Hero1

nicely said :thumb:

Nelly’s comments ignore hip-hop’s political power Date: Friday, October 08, 2004 By: Walter Higgins, BlackAmericaWeb.com What would hip-hop music be without Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Tupac or the revolutionary lyrics of Dead Prez? Don’t know? Well ask platinum-selling rap artist Nelly. The rapper, whose real name is Cornell Haynes, Jr. urged fellow entertainers to keep politics out of music if they want to stay successful in a recent interview with Blender magazine. “Some people don’t want politics in their music,” said Nelly. “Some people want their music to be uplifting so they can have fun and dance.” “If you want to do the politics thing, be more involved personally, but you could talk about that and then tomorrow wake up and you’re not selling records. So now you protested the war…and your broke!” Critics say that Nelly’s comments ignore the political legacy of hip-hop and the powerful social influence it has today. “That’s basically a slap in the face to Public Enemy and others who have come before him and changed the face of hip-hop more than he ever will,” said Aaron Bernard, a hip hop activist and program director for KJAMZ 105.3 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “It’s sad for somebody in his generation of hip-hop to say something like that because he sells so many records and has so much influence. He doesn’t have to make conscious records, but to say that no one else should is ridiculous,” added Bernard. While Nelly’s album sales just passed the 30 million mark, the ‘politics thing’ has not damaged the record selling potential of other artists. Jadakiss’ platinum selling “Why,” sparked controversy by questioning the Bush administration’s knowledge of the September 11 attacks. Kanye West’s album sales increased after the release of “Jesus Walks,” a song that blurs the lines between politics and spirituality. With more hip hop artist realizing their social influence, Bakari Kitwana, author of “The Hip-Hop Generation,” added several big names in the hip hop community have begun to direct their energy toward the political arena, including Russell Simmons, Jay-Z and P Diddy. “Hip-hop is political,” said Kitwana. “His comments defy what is going on now, 5 years ago or 20 years ago.” All the critics agreed that Nelly’s comments represent the difference between hip hop culture and the mainstream appeal of rap music which is driven by record sales. “For him to say keep politics out of the music is basically saying he’s not hip-hop,” said Greg Thomas, professor at Syracuse University. “How do you have black music without politics? Look at all the people we would loose.” “Nelly is rap, he is not hip hop, there is a difference,” said Kitwana. “The mainstream attention has been good but the downside has been the pioneers don’t get respect and people aren’t really studying the art and culture of hip-hop.” Although Nelly says his music is solely for dancing and having fun, Thomas says it can become a political statement when it promotes negative images common in rap music. “He’s not keeping politics out his music when it comes to his views on women,” said Thomas, referring to controversy surrounding the ‘Tip Drill’ video in which Nelly swipes a credit card through a black woman’s backside. The video initiated a protest at Spelman College that led to Nelly canceling a charity event there last April. Nelly also raised eyebrows when he unveiled his Pimpjuice Energy Drink last November, which caused a national boycott by a coalition of black consumer activists. Plus, he started the P.I.M.P. Scholars program that gives grants to college students. When asked if the brand of rap currently dominating the airwaves will ever change, Bernard said there is a “bright light” at the end of the tunnel. “There are plenty of artists out there that still make you move but come from a different direction, people like that are going to last,” said Bernard. “ Songs like Nelly’s are going to come and go because they are disposable

since we are gettin a lot of new people rollin through..what is your favorite JJFP album..and why? :poke:

But the best part? When Jazzy Jeff showed up at the very end with his posse and they ran around to everyone and said, "The Eagles are gonna win the Super Bowl!" And when Will Smith saw them he ran up and tackled them and hugged them and it was very cute and "Parents Just Don't Understand" kicked on in my head and I wiped a little tear away, remembering high school, remembering the good times, me and the Prince, and wondering where the **** was Jeffrey with our afternoon tea. from: http://whatever-whenever.net/020405.html

that was hilarious! :hilarious: :hilarious: :hilarious:

i dont think wills gonna be on any shows filmed in the west coast..he seems to be in new york and then around the world after that..hes not even gonna be on the tonight show

what games are these? sounds interesting

wow schnazz you are really close in fact you solved part 1 already..you just need to get part 2

preach on ted :bowdown:

Will Smith Gets Jiggy at Ellis Island My late grandmother, Frieda Friedman, passed through Ellis Island back in 1913. It turned out last night that actress-singer Jada Pinkett's grandfather was also processed through America's gateway of immigration back in 1924. Jada, however, didn't know this piece of her family history until her aunt told her at the premiere of husband Will Smith's "Hitch," which took place at the Ellis Island Museum. "We looked it right up on their computer and he was there," Jada said, beaming. "It was the last year Ellis Island was open." In fact, everyone at the premiere learned about Pinkett's ancestry when Smith announced it from the stage of the afterparty. He was rapping and holding forth with his childhood pal, DJ Jazzy Jeff. "It was the white side of her family," he joked during "Getting Jiggy Wit It." "There is no white side," Jada laughed later on the ferry ride back to the mainland. "That's just Will." The premiere of "Hitch" was one of those events about which you heard non-stop griping for days from the invitees. "Who wants to go there in this weather?" was a constant refrain. The party turned out to be one of the best of the year, however. It was very elegantly put together by event coordinator Ronnie Davis. Peggy Siegal came on crutches. Missy Elliott — all smiles and looking cute — marshaled her manager and posse for the trek. Beautiful Eva Mendes, Smith's co-star, not only danced the night away but also autographed many color pics of herself for Radio Man, the troll-like semi-homeless, bike riding, ghetto-blaster wearing good luck charm who is an omnipresent guest at the entrance to Hollywood premieres. "This is the guy from MTV," he told the ravishing actress, who's sort of the 2000s model of Sophia Loren. "He's making a movie about me." "He is? I wanted to do that," replied Mendes — expletives deleted. "Take care," Radio Man said as Mendes gave him a peck on the cheek. "Get some rest." "Rest? No rest tonight," shouted Mendes as she scampered to her car. She and the rest of the "Hitch" crew were on their way to Bungalow 8 despite a sleet storm. Now, just a little bit about Will Smith who, after all, is the star of the movie. He told me that doing a romantic comedy, with no car chases, explosions or aliens, made him feel "naked." Still, between action adventure, romantic comedy and rap-stand up comedy, it seems that he can do anything. And he loves his wife. At the end of one rap, he whispered into the mike, "I love Jada." I know: he's too good to be true. But studio publicists even admitted that Smith, unlike most stars, is no diva — or is it divo? "He can take care of himself," they said. So the only bad news is that Smith conceded to me he has no more annual Fourth of July movies up his sleeve. In recent years, he's starred in one after another blockbuster that opened on that holiday weekend. But "Hitch" is all for 2005 so far, and the movies he has lined up do not feature aliens or robots. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,146370,00.html

look kev made a switch pun :kekeke: yeah im sure will thought it was time to switch it up! :lolsign:

how abt this for an idea..will flys in all the real jjfp fans from around the world for his next music video :kekeke: imagine all of us backin will up..julie and fresh princess would prob just be screamin..dabrakes would be rappin the song in the background jonny would be starin at the girls in the video

redman is actually in the is it "hit squad" not sure of the name but he came up with epmd and das efx

naa man method man is from wu tang.. redman is a dope emcee who has released some really good music

will is such an ipod fan id say so..kids are listenin to their ipods in the music video..i think switch will definitely appear on itunes soon

now we're getting close to the release date i cant help myself :shaketheroom:

when i was doin a search on google i saw 1 date was march 21..but it was in another language..so i cant tell you which country :dunno:

hey man its great to have an old school fan like yourself on board!! :bowdown:

they got sum photos over at http://www.gettyimages.com as well :thumb:

yep they certainly sell a lot of records but as Will says on uuhhh Come one, come all come any Watch me take there hard a way like Penny I can take twelve rappers and put em in line Then twelve emcees that think they can rhyme Then twelve more brothers that still ain't signed Then, don't do nuthin, just watch em decline Gangsta hardcore menace to society Rap's all the same my pen spits variety

yayy for stereotypes :ughwerd:

you say ja rule is popular and then it was 50..look will has been releasing records for 20 years none of them could do **** to him.. hes worth over 150 million they wish they were will smith

i would say the majority of eminem fans dont even know what will has done for hip hop..too many ignorant people like dissing will and they dont even know what they are talking about..Fresh Prince is respected by legends in the game run dmc, public enemy, epmd, whodini, ll cool j etc etc.. if will does a track that drops some knowledge on the haters i applaud him

that'll be dope to hear will and redman on a track together! :switch:

· Elephant Man’s Rah Rah remix features top rappers Actor and rapper Will Smith and rapper Red Man are set to be featured on the remix of Elephant Man’s single Rah Rah. The song appears on the Massive B label’s Rah Rah rhythm. It was produced by Bobby Konders. Source: http://eurweb.com/story.cfm?id=18720