Tag: hip hop

The Humble Beginnings of Black Limbi

It is always a such a huge pleasure to not only discover such dope talent but it’s also great when that talent is an extremely wonderful person inside and out. Talented people who come from humble beginnings and use their everyday struggles to create such wonderful art is the greatest thing to witness. In true hip hop culture, the music is a reflection of the struggle and poverty put against the odds of both Black and Brown people, automatically being forced to learn how to accommodate and survive everyday. One particular artist whose personality, spirit, and talent is purely original and dope, goes by the name Black Limbi. Born as Gimy Arnoldo Arzu on May 28th, 1995 in The Bronx, NY. Life for The Bronx native artist growing up, he says was like surviving the jungle when he was first born. He continues, “My mother was an angel in the trenches until her time was up so it was a tough journey because she was my heart and I made sure to do everything good and stood by God side. Got involved in the streets, working different jobs, dropped out of college and handle responsibilities as an adult in an early age was a journey man.” He says his biggest influence is Nas; hands down. “Once he grab the mic, it’s like listening to a God coming from heaven while we living in Hell.” What made him want to do what he does today as an artist and gave him his start was the exact struggle he was faced with. “There’s no self motivation in the trenches; I envisioned myself to be the influential artist to the world after traveling back to Malawi. I owe myself a lot so I’m going hard for what I want!” He is currently working on releasing two EP’s called “Feel My Pain” & “Frum Tha PJ’z” and an album called “King Arzu Project.” “I’ve taken a lot of time to work on these projects but It’s all about perfecting your craft and finding the image for yourself. I have more coming in the way!” When asked about any regrets and if he would do anything different, Limbi says “My regret is I wish to give a lot of time, love, affection & attention to my mother because I gave the tools to the wrong people even if they love me, it’s real in the field so that’s why I have to make up the time. If I can go back to the time and moved different but I can’t go back.” No more beautiful words have been spoken. The tragic loss of his mother humbles him everyday. Years from now, he says that he seems himself owning an auto body shop and being an entrepreneur. He still loves music and being an artist but his overall goal is to build an empire for generational wealth. In the end he says “Break the cycle and move towards for the better life.” If you want to learn more about Black Limbi and check out his music, you can reach him on his social media platforms. Instagram: @Black_Limbi and @Limbikani170 on Twitter.

Written by Jalen Hemphill

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… The Purple Tape: The 25th Anniversary

Another hip hop milestone, another classic hip hop album. This album definitely is the soundtrack and the first of it’s kind. Mafioso style hip hop about the harsh realities of the street life in the ghetto. Stories of drugs, crime, sex, money, survival, and flashy cars and clothes. 2 out 9 members of the iconic and legendary Wu-Tang Clan, teamed up together to create the perfect movie about the life of an everyday street hustler. With it’s rawness, rough, truthful, and some knowledge throw into the mix, “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…” painted a picture of street hustlers trying to make a way in everyday life. Telling stories of their experiences about what the street life is like. It allows all the negative but brutally honest energies of that lifestyle to push through into storytelling as a way to keep a listener intrigued but also teaches awareness about a dark world. With Wu-Tang already on the rise since their debut in November 1993, solo projects from the members only helped their popularity and success rise. 25 years ago, on August 1st, 1995, Raekwon The Chef & Ghostface Killah teamed up together to create “Only Built For Cuban Linx…” Also known as “The Purple Tape”, the album is a must have in a hip hop lover’s collection. It’s one of the most talked about albums of all time and the album also was the first of it’s kind, ushering in future albums like Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt”, The Notorious B.I.G. “Life After Death”, and even another Wu-Tang Clan member’s own GZA’s “Liquid Swords.” During the mid to late 90’s, mafioso rap became very mainstream and popular. Leaving behind all of the colorful, happy raps, and dance tracks, this style of rap was more dark. It was the soundtrack of a generation that grew up during the crack era in the 1980’s and survived by hustling in the streets to make an everyday living. It resonated with so many people which is why this style of rap was so popular. 25 years later, “Cuban Linx…” is a masterpiece that’s timeless. It aged so well and gracefully. The same generation that survived the crack era days are now much older with families and can reflect back on how hard times were in life. With the scars on their bodies and the roughness in their attitudes, they can be able to express what this music means to them. It’s a remembrance of surviving. They pound each other up with love and say “Yo! What’s good kid?” It’s the language of the broken street kid whose a survivor now. Life is good now. They’ll say “Man, that was years ago! We don’t do that shit no more! We got kids and a family now.” 

Written by Jalen Hemphill

AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted: The Story of Ice Cube

With so much going on in the world, currently, in response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others, it’s safe to say that the soundtrack should be taken more seriously and should be put more to the forefront of entertainment more. Of course, entertaining isn’t something that should be of a priority firsthand but it is something that can be also used as a tool to create something that definitely reflects the times. After all, true artists makes art that does reflect the times and it’s part of the formula that makes one a great of all time. For over 40 years in hip hop, the world has seen many artists come in and speak on the realities of America and it’s true history through songs. Besides the partying, excessive drugs and alcohol, raunchy sex stories, the misogyny, materialistic attitudes, machismo bravado, and feminine power through sexuality, hip hop has always provided us the soundtrack that involved the harsh realities of Black neighborhoods all over the country. When you mention the music that speaks about police brutality, unarmed killings and deaths, corrupt systems, firearms, protesting, looting, riots, depending on the generation you’re a part of, such acts like Public Enemy, KRS-One, The X-Clan, 2Pac, Nas, Lupe Fiasco, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and even N.W.A. would come to mind. Back in 1988, it was N.W.A. who came out the gate, straight from the hard streets of Compton, California speaking on the everyday murders by police and even regular people who do it to each other over petty disputes, drugs, and money. They brought the world’s attention towards the harsh realities of their hometown and how to survive living there everyday. With songs like “Fuck The Police” and “Straight Outta Compton”, it was very clear that this group would go down in history as one of the greatest to ever do it. Of course as time went on, the group split up to do solo things and other ventures but it was one member in particular who decided that his voice was more than just worthy of a hot beat and hot songs. He took things to a whole other level with his first two albums called “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” and “The Predator.” O’Shea Jackson aka “Ice Cube”, born on June 15th, 1969, is definitely an artist that reflects the times in his music and not being afraid to tell the truth. With a combination of everyday life in Compton, both the good and bad, he also had party records and other kinds too to remind the people that life isn’t 100% bad. Life is a balance after all. Everyday can’t be dark and gloomy and dangerous, just like his movies. Reality has it’s ups and downs. What you do with it and how you get through it is what matters. Through darkness comes the light and Ice Cube is the perfect definition of that. 

Written by Jalen Hemphill

NEW MOVIE ALERT!

A TEENAGE STORY

Noel Washington is a high school student who wishes to become a famous rapper. His father, on the other hand, wants him to forget the world of Hip Hop and aim to become a lawyer instead. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was a legendary rapper, Noel learns that the path to fame is not an easy one. Join Noel in his journey as he uncovers family secrets, endures tragedy, and finds love in this coming-of-age movie “A Teenage Story.”

Starring La Sunshine, Grandwizzard Theodore, Stevie D and introducing Justin Hines as Noel

Movie will air online for free on youtube

What Happened To Hip Hop

I remember when my mom introduced me to hip hop back in the early eighties. She would play sounds of Flash and the Furious Five, Kool Moe Dee and Afrikka Bambatta. I jammed to the sounds of Erick B. and Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and KRS One and the Boogie Down Production. I loved to record songs on my tape deck to listen to in my Walkman. It was the late eighties when I began jamming to the tunes of Salt & Pepa, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and YoYo. These were the female MC’s that every young girl aspired to be like. From the style of dress, down to the no nonsense attitudes, the first ladies of Hip Hop were the epitome of excellence. Back in the beginning hip hop contained lyrical content and a message that empowered the community. We were proud of the hip hop culture and all that it stood for. The question now is What Happened To Hip Hop? The new hip hop generation is filled with trap rappers that have poor lyrical content with catchy hooks and illicit messages. The focus is no longer about striving to improve the community. It’s now about adapting by the use of drugs and alcohol. There is blatant disrespect for women and women disrespecting themselves to sell records. The saddest part is that these are the people that the urban community looks to as role models. Little girls want to look like Barbie Dolls and Twerk like the celebrities that they hear and see degrading themselves on MTV and popular radio stations. Female MC’s went from “Who You Calling A Bitch to calling themselves bitches”. There is no more respect for the community in my favorite music genre. Instead the message is about popping pills, drinking alcohol, selling drugs and initiating violence. I would like to give a heartfelt apology to the pioneers of hip hop for the blatant disrespect of the culture. Again let me ask What Happened To Hip Hop
Written By:
Regina Annette

Vintage Boombox for Sale

Vintage Magnavox D8443 Power Player, Ghetto Blaster 5 Speaker System Boombox 80s. Condition is Used. Straight antenna head missing, The antenna can be replaced, cassette player works and sounds good, radio sounds good. Battery compartment door has broken tabs, I would use tape to hold it closed. Radio works with the power cord and batteries so when you are on the go. Tape counterdoesn’t work but tape player does. Cost is $500 not including shipping and handling.

The Great Adventures of Slick Rick: The 30th Anniversary

The year was 1988. One of the greatest years in hip hop history. A year full of some of hip hop’s greatest albums to ever drop and reinvent the the culture at a time when hip hop was still on the rise. One of those albums was Slick Rick’s “The Great Adventures of Slick Rick.” The day was November 1st, 1988. 30 years ago we seen this young, fresh and fly dude with huge gold chains and gold grills in his mouth rock the mic to tell some of the greatest stories in his music that hip hop has ever seen and heard while keeping us rocking at parties to “Mona Lisa” And “Children’s Story.” We originally knew him as MC Ricky D when he appeared alongside with Harlem’s own Doug E. Fresh on “La Di Da Di” before the album. With a five mic rating and being ranked as one of rap’s greatest 100 albums by The Source, topping the charts for only five weeks, and “Children’s Story” being ranked as number 61 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs in 2008, there’s no denying the impact that Slick Rick had on the game. Even giving birth to future storytellers like Biggie Smalls, Nas And Ghostface Killah, just to name a few. 30 years later, MC Ricky D is still killing it at shows all over and still one of the freshest to ever do it too. The adventures are only beginning and this storybook will forever be timeless and golden and told still in another 30 years. 

Long Live The Kane: The 30th Anniversary

June 20th, 2018. Ford Amphitheater. Coney Island. Brooklyn, NY. Mister Cee is on the stage and on the big screen spinning all of the classic hip hop and R&B joints of the 80’s and the 90’s. People are still walking in just in time before the show starts. Looking for their seats, buying food at the concession stands, buying shirts and other merchandise, it’s a hip hop celebration. At exactly 8:18pm, the man himself walks out dripped in all white with two beautiful women by his side and the crowd goes wild. Hit after hit, banger after banger, it’s an amazing show in dedication to the hip hop legend’s debut album that dropped 30 years ago. The Juice Crew, M.O.P., Doug E. Fresh, Ecstasy of Whodini, MC Lyte, the list goes on and on. They all come out to perform their hits as well. It’s another Yo! MTV Raps 30th anniversary show 2.0 and the crowd is still going wild. June 28th, 2018. The actual day that marks 30 years since Big Daddy Kane dropped his debut album, “Long Live The Kane.” The then twenty year old fresh from Brooklyn became friends with Biz Markie which started the infamous Juice Crew, a collective that was headed by Marley Marl. Kane signed with Cold Chillin’ Records in 1987 and released his debut single “Raw” which he showcased his pioneering fast rhyme style that then influenced a new lane of rappers like Jay-Z. The album displayed topics of love and Afrocentrism. With four singles, “Raw”, “Ain’t No Half Steppin’”, “Set It Off”, and “I’ll Take You There”, they were all commercially successful. “Long Live The Kane” is to be considered one of hip hop’s most influential albums of all time. Especially one from the Golden Era. Kane’s lyrical ability and flow, to his style and grace, and the references and samples used that came from this album are all an example of the impact of Kane. The perfect but timeless title for an album that fits. Even thirty years later. Long live the Kane.

Strictly Business: The 30th Anniversary

Coming all the way from Long Island, NY, these two gentlemen came together to join forces and then became one of hip hop’s best to ever do it. Their names are Erick Sermon aka E Double and Parrish Smith aka Parrish Mic Doc and together they are EPMD. Eric And Parrish Making Dollars. On June 7th, 1988, they released their debut album “Strictly Business.” It is an essential hip hop classic and it is a first of its kind. With a sound that’s heavy bass with funk and rock samples and DJ scratches, they had heavy hits that can turn a party out. With four official singles, “It’s My Thing”, “I’m Housin’”, “Strictly Business”, and “You Gots To Chill”, EPMD became an instant hit. The album peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard 200, the album went gold four months after its release and The Source gave it a five mic rating, making it one of the 43 albums to ever receive this rating. 30 years later, the duo were recently seen at the Yo! MTV Raps: 30th Anniversary Show at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn performing their classics and even brought along K-Solo from the Hit Squad performing his classic “Spellbound.” These fellas have not lost their touch or step. I even had the opportunity to meet Parrish downtown at a spot on Houston Street called SOB’s for a Jam Master Jay birthday celebration and he was most definitely cool and a humbled guy. EPMD’s music hands down is one of the best and a must have in a hip hop collection. Album after album, they came with hits for years and even have merchandise but who in hip hop doesn’t have merchandise. Overall, when they come together on that stage, it’s all BUSINESS and no play.

Looks Like a Job For…: The 25th Anniversary

The man that we all once knew in the beginning was a smooth talking, ladies lover with a slight touch that could make a woman melt in her seat or sweep her off her feet but then as time goes on, there’s a new side of this man that shows a more aggressive, street side. He went from suits and gold jewelry to tied up bandanas, baggy hoodies and jeans and more hardcore raps and beats. On May 25th, 1993, that man we all know as Big Daddy Kane, released his fifth album “Looks Like a Job For…” A more streetwise, hardcore album that appeared to the homies on the block with a bottle of 40 oz. in their hands and a cigarette on top of their ear. This was a more rawer side of Kane that showed that he wasn’t just some sellout, Hollywood, Black man who had forgotten where he came from. Besides the singles, tracks like “Rest In Peace”, “Brother Man, Brother Man”, & “‘Nuff Respect” were all great examples of Kane’s much rawer raps and style. It was a completely big step away from the early Kane that hip hop fans are used to. Some might have thought he was only just trying to stay relevant by changing his style to fit in and not seem too dated but as a true Kane fan, it’s a sign of versatility and not just another “ladies man” album. The title alone represents his responsibility as an MC to flip the script and show a different side but many questioned if he has gone backwards instead of forwards. He came out flashy and then became more street and regular ‘round-the-way. It was definitely another job well done by the Kane.