|
|
|
Davey D's FNV Newsletter
In Today's Issue: October 13 2000
*Hip Hop to Represent at Million Family March
*Rakim Sign With Dre Dre
*Kobe Gets Dropped from Label
*DMX Launches Record Label
*Eminem Set to Shoot New Video
*Iverson Under Fire-Kool Moe Dee to the Rescue
*New Jersey Attempt To Ban Sale of Hip Hop!
*Legal Drama For High Profile Artist
*Shyne Gets His Shine On
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
============================================
Lots of stuff to munch on as the weekend comes upon us... First Hip Hop will be represented front and center at the Million Family March this Monday in Washington DC. Unlike the Million Man March back in '95 where lots of rappers showed up but didn't speak, this time around, Hip Hop will be fully represented. Russell Simmons, Puff Daddy, Ice Cube, Jay Z and numerous others have played key roles in both organizing and getting others to come out and perform.. Recently a video for the song 'Get It Together' featuring, Fat Joe, Mack 10, Lady of Rage and numerous others was shot in LA. It features Nation of Islam leader Minister Farrakhan. Interestingly enough, I did an interview with the Washington Post the other day where the reporter questioned whether or not it was a sound decision for rappers to be present at a Million Family March. The perception was that many of these artists do very little in their public personas to promote family values and unity..
I pointed out to the writer that many of these rappers have children and are married. Many of these artists have done things both on record as well as behind the scenes to promote family. The Ruff Ryders sponsored a summer camp, LL Cool J sponsors and particpates in his own Summer Camp. Puff has Daddy's House and employs Sista Souljah to operate it. Fat Joe did an incredible song a few years back called 'Like Father Like Son' while opening up numerous business in his embattled South Bronx neighborhood as a way to give back to the community. The list goes on and on..
Part of our collective responsibility is to insist that artists show that side of their personas. Next time these artists are on BET, MTV or your local radio station the interviewer as well as the callers should be asking them to talk about the importance of family as opposed to what type of car they drive or how much money they make. We have a responsibility to help push for change in the type of conversations that are being held. On a side note I pointed out to the newspaper reporter that no one would question an actor like Al Pacino or Robert Deniro if they showed up at a sacred event even though many of the Godfather-like roles they play don't promote family values. No one question any of the directors who show up even though they produce the movies. Hence we should see the rappers in the same light. They are entertainers who have figured out they can have enormous success marketing a certain style to a community that wholeheartedly supports them without speaking up and demanding more from them..
 The fact that rappers have such global influence means that they of all people should be present so that they can demonstrate to our community that there is another side to there on stage presentations. Since this event is about rebuilding the family, the rappers have an obligation to be there whether we agree with their lyrical content or not.. They are still family. Also we need to keep in mind that they do not act alone. They produce records that many of us who are also part of the larger family play on radio and TV. We buy the records stock the records on store shelves, promote the records in various ways. Some of us are on street teams, work at magazines and newspapers. Some of us are parents who work hard and then give money to our kids to purchase the albums. Lastly many of us sit idly by while local radio stations that are owned and run by grown men and women who know better, who aggressively market and promote artist with unsavory lyrics 24/7. We expect a lot from the Ice Cubes and Ice Ts of the world while very few of us make attempts to dismantle the institutions that continuously market foul things to our community. At the same time the question needs to be asked.. Why is Ice Cube or Snoop Dogg more of an influence in your children's lives than the local minister or preacher? Why is Snoop Dogg more of a hero then the actual parents? What role do we as a community play in the marketing of and promoting of family values?
The other day I did a radio show on the conflict in the Middle East. I had several Palestinian youths as guest who explained what was going on and gave us a great rundown on the historic conflict in the Middle East. After the show we got more then 40 phone calls from angry Jewish people who demanded to be on the air and who felt we were one sided with our presentation. They were passionate and insistant that their view point be represented. You can be sure they will follow this up. I observed all this and wondered how come our community isn't as aggressive when it comes to the one sided presentation of Hip Hop and Black culture that is always being presented to the masses via the media. Most have a lot to say on the side but when given the opportunity to stand up and do like Chuck D suggested 'Shut 'Em Down' we're conspicuously absent from the fight..
Yes the rappers like Puffy and Snoop should be at the Million Family March. Depending on where you sit, they may be seen as hometown heroes or embarrassing Uncles and cousins who should stay in the background. But if we don't break bread, have conversation and deal directly with those within our community who we feel don't represent us correctly, then progress will never be made. Improvements will never happen. The fact that so many of us within Hip Hop haven't done the 'right thing' is an indication that some healing is in order. Why not start that process at the Million Family March? These rappers didn't appear out of thin air. They come from our communities and more often then not reflect certain aspects of our communities. Its up to all of us to change the conditions that give rise to unsavory material..
For those who are in the San Francisco Bay Area, yours truly, Davey D will be hosting a Townhall meeting this Monday at the East Bay Million Family March Celebration about the Impact Hip Hop Music and Culture Has Had on our Community. The event starts at 12 noon and will last to 9PM it is free to the public at the Henry J Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland. For more info call 510-272-6695
---------------------------------------
 I ran into Guru the other day and asked him who was a better producer DJ Premier or Dr Dre.. Guru smiled and said 'he heard' Dr Dre was getting ready to sign Rakim to Aftermath and Premier was going to be working on the album. He said we should all be on the look out for that.. Rakim, Dre and Premier that's a hell of a combination.. I ain't mad at that.. Certainly Guru wouldn't be starting no rumors..
Bad news for basketball star Kobe Bryant who attempted to put out a record earlier this year. As most of us know his rhyme skillz weren't the best. many questioned the soundness of Columbia records for signing him to their label. It was obvious that they were attempting to capitalize off his popularity. They figured if they got some reknowned producers like the Trackmasters then it would be all good. Unfortunately for Kobe it wasn't.. People weren't feeling him.. and as of this week Kobe was cut from the artist roster of the label.
 First it was albums, then movies, books, a clothing line and now a record label. DMX is shaping up to be an all around player in this entertainment game. He recently announced that he will be starting his own record label called Bloodline Records. He will initially be focusing on Hip Hop and R&B but will eventually expand to pop and rock.. Can you say boy bands? He is negotiating with several artist right now.. Lets hope DMX doesn't spread himself to thin...
Eminem is stepping up to the plate and trying to take the video to his next single 'Stan' to a whole other level. Folks have been anxiously awaiting for this song to be a single with an accompanying video. Em plans to not disappoint as he is shooting to do something on the level of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'. Word was he was trying to get actor Macaulay Culkin, but the young actor had prior arrangements.. If this video is anything like his last one it should something worth waiting for...
 A Basketball star Allen Iverson is capturing some major heat from Civil Rights activist C. Delores Tucker as well as the NBA. As you know Mr Iverson is a bit of a rapper. The man has some definite flow. As of late he's been working on his debut album entitled 'Non-Fiction' which will be released sometime around NBA Allstar weekend in February. However, it is with his new single '40 Bars' that Iverson has been causing a ruckus. Unlike his fellow basketball rap mates like Shaq or Kobe, Iverson brings to the table a thugged out, 'gangsta style' to the table. Some like C Delores Tucker are claiming that Iverson has gone way to far.
In a recent interview Tucker pointed out that she had major concerns with a guy who is so admired by young people putting out material which is so offensive. In the song Iverson uses the 'N' word, he uses the word 'faggot' which has prompted claims of homophobia and he raps about shooting and killing people. The NBA is concerned with Iverson's lyrical content because it reflects upon their overall image. There are many who speculate that Iverson like most NBA players most likely has a morality clause in his contract. In a recent press conference Iverson was shown refusing to talk to sports reporters about his lyrics. He explained that they will have to get their information from a Hip Hop magazine and that he would not speak on the issue while wearing his Philadelphia 76ers uniform. He seemed to be attempting to separate his rap persona from his NBA persona. He did offer an apology to anyone who may be offended but has steadfastly refused to change the lyrics to his song Iverson noted that his album reflects his his rough street oriented upbringing.
 The record '40 Bars' is tame by most standards, although one cannot deny that Iverson has good flow and a nice piano laden beat accompanying him. The question that arises is why is the NBA and C Delores Tucker coming down on Iverson and making him public enemy number one? This question has to be raised in the context of that the NBA has seen players like Dennis Rodman and others do things that way off color and even more offense. There have been fights, arrests, and NBA players not paying child support among some of the more visible incidents of concern that have not garnered as much heat as Iverson's record. If the NBA has a morality clause that they attach to players contracts, then there is no doubt it had not stopped Dennis Rodman from playing and we all know about his off the court zaniness. Where was C Delores Tucker when it came to protesting Rodman?
Hip Hop veteran Kool Moe Dee was featured on Fox Sports the other night where he was able to put things into perspective. He explained that there are outside marketing forces at work, that  deliberately seek out such controversy because it will lead to record sales. he suggested that C Delores Tuckers public protest will do nothing but bring more attention to the very thing that she says she detests. He explained that a lot of the responsibility lays on Iverson's label [Universal Records] for releasing the record in the manner that they did. It was timed to coincide with NBA practice season. The album was timed to be released during the NBA Allstar weekend. Moe Dee explained that the record labels were looking to cash in from all the media attention. Thus far that is exactly what's happening. There is no doubt that folks will be checking for Iverson's project just because of the controversy. Ms Tucker was in agreement with many of Kool Moe Dee's comments. Big props to Kool Moe Dee for coming on TV and representing Hip Hop in a positive and intelligent way.
As for Allen Iverson and the controversy surrounding him and Hip Hop, folks like Ms Tucker and others would be best to spend their time and energy championing 'more positive' rap acts like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, dead prez and others. She would be better suited using her contacts and influence to demand that the numerous Hip Hop activist around the world are allowed to get their shine on. She can start with putting pressure on outlets like BET which are headquartered in DC which isn't too far from her native Philadelphia. What Ms Tucker is talking about is understandable and can be supported on many levels, but her tactics to go after the player while not highlighting the good will of others only serves to to further distance her from the young people she seeks to protect. She will be seen as out of touch.. Kool Moe Dee explained it best when he pointed out that Ms Tuckers blanket attacks and condemnation on Hip Hop will result in all sorts of people within the Hip Hop community rallying behind Iverson because she's attacking rap which is their livelihood. It won't matter that many within in Hip Hop would probably agree with Tucker and even want to lend support to her efforts. After all, there are many headz who are tired of the continuous marketing of 'bling bling', thugged out lyrics. You would think by now she'd understand this.. but like so many other critics of Hip Hop Ms Tucker appears to be taking easy shots by going after Iverson.
==================================
FNV October 10 2000
FNV October 5 2000
FNV October 2 2000
FNV September 29
FNV September 22cd
FNV September 19th
| Meet The DJ'S
| Programming
| Listen Live
| Music Vote |
| Playlist
| Mixers
| The Vault - ( live
Interviews )
| Contests & Events |
| Weekly (Street Team) Events
| Club Connection
| Movie Reviews |
| KMEL Photo Album
| Free e-mail & Chat
| Cool Stuff |
| Job Opportunity Center
I Give Us A Shout
| Home |
| TOP OF PAGE |
|
