The Revival of Classic Hip-Hop and Beat Culture in Contemporary Society

Speaking from my experience in coming from a little town in central Massachusetts called Westborough, I kinda grew up having a strong distaste for Rap and Hip-Hop. When I thought of those words, songs like Nelly's "Country Grammar"...

2000 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

and Ja Rule's "Put It On Me"

Murder Inc/Def Jam Records 2000

Were not exactly at the top of my "most listened to" list on iTunes. Where 4 years ago this time I was listening to things like, The Blood Brothers (disbanded)

"Live at the Apocalypse Cabaret"

V2 Records, 2004

and Against Me!'s "Disco Before the Breakdown"


For whatever reason the style of music just didn't resonate with me, that is until recently. Through assorted experiences and influences I have been able to find and learn to appreciate a whole aspect of the hip-hop culture that I never before knew existed. Then, to top it all off, it seems like a lot of other people are having a similar experience right now. The more I listen to "new" hip-hop, the more I see how much of it is composed of bits and pieces of other songs (hip-hop or otherwise) but put to new and different uses to create a new sound.

There is a web-site that I have begun to familiarize myself with called, WhoSampled.com. This site is comped of a constantly updating and expanding library of information pertaining to, as it's name suggests, who sampled? For example, take the song by A Tribe Called Quest, "Can I Kick It?"

Jive, 1991

Recognize that bass-line? Well, head on over to WhoSampled.com and under the Tribe's profile page, you scroll to the appropriate track to see a short list of the songs sampled. Taking the next step brings you to a page with two youtube video's side-by-side and information above each telling you where each respective sample can be found within the master track. Spending a considerable amount of time on this site is not a challenge in the least. I personally find it incredibly interesting how much music is out there that I just wasn't aware of, these guys found it on vinyl, and somehow composed these new, unique, and enjoyable beats for a whole new generation.

Lastly, with the help of 8tracks.com I have composed a little playlist for y'all of some tracks and the songs they sampled (or vice-versa), enjoy!

We aren't so different, you and I: The U.S.'s secret love affair with the Taliban

So, for those who haven't seen it yet, that was the conclusion to last weeks episode of South Park (aired 10/13/10). The episode itself dealt with vilifying everything that is or is represented by the state of New Jersey, specifically the "reality" television show on MTV called "Jersey Shore." It get's down to the wire when Randy and the gang have been turned down by all their allies in the fight against New Jersey when they have the brilliant idea to turn to their enemies for help.


(South Park Studios, 2010)

That's right, the boys turned to Osama bin Laden and the forces of Al Queda to come to the rescue of the United States. Suffice it to say the end result involves a fleet of airliners (747's or the like) crashing into swarms of Jersey "guidos," (offensive imagery much?). The American view of the Arab, let alone a member of the Taliban or Al Queda is twisted to a great extent by the mass media which influences our perspectives more than we are able to control or comprehend in some cases.

What we don't realize is that we are the ones who ultimately put these people into power and we are fighting to keep them in control as far as their separate microcosm is concerned because it allows us to keep a "stronger" hand on the wheel and control the conflict to work to our advantage. Whether it is something on the smaller scale like U.S. former-C.I.A. agents paying off insurgents for protection, or Afgani figure-heads assisting American troops in the transport of valuable materials, etc, behind the scenes the United States and the Afghani people are all working for the same goal, to make money.

Even still, people are just starting to notice that something is not right with this whole image. as the source article points out,
"Both the New York Times and the Washington Post have covered part of the story on their front pages. Both mentioned President Hamid Karzai’s cousin, and both acknowledged that in all likelihood money is making its way to the Taliban. Neither paper mentioned the US connection..."
So as much as we are willing to open our eyes to the concept that our government might be acting inappropriately, and our media is lying to us about it, we are really still hesitant as a society to see the whole truth behind the situation and more importantly accept it.

Midterm Reflections...already?

October 2010, personified

With the mid-point of this (my second-to-last) semester here at Camp Champ I am sure I am not the only one with this pumpkin's expression on my own visage. I can honestly say however, that through the teachings of Doc Williams and the overall atmosphere in the classroom, I have been able to thoroughly enjoy myself whilst in the cozy confines of the Ireland building each Monday and Thursday.

Through the seemingly relentless repetition of particularly important material, the introduction and application of new tools, certain arguments pertaining to Postman/Carr/Cascio, etc, have made the issues we are confronted with (media being omnipotent) as something more real and even tangible. We are provided with such a variety of readings, blog postings, and pop-culture references at our disposal we have been able to see how the aforementioned arguments are not only pertinent, but how they are applied. To me, that is what really makes the material stick. The fact that what we are being taught isn't just spoken at us, but utilized in the classroom environment in new and entertaining ways that stick out in our memories.

I can honestly say that there aren't many things that I would change about this class if I could. I sincerely enjoy the discussions that we have and the way we all interact with one another. If I were to change one thing though, more group work, the way that's been working so far has been spot on (This sorta addresses 4 & 5).

In looking back at this first half of the semester (it is tough to not look as far back as freshman year, 3 years ago...), I find that I am able to look at a lot of media presented to me on a day-to-day basis and see it in new and different ways. Through various assignments we have been asked to not only look at what media says, but what it doesn't say, and how that causes us to react. Whether looking simply at what part of your brain is affected by your favorite scene in a movie or favorite song is one thing, but to look that much deeper into everything that comes as a result of those things. The marketing for selling the product, planting the image/sound in your brain, and subconsciously(?) making you crave whatever it is that is being sold to you.

Lastly but not leastly, as far as the books/power tools are concerned, The only book that I really didn't care for was Feed. The use of the modified language, the hyperbole of the whole story made it really difficult for me to enjoy. To me it seems more like a book aimed at a lower age demographic. Aside from that, very pleased, the information is relevant, applicable, and enjoyable. Can't wait for the rest of the semester.

-G

P.s. In honor of the Ghostface Killah Concert tonight (10/18/10), please enjoy

(From the Pretty Toney Album, 2004)

Camp Champ Radio Spot: GETCHO FEED ON DUG!

Hey, do you like being left out, being meg boring? Do you like lugging your laptops, cell phones, and mp3 players around all the time?

You don't have to anymore, you've worked hard now let Feed work for you. It does everything so you don't have to.

Just think, you're dying to hear that new Justin Bieber song but you don't have it on your mp3 player, and it's just not on the radio. Just request the song on your Feed, and just like that it plays!

Quendy and Titus love their Feeds...

All my friends have the Feed, I love my Feed, it's so meg brag.

Don't be weasel-faced, get a Feed. A Feed will make all your dreams come true.

And now with this limited time offer, when you buy your first Feed, you get your second Feed half off. Hook up your entire family, today. Feed your family, Feed yourself, Feed, when everyone has it, no one goes hungry.

*Side-effects may include: headache, dizziness, chest-pain, loss of appetite, hair loss, and memory loss. In rare cases, the Feed could malfunction fatally, it could improve your social life and make you illiterate. User experience may vary.