(SRBC) The Slam Bush National Rhyme Contest is searching for the person that can best express their dissatisfaction with the Bush Administration, its policies and agenda...>> read more

Revisiting The Black Rapper As "Pimp

The black rapper as pimp has risen to the forefront of American culture. This phenomenon is receiving a lot of criticism from members of the black community who see it as another form of racial exploitation. We most certainly need to be >> read more

Why The Attack On Russell Simmons?

Whenever you hear or read comments concerning someone else's wealth, listen to or read carefully the following words. Most often they will be extremely negative. Presently, we are witnessing an attack on Russell Simmons by white media people in New York City. As Black people we must ask why? The answer is very simple: Russell Simmons has >> read more

HipHop Battles

In HipHop it seems that no one likes peace. If there is no "beef" then HipHop isn't cool or loses its edge. But for the sake of history not repeating itself, let's expose the underlying issues surrounding the beef between artists like Ja-Rule, Eminem, 50-Cent, and Busta-Rhymes. >> read more

Is Hip-Hop A Culture?

While attending a symposium entitled, The Business of Show, which explored cultural images of Blacks in media, a simple but profound question was asked. Tim Reid and his wife Daphne Maxwell Reid, hosts of the symposium, owners of News Millennium Studios and stars of such shows Sister, Sister and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air respectively, asked the audience: What is hip-hop and is it a culture? >> read more

Is There Room for Conscious Hip-Hop?

Whether the images that most popular hip-hop artists portray are real or made for TV, most will never know. However, for those who love the music but could do without the negative lyrics and lifestyles that are usually associated with the art form, the question arises: Is there room for positive/conscious (PC) listeners in hip-hop? >> read more

The Cultural Jacking of Hip-Hop

As mainstream audiences and even the world continues to emulate and participate in the hip-hop environment there are some in the mainstream who are completely drawn to it but who do not identify with or resent the Black/African cultural aesthetic. This resentment or social isolation they feel, but strong attraction, often ends up as attempt to gloss over or ignore the culture in an effort to make it acceptable to themselves and their counterparts. >> read more

Hip-Hop Makes Bill O'Reilly Irrelevant

Bill O'Reilly had made his move and put the world of Hip-hop and Pepsi in check. However, not to be outdone, Hip-hop made a countermove and put Bill O'Reilly in checkmate. This week he admitted on his TV show that Pepsi rescinded its decision to distance themselves from Ludacris. Not only did Pepsi renew their association with the artist they also agreed to a multi-year, multimillion-dollar commitment to the Ludacris Foundation and "inner-city youth". >> read more

Hip Hop 101 Droppin' Knowledge, Preserving The Culture

Not wanting Hip Hop to go the way of other genres of African-American music, Jazz, Blues, Rhythm and Blues co-opted and corrupted by Euro-American capitalism and benightedness, Coard decided to offer a course about Hip Hop. Over the last few years his course has developed as a venue for aspiring MC's to come and try out their material in front of a aesthetically and culturally critical audience, learn about artistic integrity from people like former Philly radio DJ Lady B, Public Enemy's Chuck D, Poor Righteous Poets and The Last Emperor. >> read more

The Hip Hop X Files: Subject R. Kelly

After further study, I decided to open up what I'll call "The Hip-Hop X-Files" to get to the bottom of this. Now if you're familiar with the X-Files television series, you know that nothing is what it seems. In fact, it wouldn't be an X-File at all if there wasn't something "strange" about the case. Not every case that comes across my desk is a hip-hop X-File, but this one had all the makings of a classic case. >> read more

A New York Rhyme Story

There's a war going on in New York City. Some of the most notorious reputed rhyme families are at each other throats over money, power, and respect. Hip Hop is a very powerful energy that can be used for good or evil purposes. Let us keep this rich tradition and use the power of the spoken word to uplift our people. So follow the sound of the drums, and hear the voices of our ancestor as they guide us toward the future of Hip Hop. >> read more