What Is Happening To Hip Hop?

Over Spring Break, I found myself watching a late night television show on VH1 about Hip Hop, and what it has become. Turning to it about a quarter of the way through the show, I watched as they talked about the late Tupac and Biggie Smalls, and all of the East Coast-West Coast nonsense that took place in the early to mid nineties. During this time, I was still really young so anything music related besides the Barney song "I love you, you love me," did not exactly fascinate me. I later realized that these two men played a huge roll in the lives of rappers today such as Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, T.I., Plies, and many more. I'm not exactly a huge rap fan, but the show held my interest because it showed many clips of these two individuals and how their lives and deaths impacted the hip-hop community. In my opinion, these were two very talented individuals who lost their life way too early, because of a bunch of stuff that could have been prevented. East Coast-West Coast, who cares where you live or where you were born. Anyway, I was writing this because watching this show also made me realize the mess that they call rap music today is just that "mess." I watch as many of my peers rap and say how they are going to make it, because they look at people such as Soulja Boy, and feel that if he can do it, then they can do it. I laugh because as much as I hate to say it, Soulja Boy is far from a real rapper, yet I find myself watching his videos and singing along to his songs. Overall, I am wondering what has happened to today's rap music. Sad to say, but did rap actually die along with Tupac and Biggie. Come on..."do the stanky leg,"...that has to be the worst song ever, yet it's making it to the top of the charts. Can those guys actually make an entire CD that someone would listen to fully through?

It Seems To Be Farewell To Rapper T.I.

Although rapper Clifford Harris, also known as T.I. has singles at the top of the charts right now, he is also not at his best. The rapper is soon to be facing jail time for gun charges after he was arrested in 2008 for possession of a firearm on several different accounts while the rapper was already a convicted felon. It’s bad hearing these type of stories because it seemed as if the rapper was turning his life around and now he can possibly face no less than a year in prison. The rapper will not only leave behind thousands, possibly millions of fans, but a girlfriend and six children, all of whom are under the age of thirteen. It has to be tuff on the little ones having to watch their father prepare for his sentencing, while all along remaining in the spotlight. Counting down his days, the rapper has a television show on MTV called “T.I. Road To Redemption,” in which the rapper tries to turn around the life of young adults who are leading down the wrong path in life that seems that they will ultimately end up in jail or dead. It seems to me that he has good intentions in life, he just messed up and now has to do the time for the crime that he committed.

Hmm...A Little More With Chris Brown & Rihanna.

I decided to base this blog on a follow up of the Chris Brown and Rihanna situation. I guess I may be reading into this entire thing too much! This past weekend, while in the store I noticed the many tabloids that read things such as 'She was pregnant', 'He sends her gifts', 'The couple was recently spotted together'. I laughed at some of the ridiculous allegations against the two. The fact that writers would make up such stories that Rihanna was pregnant during the time is ridiculous. I don't think they fully understand the significance of the trouble that Chris Brown could get in if this were true. I completely disagree with them putting that as a headline on a Magazine cover. Also, the fact that he may have sent her gifts during all of this is a typical guy thing. He messed up...terribly, and is trying to make up with gifts. Only difference is, just about everything that they are doing is very publicized right now. On to the one that caught my attention the most, the fact that they were seen together. Not saying that this may be true, but I do believe that the two are going to stay together. It's sort of hard on singer Rihanna because so many people are looking for her to step up to the plate and be against the violence. They are looking for her to speak out against it, and really...the only thing she needs to be worried about right now is her own personal safety. Though I may not follow this entire story, the tabloids I saw this weekend really caught my attention. Some being ridiculous allegations, others seem to be possible true stories.

Making The Band...At It Again.

Sean "Diddy, Puffy, etc." Combs is at it again with his money making reality show Making the Band. To be honest, I have been a fan of the show since day one. I don't think I've missed a season since he's started, and I have always been a faithful viewer. I love the show dearly, but I must say that Diddy uses his artist as puppets. It seems as if, like every season before, Diddy will have yet another group gone down the drain. The show currently consist of the few members left of Danity Kane. After the very explosive ending to last season, where Diddy cut two members of the group; many fans were left wondering what was going to happen with these talented young women. Day 26 is the other group starring on the show, and from the looks of it, this group will be at it this season, and personally I am a fan of their music and will hate so see such talent go to waste. I feel that this show is making a lot of money for Diddy, so therefore he keeps it around, which is a smart move for him business wise, but really...what is he doing with these groups. I honestly can't think of any recent groups or clients on his Bad Boy label who has made it past their seconds CD. As for Donny, it looks like he may not even make it to a second album. Personally, I adore the show. I am what I like to call a reality TV show junkie, and I enjoy catching the new episodes weekly, but I hate watching something that I feel like is a waste. It seems like Diddy finds some of the most talented individuals with big dreams, put them through the craziest things in order to actually "make the band," when in reality, in about three years, there will not even be a band anymore. Besides that, tune in every Thursday at 9PM on MTV to watch this season of Making the Band, and lets see what happens with these young individuals.

Abusive...Chris Brown?.?

One of the most talked about topics on radios and on magazine covers over the past week has been about the controversial fight between nineteen year old R&B singer Chris Brown and his girlfriend, Rihanna. Allegedly, Chris Brown had to be bailed out of jail after turning himself into authorities on domestic violence charges against his girlfriend of a year. Personally, I was taken back by the entire situation. During one of our many discussions in class, we brought up the topic of how stars are held to a higher standard. In this case, Chris Brown is very much a role model to many young people, and regardless of what really happened, this entire incident will make him look bad. Will he ever really be able to come back? I don't think so. Yes, he can still make music, but many people will always frown upon him and look at him as an abuser, regardless of what really happened that day. As of what has been said so far, all fingers are pointing in his direction. Yes, she may have hit him first, and some may say that she deserved it, but majority of the public is saying he was entirely wrong for "beating her up," and with this I have to agree. I actually feel bad for him because at such a young age, one negligent decision has possibly messed up his entire career.

Jennifer Hudson Makes First Appearance

For singer/actress Jennifer Hudson, Superbowl XLIII was more then just a game, but a time to show the world that she can overcome anything. Ms. Hudson was chosen to sing this years National Anthem before the game. This performance watched by millions all over the United States was Hudson's first appearance since the murder of her mother, brother, and young nephew in October of 2008, in which her brother-in-law has been charged with. Many would expect Hudson to be nervous about the entire situation, but from the looks of it, Jennifer put on a great show and she has already begun her healing process. I have much respect for Jennifer for stepping up to the plate and letting everybody know that she will continue on despite the odds against her.

Inside Notorious

All fans of the late Christopher Wallace "Notorious BIG," are now able to enjoy the rapper in his biographical movie titled "Notorious." The movie made its way to theaters on 16 January, 2009. The plot of the movie is based on the rapper who came straight out of Brooklyn, New York to take the world of rap music by storm. The rapper is played by a new comer to the game, Jamal Woolard. Also starring in the movie is Derek Luke as Sean "Puffy" Combs, and Angela Bassett as Voletta Wallace, BIG's mother. The movie goes inside the rappers struggle to stardom, and ends with his death on 9 March, 1997. The New York Times stated, "Anyone looking for a dispassionate, evenhanded account of the life of Biggie Smalls, the Brooklyn-born rapper who was murdered in 1997 at the age of 24, will be disappointed, perhaps even dismayed, by “Notorious.”". Overall, is the movie a good representation of the life of the rapper, or better yet the reason behind his death; which most movie goers were looking for. Regardless, the movie made $21.4 million on it's opening weekend; not too bad for the late rapper BIG.