Yasmin Shiraz

On day two of my Politics of Hip Hop Culture tour I discovered that college women are turned off by the open crotch shots ie (Lil Kim and Nikki Minaj.) When I asked men if they liked the photos, of course they said yeah. But it still wouldn’t make them buy the album. They would simply go on the internet, find the photo and affix in their room and use it accordingly.

But THEY WOULD NOT BUY THE ALBUM just because the female artist was spread eagle on her album cover.

I found this terribly interesting because I know more women buy female rap albums than men. So if women are offended by the crotch shots, why are they displaying their crotches? Its obviously not to increase album sales.  Inquiring minds want to know…. Including my students who attended the Politics of Hip Hop Culture tour today in Florida! Let me know what you think.

Nikki Minaj

Anyone who rides in the car with me now knows how crazy I get when I here Pretty Girls by Wale. I’ve loved the song since I first heard it. I don’t know if its the infectious hook, or his laid back rhyme style. Whatever the case, here’s the video. So now I get to listen to the song when I visit my own website! LOL. Gucci Mane is conspicuously missing from this video because he’s in PRISON. Not a good look!

And on another note, only a DC rapper would rock hi-top Prada sneakers in a music video. Shout out to Wale on the Prada sports.

Untitled from Makavelliott1971 on Vimeo.

Lil Wayne will not start his prison sentence today. According to Rolling Stone magazine, his sentence was delayed for dental surgery. I guess he had to get all of those diamond fronts removed from his mouth cause you can’t hardly go to prison with those things in.

Nikki Minaj

Today I kick off my 2010 Politics of Hip Hop Culture tour. I’ll be speaking about sex, race, capitalism, and the criminal justice system as it relates to hip hop in Newport Richey, FL. When I speak about women, I will speak specifically on Nikki Minaj and how her marketing seems so Lil Kim 3.0. So much of how she is positioned is sexual and there is not much made of her actual lyrical skills but how big her booty is. Funny to me because I have yet to see a female rapper really build financial security when all they are made to be is Black barbies. So therefore, if you’re a female rapper in 2010, why do you wanna be Lil’ Kim? I’d rather be Queen Latifah who still (20 years in) gets acting and music checks. I’d rather be Lauryn Hill who is getting songwriting royalty checks. I’d rather be MC Lyte who is getting voice over and acting money. So whoever is marketing Nikki Minaj, please do your homework, particularly if you care about the longevity of her career. I, for one, would like to see her be more than a flash in the pan.

Lil Kim in the 90's

College students, we’re bout to get it in. I don’t play when it comes to hip hop. What do you think? Should Nikki Minaj become the 2010 version of Lil Kim? What’s in it for her in the long term?

Untie my hands- Lil Wayne going to Prison!

Lil Wayne gets sentenced today on charges stemming from this incident. The blogosphere has been all the buzz with the going away parties that he’s had over the weekend. Whatever happens he reports to Rikers today. Today I also kick off the first day of my 2010 Politics of Hip Hop Culture tour. And for the first time, I will be including hip hop court cases in my presentation.

That’ll be the low point of my presentation because between Lil’Wayne, Gucci Mane, TI, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Remy Ma and Da Brat- I got more content than I want.

I’ll update the site again when the court announces his actual sentencing. Be well people.

Here’s a great interview clip of singer Fantasia on Oprah.

Robby is on the far right.

It breaks my heart to see anybody losing their life force to alcohol addiction so when I saw Robby, former singer of the 90’s group City High, I knew I had to post this video. City High was signed to Wyclef’s record label.  In the video, Robby’s mother said, “I gave the music industry a cub scout and they gave me back an alcoholic.” Having been in the music industry, I know how hard it is. You are always seeking approval, but approval is something you must provide for yourself. You cannot seek stardom believing that all your demons will go away, if you do not deal with your demons, your demons will find a way to deal with you.

Robby- I pray that you get better and realize that you’re better than the life of an alcoholic. On a side note the video says a lot about how his mother treated him… SMH. And another note, it appears that Robby really has a broken heart. The girl in the center of the video used to be his girlfriend and then broke up with him and started a family with the guy on the left. Sometimes, life sucks.

Here’s the full episode of Intervention of Robby and his family.

Here’s the link to their #1 song, What would you do?

http://popup.lala.com/popup/432627047854252742

I know all the 16 year olds in the US want Diddy to be their Daddy, now that they’ve seen son Justin has gotten a $360k Maybach for his birthday! My goodness. What is he gonna get for his 18th birthday? It’ll have to be worth at least 500k! And for this 21st b-day, that gotta be a gift worth at least 2 million! That’s what I’m saying. Anyway, happy birthday Justin. Drive safe. That Maybach is like a young limo so make sure you look thru your rear view mirrors!

You know I had to go there! RIP Teddy!

One of my readers sent me the link to Charles Barkley dressed as Alicia Keys. It was for SNL. I don’t know if everyone else saw this already, but I didn’t. So watch it, laugh and then weep.

Charles Barkley needn’t try this again. Big ol’ Charles as an R&B Diva=NOT!