DA BEST OF

On this day in 1996 Lesane Parish Crooks a.k.a Tupac Shakur a.k.a 2 Pac left this earth (allegedly).  Controversy, poet, revolutionary, MC, actor, prophet, role model (fuck what anybody else says), genius 2 Pac was all of these things.  Pac brought a divine insight to this thing we call hip-hop. Son of Black Panther, raised by the streets, Baltimore School of the Arts attendee Pac was raised in a complexity that would define his life and his music. An interesting thing happened in the wake of the passing of both 2 Pac and Biggie…hip-hop matured for a brief moment in time thus making them martyrs of sorts.  Since then it seems we have lost that maturity that Pac always strived for us as a people to achieve (minus the Death Row years). Read more…

Her beats is bangin, her hooks did it, her lyrics hitting, her timeless look did it, there’s a certain feel to her music I hope yall get it.  She is an ageless goddess and Hip-Hop’s favorites mistress Ms. Sade Adu.  Sade delivers painfully savvy lyrics of heartbreak with a voice as smooth as Glenlivet and ginger ale.  Lyrically like many hip-hop artists Sade penned verses of her inner struggles and insecurities in songs such as “King of Sorrow”.

Previously #10 #9 #8

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Rick James the original party animal was Motown’s secret weapon for through the late 60s and 70s and also I return trip in the 80s.  Like many MC’s today got into the game by establishing himself as a ghostwriter for several acts such as Smokey Robinson and The Spinners.  Rick James was known equally for his blues/funk sound and his wild life style.  The majority of Rick James’s career consisted of hit records, wild parties, coke binges and tons of controversy.  Along with pumping out his own hits Rick James also pimped produced songs for Teena Marie along with Eddie Murphy, The Mary Jane Girls, Billy Dee Williams and many others.    On a personal level Rick James lived a lifestyle that made Pac look like Wayne Brady. Read more…

“Black Moses”  “The Voice” Isaac Hayes started out as an in-house writer and producer for Stax records.  Hayes and his partner David Porter were the Pharrell and Chad Hugo of their time writing and producing for legends such as Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas and others.  Hayes was the original artist/entrepreneur along with banging out hits as a artist and producer he was an actor, label head and the first artist to be partial owner of a professional basketball team (sorry Hov).

Previously #10

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Gil Scott-Heron is known as the “Black Bob Dylan” & the God Father of rap and black revolutionary. Gil Scott-Heron was originally a spoken word artist that transitioned into a soul/blues legend.  Heron spoke of the ills of inner city life, black revolution and political fuckery by the establishment.  Lyrically Scott posses an “illmatic” birds eye writing perspective that enables him to paint pictures that stand the test of time.  Songs like “We Almost Lost Detroit”, “Home Is Where the Hatred Is” & “Pieces of a Man” give off the same street aroma as the mid to late 90’s hip hop movement.  Read more…

Explains A lot will be posting more on this later

Dick Gregory comedian/activist/bestselling author.  Drops some knowledge on the powers that be and hip hop culture.  Very Insightful.