"When Rap Music Had a Conscience"

I was at the library recently and I saw this book, "When Rap Music Had Conscience: The Artists, Organizations, and Historic Events that Inspired and Influenced the "Golden Age" of Hip-Hop from 1987-1996", in the Black History Month display area. It seemed right up my alley after I briefly flipped through it.

This book is a Cliff notes to the bigger volume - that does not exist. I know that the author, Tayannah Lee McQuillar, knows this. She has to know it just in the way that the book is structured.

The book has a simple design: paperback, not too bulky and a nice sized font. Oh and there are headings throughout the book and summaries to compliment those sections. Makes for easy reading ... though the contents just meaty enough, yet not too heavy. Sort of designed for you to nod along and/or she dangles just enough information for you to want to do some further research on your own.

Here are some of the topics:

• Droppin Science and Planet Rock
• The Sacred Scrolls
• The Rant Tape
• Hip-Hops Underground Railroad

This is good stuff. The groups that she references throughout the book have left an indelible mark on my life: Public Enemy, Afrikaa Bambaataa, KRS-One, Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, De La Soul, Gangstarr, Eric B & Rakim and so many more.

But she goes on to validate what many of us already attest to and that is the culture of hip hop. She addresses the influence of hip hop in films - many of those references are to Spike Lee Joints.

And in terms of the conscienceness, McQuillar weaves in some historical orators and academics and just plain ole 'folks you should know about' ... if you don't already know. Scholars like Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, Dr. Yosef A. A. ben-Jocahannan, Dr. John Henrik Clarke and others. Just those three could keep you busy for the next 12 months. She mentions them as the jumping off point for many hip hop emcees as they chose to educate their listeners.

Here are the folks that are listed in the "Hip-Hop Underground" section:

• A-Alikes
• Dead Prez
• The Coup
• The Perceptionists
• Zion-1

This is good stuff. So get to gettin hip hoppers. There's going to be a test on when hip hop had a conscience ... because at one time, it did. kfox.

Hip Hop 101

Ooooh, if you get a chance, you should check this out. Oberlin College produces this exceptional event annually. This year they have nabbed the incredible talents of

The Coup! Uber cool ... conscious hip hop!

Never too tired for hip hop

Hello all...no post last week - now what is up with that? It's the end of the semester and things are getting hectic ... but I'm never too tired for hip hop!

Some new joints have landed in my cd infested office. I have a new cd from AWOL ONE "The War of Art" along with 2MEX & LIFE REXALL's "$Martyr." I've given the AWOL ONE a quick listen and discovered that I like track #7 "Get You" which features Pigeon John on background vocals (and I do likes me some Pigeon John). "The War of Art" also includes appearances by the infamous KRS ONE as well as EYEDEA from Rhymesayers plus more. I have not checked out "$Martyr," but I look forward to it because it just seems different.

There are a couple of really hot artists headed to the northcoast: SOUL POSITION will be in Cleveland this weekend (April 22nd). I am considering attending that one. I missed SPANK ROCK last week. PREFUSE and EDAN will be in Cleveland on May 9th. Then it's PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS (PUTS) on May 12th. Not to mention the mainstreamers: Ice Cube, Mike Jones and T.I. (as individual perofrmances), but this here blog ain't about them-the commercial types that is. Oh, one more thing ... on the Cleveland hip hop scene, there is a Jazz meets Hip Hop performance on April 29th. But the hot thang will be the annual "Kings of the Iron Mic" which takes place Memorial Day weekend. It's a hot showcase of the hottest emcees in the city of Cleve. If you want the scoop on venues and ticket prices for any of these shows, just hit me on on the email: kim.radiogirl@gmail.com ... yeah, do that!

So I am going to finish this off with the recent chartoppers for WMCO's Sunday Night Hip Hop Show:

1
SOUL POSITION
"THINGS GO BETTER WITH RJ AND AL"

2
APATHY
"EASTERN PHILOSOPHY"

3
SERGIO MENDES
"TIMELESS"

4
DEVELOP[MENTAL]1
"VARIOUS ARTISTS"

5
J DILLA
"DONUTS"

6
CARVING A NEW STANDARD VOL. 1
"VARIOUS ARTISTS"

7
PUBLIC ENEMY
"REBIRTH OF A NATION"

8
THE COUP
"PICK A BIGGER WEAPON"

9
DILATED PEOPLES
"20/20"

10
FIVE DEEZ
"KOMMUNICATOR"

your girl is exhausted ... so it off to dreams of beats and rhymes for me...stay true yall,
kfox

Hip Hop is plentiful!

You know just a few days ago, I mentioned that there were very few hip hop disks on my desk. Well the hip hop gatekeeper has granted me a pass and filled my mailbox with goodies in that short period of time.

So I will make this brief because I don't know about you, but I need to concentrate when I listen to hip hop - NOT! But I have lots to do.

Right now I'm listening to THE COUP. I absolutely love the politics that proliferate on "Pick a Bigger Weapon." And some of the stories are delivered in such humorous form.

MURS & 9TH WONDER are back at it. I've only listened to about half of this cd. It did not jump out at me, but it did pique my interest. The promotional material sez that Murs "doesn't swear or use the n-word on the whole record." But even in my preliminary, multitasking listening session, I caught an n-bomb....I like MURS & 9TH WONDER; I will be reporting back on this one shortly.

The new cd from SPANK ROCK caught my attention (and the attention of my colleagues - I usually open my music mail during our weekly department meeting) because there is a nice sized label on the front that sez 'Tipper Gore APPROVED Clean Version'. Well, guess who had to edit "Bump"? Now, keep in mind, I'm no prude, a bit conservative, yes, but on the real, I am listening to see if I can put the cd in the studio for all the djs to play, but one "ass" and a cd is stuck on my desk in the semi tall edit pile. The SPANK ROCK cd, titled "Yo Yo Yo..." is really nice though. Totally unique in lyrics, beats and production. Some true hip hoppers may squawk it, but I like the innovation.

I get the feeling that I am going to really like MADLIB's "The Beat Konducta Vol. 1-2." There are 35 track listings - though it seems that they are realitively short tracks. I must admit that I only listed to a few tracks, but I enjoyed "Open" and "Tape Hiss." They are both instrumentals and fit the Madlib profile.

It just dawned on me that the west coast is really reppin on this week's hip hop blog. So far, all but SPANK ROCK are from Cali.

I finally received a copy of DMC's "Check Thugs and Rock and Roll." I had a bit of anticipation about this one. It's different and I feel indifferent about it at this time, so I am going to reserve comment until I can fully listen to it. Oh, but you know this is DMC from the legendary Run DMC...? Yeah. Run released a cd last year as Rev Run. Just sharing...

PARIS presents "Hard Truth Soldiers" is crazy packed established artists. I'm talking about MC Ren, Public Enemy, Dilated Peoples, Conscious Daughters, Everlast, Mobb Deep, KRS-One, The Alchemist and so many more. If you are getting the impression that I like this one, then you are freaking genius!

Finally, BORDER CROSSING's "Ominious" is the latest project a trio from across the pond. I am such a sucka for the British accent. These guys have been around and they know hip hop intimately. They infuse some other genres including reggae on this disk, but I say all that to say that it is pretty daggone good! I like the first three tracks, but truthfully, it is all good! Really, really good. Much more mellow than the hip hop that I am generally attracted to, but - love it!

Until the next time...stay true, kfox