The Response...As the Saga Continues

Greetings Hip Hop! I am fresh off an overnight shift and I commend you all for bringing this discussion to the face of internet bookings!

With that appreciative greeting, I shall "go in".... See More

First of all, these young black men work hard and put themselves out there for you to see analyze and enjoy! Lil Wayne works like a slave, literally! Soulja Boy is a great entertainer...In my eyes no different from Sammy Davis Jr! And Gucci Mane didn't even want to collaborate with all the people he has in the past calendar year! His aunt suggested he try it while he was in jail! He enjoys having people around him that give him a fresh perspective. These rappers, also known as black men and survivors of some of the most harsh oppression known to man, are imperfect and their good is not what sells! That's the business! Literally! I am not defending their 'wrongs'. I am simply stating the facts of history from the time of colonialism, racialism and imperialism up to this very point! (Aint' shit changed but the face of the president and he ain't even the first black president)

Now, on to Hip Hop!

I disagree that music is an aspect. Clearly defined, an aspect is: 1) a characteristic to be considered
2) view: the visual perception of a region; "the most desirable feature of the park are the beautiful views" and/or "the most desirable feature of music are the beautiful lyrics"
3) the beginning or duration or completion or repetition of the action of a verb
4) expression: the feelings expressed on a person's face; "a sad expression"; "a look of triumph"; "an angry face"

Historically and factually, hip hop is just an aspect or sub category of music! (a sub-culture-as it is so modernly called)

Now here is my opinion, and I believe it to be neither right or wrong, but just an opinion. And remember, the only reason that I am stating my opinion is because Nick posted this discussion on my wall, therefore making it obvious that he preferred I engage.

There are many forms of music and from those many forms of music birthed hip hop! Hip hop came at a time when drugs were hitting urban America hard! These drugs were a element of control of urban neighborhoods in America and it's goal, i think all of you would agree, has been defined and met, successfully, we all regret. But this is the harsh reality. This also happens to be just around the time when I was conceived. My father was then an Army photographer and seldom heroin user. It ain't my fault, but it is my responsibility. I call this knowledge of self.

Origionially, Hip Hop was for us to stop fighting each other and use art to heal and help. That's why the Rock Steady Crew Battled other b-boy and b-girl groups. This is why the fashion trends did what they did! We are a naturally peaceful, tribal and loving people, but our pre-planned and corrupt capitalistically constructed environments only hindered us! Why do you thing the NYC projects are constructed taller than some skyscrapers!?????? It didn't totally 86 the potential violence but it curbed it and gave those (us) kids "something else" to do. Hip Hop told you (us) what was going on in Urban America. It taught us HOW TO THINK and not WHAT TO THINK! And you tell me who was the last great Urban Leader to pass away before the Regan Era of drugs and excessive war and guns made such a staunch arrival? Dr. King! And he was still trying to tell us about Vietnam. So from 68-about 73 or 74...there was foolishness, and long after this! And it's funny that the term hip hop was coined because Cowboy was making fun of one of his friends for joining the army. He was imitating the cadence of the soldiers!

To make a long story short, the purest form of Hip Hop went from "Underground" Uptown Manhattan in the Bronx, to highly commericalized Downtown Manhattan into the night clubs and roller rinks and was then packaged and sold all around the world; at a considerably high return.

This is when you had the separation of of powers. And who do you think was more powerful and influential? Duh!!!! We (Urban American Circa 73-83 and upward were not business savvy! We were poor and down-trodded and had been that way for some time!--HUNDREDS OF YEARS..... We just wanted to express ourselves and the Russ and Rick gave us the chance with Def Jam. Some how things went "awry", Hip Hop alledgedly died and now those who call themselves true "hip hop heads" proceed to throw stones at these multimillionaires who understand the business that was created hundreds of years ago.

Now if you truly understand music you can understand hip hop. If you understand being broke poor and hungry; by force--- you can understand hip hop. But if you lived in Middle America all of your life and have only listened to the greats rather than be around them and understand where they come from, you may be a little offended, and slightly skewed in your perspective.

I did a track called "Face the Music" for a reason.

www.myspace.com/mrstevefox

Maybe Hip Hop "died" so they could show us how to understand how to live again, truly!!? It never lost it's roots , it just weathered a very violent 25-30 year storm.....And it had been without a weatherman for while SSDD! (Props to DreamCatcher!)

Now, Can you now SEE WHAT I'M SAYIN?

With the warmest centuries-old Hip Hop regards,

Steven Fox
Writer/Poet/Author/MC
SWIS/Art and Soul Magazine
stevefoxnyc@gblogspot.com
stevedfox@gmail.com

SteveFoxNYC: Feeling Fine

Right now, I feel right cuz I'm aware of all of my wrongs,
Everything I feel, I just jot it all in the poems,
I'm a fan of it, at the same time I'll open a can of it,
Some of the cats ain't talking substance, they should be banned from it.
I feel important, cuz my perspective is respectable, I feel...
I love hard so disrespect I won't feel,
I don't chose to, vote that in, I veto that ill,
Relax then chill, what am I suppose to say?
Most times, I don't say what I'm suppose to say,
And for that my past chick said my tact was off,
I work and smart, deactivate the slack button,
This is the beginning of the end, I ain't never ever lacked nothing.
Ain't nobody of significance died since Pac.
And nowadays these rapper have the never to become self-compared to Pac?
Ok, your mind advances but your actions wont.
Cuz you won't let them, you need to choose a new selection.
I be so appalled like Kanye,
Put in work for 8 hours and it feels like a long day.
I'm just an instrument listening to what the song say...
I'm just a journalist, please list to what the poem say.
They say if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
To me, making it here is like making it anywhere.
That might be slightly naive and I could be off kilter,
But I believe what I believe, so that's just my feelings.
My truth, I took my heart off of my sleeve and put it back in my chest.
I worked hard writing bars for this chick, but I ain't prove myself,
So, she ain't paid me yet although, I was just doing exactly what I was called fo'
And although some of these rappers don't wanna accept it,
You can't mimic the greats with a flow and a necklace,
You could be left neckless with no need for a head,
Cuz if your heart ain't in it, you can never see past the bread,
And water, that's all that's needed to sustain in this day and age,
I ask questions so my soul doesn't end up in a cage and my pen up in a rage,
My anger becomes vibrations and my ex-chick is ridiculous for damaging my tools,
So with success, I plan to damage the fools,
You snooze you lose and I know cuz I been sleep often.
That's the only way I can speak on it.
Cuz through my experiences, I have embraced it all and there is nothing I'll keep from it.
I'm a writer slash poet slash mc slash rapper.
That's 1/4 thinker, 1/4 lover, 1/4 history and 1/4 backwards....
I read often cuz that's how I learn how to speak,
And I'm happy often cuz that's how I learned how to weep.
The reapers off me, So I'ma leave when God calls for me.
I treat the illusion of the devil like the wrong part of me,
Embrace it, face it...sit it down and talk to it...
Tell it what to do and then force it to walk thru it.
This is the road less traveled, I let my mind unravel cuz I don't want to be stuck in my skull.
That's like the peanuts stuck in the hull...
Having a bitter taste and make the face wrinkle..
Making the mouth spit....
More gifts than Kris Kringle...
More spliff than Mr. Carter, I'm more dope than heroin.
I get headaches, I think them away, no excederin.
A Memphis Renassiance, through the line like D. McFadden,
With a pen I'm Aladdin magic,
With a slice of Idi Amin madness, I grew up tragic...
But I ain't dead yet, I'm just startin to live, gettin revvved up,
And even ran yet.
So you can bet you're life on my art.
Priceless is the art...I do it to save lives.
Yours and mine....
Now I rewind back to the time...
When I wrote what I feel,
Now I feel just fine!