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I WANT TO
LOVE H.E.R.
Increasingly,
hip-hop penetrates every aspect of our life. When the "Colonel"
of Kentucky Fried Chicken was rapping on a recent commercial, I realized how
much hip-hop is in our everyday life.
As a twenty something
black woman, my life inevitably revolves around hip-hop. I am a part of the
first generation to grow up in the age of Run D.M.C. (Walk this Way), LL Cool
J (I'm Bad), Kool Moe Dee (Wild, Wild West), and various others. And with
hip-hop came a subculture, there were break dancers, graffiti artists, MC's,
DJ's, and around the way b-boys and b-girls.
Over the years
I've had a love/hate relationship with hip-hop. The song, "I Used to
Love H.E.R." by Common exemplified my relationship with hip-hop. Even
with the rampant display of sexism and misogyny in hip-hop music, I continue
to defend hip-hop because of my love. Maybe this love is blind, but I believe
in hip-hop as a music, a lifestyle, and a culture. Or I used to.
With the deaths
of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls (Notorious B.I.G.), my love waned. The bling-bling
phenomenon of the '90s increasingly made me reexamine my love for hip-hop.
What happened to the hip-hop I loved?
Then I picked
up, Brown Sugar Soundtrack on September 24th and fell in love with hip-hop
all over again. Brown Sugar Soundtrack is a collection of songs that reminds
of what hip-hop used to be and can be. It's about the love for our community,
culture, ourselves and each other.
This cd has everyone
on it from Mos Def to The Roots to Mary J. Blige to Jill Scott. All of these
artists understand that hip-hop needs to be elevated by creating diversity
in their music by infusing hip-hop (break beats and bass) with R&B/soul,
reggae, jazz, rock and Latin influences together. And this soundtrack is exemplary
of that diversity.
Mos Def co-stars
in the movie, Brown Sugar and headlines this cd with four songs including
one with his partner-in-crime, Talib Kweli to form Black Star. "Brown
Sugar" is an ode to a beautiful woman like the Black Star single, "Brown-skin
Lady." Unlike many hip-hops songs of today, Mos Def acknowledge black
women as a complementary part of hip-hop, not just a booty-shakin' filler
for a video.
Erykah Badu and
Common are up next to the mic with "Love of My Life," an ode to
hip-hop. Badu sings as Common rhymes about how hip-hop was all so simple then.
Like hip-hop feminist Joan Morgan said, "All an MC wanted then was to
be the baddest in battle, have a fly-girl, and take rides in his fresh O.J."
Hip-hop was about creating positivity amidst the backdrop of the urban ghetto.
Hip-hop is and was competition with your words and wordplay instead of your
gun, knife or fist.
While Erykah Badu is loving hip-hop, Jill Scott sings about the classic example
of b-boy meets b-girl and falls in love. "Easy Conversation" is
heavy guitar riffed song with Jill's gentle voice reminiscent of Minnie Ripperton
carelessly flowing over the music. While listening you realize that Jill and
Lyzel are happily in love, and you want that feeling as well.
When you hear
the first drum beat of "Paid in Full," you reminisce to the first
time you heard Rakim say, "Thinkin' of a master plan/Cuz ain't nothing
but sweat inside my hand." But this is the remix. It's over 7 minutes
of music for your listening pleasure.
With a great
step for hip-hop, there are few setbacks. Even though I love Cassandra Wilson,
her jazzy remake of Cyndi Lauper's timeless classic, "Time after Time"
seems out of place on this heavily hip-hop/neo-soul/R&B soundtrack. "Bring
Your Heart" is redundant effort which is uncharacteristic of Angie Stone's
production.
This is a must-buy cd.
Vist the Brown Sugar Website at http://brownsugar.mcarecords.com
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'SO
WHEN DID YOU FIRST FALL IN LOVE WITH HIP-HOP?'
CONTEST
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The Beat, The Sound, The Rhythm......it's all about love. Or better yet, a
perfect verse over a tight beat. Many of us that grew up during the dramatic
rise of Hip-Hop, know it as our culture. Hip-Hop is a part of us and we are
a part of it. The love for Hip-Hop was spotlighted in the blockbuster hit
movie 'Brown Sugar' and give true justice in the movies soundtrack.
The Brown
Sugar Soundtrack is a fantastic showcase of Hip-Hop and Soul music. The CD
featues great artists like Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Common, The Roots, Angie
Stone, Jill Scott, and Mary J. Blige.
What
Can You Win?
We have official Brown Sugar Merchandise for our contest winners. We have
Brown Sugar Men's and Women's T-Shirt, a Brown Sugar winter
hat, and Brown Sugar the Soundtrack stickers available.
So
What Do You Have To Do To Win?
All you have to do is send an e-mail to info@liquidsoulradio.com
with a short story telling us "How and When You First Fell In Love With
Hip-Hop". All enteries must be under 300 words and specify your Number
#1 Hip-Hop Classic Song and Artist.
- All entries
must be provided by e-mail.
- You must provide
your full name, a valid e-mail address and mailing address to enter.
- All entries
must be received by 5:00 P.M. on December 15th, 2002.
- Three Grand
Prize Winners will be selected. These winners will receive merchandise and
a copy of the soundtrack.
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So
lets take it back to Adidas Suits, Beat Boxin', Kangol Hats, Fat Gold Chains,
Break Dancin' and Scratchin with Yo' Parents Aretha Franklin Albums on their
brand new Hi-Fi Floor Model Stereo (ok...maybe that was just me.). Let the
other LSR.com fans know that you are from the Ol' School.
Holla.....
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