The jury is still out on this often controversial method music making. If you haven’t had a chance to check this great documentary out, please do and hit us up in the comment section to let us know your thoughts.
This editorial comes to us from Al-Lateef Farmer who has written articles for written for SoulTrain.com and Eurweb.com to name a few as well as his own blog which you can find at WorldAccording2Teef.com We’re looking forward to seeing more of Al-Lateef’s writing here at GFM in the future.
My earliest recollection of Hip-Hop is “The Message” from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. There was something hypnotizing about the beat and the chorus ingrained itself in your mind, but it was Melle Mel’s last first that really drew me to the song. Yeah, I was like four-years-old, but the authority in which he spit his rhyme really made me listen. I didn’t understand 99% of what he was talking about, but the way he was saying it, made me believe it to be powerful. Nearly thirty years later it is still my favorite verse, you know, it’s the one that starts, “A child is born with no state of mind/Blind/To the ways of mankind…”
I’ll give you a few seconds to finish the rhyme… (more…)
Originally posted June 1, 2010
The title of this post culled from the chorus of the 1981 song”Words” by Missing Persons. Check out the video for the impact of the chorus. (more…)
learn more at theartofchuckd.com
From the press release…
Where does racial profiling end when it’s the law? This is only one of the many questions Public Enemy founder and music visionary Chuck D poses with By The Time I Got To Arizona, an explosive fine art collaboration created under his specific direction that foreshadows the future of America if policies based on profiling continue. For his first foray into fine art, Chuck has worked hand-in-hand with artist Ravi Dosaj of creativity house SceneFour – whose recent art project with RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan was named “The Greatest Painting Of 2010” by Village Voice – re-engineering a variety of traditional 20th century American imagery to create a frighteningly accurate portrait of a country eating itself. With a release set slated for March 4th, those interested in learning more before the public unveiling are encourage to sign up exclusively at www.theartofchuckd.com. (more…)
“I got so much trouble on my mind, refuse to lose, here’s your ticket, hear the drummer get wicked“
Never willing to be content with the status quo or resting on their storied accomplishments, PE is back at it again. Whether continuing their world tour domination (71st), launching Enemy Radio (24/7 PE music), experimenting with crowd funding initiatives or now, releasing new videos for classic songs, PE remains on the forefront of the ‘new music economy’. 20 years later, I’d still put this album up against anything out today.
Public Enemy is again started a trend here. New videos for CLASSIC songs. This plan for CLASSIC artists looks to also be implemented as brand strategy for acts at www.HIPHOPGODS.com.
This video is no exception. Spawned from FEAR OF A BLACK PLANET, the Jack Dangers X Games remix has been put to film. Never even attempted in its prime , Welcome To The Terrordome was first done as an instrumental video in 1989 to promote the FIGHT THE POWER LIVE Home Video with clips stitched from it.
In this 20th anniversary of FEAR OF A BLACK PLANET , PE has set upon embarking on its 71st tour headed to South Africa and Australia this December. Again David ‘CDOC’ Snyder has exhibited his best work yet. Shot actually after a gig in Strong Island the crew goes to the Terrordome and delivers their hardest sight and sound ever. Damn near scary. Rank and file this next to any band in the the world. The Rolling Stones of the rap game ; would you join me please in welcoming…. Welcome To The TERRORDOME!
Mista Chuck speaketh! From his dope solo album, Don’t Rhyme for the Sake of Riddlin
Appropriate as we recently reflected on the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Another take on the classic PE cut “I” that was originally featured on THERE’S A POISON GOIN’ ON. Inspired by a trip to New Orleans in 2007, Chuck wanted to create a new version of the song and shoot a video as he explored the ruins of the lower 9th ward.
Props to Davey D.
Chuck D has long been one of my favorite MC’s and have caught many body scrapes and blows during barber shop discussions of Top 5 MC’s lists. I don’t care and I’ll stick by it to the end. We can debate lyricism, tone, breath control, inflection, cultural relevance, longevity, hits, sales, influence etc. etc. and in my book, he still wins. The 12″ single for “You’re gonna get yours”/”Rebel without a pause”/”Miuzi Weighs A Ton”, changed my life and I haven’t looked back.
And, if you think he’s irrelevant and PE is no longer viable, I invite you to sniff around the technology, social & entrepreneurial fronts to see “what goes on, what goes on?? Well……. ”
For that, and so much more, we salute Chuck D. Happy Birthday sir!
