out on a hit that either I recognized and at times never heard until he throws it in there. Today, he hipped me on three things, a top 10 hit that I haven’t heard in a while, the thought of the sample being a jump start to a Rapper career, and…………..

……the fact that some record companies still did not get the memo from MC Hammer and Rick James about jacking beats without paying royalties.

Canadian rapper Drake is being sued for copyright infringement by Playboy Enterprises over allegations that his breakout smash "Best I Ever Had" samples a '70s hit owned by the company.

In a lawsuit filed June 24, Playboy alleges that Drake's mixtape hit contains Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds' 1975 soft-rock tune, "Fallin' in Love."

The suit names Drake -- whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham -- as well as Cash Money Records and Universal Music Group.

Okay the parties involved have a partially and full responsibility about this issue.

For Drake: He is the man with the name on the track, and he does not know better about people jacking beat without paying royalties. Just because you did a mixtape with 9^th Wonder hitting a serious rendition sample of Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love,” does not mean you can just go all out and do it mainstream without permission. Still, when you are in the game, you should not follow the mistakes of other artist who started big. Examples include Robbie Van Winkle aka Vanilla Ice song “Ice Ice Baby” ties toward popular rock group Queen and their song “Under Pressure.”

For Cash Money Records: This is good example of cheating your way in the game can catch up to you. You can rob some people for royalties and sorts but not everybody. Brian “Baby” Williams have been cheating producers and original song artists for a long time. There are many producers who either complained, don’t want to deal with them, and are suing the record company for money.

For Universal Records: Plain and simple, they don’t care. People and sub-record companies like Drake and Cash Records are like buses, they come and go.

Track records about artists who have got caught sampling without permission and lost the settlement have not really came back from their career fiasco. Let’s hope Drake can learn a lesson from that.

What do you think about Drake getting sued by Playboy. Do you think Cash Money Recods was bullying their way in the industry and now just got a taste of their own medicine?

Playboy is suing Drake for copyright infringement. SMH!

The Name Game

I will say this, the clip that I am about to show you sums up what I am about to explain in this story.

Now the young generation (born after 85s) will know Rick Ross as the hip-hop artist with such songs as “Hustlin,” “Push It,” “Maybach Music 1 and 2,” “Mafia Music,” and “Magnificent.” Everybody that was born before the 85 will know Rick Ross as “Freeway” Ricky Ross, the notorious drug trafficker who was famous for his Drug Empire and involvement with the Iran-Contra Affair in the mid-eighties which spawned the crack epicdemic. The major players included Lt. Col Oliver North, Panama’s former President Manuel Noriega, and the CIA at that time. The rapper Rick Ross was a correctional officer before he turned superstar rapper. Freeway Ricky Ross was a college student who got into the drug game and never looked back. The Rapper Rick Ross is not Rick Ross; it is William Roberts………..

……and that is where this clip goes to.

Don’t get me wrong to say that William Roberts went all Albert and transformed himself into MC Gusto because that is what he did. Freeway Ricky Ross could have turned Gusto on him. Instead, he wanted to do it the right way.

Since his release from a life sentence in federal prison May 4, 2009, Ricky D. Ross a/k/a “Rick Ross”, the ex-drug kingpin from LA, has been preparing to go to war against all parties who profited off of his name unlawfully while he was in jail, without his consent, particularly William L. Roberts II, Def Jam, Universal and others. As the above-named parties gear up to release the 4th “Roberts as RICK ROSS” album titled “Teflon Don”, a storm is brewing in the real “Rick Ross” camp against the anticipated album imminent summer release.

I don’t know a guy like that with major ties to the 30 year-game of the crack epidemic still may have some major players that know him as legendary. For him to do what he did was a safe warning for William Roberts aka Rick Ross. Come to think about, a guy like Ricky Ross has nothing to lose. I mean the following are thing he could have done:

He could have pulled a Little Walter asked him his name and shot him cold-blooded.

He could have just made him disappear without notice.

He could have ruined his life, his family life, his friends’ life, his kids’ life, and his grandkids life.

………………but that is why the judicial system is something else. I know that if he have a good lawyer he can call it "Identity Theft." It is the same thing as someone using your name to get a car.

What do think about stealing someone’s identity even if they are a former criminal just to make a name?

Rick Ross vs Rick Ross

Louisiana Wants to "Power Up" on Lil Boosie

- My business is about the streets not in the streets.

Derek Luke - Notorious

I always said that Lil Boosie reminds of that young kid that you knew when they grew up he could make lemons out lemonade but also can either impact the state of anything just because you know he is going to tell it like it is, whether you like it or not. The conception about Boosie is that the while the cRapper artist is more like art imitating life or even life imitating art, Boosie was the real deal. Bossie was the reason that from the Southwest Mississippi to Baton Rouge, every little kid who love hip hop had something to represent for. Those little hip hop heads from that area in Mississippi didn’t care for David Banner because he did not relate to what was people talking about in day to day life. They were caring for Lil Boosie because he talked and walked the line of an everyday person in those areas where there is no hope but to act wild and be strapped.

….but that line is shown now how Lil Boosie has become public enemy No. 1 to the State of Lousiana.

In 2009, Torrance “Lil Boosie” Hatch was sentenced to 10 years in prison on gun and drug possession charges. He began serving that sentence at Dixon Correctional Institute(DCI) in Jackson, Louisiana. On Thursday, Boosie was indicted on a first-degree murder charge. He was transported from DCI to Louisiana State Police headquarters and thereafter, was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Boosie claimed his innocence as reporters asked him if he was involved in the murder for hire scheme of a Baton Rouge man. The rapper is accused of paying a man to kill 35-year old Terry Boyd, who was shot to death through a window while inside of his home at 16837 Vermillion Drive on October 21, 2009.

I know some people are thinking “Another rapper in jail,” and saying that all rapper are like that. The entertainment business is a mutha_____. It is funny that real hip hop artists are kept on silent (Lupe, Joe Budden, and Bun B) or was inside CB4 (Slick Rick). I have money that Lil Boosie is going to be like another Snoop, Tupac , Shyne, or C-Murder, either he is going to beat this out or be in jail and still rapping.

My money is…..you can the person out the hood…but you can’t take the hood out the person.

What do you think about Lil Boosie felony charge?

Rap recording artist 'Lil Boosie' is facing murder charge.

The Miseducation of: VH1 Hip Hop Honors, "Dirty South"

The Smoking Ace is also a music living, crate diggin, hip-hop head and I love my region’s hip-hop music, The Dirty South. I recorded VH1 Hip Hop Honors, The Dirty South, but did not get to look at until yesterday. I can tell you this as a hip-hop head from the south that………

VH1 either really hates southern hip-hop or don’t know jack-s@#@ about the history of Southern hip-hop because while they got the whole concept wrong.

I can give you what they got right. Notably Luke Skywalker and the 2 Live Crew, JD, Master P, Trick Daddy, and Organized Noise. Scarface would have been honored also but I know why

Here is where the pure Sh@#$ery goes down.

You should have left it as "Vh1 Hip Hop Honors 2010" - Scarface said it best in his blog when talking about the reason he decided to not accept being honored on the show.

Why would you categorize us as “Dirty South”? Why can’t you just honor some muthafuckers from down here and leave it like that? You ain’t gotta make us look extra country. We know where we’re from and we know where you’re from. We know where Hip Hop came from, man. We’re cool with that. I’m proud to be from Houston but don’t make a mockery of my accomplishments. We’re not “dirty” down here in the South anyway. This shit down here probably cleaner than the rest of the country, cause we got grandmas down here. Our grandmas don’t play that shit.

Bonecrusher should have never been on there - He is the reason for the quote from an episode called “Soul” off of CBS Cold Case .

“Steal a little, you a thief. Steal a lot, then you’re the king” –Lt. John Stillman, Cold Case

Bonecrusher, whether he likes it or not, stole the hit “Never Scared” from Mississippi’s Rap Duo Reese and Bigelow.

Since when does Virginia become “The Dirty South” – Last time I checked, they have a region of their own. They call it the “D-M-V.” When VH1 start honoring the DMV, then I would honor Timbo. VH1, “The Dirty South” consist of the following: Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee. The Carolinas have their own region and Virginia is part of the DMV which is a region of its own. ……..and speaking of Tennessee.

A Dirty South honor without Memphis hip-hop, Are you serious? – Let’s back track for a history on Southern Hip Hop 101, J Prince did represent Texas, but a 16- year old entrepreneur named Tony Draper started a label, based off the West Coast Death Row Records, called Suave House. Suave House consist of legendary Memphis pioneers Eightball and MJG, South Circle, Crime Boss, and Tela. Although Outkast had the South on lock being that Atlanta became the new hot spot, Suave House had the whole South on lock along with Rap-A-Lot records and Jive’s UGK. Eightball and MJG’s “Coming Out Hard” is still a bonafide classic album in the south, “Lay It Down” was the South’s national anthem, Tela’s “Sho Nuff” is the Nupes national strolling athem, and everybody learn the game in their classic song “Pimps.” Speaking of Memphis hip-hop, how the executives leave out the ONLY hip-hop group with an Oscar, Three-Six-Mafia. They were the reason for Crunk music. Before crunk, Triple-Six had people fighting in the club for no apparent reason.

If we are going to represent VA, why not Carolina hip-hop? – Everybody was reppin North Carolina when Petey Pablo came out with “Raise Up.” Also the most educated hip-hop group since Boogie Down Production is Little Brother. They were so good, BET banned the song “Loving It” from the video list. Speaking of the Justus League, what about 9^th Wonder? He has made major contributions to Hip-hop producing (HBCU stand up!!).

No Outkast, or Geto Boys are you really serious? - Those two are hand-in-hand the RUN- DMCs of the South. Without Outkast, there will be no Organize Noised honored and without the Geto Boys, Texas will still be heard just from the south. They were the trendsetters out of the South. Both groups change the game in rap music. The Geto Boys were changing it with their raw and edgy lyrics that made people cringed. The first time I heard “Assassin” I was amped up. I see why the Insane Crown Posse, the craziest group that walk on Earth, remade the song. The Geto Boys were the first to sample lines from Brian De Palma epic classic movie “Scarface.” Outkast, on the other hand were 2 kids that were lyrical geniuses and serious go-gettaz. They have done it all, with all respect in the South.

If you wanted Missy on their so bad to represent the female MCs from the South, why not Mia X, or even Gangsta Boo? - I give Missy her credit in her contribution to hip-hop, but as far as southern female MCs, those two brought fear to the heart of male MCs in the house and their independence songs showed. Come on, ladies in the house was still humming "Where Dem Dollars At?" till this day.

Seriously, How in the HELL you leave out DJ Screw as a Honoree? - Without DJ Screw, there will be no "Screwed and Chopped." Texas would be like any other hip-hop. That is what made Texas hip-hop so unique.

There are my rants and I am sticking to them.

How do you feel about VH1’s “Hip Hop Honors?” Where do you feel it missed the mark in Southern Hip-Hop?

Joe Budden + Underground Freestyle * Real Issues = Classic

People can talk about Joe Budden all they want. I personally say that every Underground Mixtape he has established has been pure 100% classic. I know Nas talk about "Hip Hop is Dead," but Joe Budden's 2008 freestyle "Who Killed Hip Hop Part1 & 2" is a bonfide classic. I can hear this 10 years from now and will still see what he is talking about. So to all the people who like mainstream artists, this is DEFINITELY NOT for you.

Do you feel Joe Budden on this freestyle? How did you feel about this hip hop song?

Weekend Jam - Hip Hop Love Songs

Today’s Weekend Jam goes to how hip-hop at one time influences the connection between a man and woman. I know hip-hop caught a bad rap of degrading the ladies by sexual exploitation, but the minority of hip-hop songs brought out the softer side of men who wanted to be with ladies. I now present to you: The Slow Jam Rap Songs:

“I Need Love” LL Cool J: I said it once and I will say it again, this is why they called him LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James).

“Hey Lover” LL Cool J feat. Boyz 2 Men: See “I Need Love” and classic sample of “The Lady in My Life” by Michael Jackson.

“Can You Get Away” Tupac: The legend of this song was that he was really writing a personal letter to Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. Whatever the reason, great song off one the greatest album in my lifetime “Me Against The World”

“Brainstorming” MC Brains: Although the name and the song are just as cheesy and corny, it still was a jam to be with your girl and make a lil love.

“Callin Me” Mac: This No Limit alum switched it up from gangster to smooth talker, and the beat is still to this day a bonafide classic.

“How It’s Going Down” DMX: The ultimate crush and how I feel about you song. Classic material from the Dog.

All Through the Night: Tone Loc feat. El Debarge: Tone have a smooth voice, but still I am LOLing at how did the West Coast feel this. You have to remember this was at the same time shortly "The Chronic" came out. You know the rest.

What is your favorite rap slow jam?

Leave the Stringer Bells on TV, Romeo.

As some people know, I am in grad school getting my master’s degree. I like obtaining knowledge whether in school or out of school. So this morning I was catching up on some work and run across this clip from Romeo and his group call College Boyz, and this is what he said.

(An Ace Note: Romeo, isn't that the reason your father wanted you to get an education and expand the business? That is why Bow Wow clowned you when you were young. You were privileged.)

….and somewhere all the black leaders are rolling in their graves and the Sonnys are saying “WTF.”

The reason for the Sonnys saying that is the best dialogue from “A Bronx Tale” with Lorenzo, Calogero’s father and also Lorenzo and Calogero.

This is something I have learned from criminal minded people when I was young. There are two different worlds, the business and the streets and you can’t mix them together. What some young black people don’t understand is that business world game is another side of game than the streets. In the college world, the consequences are not within the business side until you get into a job. The power is within a pen in the business world. Gangsters don’t use pens unless they are stabbing you with it. The business side is not for the weak mentally just like the streets are not for weak physically. VSB had a blog on what gangsters don’t do which is a great read. Just look at the difference between Stringer Bell and Marlo Stanfied. Stringer Bell was going to college and is the educated one in the streets where the game is the belly of the beast in Baltimore. Stringer found out that the business world people can in the words of Maurice Levy “rain make” you. Stringer ended up dead by trying to be the smart one. Marlo, on the other hand, just use what he had with no college in mind. He ended up becoming a businessman at the end, but his name in the streets was torch as weak.

So to these young people that listens to Romeo and other rapper that feed you a line with BS. Let me refresh this quote from the Ace himself.

“There is difference between streets smarts and book smarts. Street smart is good for the physical while book smarts is good for the mental.”

Do you feel that there are “original gangsters” in colleges? Do you feel that there is price you pay in the street by leaving them if you are “gangster?”

Weekend Jam - Cadillac Music

Today, I could go back or stay within the current times called today.

……Ahhh Screw it. I need a Sunday drive.

Speaking of driving, My favorite automobile is a Cadillac car (Sorry, Escalade don’t spell p-i-m-p-i-n-g to me). They say that your favorite car describe your personality. I guess mine is simple because Lac are simple. They are cruising car when you floating from point A to B. I am going to put out my favorite tunes to ride to.

Outkast – Players Ball (Reprise) or Player’s Ball (Remix)

Yeah I like the original, but the reprise is so cool like myself. Put Sleepy Brown with some words and you have a classic when you are riding. Oh, did I mention that the short piano riff goes hard.

Ann Peebles – I Can’t Stand the Rain

I know what she is talking about, but just hear that cool beat is enough for me.

Al Green- Love and Hapiness

What more can I say. Classic on all levels.

Issac Hayes – Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic

I have a head nod effect whenever the late Issac Hayes sings. He know how to hit all the spots whenever I am driving.

Out There – Willie Hutch

This song brings out that inner pimp-parade stroll. You know, lay way in your seat driving 2 miles a hour so everybody see you.

Bonus – Ludacris – Southern Fried

I know it is the sample of “Walk on By” by Mr. Hayes, but I have been hooked on this song since I heard it the first time.

These are more but these are my top five and a bonus. What songs you like to ride to in your automobile?

Primal XL Doing His Thing For the Weekend Jam.

My man PrimalXL is at it again with another beat shout-out. I am going to have to send you the link to this cat. I hope this guy gets signed with a major label and start beating these half-way producers with a 2x4.

Primal XL Youtube Page

P.S. I will be back with new stuff on Monday. Grad School got me for a tick.

SA

Weekend Jam - Mystikal

I have to dedicate this one to yesterday news. My favorite rapper, The real "Black Prince of Da South", Mystikal, is out and free. It has been 6 years since we heard from the legend of Mystikal. Yeah, 6 years do not seem like much, but things have changed. So to honor the rapper who put the Miss-Lou-Ala on the map and rip the game with lyrics that was masterfully genius, I have a top 5 Mystikal greatest hits and top 5 greats collabos. People beware because the game is getting ready to change.

for the extra- this is his first interview since 2004

Yall Ain't Ready

If you do not know this song and you were from the South, you really did not care for southern rap, or your parents did not want you listening to this music. This was ones of the original budget-videos in the 90s when the east coast had their talent and the west had theirs. With the exception of Luke (who ran FLA), Eightball and MJG (who ran Memphis, Tenn.), Outkast (who held up ATL), UGK, and The Geto Boyz (Who are legends of the rap game in Texas); The Miss-Lou-Ala had nobody that came into the scene spitting rapid 16s like a machine gun. Don't believe me, hear for yourself.

Here I Go

Well what can I say "The Mind of Mystikal" is still the most underrated album of all time. I have more but I can't put it all in here. So "Here I Go" represents this album.

The Man Right Chea

The most-hyped song ever in Southern rap history. Everything on this track was right on time and they did not have a video for it. Everybody in the south from 1997-1999 knew this song.

I'm on Fire

Ghetto Fabulous was a real good album but it was under-measure of the success with all his collabos. "I'm On Fire" was just one of them songs that still under those "Why they did not have a video for this." The symbolism was stylish as he was hitting those 16 bars on this one.

Danger

Don't get me wrong, I like "Shake It Fast." Danger was just one of those song that you could just nod your head to and play in your car because you are taking a trip somewhere.

Bouncing Back (Bumping Me Against the Wall)

The funny thing about this song is that the Neptunes produce this and it really do not sound like a Neptunes beat. The horns were killer on this track. Every HBCU and high school black band was playing this song.

Greatest Collabos

Murder, Murder (Mac)

Just to see these two together with a track again will be masterpiece. As for now, this song will make people reminisce in the South. Funny thing is I can still play this on the piano.

Pure UnCut (Eightball also with Silk, Master P, and Psycho Drama)

He just killed it with "That's that Bastard"

Stutter Remix (Joe)

Come on. Whoever thought he could not don't it on the R&B tip just lied to themselves

Move B*^$% (Ludacris)

His last time on the mic before jailtime. Still a classic.

What is your favorite Mystikal track?

And for a Candlelit dinner for two at the Waffle House, can you tell me what record company

he signed with and what song he was on that spark former group U.N.L.V.

(Cash Money's first group) to make a diss album?

Mystikal Free from Jail.

The Breakdown Characteristics of Hip Hop - A 5-part series. Part 1- The Entertainers

The Entertainers are simply put when it comes to the hip-hop game, there are in the business to entertain. The late Bernie Mac had on his show self- entitled “The Bernie Mac Show” called it “Happy Music.” Don’t think of the entertainers of hip-hop as main-stream media sell-outs or anything, they are there do what they are suppose to do, to entertain. The Entertainers really reign from the start of hip-hop. Let see the contributors of the entertainers of hip-hop.

Sugar Hill Gang- Call it what you want, but if it was not for these three guys, hip-hop would have never existed. Just get a funky tune from Chic “Good Times”, a group of people that just got out the disco era, and presto. They were not talking about how the Carter era was messing up, about wars, nor the economy. They just wanted to make people dance and have fun.

Kurtis Blow – Kurtis Blow is a true pioneer and also known as "The Godfather of Rap". He is still to me the guy that made the breaks, and got everybody hyped about basketball.

Salt and Pepa – They are the female group that had everybody dancing and “pushing” (literally).

Kid and Play – They are the male group that had everybody dancing and having house parties (literally).

MC Hammer – Some people would say “MC Hammer was a cash cow for main stream,” but you have to give him his due. I still remember the song “Turn This Mutha Out” and by the time the video ended, everybody was doing the Running Man.

The funny part about MC Hammer was that he was not the Godfather of Hip-Hop, but he was the entertainment part of hip-hop with James Brown moves. I know everybody when he put out "Can't Touch This" everybody and their mama was doing the Typewriter.

I also still remember even when they doubted him; he cranked up a hit that made all types of people doing his signs (including the 91 Atlanta Falcons playoff run).

Master P – Master P was a different kind of entertainer. Mostly because everybody from Richmond, California to mainly the end of Alabama border know about the other side of P. The rest of world………….well he just made them say “ughhhh.”

Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz- I can really call this hip-hop entertainment at its best. Get a crew, do something that will make people bounce up and down like those lottery ball in the NBA Draft, and say one word (Yeeaaah or Okayyyyyy). See Dave Chapelle version.

Souljah Boi Tell’em – Many people hate him, but you have to give him his credit. He really brought back those made up style dances (see Hammer). Superman that….well you know the rest. I can’t knock it because at least kids (and old people) dance. Sort of a MC Hammer 2.0.

Other artist includes: JJ Fad, Tag Team, 95 South, 69 Boyz, Hurricane Chris, Young Joc, GS Boyz, D4L, and who can anybody forget Vanilla Ice.

Do you have any more rappers that belong in this category? Tell us who and why.

The Breakdown Characteristics of Hip Hop - A 5-part series.

Now being a young man that was born in the 80s, 90s, and today, I have been a big fan of hip hop since I was a kid. I have seen so many hip hop characters come and go, but hip-hop is always alive. People can say and try to do what they want (the late C. Delores Tucker, Bill O’Reilly and many Republicans who has this so-called stereotype about the culture of hip-hop), but the main factor is that hip hop has a major influence on not only the average person that live in the urban areas, but also the vast majority who live in those small rural area (i.e. the country). Even for a guy like myself, I dabbled into the art of hip hop for over 10 years which led me to poetry for 5 years strong. Today, the hip hop world is active and alive with a new breed that is stronger, tougher, and fiercer than the old schoolers were in their hay-day. So to honor hip hop, I wanted to do a four part series dissecting the characteristics you will here in hip-hop. I am going to break it down in the following categories:

The Entertainers

The Lyricist

The Artists

The Storytellers

The Makers

Now I know there are some people who will not agree if your favorite person is on a certain list, but this is my list, not anybody else. I am going to break down the characters in my point of view.

The Entertainer list will start between Today and Friday.