Black People World Wide

I was instructed that my blog is boring as it currently exists. I was told by my close friend DJ Bam that I should add something, maybe some music or better yet, perhaps a video of me crying like Stephon Marbury. Say what you want, but he got alot of hits with that. However, there were many things that made me want to cry this week. Most recently, I was teaching a class. The demographic is as follows: 3 continental Africans, one haitian (American) woman, and a Chinese (American) woman. The haitian woman was born in the US, but you would never know if judging by her accent. She was raised in South Florida in a Haitian community, so she was probably inundated with creole and Haitian culture. Through most of this summer class, the students have nodded their heads in agreement as I have gone on my 20 minute long rants about white supremacy. However, today was different. A woman from the Ivory Coast suddenly stated that "Nigerians are not to be trusted. One Nigerian man stole my purse. Another Nigerian man stole 9 thousand dollars from me." I immediately stepped in and said that her examples were anecdotal and certainly not representative of most Nigerian people. the Haitian woman then chimed in by stating "no it's true. A Nigerian man swindled my parents. Now, my family does not trust them. They are sneaky." Despite my efforts to calm this nigerian bashing session, this situation persisted with both woman defiantly claiming that they were not being "racist", "prejudiced" or even "discriminatory." It is so interesting that people can make blantantly prejuidiced or racist comments, then defend them merely by saying they are not racist, but indeed "true." The Haitian woman then went on to try to connect Nigerian men to rape, and also stated she would never marry a haitian man. I admit, i was blind sided by this entire exchange. It seemed no matter how eloquently or forcefully I stated my case, they would not be moved. It just made me realize what we are up against. If black people feel it is necessary to discriminate against one another, how will we keep other from discriminating against us as a whole? I realize that in a six week course it is difficult to dispel ideas they have been developing all their lives, but it can be upsetting. Hazmatic and I'm gone....

Try and Diss Me...

To quote one of my own own songs I feel "free and liberated" as a rap artist. I feel this freedom for several reason. It is not for the same reasons as many artists. The cliche is for artists who are newly independent to say 'man, I feel free 'cuase I'm my own boss.' Often times they are lying. These artists do independent records because major labels are not fooling with them anymore. It is true that they may be getting 4 dollars per record versus 50 cents, but they also go from selling 500,000 to selling 10,000 (You do the math). No more big tours, nice hotels and they will notice a drop off in the attractiveness of their groupies. Not to mention it is considerable more work. So, no that's not why I feel free. I feel free because I can say whatever the hell I want to say. So many rappers are imprisoned by rap rhetoric. They have to discuss their rap sheet ( or make excuses for their lack of one). They feel they must go to 'back to the hood' and video blog about how they can stand on their block and be 'good' since they have earned so much respect. The saddest part is some of these guys are nearing 40 years old and talk, dress and act like teenagers. They are afraid for people to know their true age, as if it isn't written in every wrinkle, laughline, and grey hair that Grecian formula could not reach. Haysoos on the otherhand is 31 years old. Though his neighborhood looks 'hood' from the outside, it is a quiet, upstanding immigrant community. And though he is straight, he supports gay rights. Yup, I said it! I'm not going to go back on it because some b$tch-made rap fans or bloggers may question him or his sexuality. Now on the same token, I know some in the gay community may listen to his music and say "oh, that line was homophobic." I don't doubt it because I am a recovering homophobe. I'm not making excuses for it, but it is a fact. Sorry, Rome wasn't built in a day, but I will protect your rights as human beings. Rap is for expression. Why would I express this in the classroom and be afraid to say it on the mic? In reality, I guess I have reached a point that many rap artist talk (or lie) about: I don't give a F&CK! My mentor is a lesbian, as are some of my coworkers and friends. I'm a fan of Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman's poetry, and both of them were fruity as a smoothie. I guess I get along with lesbians because we both like women, I don't know. Now there are cats who are 40 years old and just joining street gangs. A shout out to Chicago and LA. Their gang history and situation is different. Their gangs started to support and protect their communities. But DC, Bmore, and New York? Come on, that's not what we do!!!! We originate styles, we don't imitate. Well, it is safe to say these things because noone reads this blog any way. Hazmatic and I'm gone...

Dont' Sleep!!!

So, the trend is now for women to murder the men with whom they are involved in their sleep. Of course, we lost Steve McNair, who was shot by his 20year old girlfriend 4 times after having sex with her. Even more recently, Arturo Gatti, famous for his wars in the ring with Micky Ward and his eyes that appeared to be near swollen shut even when he wasn't fighting, was strangled to death by his wife with the strap of her purse(not to make light of the situation, but that is sooo gangsta). There are a few simple solutions to this growing problem. Guys, I am just saying these things to keep us safe. It's not about bowing down to women. 1) Tell your woman how pretty she is before you go to bed. It doesn't matter that she's wearing that scarf and you can only see the naps on the back of her neck. Ignore the fact that her knees and elbows are ashy and her mouth looks like she just ate a powdered donut. Don't look at her stomach which pokes out farther than her breasts. Remember this is your safety on the line. Think of her as Freddy Kruger, and you cannot stay awake forever. 2) Sleep with your arms and/or legs wrapped around her. Essentially you are putting her in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu guard. This move will accomplish two things. First, she will think you are an affectionate, 'cuddly' sleeper. Secondly, if she tries to break free you will hopefully wake up. 3) Stop hollering at crazy women! Trust me, nothing good can come from it. Crazy women, work on their sex game too, to keep you interested and mask their crazy behavior. If you are in a 'relationship' with a woman you suspect is crazy or violent, make like a basketball and BOUNCE!!!!! Hazmatic and I'm gone...

My first Blog entry

Sorry for the lame title, generic title. I figured I should start blogging. I mean everyone is doing it, and it will hopefully keep me from perusing the internet for less-than-family friendly material. (idle hands... you know.) So, for the past three years people have been asking when is your solo album dropping and for the past three years I have answered "soon!" Now the question has changed to "yo cuz, still rapping?" Well, the answers to those questions is yes and sort of. My album and another Wade Waters project are coming soon. October 27 will mark the release of Standing Tall: A Life Changing Experience, my debut album. I encourage everyone to buy it, since 10% of THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE DC RAPE CRISIS CENTER! I can't stress that enough. It's time the good guys win in hip-hop. There is too much thoughtlessness in hip-hop. For example mister "it ain't about race now" Game (Hey Game tell that to Sean Bell's kids. Or maybe to those kids in Philly how were not allowed to swim at a pool and asked their camp counselor "is it because I'm too dark") having a crowd full of white Europeans call Jay-Z an "old ass Nigger." Yup, I said nigger with the ER because that's how they thought of it. It was in Spain, where they throw bananas on the soccer field at Black players. The Game should have thought of this, or maybe he doesn't give a f%$k about other Black people, which is fair, alot of people don't. Or the "Bawsss" Rick Ross. He deserves his own blog entry, so i wont get started on that. Don't get me wrong, I love me some 'ignant rap.' Like most of use late twenty's/early thirty-something cats, I came up on NWA, Fat Joe Da Gangsta, G Rap, E-40, Face Mob. To be honest, if you ask me who I rather listen to between Lupe and Scarface, I going Face Mob all day long!!!! Yet there has to be some space for cats like Haysoos, Soulstice, Lupe, Common, Mental, QTip etc. There is certainly some sex and punching punk-ass-cats-in-the-face rhymes on the album, but the album also addresses issues that many haven't hit on yet in hip-hop. (cant spoil the surprise) Anyway, back to grading papers. hazmatic and I'm gone....