Different Shades of Black

The recent death of Trayvon Martin has shed light on racism in America.  In just three weeks several boundaries have been created, but none more than black against white.  This is nothing new; the black community has always been shunned in America.  We walk to the beat of our own drum and we are always so enriched in our culture, our norms, and our history.  In turn, since the beginning of time black people have been misunderstood as well as stereotyped. 

At a glance, the Trayvon Martin case seems like a hate crime that was racially motivated.  To Zimmerman, Trayvon looked like a trouble maker or a “thug” because he was wearing a hoodie.  Somehow, over the years a hoodie has become associated with danger in the black community…who knew?  We (as in the black community) clearly see this for what it is, which is a stereotype.  Not all black people are the same. 

Here’s my problem:

Every day I read on Twitter, Facebook, the blogs, and the news different opinions of black people in our community.  We are so quick when there is a matter of race to talk about boycotting those “crackers,” “pigs,” and “whitey.”  Secondly, we are quick to shun the people of our own community who do not follow suit.  If you work for the “white man” you are considered a sellout.  If you work a 9 to 5 for the “white man” you are slaving.  If you are putting your money in the bank, you are letting the “white man” swindle you.  If you are compliant to authorities or even mildly respectful you lost your race card!  I am the last person to yell “Heil Hitler” or “White Power” but I see a consistent problem in our community.  We are so quick to divide ourselves within our own community.  We judge each other and are quick to outcast another person.  There are different shades of black.  Just because one did not grow up in the hood or struggling does not make them any less black than the next person.  Black people grow up differently.  Not all of us are raised to be in touch with mother earth and Africa.  All of us are not Muslims; some are Christian, some are Catholic etc.  Some of us like to work; working is the American way because living in America is not free!  Some of us want a better life and we want to be able to live comfortably.  But does that make me any less Black? 

We have come a long way.  There was a time where we could not vote, could not receive an education, we were denied knowledge.  Now we have Black doctors, Black lawyers, Black colleges and universities, and Black media personalities (shot out to myself!!!).  The sky is the limit for us because we now have the knowledge to create our own opportunities.  So why do we continue to judge one another, divide our race and put each other down?  Before we can solve the problem with racism in America, we have to solve the racism and classism in our own community.  (Follow me @eyediditmyway)

The Underdogs

For some odd reason when it comes to music I always love to fight for the underdog.  You know… the artists that people look over or don’t even consider “hot.”  You know as well as I do that in the music industry artists are only relevant as their last hit.  This is especially true for artists that enter the music industry at a young age.  Child stars have it hard because they grow up in the spotlight and their music always corresponds to their age.  The problem lies when the artists become legal: their image usually changes and so does the subject matter in their songs.  In turn, their audience either likes the shift or writes the artists off. 

Bow Wow and Yung Berg are two artists that are the ultimate underdogs in today’s music industry.  Although they have gained other talents over the years (Bow Wow acting and Yung Berg producing), being an artist is their first love.  They struggle to remain relevant or to even be taken serious as a rapper.  They both enjoyed success during their teenage years under the wings of Jermaine Dupri and DMX, but when they chose to step out on their own there was a disconnect from their audience.  Bow Wow and Yung Berg both had successful singles but audiences wrote them off as trying too hard or pretending to be something that they’re not. 

Bow Wow and Yung Berg might not receive mainstream love but all of their mixtapes are FIRE!  Both of these guys are not lyrical geniuses but they are not Lil B and Soulja Boy neither!  The production that Bow Wow and Yung Berg use on some of their mixtapes makes it sound more like an album.  Also, besides trash talking, Bow Wow and Yung Berg always manage to drop at least one introspective track per mixtape.  Either way; here are a few tracks from the underdogs that I think you should check out.

BOW WOW

The Green Light (2009): Regret

Greenlight 3 (2010): How I Feel

Greenlight 4 (2011): Boy or Girl

Greenlight 4 (2011): Lets Get Closer

Greenlight 4 (2011): Ain’t Thinkin’ Bout You ft. Chris Brown

I’m Better Than You (2011): Mary Jane

YUNG BERG

The Show, The Afterparty, & The Hotel (2010): What U On(I Been Getting Money)

Money Can’t Buy Love (2010): Like A Pony ft. K-Young

Ground Work (2010): Call On Me ft. K-Young & K-Smith

Ground Work (2010): Girlfriend

Reality Check (2011): Heart Of The City ft. Mia Rey

Reality Check (2011): Had It All ft. Mia Rey

So what they talk about having sex with multiple girls, smoking weed, and having more money than the average person...it wouldn't be Hip Hop if SOME artists weren't materialistic! Some of these tracks you might be able to relate to or definitely bump in your ride!

(Follow me @eyediditmyway)

Disappearing Acts Part 2

“And you know I had to do the remix right?”  (In my Ludacris voice, cues “Gettin Some Head remix!”)  It is easier for us to notice when female artists struggle in the music industry because either a blog points it out or a random male puts them on blast.  However, the music industry does not discriminate when it comes to failures.  Here are a few artists that have fallen off the face of the earth. 

Have you ever stopped and asked yourself, when is the last time that Ray J put out some good quality music?  Ray J is talented in many ways: the bedroom (don’t act like you haven’t seen the sex tape), trash talking (remember how he knocked out Fabolous), as a club promoter, as a reality TV star (For The Love of Ray J Seasons 1 and 2), and actor (Moesha and One on One).  But when it comes to singing….that’s a different story. 

Ray J hit the scene in 1995 with his debut single “Let It Go.”  It wasn’t until 2001 when we all took notice of Brandy’s brother with his unforgettable single “Wait A Minute.”  I was too young to club then but everybody knows that this was a club and radio smash!  Ray J got his R&B thug on in the video and showed us how mannish he was by fondling Lil Kim.  Then came 2005; Ray J wasn’t too proud to beg on “One Wish.”  This song won ladies hearts all over the world and made Ray J a sex symbol.  Therefore, it was only right that he connected with Yung Berg for the 2008 summer anthem “Sexy Can I.”  And then….nothing.  Reality TV called and his music has suffered ever since.  He tried to make a comeback with his single “Last Wish” circa 2010 but that was short lived.  Fast forward a couple years later and Ray J is an attention whore who is struggling to remain relevant.   

Remember J. Holiday?  He was the “it” artist from 2007-2009.  As a solo/unknown artist he carried R&B on his back and made being a newcomer look easy.  Back of My Lac spawned a couple of singles.  The lead single “Bed” had everybody wanting to take a nap in order to receive some special attention.  Due to the success of the single J. Holiday had everyone trying to sing “Eh” in falsetto.  On his second single, “Suffocate,” J. Holiday managed to describe exactly how it feels to be away from the person you love.  In both “Bed” and “Suffocate” the lyrics were honest and relatable; I think that is the main reason why we liked him.  In his songs and his videos he never came across as trying too hard or trying to be something that he was not.  He stuck to this same strategy on his second studio album Round 2.  Its only single was “Its Yours.”  I remember the song being well received but the album lacked promotion.  Fast forward three years later…no word if he is working on a third album or if he has given up on the music industry. 

Both of these artists made me think that new age R&B was making a comeback.  To me, Ray and J. Holiday were the last of a dying breed.  Nowadays R&B singers want to appear hard and want to be rappers.  What part of the R&B game is that?  I would hope that both of these male artists could get it together and release some quality music.  Honestly, it’s not looking promising.   (Follow me @eyediditmyway)

Disappearing Acts

If you’re like me there has been a time when your favorite artist has pulled a Dave Chappelle.  They were everywhere but now you see them out-and-about as much a groundhog.  Whether it was a bad relationship, drug and alcohol problems, family drama, record label disputes, or a mental breakdown; these few artists left us asking “Where’s Waldo?” 

Who can forget the sultry and mind-blowing voice of Jazmine Sullivan?  Her first smash, “Need You Bad,” hit the scene in the summer of 2008 and instantly took the world by storm.  With production and vocals from Missy Elliott, Jazmine gave us hit after hit on her debut album Fearless.  Let’s not forget the bold “Bust Your Windows.”  Though the title sounds a little crazy, there is a part of every woman that wants to do something reckless when they are cheated on.  Playing on those emotions Jazmine followed up with “Lions, Tigers, &Bears.”  This is one of my personal favorites! Who has not experienced the dangerous waters of falling in love?  Then….2010 came; Jazmine gave us “Holding You Down.”  Another one of those life situations that everybody has been through but rather not discuss.  Similar to “Need You Bad,” “Holding You Down” was another track that we could dance to while Jazmine’s vocals described every ounce of our pain.  Fast Forward two years later: Her label has morphed into RCA Music Group, she has publicly mentioned her disdain with the politics in the music industry, and she is currently “working on her next album.”  Yeah…sure! We rarely see her on a red carpet or any event with random celebrities.  Two years ago she was on tours, her songs stayed in rotation on the radio, and she was doing several interviews.  Where is she now?

You know I had to do it….

Keyshia Cole is that one artist that I like to call a homie-lover-friend.  No disrespect to her, but she is everything wrapped up in one person.  Homie: being from Oakland she knows the streets and also the church.  Lover: she had a two year romance with Young Jeezy and found the man of her dreams in Boobie Gibson.  Friend: Not only has she been best friends with Monica for years, she convinced Monica to leave her dead-beat baby daddy and want to be rapper Rocko.  In turn, Keyshia introduced Monica to NBA Stud (Shannon Brown) and of course he wasn’t afraid to put a ring on it!

Musically, Keyshia Cole can SAAANNG!  Not sing, not carry a tune, but SAAANNG!  (I’m tearing up just thinking about it.  For goodness sake she sang an apology to Mary J. Blige at the end of The Game’s single “Game’s Pain.”)  I recommend that everyone fall in love at least once so you can witness what it is suppose to feel like via (my favorite Keyshia Cole song) “Love.”  The soulfulness in her vocals on that track makes you feel everything she is saying.  And heartbreak never felt so honest until you’ve heard “I Should Have Cheated,” “Last Night,” or “I Remember.”  If that is too much for you, Keyshia remains your favorite homie on the club/radio smash “Let It Go.”  Whether you are a Keyshia Cole fan or not (remember her brief beef with The Queen of Hip Hop Soul: MJB) you have to give credit when it’s due.  Keyshia Cole can sing me a death threat and it would sound “Heaven Sent” to me!  Fast Forward a year or so later: she’s married and has a son, cut ties with her erratic extended family, and is seen out occasionally.  She is currently “working on her next album and taping a new reality show called Family First.”  Is that so? 

These artists have the potential to be legendary.  Their careers already remind me of Divas such as MJB and Missy Elliot.  However, the worst thing an artist can do is pull a Lauryn Hill or Dave Chappelle.  I understand that life happens but their music is like chicken noodle soup, it’s good for the soul!    

Bonus: Fantasia Barrino

(Follow me @eyediditmyway)