Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Thank you rap music!

I have in the last several years thought that there was absolutely nothing positive I could attribute to rap music.

But I was wrong.

Rap music has forced me to do something that in my life I have rarely done. And that is to actually listen to the lyrics of songs. When I was growing up and then into adulthood I never really paid much attention to the lyrics of songs. I listened to the music and my only thought was; is it danceable? If so then that was enough for me.

The only part of the lyrics that I usually knew was the hook. You know, the part of the song that catches your attention. Like Karyn White's song Superwoman; the only thing I really remember is the hook, "I'm not your super woman". The rest of the lyrics are a blur.

But in the early 90's that all changed. At a certain point I found myself buying and dancing to songs that if they had been written and performed by the Ku Klux Klan they would have caused an uproar in Black America. But those songs, with the racist and misogynist lyrics, performed by Black artists seemed to skate by without much notice.

I remember when C. Delores Tucker was campaigning against rap music lyrics in the early 90's. Her protests got a lot of media coverage. I however didn't really pay attention to what she was saying until one day when I really heard a rap song. I don't remember what song it was but I do remember having a sudden realization that rap had changed.

Rap music had transformed from pro-Black groups like Public Enemy (before Flava lost his mind) and X-Clan to NWA and Biggie Smalls. Instead of hearing about the plight of African Americans and what we needed to do to make changes rap became about wallowing in the mire.

It, rap music, became about the names Black people can be called. It became about celebrating the things that plagued Black America; drugs, prostitution, unbridled consumerism, the N word, the B word, the H word and anything else that many African Americans suffered from.

So that's when I began to pay attention to lyrics. It was really a self-defense mechanism. I didn't want to feel like a fool jamming to a song that was calling me a whore or a bitch. So no longer was it okay for me to ignore the lyrics and dance to the beat. I had to grow up musically and pay attention.

Now as I dig deep into the oldies bin over at YouTube I am hearing the lyrics of my favorite songs for the first time. I must say that I am mostly pleasantly surprised. That's because I am finding out that most of the songs I love from "Back in the day" were about love or being hurt or looking for love or just having fun.

I am really proud to hear the lyrics of these songs and to know that the music of my youth was mostly uplifting. I feel so sorry for kids who are growing up on rap music which is about hating woman and Black people.

What are they going to think years from now when they start to really listen to the music of their youth? Will they feel betrayed? Will they feel sad to know that their innocence was corrupted by rap music and the big corporations that produce it?

Yep I definitely owe rap a big thank you.



Do you think kids growing up now will feel cheated in 10 or 15 years by the corporate rap music they're growing up listening to?


18 comments:

clnmike said...

I think you maybe generalizing the art form.

While no doubt the media force feeds us a lot of bad music there are more than enough quality artist out there.

I do not think the kids have anything to be ashamed about when they look back and see Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Dead Prez, Outkast, Wyclef, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common and a host of others.

clnmike said...

Hold up I just noticed that was a all male list I gave.

I guess there will be questions about that.

focusedpurpose said...

beautiful blog!

not sure if our children will feel cheated. without hesitation, i can say we are all being disrespected and misrepresented. globally.

Ann Brock said...

MDC great question and I will answer with a yes. They are being cheated in more ways than one. Alot of rap artists don't play instruments.


Most of the back in the day artist could play different musical instruments, drums,guitar,horn ,and ect.. So they don't know how to appreciate the gift of music.

Anonymous said...

Hiya MDC:

In recent years, I've moved away from rap and r&b. I dig other genres these days.

I do like some rap; prefereably east coast underground stuff. Now that I live in the south all there is is that dreadful, God-awful, assinine southern rap (I must be getting old). Even with that said, once in a blue moon (I mean really blue), I'll listen to southern rap (if you could call it that) songs. Why?

Well, for one thing, it's impossible to avoid, here. But the reason -- Beats.

I have not yet evolved. I never really have tuned into the lyrics much of any rap song. I still don't. When I listen to hip hop, it's all about the track, for me. I probably won't ever evolve unless hip hop changes cuz I ain't feelin' it these days. And yes, hip hop is very commercial now. It ain't like it used to be in the old days.

Cheated in 10 or 15 years?! Chile, these youngins these days are already cheated.

It seems that hip hops best days are behind it. But I don't really know, cuz I don't listen to it much. I could be very wrong.

I've never really much "danced" to it. I only dance "exclusively" to...

well... you know, MDC.

Sorry for this long ramble. Oops.

Lady Di said...

Well MDC you threw some confusion into the mix. You placed a pic of The Deele and mention Karyn White who are not "rap" related people of music, if you ask me. But... I can certainly understand where the sentiment is coming from to some degree.

First off, there's a difference between hip hop and rap. And people like Erik B & Rakin, LL Cool J, Kool Moe Dee, KRS-One and yes... Run DMC epitomized HIP HOP as the culture it was back then. The stuff NWA (extended music too), Xzibit, Tupac, etc. - they are of rap as my definition of it. WHY? Because those people started glorifying the streets more into a very inescapable but real grit way.

Hip Hop was not as gritty as the music is now as Grand Masterflash can be hear don the radio - today - with literally no bleeps in any of their songs. Sorry, I can not say the same for Ye (Kanye). And yes, now it is MORE about the jewelry, houses, cars and chicks that these so called "artist(s)" are renting, abusing, misusing and using. Oh we can not forget the alcohol/drug infestation in the work now can we?

But, people want to argue about creativity and blah, blah, blah which is getting more publicity than Country music which has it's own sadness to it too. When was the last tie anyone bleeped a Country tune??? I don't listen to loads of it so feel free to educate this one.

I realized I no longer liked public radio when one song was more bleeps than tune. I have not had the radio on in any means (car, house, etc) for over 3 or more years. I grew real tired real quick. Even the light jazz station bored me with 50 million commercials, ok.

And here Katt Williams has tried to break into the "rap" music scene by releasing an album on Dipset. We know the D (rymes with ick) mentality and his music although comical at best, it does the same thing as his label mates. His album is more for hEGO than for anything else if you ask me. Same ish, different person. I am so glad I was able to get it FOR FREE. Like I said in my Blog. He might have 8 kids to feed but I have a BMW to buy on a section 8 mentale right now. Hey, he bragging about owning a Purple Phantom and I'm still bragging about purple dream car. You do the math.

Deidra said...

I think they are being cheated already. Unfortunately in 10-15 years, they are probably going to just think it's the "norm" to listen to stuff like this and not think twice about it. I even hear people of the older generation going "Oh that's just how they do nowadays" and brushing it off like it's nothing.

Anyways, nice post. I wish people actually listen to the lyrics. I remember printing out lyrics in high school (it was a big thing back then to have a binder full of lyrics to the latest songs), and because of that I learned early on what I was listening to a bunch of CRAP.

From that point on I never owned a rap album again. I just stuck to the old R&B/Soul music.

Blu Jewel said...

it's a double edged sword because there are some rappers/mc's who are producing songs with decent lyrics and positive messages while there are those who vehemently rap about money, bling, women, etc. I've noticed that the latter seems to win the attention of most teens with their catchy hooks and nonsensical lyrics.

I prefer the old school rap, which I know is different to hip hop (which rules supreme at present) where they actually spoke of things I cared about and wanted to listen to.

Even the R&B we listen to is crap for the most part. The singers are no longer talking about making love; it's freakin/sexin/*uckin. Music seems to have lost its soul and is dying a slow death.

PCD (Pretty Circle Drawer) said...

i would say yes. rap/hip-hop...just don't feel it. a precious few get play in my ears...not enough to feel like it's a good thing anymore. (such a general statement!!!-LOL!!)

Don said...

Yes, I think the ones who focus simply on the corporate rap music lyrics will feel cheated...but the ones who listen to the Lupe Fiasco, J Dilla, Mos Def, Common, The Roots, etc. will probably be just as enlightened as we were in listening to the artist who spit powerful lyrics.

SheCodes said...

Absolutely, they will feel cheated for a lot of reasons.

First of all, they will learn that 95% of the music of their time was done by a computer programmer, and the other 5% would have been musical ripoffs from the 80's and 90's.

This music does not have 'legs'. The commercial stuff never speaks about universal truths that makes a song 'forever'.

I loved rap when it first came out (Public Enemy, LL Cool J, etc) but now, I have been so turned off by the misogyny and minstrelsy of it all, that I don't even like old skool rap anymore. (Except for alternative rap types like Jamiroquai and PM Dawn)

Anonymous said...

I think they are cheated and will continue to be. The thing is, I know there are still positive rappers out there, but I don't think you can argue that overall, the quality of music has suffered. And as usually happens, the bad always seems to outshine and outsell the good.

It's also not just rap, us old schoolers remember a time when our listening wasn't quite so limited. We had more variety. I've interviewed great artists who get no radio play and I think it's a shame that the industry is driven more by dollars and looks than talent.

Liz Dwyer said...

Like other forms of music, there are so many different genres of hip hop. I don't think all hip-hop is bad and I don't think our youth are just wholesale swallowing everything the record companies shovel their way. I do think it takes more effort for them to find alternative hip hop. But if I look at rock music, the same rock fans that are listening to the White Stripes aren't listening to craptastic Hawthorne Heights.

It does bug me that kids of all colors are being deprived of seeing black artists in significant numbers doing any other music other than formulaic rap and r&b. We invented house music, we invented techno, we invented jazz, we invented rock. We probably invented country too. But unless we dig deeper, all we get to see is a rapper talking about Moet, sex and bling. Yawn.

These rappers have no longevity. No one's gonna be playing Gucci Mane in 20 years.

The Roving Reporter said...

Hip-hop has definitely changed in the past 10 to 15 years ago. Even though I'm nearly 24, I can hear the difference.

As far as kids feeling cheated, I don't know. I think they will wonder why they even listened to the music they play today. They will probably why they thought it was cool.

With me, I remember when I thought Bone Thugs 'N Harmony was cool (mostly I had a crush on one of the guys in the group). I can't even listen to their music now.

I look back and I wonder why did I think rapping about weed and murder was so hip.

What's ironic is that I still have their CDs!

Lisa said...

Yes, MDC, rap music is much different and kids are going to feel cheated. Amber and I were in the kitchen one day doing whatever and I heard her say,"She go down on me homey and she ain't trippin' at all."

I yelled. She jumped. Then I gave her the moma look and was about to throw something at her when I realized that if she knew what she was saying, she wouldn't have said it in front of me.

She very innocently asked, "What's wrong moma? What does that mean?"

Boy, did a conversation transpire after that!!!. . .

Mes Deux Cents said...

ClnMike,

People always say that there are conscience rappers and that's true; but they are not the ones that get the most radio and video play.

Most kids listen to whatever is hot and it’s isn't usually Common and those like him. And quiet as it's kept Kanyes lyrics aren't very conscience.
___________________________________

FocusedPurpose,

They are definitely being disrespected and one day they will realize that.

And thanks. :)
___________________________________

JJ B,

Very true; they are missing out on hearing live music.

___________________________________

Baby Please,

I just can't listen to southern rap, it's just to base.

Yep I really liked the ol skool rap.

Oh really; do you listen to dance? Lol!
___________________________________

Lady Di,

I placed The Deele and Karyn White to reference music that was really about something.

Yep modern rap is about bling and everything negative.
___________________________________

Deidra,

I thin a lot of people have an awakening about rap and then stop listening to it.
___________________________________

Blu Jewel,

Oh my; today's R&B is really bad! I agree that it's all about the act of sex, not love.
___________________________________

PCD,

It's not really such a general statement because 99% of rap is about nothing.
___________________________________

Don,

That's true but I bet Soulja Boy gets played 100 to one more than those artists you mention.
___________________________________

SheCodes,

You are right about rap not having legs. Who is going to want to listen to that crap now and in the future too? No one!
___________________________________

Exquisitely Black,

Big corporations control rap and they make sure the songs with the least socially conscience lyrics get the most play.
___________________________________

Liz,

You're right Black music has now been pigeon holed as just being rap.
___________________________________

NBW,

You probably were just not really listening to the lyrics back then.

___________________________________

Lisa,

Oh MY! Those songs are just so gutter and most kids have no clue. Make sure you keep Amber away from Soulja Boy’s music.

___________________________________
___________________________________

Monica Roberts said...

being the child of a DJ who was also the program director of a station, one of my duyties as the eldest child was to listen to the new albums that got mailed to to house or that Dad tossed into my room.

I basically develoved the habit of listeing to a song like a radio programmer would. Not only listeing for a catchy beat and slamming musicianship, but also listening to the lyrics.

It a major reason to this day that I'm very picky about what I buy or listen to, and the only new artists that make the cut are onse who are throwbacks to our R&B tradition like the Eyrkah Badus, Jill Scotts, India Aries, Alicia Keys' and John Legends.

Most of the time I'm scooping up the music I grew up listening to in the 70's and the radio station I listen to here in Da Ville Magic 101.1 plays 'Classic Soul' music from that era

Mes Deux Cents said...

Monica,

I will check out Magic 101.1 online. WDAS in PHL is pretty good too.

MDC's Library

1720 Entertainment (1) 1983 DeTomaso Pantera (1) 2007 (1) 2007 Best Videos (1) 2007 Track and Field World Championships (4) 2007 WNBA Conference Finals (1) 2007 WNBA Finals (5) 2007 WNBA Western Conference Finals (1) 2007 World Track and Field Championships (1) 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (1) 2008 Grammy Awards (2) 2008 Presidential Race (28) 2008 Resolutions (1) 2008 Super Bowl (1) 3 A.M. (1) 3LW- No More (1) 59th Street Bridge (1) 7 Star Hotel (1) 7 Train (2) A Beautiful Face (2) A Beautiful Picture (131) A Cute Picture (1) A funny picture (2) A House is not a Home (1) A Rainy Day (1) A Raisin in the Sun (1) A Tribe Called Quest Leaders of the New School (1) A Week Of Positive Blogging (9) A-Ha - Take On Me (1) Aaliyah (7) Aaliyah - Christmas in Washington (1997) (1) Aaliyah We Miss You (1) Africa (1) African American Aviation (1) African American Churches (1) African American Enslavement (1) African American History (3) African American Men (1) African Americans and Cable T.V. (2) Agra (1) Airbus A380 (1) Al B. Sure - Nite And Day (1) Albuquerque (1) Alexander O'Neal and Cherelle - Saturday Love (1) Alice Smith (4) Alice Smith - Dream (Live) (1) Alicia Keys (7) Alicia Myers - I Want To Thank You (1) Allegory (1) Allyson Felix (3) AM Radio (1) Amazon.com (1) Amel Larrieux (2) America Ferrera (1) Amii Stewart - Knock on Wood (1) Amsterdam (2) Amtrak (1) Amy Winehouse (7) Amy Winehouse - Love Is A Losing Game (1) Amy Winehouse - Moody's Mood For Love (1) and Mary (1) And this is what I think about that... (1) Angel Lola Luv (2) Angela Bofill - I Try (1) Angela Y Davis (1) Angelina-Jolie (2) Antarctica (1) Arbor Day (1) Arc de Triomphe (2) Aresenio Hall (1) Aretha Franklin - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1) Aretha Franklin - Until You Come Back To Me (1) Arizona (1) Arrested Development - Tennessee (1) Art (3) Ask This Black Woman (1) Assata Shakur Part One (1) Assata Shakur Part Two (1) Astoria (1) Athletics (1) Atlanta (4) Attallah Shabazz (1) August 28 - 1963 (1) Australia (2) Autumn (1) Aviation (1) Bad Photoshopping (1) Balances By Nikki Giovanni (1) Bandy Bandy (1) Barack and Michelle (1) Barack Obama (11) Barak Obama (2) Barbara Mason - Another Man (1) Bart Simpson (1) Basia - New Day for You (1) Beautiful Earth (1) Beautiful Italy (1) Beautiful Moon Over Spain (1) Beautiful Photo (1) Beautiful Puerto Rico (1) Beautiful Rome (1) Before dawn (1) Being Prepared (1) Belgium (1) Ben Harper (1) Benazir Bhutto (2) Bermuda (1) Bessie Coleman (1) BET (1) BET/ Viacom (7) Beverly Johnson (1) BeyoncĆ© (1) Bill Clinton (1) Bill Cosby (1) Bill O'Reilly (1) Billary (3) Billet-doux (1) Billie Holiday (2) Bills (1) Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen (1) Birthdays (1) Black and Green Flag (1) Black Blog Rankings (2) Black Fire White Fire (1) Black History Month (21) Black Sea (1) Black Women (3) Black Women Vote (1) Black Women's Roundtable (1) Black-Eyed Peas (1) BlackAndMarriedWithKids (1) Blogger Protest (3) Blogger Tag (4) Blogging (14) Blogging Break (1) Blogs I love (2) Blogs I Read (3) BlogTalkRadio (1) BOB (Bombs Over Baghdad) (1) Bob Marley (1) Bob Marley - Redemption Song (1) Bob Marley and The Wailers (1) Bobby Caldwell What You Won't Do For Love (1) Bobby Womack - If You Think You're Lonely Now (1) Bonnie Raitt - Something To Talk About (1) Books (3) Bora Bora French Polynesia (1) BoringBlackChick (2) Boston (3) Boycotts (1) Boz Scaggs - Lowdown (1) Brandy - I Wanna Be Down (1) Brasil (1) Breast Cancer (1) Brehat Island (1) Britney Spears (1) Brixton (1) Brooklyn Bridge (1) Browngirl (1) Brownstone (2) Brussels at Nightfall (1) Brussels Belgium at night (1) Bucky Done Gun (1) Buenos Aires At Night (1) Burj Al-Arab Hotel (1) Burqa (1) Bus (2) Bush Clinton Dynasty (2) C-Bank - One more shot (1) Cable T.V. (1) CafĆ© Society (1) California (3) California Attorney General (1) Calloway with The Nicholas Brothers - Jumpin' Jive (1) Cape Town SA (1) Cappie Pondexter (6) Carnival (2) Cathay Williams (1) CBS Corp. (1) Celia Cruz (1) Cell Phones (1) Central Park at Night (1) Chaka Khan (1) Champagne (1) Champs-ElysĆ©es (1) Change featuring Luther Vandross - The Glow Of Love (1) Character Corner (2) Charles Barkley (1) Charlotte - North Carolina (1) Cheaters (1) Chemotherapy (1) Cheryl Lynn - Encore (1) Chesapeake Bay Bridge (1) Chic - I Want Your Love (1) Chicago (2) Chicago at night (1) China (3) China's Support Of Genocide In Dafur (2) Chris Isaac - Wicked Game (1) Chrisette Michelle (1) Christina Aguilera - Beautiful (1) Christine Arron (1) Christine Beatty (1) Christmas (8) Christmas Day (2) Christmas Music (3) Christmas Party (1) Christopher Williams - I'm Dreamin' (1) Chubb Rock - Treat 'em Right (1) Chudney Ross (1) Church (1) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1) Ciara - Get Up (1) Cindy Blackman (1) Cities (2) Cities I like (1) Clear Channel Communications (1) Cloned Meat (1) Club Nouveau - Why you treat me so bad (1) College (1) Colonel Abrams -Trapped (1) Color Preference Test (1) Comment War (1) Comments (2) Common Sense (1) Community (1) Conflict (1) Consumerism (1) Conya Doss (1) Cora Brown (1) Corinne Bailey Rae (1) Corinne Bailey Rae - Like A Star (1) Corrine Bailey Rae (1) Costa Rica (1) Country Music (1) Courtney and Angela (1) Crazy Comments (1) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising (1) Crime (1) Cristal champagne (1) Cuba (2) Culture (1) Cynda Williams - Harlem Blues (1) Cynthia Tucker (2) Dallas (2) Dana Owens (1) Dance Theatre of Harlem (1) Dance Thursday Rerun with the Lockers (1) Dance Thursday The Challenge - Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis (1) Darfur (1) Das Efx - They Want Efx (1) dave brubeck take five (1) Dave Matthews Band - Crash Into Me (1) De La Soul - Me (1) DeBarge - Stay With Me (1) Debit Card (1) Debra Laws with Ronnie Laws - Special (1) Deele - Two Occasions (1) Delaware State University (1) Delegates Count (1) Dennis Edwards - Don't Look Any Further (1) Dennis Kucinich (1) Denroy Morgan - I'll Do Anything for You (1) Denzel (3) Deon Estus (1) Destiny's Child (1) Detroit (1) Detroit Shock (1) Dexter Gordon (1) Diana and Flo (1) Diana Taurasi (2) Did you know (1) Dionne Farris - Hopeless (1) Dionne Warwick (1) DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince - Summertime (1) DJ Kool - Let Me Clear My Throat (1) DjennĆ© (1) Donny Hathaway - This Christmas (1) Dorothy Dandridge (1) Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - Sunshower (1) DST (1) Dubai (1) DĆ¼sseldorf by Night (1) Economy (1) Ecuador (1) Eddie Murphy (1) Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue (1) Edmonia Lewis (1) Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You (1) Egypt (1) Ehav Ever (1) Eiffel from the Seine River (1) Elaine Brown (1) Electronic Village (3) email (1) En Vogue - Hold On (1) Enigma - Sadness (1) Enya - Orinoco Flow (1) Erykah Badu (2) ESPN (1) Essence (1) Essential Presence (5) Ethiopia (2) Etienne Aigner (1) EurWeb.com (1) Eve - Tambourine (1) Evelyn "Champagne" King - Betcha She Don't Love You (1) Exploitation (1) Fabulous Is A Choice (1) Faith Evans - You Used To Love Me (1) Fall (1) Fall Fashion (1) Falling In Love (1) FAME (1) Family (1) Fashion (1) Faux - Heterosexuality (1) FCC (1) Feelings (1) Fiji Islands (2) File (1) Film (3) Final Post For Now (1) Finding Jesus (1) Five Questions (1) Five Star - Let Me Be the One (1) Flashdance (1) Flava Flav (1) Flea Markets (2) Floetry (1) Floods Across Africa (1) FM Radio (1) Fog (2) Fond Memories (1) Fonda Rae - Over Like a Fat Rat (1) Food (3) Food Recall (1) Force MD's - Tender Love (1) France (2) Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (2) Frank (1) Frankie Crocker (1) Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus (1) Freddie Jackson - Rock Me Tonight (1) Freetown Christiania (1) Frida Kahlo (1) Friday Rare Groove: Chuckii Booker - Turned Away (1) Friday Rare Groove: Joyce Sims - All and All (1) Friendship (2) Fruit (1) Fugees (2) Gene Anthony Ray (1) General Electric (1) Genocide (1) George Bush (2) George Kranz - Din Da Da (1) Germany (1) Gibson Brothers - Cuba (1) Giovanca -Joyride (1) Girls (1) Giving (1) Glamour Magazine (1) Global Warming (1) Goapele (1) Goapele - Closer (1) Golden Globes (1) Good Morning America (1) GOP (1) Government (5) Grace Jones - Pull Up To The Bumper (1) Greece (1) Greenwich Village (1) Gregory Abbott - Shake You Down (1) Groceries (1) Groove Theory (1) Gulf of Tonkin (1) Gwen Guthrie - It Should Have Been You (1) Gwen Stefani (1) Hair (1) Halifax (1) Hall and Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) (1) Halle Berry (1) Halloween (1) Hanukkah (1) Happiness (1) Happy Birthday Aaliyah... (1) Happy New Year 2008 (2) Harajuku Girls (1) Harajuku Station (1) Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (1) Harper's Bazaar Japan (1) Havana (1) Havana Cuba (2) HBCU (2) Heaven Help Me (1) heteronyms (1) heterophones (1) HickTownPress (1) Highland Ave (1) Hillary Clinton (5) Hip Hop (2) Hip Hop Be Bop (Don't Stop) (1) Hippies (1) Historic Moments (1) Holiday (3) Holland (1) Hollywood Blvd (1) Hollywood CA (1) Home (2) Homeland Security (1) HomelandColors (2) Homophones (1) Hong Kong At Night (2) Hootie And The Blowfish - Hold My Hand (1) Hope That We Can Be Together Soon (1) House Party - Dance off: Kid and Play (Music: Ain't My Type Of Hype - Full Force) (1) Houses (1) Human League - Don't You Want Me Baby (1) Hurricane Katrina (1) Hwy 101 (1) I Am Legend (1) I Hate Rap Rant (1) I have a question (3) I hope (1) I Love Music (1) I smell the 80's (1) I Want This (1) Ibiza Spain (1) Iceland (1) Idioms (1) If you love me (1) IFC (1) Imagination - Just an Illusion (1) Iman (1) Indai.Arie (1) Indeep - Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (1) India (1) Indian Ocean (1) Inner City - Big Fun (1) Inner Life - I'm caught up (1) Interesting Music (1) Interesting Photo (1) Interestingness (1) Iowa (2) ipod (3) Iran (1) Irene Morgan Kirkaldy (1) Isiah Thomas (1) Isla Verde Beach (1) It's In The eyes (1) It's Ndel's World; You're Just Reading It (1) Italy (1) itunes (1) Jackie Moore - This Time Baby (1) Jade - Don't Walk Away (1) Jamaica (1) James "D-Train" Williams- Keep On (1) James Brown Lyrics - Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud) (1) Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy (1) Janelle MonĆ”e (1) Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation (1) January 16 (1) Japan (1) Jay Z (1) jazzfm (1) Jazzyfatnastees (1) Jean Baylor (1) Jean-Michel Basquiat (1) Jeb Bush In 2012 (1) Jeff Goldblum (1) Jena6 (1) Jennifer Beals (2) Jermaine Jackson - Do What You Do (1) Jermaine Stewart - Word is Out (1) Jimmy Jam (1) Jimmy Scott (1) Joan Armatrading (5) Joan Armatrading - Love And Affection (1) Jody Watley Still a Thrill (1) Joe Public - Live and learn (1) Joe Ski Love - Pee Wee Dance (1) Joffrey Ballet (1) John Coltrane (2) John Edwards (1) John Howard Payne (1) John Legend Corinne Bailey Rae (1) John McCain (1) John Wayne (1) Johnny Was (1) Jonathan Butler - Lies (1) Jr. (1) Jr. from the film Tap (1) Juanita Bynum (1) Judge Hatchett (1) Juneteenth (1) Junior - Mama Used To Say (1) JURNEE SMOLLETT (1) Justice (1) Justin D. Ross (1) Kamala Harris (1) Kano - I'm Ready (1) Karen Alexander (1) Karen Young - Hot Shot (1) Karyn White featuring Babyface - Love Saw It (1) Kashif and Meli'sa Morgan - Love Changes (1) Kathleen Neal Cleaver (1) Kauai Hawaii (1) keith sweat - Make it Last Forever feat Jackie McGhee (1) Kelis - Caught Out There (1) Kenya (2) Keyshia Cole (1) KFC (1) Kiva (1) Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express (1) Kuala Lumpur (1) Kuala Lumpur Malaysia (1) Kumari Fulbright (1) Kwanzaa (1) La Flavour - Mandolay (1) Labor Day (1) Laguna Beach (1) Lake Como (1) Lake Michigan (1) Lake Powell (1) Las Vegas Nevada (1) Latin Quarter (1) Lauren Hill (1) Lauryn Hill (2) Lauryn Hill - Little Drummer Boy (1) Law Enforcement (1) Led Zeppelin (1) Led Zeppelin - All My Love (1) Ledisi (2) Leela James (1) Leela James - Music (1) Left Eye (1) Lennox Lewis (1) Lenny Kravitz (2) Lenny Kravitz - Are you Gonna go my way featuring Cindy Blackman on Drums (1) Les Champs-ƉlysĆ©es (1) Les Nubians (1) Lily Allen (1) Link-O-Rama (22) Lisa Bonet (2) Lisa Fischer - How Can I Ease The Pain (1) Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam - Lost in Emotion (1) Lisa Stansfield - All Around The World (1) Lisbon Portugal (1) List (1) Lists (3) Live Concert (2) Living Out Loud (1) Liya Kebede (3) LL Cool J - I Need Love (1) Local News (1) Local Radio (1) Locavore (1) London (2) Long lost Friends (1) Loose Ends - Slow down (1) Lorraine Hansberry (1) Los Angeles at night (1) Los Angelista's Guide To The Pursuit Of Happiness (2) Love (2) Love De-Luxe - Here comes that sound (1) Love is alosing game (1) LTD - (Everytime I Turn Around) Back In Love Again (1) Luther Vandross (5) Luther Vandross - Your Secret Love (1) Lydia Abarca (1) M.I.A. (Maya Arulpragasam) (1) M|A|R|R|S - Pump Up the Volume (1) Machine (1) Madison (1) Mahalia Jackson - Amazing Grace (1) Major Harris (1) Major Robert Henry Lawrence (1) Malcolm and Betty (1) Malcolm and Martin (1) Malcolm Mclaren - Buffalo Girls (1) Mali (1) Man Parrish (1) March on Washington (1) Mardi Gras (1) Mariah Carey - Vision of Love (2) Mariah Carey - We Belong Together (1) Marion Jones (4) Marlena Shaw (2) Marshall Jefferson - Move your Body (1) Martha's Vineyard (1) Martin and Coretta (1) Martin Laurence (1) Martinique (1) Marvin Gaye (1) Mary J Blige - Just Fine (1) Mary J. Blige (1) Matisyahu (1) Matisyahu King Without A Crown (Live At Stubb's) (1) Maui (1) Mauritius (1) Mavericks Surf Contest (1) Maxi Priest - Close to you (1) Maxwell - Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) (1) Maze (1) Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Joy and Pain (1) MC Hammer (1) MC Lyte - Lyte As A Rock (1) McFadden and Whitehead - Aint No Stopping Us Now (1) MDC Dictionary (1) Me (1) Media (15) Media hearings Negative Depictions of African American Women (1) Mel and Kim - Showing Out (1) Mes Deux Cents (1) Meseret Defar (1) Meshell Ndegeochello (1) Mexico (1) MFSB - Love Is The Message (1) Miami at night (1) Michael Jackson (1) Michael Jackson - Ben (1) Michael Vick (3) Midnight Star - Curious (1) Milan - Italy (1) Milli Vanilli - Blame It On The Rain (1) Minnie Riperton - Memory Lane (1) Minority relations (1) Minstel Show (1) Missing African American Women (7) Missing Persons (2) Mitt Romney for President (2) MLK (2) MLK Day (6) Mo Better Blues (1) Models (1) Mombasa (1) Monday (1) Money (2) MontrĆ©al (1) Montreal in autumn clothes (1) Moody's Mood for Love (1) Morehouse College (1) Mormons and Blacks (1) Morning (1) Morocco (1) Mothers (1) Mount Fuji (1) Mount Kilimanjaro (1) Mr Softie Ice Cream (1) MrsGrapevine (2) MSNBC (1) MTV (1) Music (9) Music Downloads (1) Music Saturday (11) Musical Youth - Pass The Dutchie (1) My Orchid (2) My Original Writing (5) Myself and I (1) N.Y. Giants (2) N.Y.C (6) NAACP (2) Nailah Franklin (5) Nancy Sinatra (1) Nashville (1) Natalie Merchant (1) Natalie Merchant - Carnival (1) Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten (1) National Secretaries Day (1) Native Americans (1) Natural Disaster (1) NBA (1) NBC (1) Negative Depictions Of Women Of Color (3) Negative Propaganda (2) Nena - 99 Luftballoons (1) Neo-Soul (1) Netherlands (1) Neutrogena Hand Cream (1) New Black Woman (1) New Edition - Boys to Men (1) New England Patriots (1) New Hampshire (1) New Jack City (1) New Jersey (1) New Jersey Turnpike (1) New Mexico (1) New Release (1) New York Citi Peech Boyz Don't Make Me Wait (1) New York City (3) News (11) News Corp. (1) NFL (1) Niagara Falls (2) Nicole Willis (2) No Woman No Cry (1) Nokulunga Buthelezi (1) Norah Jones (3) Notable Quotables (2) Nova Scotia (2) NPR (6) Nu Shooz I Can't Wait (1) NYC (2) O.J. Simpson (1) Odds and Ends (1) Odin (1) Offensive Cable Programming (1) Olbrich Gardens (1) Oleta Adams - Get Here (1) On Beauty (1) On Blogging (1) On... (18) One Of My Favorite People (4) Oprah (3) Orchids (3) Oregon (1) Oscars (1) OutKast (1) P.M. Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss (1) Paganism (1) Palindromes (1) Panic (1) Paris (9) Passion (2) Patrick Hernandez - Born to be alive (1) PBS (3) PCH (1) Peace On Earth (1) Pebbles - Mercedes Boy (1) Personal Day (1) Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls (1) PETA (1) Peter Brown - Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me? (1) Petronas Towers (2) Pfc. LaVena Johnson (1) Phalaenopsis Orchid (2) Phoenix Mercury (1) Photo Art (2) Photo Art Friday (3) Phyllis Hyman (5) Places I Would Like To Visit (1) Poetry (3) politics (3) Pookie (1) Pop and Politics (1) Pop Quiz (2) Portland (1) Portugal (1) Press play (2) Protest (4) Public Transportation (1) Puerto Rico (1) Purple Sky (1) Q1 Review (1) Queen Latifah (1) Queens (1) Questions (1) Quincy Jones - The Secret Garden (1) quizzes (1) Quotes (2) R and B (1) Racism (1) Radio (2) Radio Announcer (1) Radio D.J. New York City (1) Rainforest (1) Raising Victor Vargas (1) Ralph Nader (1) Rap Music (2) Rap Video Vixens (1) Ray Parker Jr - A Woman Needs Love (1) Re Posts (1) Reading (1) Ready for the World - Love You Down (1) Ready or Not (1) Ready To Wear (1) Really stupid people (1) Rebbie Jackson - Centipede (1) Recommended Viewing (5) Reginald Hudlin (1) Relationships (2) Religion (1) RenĆ© Syler (1) repost (1) Revolutionary Women (1) Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (1) Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody (1) Rihanna (2) Rio de Janeiro (3) Rio de Janeiro at night (1) Rissi Palmer (1) Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love (1) Roberta Flack Donny Hathaway (1) Robin Roberts (1) Rock (1) Rockefeller Center (1) Rockers Revenge - Walking On Sunshine (1) Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me (1) Roll (1) Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves The Sunshine (1) Roy Ayers - Running Away (1) Rudy Giuliani (1) Rupert Holmes - Escape (The PiƱa Colada Song) (1) Rutgers (2) Saartjie Baartman (1) Sade Adu (5) Saint John Coltrane Church (1) Sally-Ann Roberts (1) Samoa (1) San Diego (1) San Diego At Night (1) San Francisco (4) San Francisco at night (1) San Juan (1) Santa Barbara (1) Santa Cruz (1) santorini Island (1) SƃO PAULO (1) Sapiosexual (1) Sarita Choudhury (2) Sasha Bratz (1) Saving (1) Scary Spice Mel B (1) schools (1) Scotland (1) Seals and Crofts - Summer Breeze (1) Seattle at Night (2) Secret Weapon - Must Be The Music (1) Self Destruction (1) Seoul at Night (1) Seychelles (1) Shalamar - Night to Remember (1) Sheila E - A Love Bizarre (1) Sheila Escovedo (1) Shirley Bassey (1) Shopping (2) Sideways (1) Silvercup Studios (1) Simon and Garfunkel - The Boxer (1) Sisters from other mothers (1) Skate (1) Slavery (1) Slick Rick - Children's Story (1) Sly and the Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (1) smart car (1) Snap - The Power (1) Snow - Informer (1) Social Commentary (1) Social life (1) Songs For MLK Day (4) Songs I Love (209) Sony Television (1) Sophie Okonedo (1) Soul II Soul - Back To Life (1) Soulsonic Force feat. Afrika Bambaataa - Planet Rock (1) South Carolina (1) Soylent Green (1) Spain (1) Special Ed - I Got It Made (1) Special Videos (3) Spelman College (1) Spike Lee (1) Sports (10) Spring (1) St. Valentine's Day (7) Staceyann Chin (1) Starpoint - Object Of My Desire (1) Stepha Henry (1) Stephanie Mills - (You're Putting) A Rush On Me (1) Stetsasonic - Sally (1) Steve Fossett (1) Steve Miller Band - The Joker (1) Stoney Jackson (1) Strafe - Set it off (1) Strait of Hormuz (1) Studies About African America (1) Stuff (4) Subway Stories (1) Summer Rain (1) Sumner Redstone (3) Sunday Fun (1) Sunrise (1) Sunset (1) Super Tuesday (1) Superbowl (1) Surface - Closer Than Friends (1) Suriname (1) Susan Cagle (1) Svörtuloft (1) Sweden (1) Swin Cash (2) Swing Out Sister - Breakout (1) Symphony (1) Syracuse (1) Taj Mahal (1) Talented People I Like (2) Tales from the bus (2) Tanzania (1) Taral Hicks (1) Tears for water by Alicia Keys (1) Tech (1) Teena Marie - Behind The Groove (1) Tel Aviv-Yafo (1) Television (1) Tell Me (1) TEN CITY - DEVOTION (1) Terence Trent D'Arby (Sananda Maitreya) - Wishing Well (1) Terri Lynn Carrington (1) Terror Alerts (1) Terry Lewis (1) test (1) Tevin Campbell - Can We Talk (1) Thanksgiving (2) The 1985 Chicago Bears - The Super Bowl Shuffle (1) The Bevery Hillbillies (1) The Blackbyrds - Walking in Rhythm (1) The Blog Report (5) The Brothers Johnson - Land of Ladies (1) The Daily Voice (1) The Eiffel Tower at night (1) The Family - Screams of Passion (1) the FDA (1) The Fillmore (1) The Four Seasons (1) The Great Barrier Reef (1) The Great Mississippi Flood Of 1927 (1) The Happy Go Lucky Bachelor. Aaron McGruder (1) The Human Race (2) The Isley Brothers Voyage To Atlantis (1) The Jones Girls - You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else (1) The Neville Brothers (1) The Nile (1) The Police (1) The Roots - The Seed 2.0 (1) The Scream by Edvard Munch (1) The Shades of Love - Keep in Touch (Body To Body) (1) The Stylistics - People Make The World Go Round (1) The Supremes - Merry Christmas (1) The System - You Are In My System (1) The Twin Towers (1) The U.S. from space (1) The Ukraine (1) The Walt Disney Company (1) The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On (1) The White Stripes - Icky Thump (1) Then and Now (2) There But For The Grace of God Go I (1) There is no place like home (1) These Boots Are Made For Walkin' (1) Thompson Twins - Lies (1) Thoughts (73) Tiger Woods (1) Time Inc (1) TimeWarner (1) Timex Social Club - Rumors (1) TLC Unpretty (1) TLC - No Scrubs (1) Toledo Spain (1) Tom Ridge (1) Toni Braxton - Unbreak My Heart (1) Toronto at night (1) Toulouse (1) Track and Field (5) Tradition Of Excellence (1) Training Day (1) Transistor Radio (1) Travelling (2) Trinidad and Tobago (1) Try Again (1) Tupac Changes (1) Turks and Caicos (1) TV Theme Songs (1) Twofer Tuesday (4) Twofer Tuesday: Battle of the Classic Slow Jams - Reasons vs. Love T.K.O (1) Twofer Tuesday: Chaka Khan vs. Mary J Blige - Sweet Thing (1) Twofer Tuesday: I Shot The Sheriff : Bob Marley vs. Eric Clapton (1) Twofer Tuesday: I'll be there - Mariah vs. Michael (1) Twofer Tuesday: Lauryn Hill vs. Roberta Flack (1) Twofer Tuesday: Love Won't Let Me Wait - The Original or The Cover (1) Tyler Perry (1) U.S. Army Cover - Up (1) UCONN (1) Ugly Betty (1) Unbelievably sarcastic post (1) Undercover Black Man (2) Unknown Location (3) USA Today (1) Utah (1) Van Hool (1) Van Morrison Moondance (1) Vancouver BC (1) Varadero Cuba (1) Vaughn Mason and Crew - Bounce (1) Vegetarianism (1) Venice Italy At Night (1) Vermont (1) Veronica Cambell (1) Veronica Webb (2) Veterans Day (1) Viacom (3) Vicente Guerrero (1) Vikter Duplaix - Make A Baby (1) Violence Against African American Women (2) Violence Against Women Of Color (2) Violence On Campus (1) Virgin Islands (1) Vivaldi (1) Volkswagen (1) Volvo C30 (1) Vote (1) Wacky Wednesday: Songs with "I Like" in the tittle (1) Wanderlust (1) Waris Dirie (2) Washington Square Park (4) What About Our Daughters (4) What Black Men Think (1) What Columnists are Saying (3) What I'm Listening To This Week (3) What I'm Listening To This Weekend (1) What I'm Listening To Today (63) What I'm Watching This Weekend... (1) What I'm Watching Today (2) What Tami Said (4) What The.... File (2) What's Going On (1) Where is the Love (1) White castle (1) White Rap Music Buyers (1) Who Killed Benazir Bhutto? (1) Who Knew (1) Whodini - Big Mouth (1) Why Black Women Are Angry (1) Will and Jada (1) Will Smith (1) Willow (1) Window Shopping (1) Winter Solstice (1) Wisconsin (1) Wish feat. Fonda Rae - Touch me (all night long) (1) WNBA (4) WNBA Conference Finals (2) WNBA Finals (1) WNBA MVP (1) Woman's European Athelete Of The Year (1) Women (1) Women Leaders (1) Women's Sports (2) Word... (1) Words (5) work (2) Yaz Situation (1) Zanzibar (1) Zap Mama (2) Zhane' (1) Zoe Kravitz (1)

About Me

West Coast, United States
African American, Poet?, Vegetarian, Music lover, Agoraphobic, Social Phobic

My Favorite Poet

My Favorite Poet
Staceyann Chin

My Favorite Track Athlete

My Favorite Track Athlete
Christine Arron