A Quotable Rant: Sean P's Throw Some D's on Dat?????

Fresh from the high of Sean P, The Quotable presents:

THROW SOME D’S ON DAT????????

Lord Black people, Black people, when are we going to do better?

And if we're not going to do better, lets at least "talk" about doing better.

In one of my most recent reprieves from my New Year's resolution, I stumbled upon BET (Blacks Ending Television) where I see (for the first time in its entirety) the "Solja Boy Toldja" video (I refuse to look up how to spell his name and therefore will only spell it as his terrible talkin ass speaks it). The video begins with Souless Boy in class disrespecting his teacher. By the end of the video (after stumbling through several second-grade-level sentences, singlehandedly setting Black people back another 12-15 years) I actually witnessed Martin Luther King Jr. sit up in his grave and say "N**** what the FUCK you just say?"

'Why?' you ask? Well let me tell you.

During this trashy-ass-track, Solja Boy (yeah - the nigga with Whiteout on his fuckin' shades. That nigga. Him) says this shit:

"I got my report card had all "F"s and I told the teacher throw some "D"s on that Bitch"

OK? So now we as Black folks are requesting D's on our report cards? Thats whats poppin' in 2008????

This is what MLK died for?

Hearing some second-rate rapper rockin' a second-grade vocabulary glorify D's - as if earning them is some kind of achievement - really pisses me off! I mean, do you even earn a D??? Don't you just get those for showing up??? In my day, I was embarrassed to get D's (was "my day" really that long ago?). And when I did, I definitely wasn't proud enough brag about it. Shouldn't there be a stigma associated with getting shitty grades?? I wish someone would "Supaman that hoe"!!

(Mental Note: I can't type that fast and am slowly coming back toward the ground)

Thank you for your time, Quotable Nation. I appreciate your attention. But before I go...I want to leave you with this one homework assignment: read the Wille Lynch Letters and Lets Make a Slave. If you haven't read either before, I promise it will leave you shocked as to how something created in the 1700's is still in affecting Black people today. Willie Lynch even states that the cycle will be perpetuated for at least 300 years!!!!

Ok I am off my soap box for now. But who knows...my class got cancelled because of the snow here in D.C., so I might just grow my wings back.

SNH P.

Quotable Videos: Fantastic Voyage

I discovered music in 7th grade.

It felt so fresh. All of it. Everything from Snoop Dogg, to Boys II Men, to Counting Crows, to Ice Cube...I soaked it up. Its like there was this new universe that lived inside my ears - and I had to focus to hear it. The Company Man hasn't stopped listening since.

Anyhow, this song was my ish back then. Truthfully I never realized on how much content Coolio packed into this track (probably since I was a 12 and lived in the 'burbs and didn't understand half of what he meant).

"I keep on searchin' and I keep on lookin' / But n***** are the same from Watts to Brooklyn. / I try to keep my faith in my people / but sometimes my people be actin' like they evil. / You don't understand about runnin' with a gang, / cause you don't gang-bang. / And you don't have to stand on the corner and slang / cause you got your own thang. / You can't help me if you can't help yourself. / You better make a left."

Now process that...along with your hair.



Damn...whats messed up is that media outlets like to portray back-in-the-day Gangsta Rap as nothing more than a mindless, violent, sexually-charged threat to Middle America. But if you think about it, Gangsta Rap was crazy conscious - largely depicting societal ills of that time. And it was a waaaay harder than the gangstaliciousness flooding todays airwaves. Those cats were ridin' on local "bitch-ass-snitch-ass-n*****s" and the POLICE. They were ridin' on Senators. Nobody was exempt. These so-called-Gs-today need raise their "gangstadom".

Another tangent. Carry on...

Hip Hop Fraternity

My homegirl Mary forwarded this to me today. An idea long overdue...

From allhiphop.com:

For the first time in Hip-Hop history, a college fraternity is dedicating itself to the four elements of Hip-Hop, and in the process they are becoming the first Hip-Hop fraternity in existence.

Eta Iota Rho, also known as HIP, was founded by Quinnton Parker, Justin Wolverton, and Keane Rowley, three young break-dancers who weren't quite excited about the current state of Hip-Hop.

"We're not here with [false] intentions, this isn't a publicity stunt," Quinnton Parker, one of the founders of Eta Iota Rho told AllHipHop.com.

"All the people involved generally want a change in the Hip-Hop community. They don't want this negative image that comes from the media. They just want everybody to know what [Hip-Hop] is about."

Not only is Eta Iota Rho open to MC's, break-dancers, DJ's, and graffiti artists, but the organization is also open to Hip-Hop lovers and enthusiasts.

"There are a lot of people that aren't rappers, but they know a lot about [Hip-Hop]," Parker explained.

Eta Iota Rho will officially makes its debut on the Indiana University Bloomington campus in Fall of 2008 and they are currently in the process of writing a Constitution and trying to find housing for its potential members.

"A fraternity will allow us to have a house and it will allow us to start our own small community, and that's what it's all about, getting a community and being together," Parker said.

Although Eta Iota Rho was only formed a few months ago, the organization has already taken part in several events, including a break dance battle they held in conjunction with Indiana University's Hip-Hop Congress.

The founders of Eta Iota Rho also have plans for expansion to other college campuses once a national organization is created.

Hopefully it will all work out for HIP. Look at that, another-history making Frat founded at IU...1911 was a great year.

Click here if you don't know what happend at IU in 1911.

Carry on...

Quotable Videos: U-N-I

While clickin' through my daily Hip Hop site routine, I stumbled across this blog (peace to A.H.L.O.T over at HHDX) on U-N-I, a duo out of Inglewood, CA. I don't know much about them right now, but from what I've heard they've got a smooth sound - kinda throwback-meets-new-skool. Once I get my hands on their mixtape (Fried Chicken and Watermelon), I'll report back to yall.

In the meantime, check their video K.R.E.A.M (Kicks Rule Everything Around Me). I'm feelin' the Wu-Tang sameple mixed with the "Kick Push" cut.

Check U-N-I's myspace page if you like what you hear.



Let me know what yall think.

Carry On...

Quotable Videos: Today Was A Good Day

"Today I didn't even have to use my AK..." - Ice Cube

The Company Man's Resolutions: 2008 in High Definition

(in my best Leon Phelps lisp)...and I read:

- Deliver at least 1 Quotable each week. 2007 flew by in a blink and by years end I only had 26 posts. Piss poor. I mean, its not like I didn't have anything to say...its just that sometimes I get stuck on that n**** ish (procrastinating 'til its time to worry) and productivity suffers. Daily posts seems a bit much for a non-writer like myself. Weekly posts feels like the right number so I'm going with that.

- Attend at least 3 services at my roommate DJ WillsofSteel's church. Just about every sunday morning I migrate from my bed to the living room couch, catch a solid 90 minutes of VH1 re-runs/Sportscenter highlights, fall back asleep only to be re-awakened by my homeboy getting ready to go receive the good word. And every Sunday morning I have the same exact thought: 'Maybe I should go with him...' Then like clockwork, I get off the living room couch, migrate onto the office couch, and proceed to have a smokin' good time wasting the day watching OVGuide. It never fails. Its not that I feel guilty for spending my Sunday's the way I do (I honestly believe the Lord doesn't judge me by the way I use HIS day), its just that Will's church seems like a lot of fun. Everyone I've met from their is hella cool and its another avenue to meet new peeps. Gotta expand my network in '08.

- Write more Top 'Whatever' Lists. I always read Top 'Whatever' lists online, in magazines, wherever - regardless of whether or not I'm actually interested in the subject. The Quotable should have a few too.

- "Smoke and Drink Less" I jacked this one from my boy Sean P. The beauty is in its vagueness. Truthfully I like smoking and drinking and don't feel its a problem in my life. But since neither is exactly healthy, dialing it back a bit is probably a decent idea. But seeing as there is no true measure for success here, I'll just have to go with how I feel. I'm not drinking right now as I write this...so it feels like I'm off to a promising start.

- Read at least 1 book each month. To me, reading is like exercising...I hate doing it, but I love how I feel at the end. Gotta do more of it.

- Follow up on 'Writers Wanted' ads. My homegirl MM has been great about keeping in the loop on various industry happenings, and writing opportunities. I've checked out several events, but have yet to follow up on any of the 'Writers Wanted' opportunities. I guess inside I've doubted my skills and never wanted to put myself out there like that. Fear of rejection is so 2007.

- Be impeccable with my word. "Why shoot the breeze about it when you can be about it" - Nas

- Work out at least 1 time each week. To me, excercising is like reading...I hate doing it, but I love how I feel at the end. Gotta do more of it before end up looking like Larry Holms - flabby and sick.

- Take an NYC vacation. I can't front, I'm blessed to have the job I have...in the industry I'm in...in the city in which I live. NYC is a dope dope place, but I get so caught up in my own routines that I fail to appreciate it often enough. Therefore, in 2008, I'm going to take at least 1 week long vacation and stay in The City. It'll give me a chance to catch up on the world I've been missing.

- Buy a condo/co-op...or at least come closer to it. I started saving in early 2007 and can actually accomplish this one (in certain neighborhoods) now, but not the way I want to. All the fly spots are just outside of my range. Rather than settle...I'll just keep saving.

- Interview at least 1 MC, 1 DJ, 1 Graphiti artist who makes their living in The Culture.

- Do something BIG for my parents. My mom's been talking about turning the deck into a sun room...maybe thats a good place to start. Gotta give back to the people who gave me everything.

- Make at least 1 Youtube video. I dunno...this just looks like something fun to do.

- Go to a New Orleans Hornets game. Chris Paul is doing some amazing things on the hardwood these days. Homie looks like a young Isaiah Thomas (the baller...not the team/league wrecker) out there and his stats are on par with best point guards in NBA history! I haven't been this intrigued by a player since I hung up my kicks. Which brings me to my next resolution...

- Start hoopin' again. I haven't played ball consistently since '06. Thats the longest hiatus I've taken from my first true love. Its time to end the streak in '08. Enough time has passed.

- Stop comparing other rappers to Lupe Fiasco. Cornell Westside is waaaay too far ahead of the game...Its just not fair to the rest of 'em.

- Carpet the stairs and get a front door for the apartment. It seems like my landlord is constantly renovating this brownstone. His last makeover has gone on for 6 months! No doubt that the place will be off the chain when he's finished, but right now we don't have a door to our floor and no carpet on the stairs. How do you keep a spot looking fresh if you track saw dust inside everytime you walk in?

On second thought, maybe that should be my Landlord's resolution.

Carry on...

Quotable Videos: C.R.S. (US Placers)

Just a dope video...thanks CMB.



http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh4IpLgXF8zx-

Carry On...