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Davey D's FNV Newsletter
In Today's Issue: November 22 2000
*ODB IS BACK AND STILL ON THE RUN
*PUFFY TO THE RESCUE
*STRAIGHT OUTTA LOD
*EM GETS JAMMED-FANS TO THE RESCUE!
Send comments, questions and concerns to Davey D
mailto:kingdave@sirius.com
The FNV Newsletter
written by Davey D
http://www.daveyd.com
http://www.rapstation.com
c 2000
All Rights Reserved
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 Ya gotta love the colorful and zany Mr Russell Jones. There's never a dull moment with him. Just when you think you seen it all, Mr Jones reaches into his back pack and pulls out some more bizarre antics. For those who don't know Russell Jones, he's the infamous ODB of the Wu-Tang Clan. he's the guy that has done everything from stealing sneakers to bum rushing the stage during the Grammy Awards a couple of years ago to proclaim his love for the kids. Heck I remember when he came to our radio station and scared the hell out of our receptionist by insisting on getting her phone number. When it was time for us to let him know he overstayed his welcome, he kept everyone at bay by pulling out a stun gun and singing loudly that he had to go to the bathroom and take a dump. He proceeded to head on into the bathroom where he did just that. The whole time he was smelling up the joint, he started singing real loud so all could hear about his relief efforts.
Over the past year and half, ODB has been in and out of jail from coast to coast. His latest mishap landed him in a LA drug rehab center.His good behavior and progress had moved him up the ladder and he was set to be granted some extra privileges and a possible early release. About a month and a half ago while enroute to court, ODB decided to run away from the drug rehab. He's been a fugitive ever since, with arrests warrants in Cali and New York. Well last night in front of all sorts of cats including MTV who happened to be filming, ODB showed up on stage at the Hammerstein Ballroom during Wu-tang's album release party. A shocked crowd witnessed him perform his hit song "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" It was the first time in 3 years the entire Wu was on stage.
What made this turn of events so crazy was the fact that there were all sorts of police outside the venue making sure stuff didn't go down. Apparently they didn't know about ODB's arrest warrants..This was even after ODB told the audience that he had warrants for arrests.. Ya got hand it to ODB. He has a hell of a lot of nerve.. Only God knows what will happen to him. Next he may show up at one of her houses if we're not careful.
 Mr Puff Daddy is helping to spread some love this Thanksgiving as he will be chipping in and helping out the Feed The Hungry and Homeless campaign in Atlanta. This was a program that was headed by Civil Rights activist Hosea Williams who unfortunately passed away last week. Puff will be donating money that will allow the program to feed an estimated 30 thousand people this Thursday.. Good looking out Puff..
Straight outta Lod is an Arab rapper named TN [Tamer Nafer]. He's blowing up the spot by using his rhyme skills to make some stinging political statements about the on going situation in the Middle East. In a recent interview with Reuters service, TN explained that he has a lot of disdain for the Israeli government which discriminates and brutalized his Palestinian brothers and sisters. TN also has a lot of anger about the criminal element that he sees going on in the slums of Lod. In fact it was after a close friend of his was gunned down by local drug dealers. He cited 2Pac as one of ideals and refrains from doing any sort of gangsta rap. He also noted that Palestinians and African Americans have a lot in common in terms of how both communities find that they are constantly facing racial discrimination and many within their respective populations live in run down crime ridden ghettoes. TN had this to say about the ongoing struggle in the Middle East.. ``I feel the attack against me and my people and I have something to say. I write it in rhymes and I do it in rap. Some guys burn tires, some shoot guns -- this is my way.''. Who knows we may see TN hooking up in a record store near you soon. At the very least, we hope he does a song with Public Enemy or dead prez..
 Eminem swung through the Bay Area this past weekend for the Anger Management Tour. While I didn't get a chance to see it, the word around town was he handled his business and got busy. Surprisingly he was also kickin' it with his estranged wife Kim. It appears the troubled pair may be trying to work it out. Unfortunately, a couple of SF night clubs were trying to rain on their parade by refusing to grant Em and his entourage admission inside their venues. They claimed he wasn't dressed properly. Yeah right?? Lastly as was expected Eminem also came under fire from local media because of his inflammatory lyrics. Here in the Bay Area, where there is a sizeable and extremely active gay population, there was no way Eminem was going to roll through town and not cause a stir. One local TV station took him to task and blasted him. The Bay Area being true to form also has activist on the other side. A dedicated Hip Hop fan quickly stepped to the plate to jam up the TV station.. Here's a copy of his scathing letter.. Let me know what you think about it..
WHO'S REALLY TO BLAME??????
by Gerald W.
I am a sociologist/hip-hop scholar, as well as a college graduate, who watched the news segment on rapper Eminem Sunday morning, and I was extremely disappointed in the casual condemnation of his art. He was unabashedly used as a martyr for gay rights and censorship supporters' political advancement Personally, I do not agree with many of this rapper's opinions and methods, but at the same time I have taken enough time to review his lyrics to see that he is much more than the "homophobic, misogynistic and violent" abomination your "impartial" news coverage portrayed. I do not believe that KRON meant to be malicious. But it puzzles me that many members of the older generation and conservative arena are blind the importance of Eminem's overall relevance to the growth of our society.
Yes, he is extreme (to put it mildly), but he should NOT always be taken literally either. Rather, Eminem's music, in general, should be taken as a witty method of reverse psychology, as well as a necessary advertisement for "homophobic, misogynistic and violence" issues&Mac226;Äîthough not necessarily to support or to disdain them&Mac226;Äîthat are widely ignored by the media.
Sadly, instead of focusing on the issues, KRON has chosen to focus on the easy target: Eminem. He recognizes this himself. I'll focus on the lightly supported belief that he advocates violence. Example:
Read these lyrics from the second single from his latest album, "The Way I Am:"
http://www.ohhla.com/anonymous/eminem/marshall/the_way.html
He states, "A dude's getting bullied and shoots up his school/and they blame it on Marilyn (Manson).../and the heroin/Where were the parents at?/And look where it's at/Middle America./Now it's a tragedy./Now it's so sad to see, an upper class city/ having this happening/Then attack Eminem cause I rap this way..."
Here, as I previously stated, Eminem points out that he is not the root of the problem, but merely the EXPOSER of a problem that is often ignored until it enters middle class America: children and adults with low self-esteem may be more easily influenced by so called "negative" lyrics. Thus, the root of the problem is the LACK OF LOVE these children receive. And the moral of his lyrics is that if you don't stand for something, you will follow anything.. EVEN THE DARK HUMOR THAT EMINEM PUTS ON RECORD.
To put it simply, it is at least partially the human quest for identity that leads wanting, ignorant minds to beat up gay people and commit violence for no other apparent reason. To solve the problem, would it not be better to focus on helping people recognize and overcome these shortcomings? Attacking artists does nothing but add fuel to the fire.If you choose to join this cause, Eminem already has a head start on you. Check out his most recent single, "Stan."
http://www.ohhla.com/anonymous/eminem/marshall/stan.html
In this song, the rapper states to an obsessed fan, "What's this s#*t you said about you like to cut your wrists too?/ I say that s#*t just clownin' (joking) dog. C'mon - how f@%ked up is you?.../I really think you and your girlfriend need each other/or maybe you just need to treat her better/ I hope you get to read this letter/I just hope it reaches you in time before you hurt yourself/I think that you'll be doing just fine."
Wise readers will notice that Eminem has a positive sociological and psychological message subtly ingrained in the essence of his lyrics. Even when he is not this straight forward. See lyrics from his first major label single "My Name Is".
"Hi kids! Do you like violence?/ Wanna see me stick Nine Inch Nails through each one of my eyelids?/Wanna copy me and do exactly like I did?/Try acid and get f$%ked up worse that my life is?"
He is saying "Kids, do you want you life to suck like mine? It's cool. However, only the closed-minded would think that he sincere and not sarcastic. He's actually telling kids "You don't honestly want to be messed up like me. I have a lot of frustrated pain inside that I release through my lyrics".
Yes, at times he may go over the line, and he may influence those lacking a strong purpose to follow in life. But as long as critics and news sources like KRON attack him rather than attempt to directly better those he influences, nothing will be accomplished. He is an artist and not merely another ill of society. Face the fact that it is not Eminem aiding the problem, but rather the ignorance of critics.
Gerald Wayfer
mailto:geezus1@earthlink.net
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