Autum Ashante: Child Prodigy Or Something Else?
In New York City, a seven-year old African-American girl named Autum Ashante has stirred-up a hornet's nest of controversy: (emphasis added)
A 7-year-old prodigy unleashed a firestorm when she recited a poem she wrote comparing Christopher Columbus and Charles Darwin to "pirates" and "vampires" who robbed blacks of their identities and human rights.Hundreds of parents of Peekskill middle- and high-school students received a recorded phone message last week apologizing for little Autum Ashante's poem, titled "White Nationalism Put U in Bondage.""Black lands taken from your hands, by vampires with no remorse," the aspiring actress and poet wrote. "They took the gold, the wisdom and all the storytellers. They took the black women, with the black man weak. Made to watch as they changed the paradigm of our village."Yeah white nationalism is what put you in bondage. Pirates and vampires like Columbus, Morgan and Darwin."Autum was invited to speak at the Westchester schools on Feb. 28 by Melvin Bolden, a music teacher at the middle school who advises the high school's Black Culture Club and is a member of the Peekskill City Council.Autum, whose résumé includes several television appearances and performances at the Apollo Theater and the African Burial Ground in Manhattan, told The Post that her poem was meant to instill pride in black students and to encourage them to steer clear of violence."I don't think there's anything wrong with my poem. I was trying to tell them the straight-up truth," Autum said. "I'm trying to tell them not to fight because they're killing the brothers and sisters."Autum, who is home-schooled in Mount Vernon and speaks several languages, prefaced her performance at the high school with a Black Panthers' pledge asking black youngsters to not harm one another. [Ed's note: According to Newsday, when white students also stood during her recitation of the pledge, Autum asked them to sit down.]It did not sit well with parents.In a telephone interview with The Post, Bolden said Autum has been "unofficially" banned from performing in a district school again and that school officials would review transcripts of future speakers."It's unfortunate, because some teachers said they wanted this little girl to explain the things she said to their students, but some parents don't want her on school grounds," Bolden said."[The poem] might have been a little too aggressive for what the middle-school kids are ready to handle," Bolden added.Kimberly Greene, a mother of children in the high school and middle school, said she was shocked when she got the recorded phone message."If there are people who are upset about what she said, the schools should have talked about and analyzed it rather than send a message to everyone saying this little girl was offensive," Greene said.Autum's father, Batin Ashante, said he can't believe the fuss over his daughter's poem."She's a little girl who does poetry about real things. She doesn't do poetry about cotton candy," Ashante said. "She's a serious little person." I wonder what the response from the mainstream media would have been if Autum had been white?Interestingly, Autum made no mention of the fact that it was often blacks who enslaved other blacks for the purpose of "selling" them to white slave traders on the African coast in the first place.I actually "get" the bit about Columbus and slaver Captain (John) Morgan. But what did Charles Darwin have to do with slavery or the oppression of American blacks?Like all Americans, Autum Ashante has the absolute right to recite her poem wherever she sees fit. But just because she has the right to deliver her diatribe, I also have the right not to like it. And I don't.She (and I assume her father) should have chosen a different venue to deliver her lines.But I can't deny the fact that the young Miss Ashante does provoke thought, doesn't she? And isn't that what the "Free Exchange Of Thoughts And Ideas" is all about? Read a differing viewpoint right here and a Fact Check by Roy Innis, Chair of the Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E.) over there.I believe that this talented young girl is going to continue making quite a name for herself. But whether or not she uses her remarkable gift in order to help or hurt remains to be seen.And quite a bit of that is in the hands of her father.Stay tuned.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
FUCK YOU PAY ME
“I come from a Po Family, I didn’t have much, but the Lord has been good to me” That is a line taken from a very popular Mississippi Gospel group the Canton Spirituals. The name of that song is ‘Mississippi Po Boy.’ It is amazing that the line taken from a song that was recorded many years ago is so relevant today not only in Mississippi, but the entire world. What makes me say that? I have been paying attention to the riots in France? Have you? Well, if you have I hope to get feed back from you about this post but if you are not I hope to pull your coat to what the young people in that country are dealing with.
First you should read if nothing but the bold and italicized parts of the article from The Washington Post, talking about what is taking place in that region. Then I want you to read EMAILS that I have received FROM YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN FRANCE. I have a very wide audience I guess getting drunk and fucking is something that the whole world can identify with. I was raised by a generation of strong individuals that knew that they could not count on the support of the government. They wanted to have better lives for themselves and their kids so they learned trades. They also made damn sure that their kids busted they ass in school because just like in France the government sees us as cheap labor. It’s the poor people from witch they rape our culture, and exploit our pain, and then they shine it up and sell it to the masses. Then leave us living in shit, and ask why don’t they get off their asses and do better for themselves.
The major issue is that the government is allowing business to put a sort of probation period on young people under the age of 26. This probation period is just like the probation period for a normal job in the states. But there is a difference (ah viva la difference, I had to do that) the probation period in France is for TWO YEARS. That means that they can be fired without reason any time in the 2 years they are working there. Because of this they can’t get apartments and they cannot take out loans of any sorts. The poor people don’t have any choices. The only people who this doesn’t bother are those who are well off.
You see this isn’t a black or white thing; this is a issue that concerns the have and have-nots. I think the world better be paying attention to France because every year the gap all over the world gets larger, the gap I am speaking of is between the poor and the rich. Poor people have nothing to lose, poor people look at your kids complaining about not wanted to eat their veggies and how they want the new ipod this makes poor people want to cut your fucking throats. You should be afraid… you should consider yourself lucky because this country was built on the fact that if we (America) want it bad enough we will fucking take it and make you praise our GOD you fucking savages…Have a happy day ;)
Strike Causes Disruptions Throughout France
Authorities Brace for More Protests Over Law on Youth Job Rights
By Molly Moore
Washington Post Foreign ServiceTuesday, March 28, 2006; 2:00 PM
PARIS, March 28 -- A nationwide strike cancelled flights, curtailed trains and buses and disrupted other public services throughout France Tuesday, as hundreds of thousands of students and workers staged the largest demonstrations in three weeks of protests against a pending labor law that will remove job protections from young people.
Union organizers estimated a national turnout of 2.7 million, with 700,000 of those in Paris. Police figures were much lower. Late in the day, as the protests were winding down, scattered skirmishes erupted here in the capital, leading police to use tear gas against youths hurling bottles and Molotov cocktails. Groups of masked hoodlums darted through the crowds, snatching cell phones and purses.
Authorities had dispatched 400,000 police across Paris in preparation for the protests.
An estimated one-third of the flights at Paris area airports were cancelled and virtually all other flights were delayed because of striking air traffic controllers, airport authorities said. Half of the suburban commuter trains in Paris were not running and strikers shut down one-third of the national train network, rail officials said. Commuter train, bus and streetcar services were limited in most French cities, according to early reports.
(Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's new labor law, due to take effect next month, would allow employers to fire workers under 26 during a two-year trial period, undercutting longtime job protections) that is part of the country's social safety net and have wide public support.
Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, a rival of de Villepin, on Tuesday proposed that the government put the measure on hold to permit talks with the unions.
Student and worker unions called protest marches throughout the day Tuesday in at least 100 French cities, with unions bussing thousands of people into Paris for the largest demonstration. Police positioned at train and subway stations in Paris detained numerous youths disembarking from suburban trains, witnesses said.
Law enforcement authorities blamed youths from poor, suburban neighborhoods for inciting violence at the conclusion of protest demonstrations in Paris last week. Both sides in the conflict viewed Tuesday's general strike and demonstrations as pivotal in the standoff, which threatens President Jacques Chirac's government and the presidential ambitions of de Villepin. Chirac has cancelled all scheduled visits outside of Paris this week to address the mounting crisis, according to French news reports.
The U.S. State Department issued a warning to Americans in Paris to be alert to demonstrations "in areas frequented by tourists," adding, "Some of the demonstrations may be announced, while others may be spontaneous. Police have responded by using tear gas."
On Monday, maintenance teams pried up the metal grills protecting trees and carted away loose paving stones -- anything that could be turned into a weapon in the Place de la Republique, the huge commercial square in central Paris where Tuesday's rally is scheduled to end. Police warned shop and restaurant owners to close their businesses and shutter their windows.
While street demonstrations are a fixture of French urban life, the protests that student unions began three weeks ago, now joined by labor unions, are the largest in years. Just over a week ago, an estimated 1 million people took part in demonstrations in 150 cities. Last week, hooded youths infiltrated the concluding rally of a march in the heart of Paris, setting cars ablaze, smashing shop windows and hurling stones, boards and garbage-container stands at riot police.
That violence and outbursts in other French cities have alarmed citizens and officials. The images of burning cars and bat-wielding vandals "is not at all helping us," said Clement Boudin, a 23-year-old student at the Sorbonne University and a leader of the National Student Union of France. He worked in the organization's cluttered headquarters Monday, juggling two phones and chain-smoking Marlboro cigarettes.
Even as his group condemned the violence, Boudin and many other student union officials have been reluctant to criticize the youths from poor suburban communities that have infiltrated the cause. "We can understand it to a certain extent -- that kind of violence from people completely excluded from the system," Boudin said. "They don't have any other means to express themselves."
Government officials said the new law is intended to encourage employers to hire more young people by denying them some of the inflexible job protections that cover older workers. Unemployment overall in France is just below 10 percent; among young people it is 23 percent, but rises to 40 to 50 percent in poor suburban areas.
A survey conducted by the Ipsos polling institute for the daily newspaper Le Monde and France 2 television said that 63 percent of respondents opposed the government's decision to stick by the new law. About half of those polled, however, said they could support the law with some modifications.
Here are the responses I got from people that I have communicated with that live in France… I have corrected the spelling and the tense of the words in some of them but I really didn’t want to change much at all.
Hi! Thanks for ur interest. It's not easy for me to explain it in English! But, I’ll try in some words, and practice my English in same time! :-) So, Government takes a plan which will allow firms to hire under-26s for a two-year trial before offering them a permanent job; they say this new contract will encourage firms to hire young people. But, what students are contesting is that, this First Employment Contract (CPE) will make it easier for businesses to sack young staff without justification during the 2 years trial. In the opinion of the French students, this situation will increase the feeling of insecurity. Businessmen are not always honest. They can profit from this opportunity and sack young people after used them. They can also offer them the same contract even after the trial period end!!! Since, students’ demonstrations are planned across the country; they also blocked access to the universities. But, today, the protest turns into violence and students have to challenge with police. In my personal opinion, this measure is a good think because students from another country (like me) could more easily find a job. The CPE is a way of getting young people out of their current impasse. French students must know that today the feeling of insecurity in job is not only in France but in many countries and it is better to have a job even if it's not permanent, than not to have job!!! I hope you understand me (i use to neglect my English this times! LoL) Bye and take care. Patricia from Orleans France.
Hey, it's a pleasure to meet people who don't trust the media. I hope I’ll be clear in my explanations: first, in France u can't dismiss people like in USA, in here it's really expensive and you get in real trouble w/ ur employees if u dismiss one of their co-worker. The CPE (Contrat Premiere Embauche) is a Contract First Job that means once u finish school (people less than 26) u can be hire but ur employer have 2 years to dispose of u (understand what i mean?), he got 2 years to fire u without any reasons. The problem is when young people freshly graduated have no real contract (long-term contract) u can't borrow money from the bank, u can't buy a house,.... it's a precarity for young people.. But people who create the riots are mainly people from extreme left-wing (socialism) and extreme right-wing (make it simple racists).. Voila, if u need clearer explanations feel free to ask, I’ll do my best to answer.. Keep on this way, very clever to ask to a French person. Don’t listen to ur fox news, in France we have listened this channel and journalists said u only have a 1/3 of the "info" already filtered by ur government.. Au revoir.
Breizh Paris, France
I don't know if we could talk about RIOTS!! There are troubles, of course, because a high number of universities (colleges if you want) are on strike!!! They express against a new kind of employment contract for the youngster under 25 years that the French Government (specially the Prime Minister) want to launch!! But, by the sides of unions of students and workers, things went wrong and skidded, there people who broke stores and struggle with policemen (they weren't students or workers sometimes). I hope that things gonna calm down because it still 1 month now and students didn't pass their exams and risk to do their class again next year, it would be really sad for them to lose a year! I guess that Government won't give up!!
Euridice-Dunkerque, Nord France
Hey man, Thanks 4 the request, the thing is about the CPE, the minister put this shit 2 create employment for young people but without a real security cause it's like 2 years contract where u can get fire anytime for no reason, and u cannot take an apartment with this kind of contract. I'm not really concern by this 4 the moment but still fighting 4 the rights of young people who can't start working in real conditions. France is in Crises, would be better to get away from here and working abroad where u can get a real chance to grow up!! That's my point of view see ya.
Yo- France
©2006 YoungBreezy.com
First you should read if nothing but the bold and italicized parts of the article from The Washington Post, talking about what is taking place in that region. Then I want you to read EMAILS that I have received FROM YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN FRANCE. I have a very wide audience I guess getting drunk and fucking is something that the whole world can identify with. I was raised by a generation of strong individuals that knew that they could not count on the support of the government. They wanted to have better lives for themselves and their kids so they learned trades. They also made damn sure that their kids busted they ass in school because just like in France the government sees us as cheap labor. It’s the poor people from witch they rape our culture, and exploit our pain, and then they shine it up and sell it to the masses. Then leave us living in shit, and ask why don’t they get off their asses and do better for themselves.
The major issue is that the government is allowing business to put a sort of probation period on young people under the age of 26. This probation period is just like the probation period for a normal job in the states. But there is a difference (ah viva la difference, I had to do that) the probation period in France is for TWO YEARS. That means that they can be fired without reason any time in the 2 years they are working there. Because of this they can’t get apartments and they cannot take out loans of any sorts. The poor people don’t have any choices. The only people who this doesn’t bother are those who are well off.
You see this isn’t a black or white thing; this is a issue that concerns the have and have-nots. I think the world better be paying attention to France because every year the gap all over the world gets larger, the gap I am speaking of is between the poor and the rich. Poor people have nothing to lose, poor people look at your kids complaining about not wanted to eat their veggies and how they want the new ipod this makes poor people want to cut your fucking throats. You should be afraid… you should consider yourself lucky because this country was built on the fact that if we (America) want it bad enough we will fucking take it and make you praise our GOD you fucking savages…Have a happy day ;)
Strike Causes Disruptions Throughout France
Authorities Brace for More Protests Over Law on Youth Job Rights
By Molly Moore
Washington Post Foreign ServiceTuesday, March 28, 2006; 2:00 PM
PARIS, March 28 -- A nationwide strike cancelled flights, curtailed trains and buses and disrupted other public services throughout France Tuesday, as hundreds of thousands of students and workers staged the largest demonstrations in three weeks of protests against a pending labor law that will remove job protections from young people.
Union organizers estimated a national turnout of 2.7 million, with 700,000 of those in Paris. Police figures were much lower. Late in the day, as the protests were winding down, scattered skirmishes erupted here in the capital, leading police to use tear gas against youths hurling bottles and Molotov cocktails. Groups of masked hoodlums darted through the crowds, snatching cell phones and purses.
Authorities had dispatched 400,000 police across Paris in preparation for the protests.
An estimated one-third of the flights at Paris area airports were cancelled and virtually all other flights were delayed because of striking air traffic controllers, airport authorities said. Half of the suburban commuter trains in Paris were not running and strikers shut down one-third of the national train network, rail officials said. Commuter train, bus and streetcar services were limited in most French cities, according to early reports.
(Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's new labor law, due to take effect next month, would allow employers to fire workers under 26 during a two-year trial period, undercutting longtime job protections) that is part of the country's social safety net and have wide public support.
Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, a rival of de Villepin, on Tuesday proposed that the government put the measure on hold to permit talks with the unions.
Student and worker unions called protest marches throughout the day Tuesday in at least 100 French cities, with unions bussing thousands of people into Paris for the largest demonstration. Police positioned at train and subway stations in Paris detained numerous youths disembarking from suburban trains, witnesses said.
Law enforcement authorities blamed youths from poor, suburban neighborhoods for inciting violence at the conclusion of protest demonstrations in Paris last week. Both sides in the conflict viewed Tuesday's general strike and demonstrations as pivotal in the standoff, which threatens President Jacques Chirac's government and the presidential ambitions of de Villepin. Chirac has cancelled all scheduled visits outside of Paris this week to address the mounting crisis, according to French news reports.
The U.S. State Department issued a warning to Americans in Paris to be alert to demonstrations "in areas frequented by tourists," adding, "Some of the demonstrations may be announced, while others may be spontaneous. Police have responded by using tear gas."
On Monday, maintenance teams pried up the metal grills protecting trees and carted away loose paving stones -- anything that could be turned into a weapon in the Place de la Republique, the huge commercial square in central Paris where Tuesday's rally is scheduled to end. Police warned shop and restaurant owners to close their businesses and shutter their windows.
While street demonstrations are a fixture of French urban life, the protests that student unions began three weeks ago, now joined by labor unions, are the largest in years. Just over a week ago, an estimated 1 million people took part in demonstrations in 150 cities. Last week, hooded youths infiltrated the concluding rally of a march in the heart of Paris, setting cars ablaze, smashing shop windows and hurling stones, boards and garbage-container stands at riot police.
That violence and outbursts in other French cities have alarmed citizens and officials. The images of burning cars and bat-wielding vandals "is not at all helping us," said Clement Boudin, a 23-year-old student at the Sorbonne University and a leader of the National Student Union of France. He worked in the organization's cluttered headquarters Monday, juggling two phones and chain-smoking Marlboro cigarettes.
Even as his group condemned the violence, Boudin and many other student union officials have been reluctant to criticize the youths from poor suburban communities that have infiltrated the cause. "We can understand it to a certain extent -- that kind of violence from people completely excluded from the system," Boudin said. "They don't have any other means to express themselves."
Government officials said the new law is intended to encourage employers to hire more young people by denying them some of the inflexible job protections that cover older workers. Unemployment overall in France is just below 10 percent; among young people it is 23 percent, but rises to 40 to 50 percent in poor suburban areas.
A survey conducted by the Ipsos polling institute for the daily newspaper Le Monde and France 2 television said that 63 percent of respondents opposed the government's decision to stick by the new law. About half of those polled, however, said they could support the law with some modifications.
Here are the responses I got from people that I have communicated with that live in France… I have corrected the spelling and the tense of the words in some of them but I really didn’t want to change much at all.
Hi! Thanks for ur interest. It's not easy for me to explain it in English! But, I’ll try in some words, and practice my English in same time! :-) So, Government takes a plan which will allow firms to hire under-26s for a two-year trial before offering them a permanent job; they say this new contract will encourage firms to hire young people. But, what students are contesting is that, this First Employment Contract (CPE) will make it easier for businesses to sack young staff without justification during the 2 years trial. In the opinion of the French students, this situation will increase the feeling of insecurity. Businessmen are not always honest. They can profit from this opportunity and sack young people after used them. They can also offer them the same contract even after the trial period end!!! Since, students’ demonstrations are planned across the country; they also blocked access to the universities. But, today, the protest turns into violence and students have to challenge with police. In my personal opinion, this measure is a good think because students from another country (like me) could more easily find a job. The CPE is a way of getting young people out of their current impasse. French students must know that today the feeling of insecurity in job is not only in France but in many countries and it is better to have a job even if it's not permanent, than not to have job!!! I hope you understand me (i use to neglect my English this times! LoL) Bye and take care. Patricia from Orleans France.
Hey, it's a pleasure to meet people who don't trust the media. I hope I’ll be clear in my explanations: first, in France u can't dismiss people like in USA, in here it's really expensive and you get in real trouble w/ ur employees if u dismiss one of their co-worker. The CPE (Contrat Premiere Embauche) is a Contract First Job that means once u finish school (people less than 26) u can be hire but ur employer have 2 years to dispose of u (understand what i mean?), he got 2 years to fire u without any reasons. The problem is when young people freshly graduated have no real contract (long-term contract) u can't borrow money from the bank, u can't buy a house,.... it's a precarity for young people.. But people who create the riots are mainly people from extreme left-wing (socialism) and extreme right-wing (make it simple racists).. Voila, if u need clearer explanations feel free to ask, I’ll do my best to answer.. Keep on this way, very clever to ask to a French person. Don’t listen to ur fox news, in France we have listened this channel and journalists said u only have a 1/3 of the "info" already filtered by ur government.. Au revoir.
Breizh Paris, France
I don't know if we could talk about RIOTS!! There are troubles, of course, because a high number of universities (colleges if you want) are on strike!!! They express against a new kind of employment contract for the youngster under 25 years that the French Government (specially the Prime Minister) want to launch!! But, by the sides of unions of students and workers, things went wrong and skidded, there people who broke stores and struggle with policemen (they weren't students or workers sometimes). I hope that things gonna calm down because it still 1 month now and students didn't pass their exams and risk to do their class again next year, it would be really sad for them to lose a year! I guess that Government won't give up!!
Euridice-Dunkerque, Nord France
Hey man, Thanks 4 the request, the thing is about the CPE, the minister put this shit 2 create employment for young people but without a real security cause it's like 2 years contract where u can get fire anytime for no reason, and u cannot take an apartment with this kind of contract. I'm not really concern by this 4 the moment but still fighting 4 the rights of young people who can't start working in real conditions. France is in Crises, would be better to get away from here and working abroad where u can get a real chance to grow up!! That's my point of view see ya.
Yo- France
©2006 YoungBreezy.com
The Dead Emcee Scrools
The Dead Emcee Scrolls (Book)
Artist: Saul Williams
Title: The Dead Emcee Scrolls (Book)
Rating:****
Reviewed by: Sidik Fofana (This review is taken from www.allhiphop.com)
Now for our keynote author, Hip-Hop's resident poet, Saul Williams. You might remember him from such works as acting in Slam (1998), performing alongside virtuous Hip-Hop acts like the Roots, Blackalicious, and Erykah Badu, or you just remember his face from New York City’s slam poetry circuit where he reigned in the mid to late 90's. It's 2006 and like a child to a window's scent of apple pie, Saul Williams has returned. This year, he has blessed us with his fourth collection of poetry, the much necessary The Dead Emcee Scrolls. The premise of the collection is that today's MC is drowning in a body of water, and that fluid is the highly commercialized mainstream. Also, so as not to be dismissed with all the 106'ans and the Trill'ers and the Blingers who represent Hip-Hop today, Saul has chosen the written word as his weapon. The book's first assassin is the epic poem “NGH WHT” and Williams is not afraid to attack Hip-Hop's cliches head on, “BCH NGH”. Gun trigga. Dick's bigga..." Written in the same bar form that gives rap music its notable rhythm, The Dead Emcee Scrolls reads like the astute liner notes to a lyrically sound album. The words flow so rhythmically that (as Saul himself suggests) they can be recited to a beat. For those pro-content Hip-Hop heads expecting to hear the next ground shattering punchline between the swabs of your headphones, you might want to do a music fast and pick up this book. This collection contains ill wordplay, brilliant metaphors, and takes Hip-Hop's most common household terms and gives them some new light ("John The Boom Baptist"). "I'm falling up flights of stairs. Scraping myself from the sidewalk. Jumping from rivers to bridges. Drowning in pure air," Williams confesses in “NGH WHT”. Filled with words of Black empowerment and journal excerpts from 1995 on, Saul Williams identifies why and when Hip-Hop personally ceased giving him a fix.The Dead Emcee Scrolls is a great attempt at curing these perceived ills that are infiltrating a music that was once the purest voice of the people. Sometimes however, Saul Williams goes off course and plays the armchair surgeon, doing more diagnosing than operating. Other than that, if you're in a relationship with Hip-Hop and it starts to talk about your @ss too much or theatens to pull a gat on you, The Dead Emcee Scrolls is a good friend to talk it over with.
Artist: Saul Williams
Title: The Dead Emcee Scrolls (Book)
Rating:****
Reviewed by: Sidik Fofana (This review is taken from www.allhiphop.com)
Now for our keynote author, Hip-Hop's resident poet, Saul Williams. You might remember him from such works as acting in Slam (1998), performing alongside virtuous Hip-Hop acts like the Roots, Blackalicious, and Erykah Badu, or you just remember his face from New York City’s slam poetry circuit where he reigned in the mid to late 90's. It's 2006 and like a child to a window's scent of apple pie, Saul Williams has returned. This year, he has blessed us with his fourth collection of poetry, the much necessary The Dead Emcee Scrolls. The premise of the collection is that today's MC is drowning in a body of water, and that fluid is the highly commercialized mainstream. Also, so as not to be dismissed with all the 106'ans and the Trill'ers and the Blingers who represent Hip-Hop today, Saul has chosen the written word as his weapon. The book's first assassin is the epic poem “NGH WHT” and Williams is not afraid to attack Hip-Hop's cliches head on, “BCH NGH”. Gun trigga. Dick's bigga..." Written in the same bar form that gives rap music its notable rhythm, The Dead Emcee Scrolls reads like the astute liner notes to a lyrically sound album. The words flow so rhythmically that (as Saul himself suggests) they can be recited to a beat. For those pro-content Hip-Hop heads expecting to hear the next ground shattering punchline between the swabs of your headphones, you might want to do a music fast and pick up this book. This collection contains ill wordplay, brilliant metaphors, and takes Hip-Hop's most common household terms and gives them some new light ("John The Boom Baptist"). "I'm falling up flights of stairs. Scraping myself from the sidewalk. Jumping from rivers to bridges. Drowning in pure air," Williams confesses in “NGH WHT”. Filled with words of Black empowerment and journal excerpts from 1995 on, Saul Williams identifies why and when Hip-Hop personally ceased giving him a fix.The Dead Emcee Scrolls is a great attempt at curing these perceived ills that are infiltrating a music that was once the purest voice of the people. Sometimes however, Saul Williams goes off course and plays the armchair surgeon, doing more diagnosing than operating. Other than that, if you're in a relationship with Hip-Hop and it starts to talk about your @ss too much or theatens to pull a gat on you, The Dead Emcee Scrolls is a good friend to talk it over with.
Yes It is True I am Moving to Dallas
That is right bitches and hoes Young Breezy aka the black Steve McQueen is headed to The D. I’m a wee bit nervous because A. I hate moving and most important B. I hate moving and EVERYBODY is telling me that I am going to hate it. This past weekend I went up there (it’s up because I now reside in the city of Screwston, TX that’s Houston to you lames) to look for a place and to check out The Little Brother concert. Didn’t make it to the concert because it was in the Gypsy Tearoom, from what I hear it is a really small place, as Big L would say a hot box and they sold out before I made it too town…. But I kicked it with my girl’s family and I also had an opportunity to chop it up with Mighty Marc (http://www.marcuswillis.com/) and his brother Kamikaze Kevin (he doesn’t know that is his nic name:) they basically told me that The D is kinda cool but not like Houston at all. Everybody goes to the same clubs, so whoever you see at one spot you will see them at the next. The Hip Hop Scene is being dictated by the radio here so there isn’t a lot of talent from the D making waves. They also told me that the D has a way of making you assimilate to it so don’t come up here with the attitude that I am going to change anything. (They have been defeated, I can see it in their eyes they are happy I’m coming up there if nothing else they have another alibi) Marc let me make some beats using garage band in his studio, he says I have no talent , I should accept the fact that slave masters that had no rhythm raped my ancestors. (“That’s why we are cool we are assholes”-Kanye West. We watched that movie from MTV about 2pac Tupac: Resurrection it was really good excellent work check it out if you have not. So I am going to just chill for a moment in this place where most of the communities that surround the city are DRY yep you heard me dry(THAT MEANS NO FUCKING ALCOHOL). Well don’t expect too much this week because I gotta pack but if you guys know where the cool spots are in the D hit me up. Holla (man I hope this is the right decision) I am going to miss the Reggie Bush explosion………..
©2006 YoungBreezy.com
©2006 YoungBreezy.com
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