Welcome everyone to the first of many hip hop summit's hosted by Ddot the KING. We will discuss the current state of Hip Hop, it's influence on politics, the community, and pop culture. We have a multitude of Hip Hop stars that have agreed to meet here today to discuss all these things and more.Russell Simmons: I'd like to thank Ddot for hosting this Summitt. He is a true leader and visionary.
Ddot: Thanks Russell. You know wearing your hat to the side isn't cool anymore....right?
Diddy: Leave Russell alone! He's my hero and he can do whatever he wants!
Ddot: Calm down Sean. By the way it looks like you forgot your Proactive treatment today. Go moisturize your situation or something! Anyway that's not what we're here for. Let me ask the panel a question. With all the influence that you guys have why do so many of you continue to promote violence and drugs?
50 Cent: I don't feel as if we are promoting violence. I just let you know what's going on in my hood.
Tony Yayo: I agree with 50
Lloyd Banks: Ditto
Young Buck: What 50 said.
Ddot: You live in a 8 million dollar house in rural Connecticut. I don't think there's a lot of shooting out there unless you're doing it.
Ja Rule: That's right! You tell'em Ddot! 50 is a fake, a phony!
Ddot: Security! Please escort Mr. Rule to the nearest exit.
Jay-Z: Who was that little guy anyway?
Young Jeezy: That's that dude...ummm...remember he used to be Ja Rule.
Common: I thought that guy was dead.
Suge Knight: I DIDN'T DO IT!!!
Ddot: I think all of you guys are punks! Yall are all scared!
after a brief commotion and several guns being pulled out the discussion continued...
Ddot: Ok ok put your guns down and let me explain! Let's take Memphis Bleek and Tony Yayo for example. You guys are nothing more than hype men. Nobody cares about what you have to say!
Bleek: Jay tell him that's not true.
Jay-Z: Who are you?
Bleek: I'm your protege', Memphis Bleek!
Jay-Z: Nice to meet you sir.
Ddot: And those of you that people do care about all of you rap about the same thing! All your hood stories don't do a thing but glorify the things that are bad in the community. Do you know how refreshing it would be to have Kanye's message coming out the mouth of a so called gangsta rapper?
Snoop: First of all the media is who started calling us gangstas. Personally, I call myself a pimp.
Ddot: Your last album was called Rythym& Gangsta Snoop. Did you forget that?
Snoop: Well you know what weed does to your short term memory!
Ddot: That's exactly what I mean! How many kids start smoking weed because they think it'll make them a pimped out gangsta like Snoop?!
Ddot: Put your pen and paper down! It's a rhetorical question!
Mike Jones: Hello everybody. My name is Mike Jones and I don't know what rhetorical means.
Ddot: Un-freaking-believable.
Russell Simmons: Do you have anything else to say Michael?
Mike Jones: Who's Michael?
Russell Simmons: You!
Mike Jones: Who?!
Russell Simmons: You!
Ddot: Wow. This must be what a Mike Jones concert is like.
Ddot: Back in the day the hardcore rappers were actually the one's who spoke out on social injustice.
Mike Jones: Social what?
Ddot: Security! Get this fool out of here before I hurt him. And take that dang name tag off, we know what your name is!!! And while you're at it grab that Ying Yang Twin that keeps making that ridiculous noise!
Ddot: You guys are letting the record companies punk you into being these crazy drug dealing fools who make songs about your experiences. The problem is most of you are writing about somebody else's life story. You give us the bad and the ugly but where is the good? Why are Mos Def, Common, Talib Kweli, and Kanye the only ones called "conscious rappers". You should all be conscious of what's going on around you. Somebody has to fill the void left by Public Enemy and others. We can still party to a song that has substance!
DMX: Substance?! Did somebody say substance? It ain't mine! I don't do crack!
Jadakiss: So you feel as if though we are all the same?
Ddot: Put it this way. Do you remember that video where all the half naked women were dancing and everyone was drinking champagne?
Jadakiss: You mean my "Knock Yourself Out" video.
Jay-Z: No he means the "Big Pimpin" video.
50 Cent: No, No he's talking about the "P.I.M.P" video.
Ddot: See what I mean? Where's the creativity? You all do the same thing!
Trina: Yep but the ladies are holding it down!
Ddot: Riiiight! Like you, Lil Kim, and Foxy aren't all interchangeable! All I know about any of you is that you'll give anybody head for the right amount of money,clothes, etc. etc. Great message for all the young girls out there.
Foxy Brown: Thanks
Ddot: I was being facetious, you dimwit.
Ddot: Birdman since you lost your home and all your cars does this mean you won't be dropping an album anytime soon since that is all you talked about in your rhymes.
Birdman: Yes sir. That is exactly what that means.
Ddot: Now that's a d*mn shame.With the plight of the people of New Orleans coming into the national eye shouldn't you, Master P and all of your artists take some of the blame for never making songs or talking about what was going on down there? Do you realize the impact a song by a Cash Money artist or No Limit artist could have had if they had talked about something other than their "bling bling"?
Master P: UUUUHHHHHH!
Ddot: What?!
Master P: Sorry. I just didn't expect that question. I thought we could just blame everything on George Bush and keep it moving.
Birdman: Exactly.
Juvenile: I agree with P.
Ddot: You bunch of bumbling fools. You are supposed to report what's going on and what's going wrong! We should have heard a mixtape or something about those freaking bootleg levees years ago!
Lil Wayne: My last album Tha Carter spoke on what goes on in the hood.
Ddot: No it didn't. I bought that album sir and I heard nothing about the fact that over half the city residents don't own cars. I heard about all 15 of your cars but not once did you mention their plight.
Lil Wayne: Well I just did what Birdman told me to do.
Ddot: Shaddup! You've resorted to passing the buck?! You jerks are just as bad as politicians! Hip hop has power to do more than sell cds and t-shirts. It's time for a movement. We have the benefit of standing on what the civil rights movement built for us. And because hip hop is such an economical force it gives us unprecedented power.
Chingy: Wow hey I never looked at it hat way. I think you're absolutely right.
Ddot: No offense Chingy, but please don't agree with me. It waters down my whole argument.
Diddy: You're on to something man. We can do some really big things and we don't have to stop. As a matter of fact I thought I told you that we won't stop, I thought I told you that we won't stop! Big shout out to Biggie!
Ddot: Biggie is dead. Move on.
Kanye: I think you are right Ddot but you are kind of arrogant. Don't you think that puts people off?
Ddot: Well ain't this the pot calling the kettle black.
LL Cool J: I've been around...
Ddot: Hold up LL. I will not listen to another word until you put a shirt on and Trina get your tongue out of his belly button!
LL Cool J: Well I've been around for a minute and I've seen hip hop go from the street corner to the boardrooms. I think it's time that we take the next step and work for positive change in the community.
Ddot: Thanks LL and just for those keeping count he licked his lips 57 times in the last 30 seconds.
Russell Simmons: Well this is the end of day one and we hope we will see all of you back here tommorrow to continue the discussion.
Ddot: I want to thank you all for your participation and for being so mature and...Suge give Nelly his wallet back!!!
39 comments:
Thank you sir. Where have you been????
omg that was great.....suge.....give nelly his wallet back! haaaaaa!
Jackie I'm not saying every song has to be about poor people and levees but why not do MORE of those type songs? Kanye and Common are proving that you can make a song that is actually saying something and you can still groove to it. Don't get me wrong I love a good gangsta thugged out song as much as the next guy but why are we being bombarded with that over and over. Ok you're a hustler...now what? dead prez will never be platinum simply because they make white america uncomfortable.
I love the line: "You live in a 8 million dollar house in rural Connecticut. I don't think there's a lot of shooting out there unless you're doing it."
Do you have either one of their albums? Common has the song "Faithful" in which he talks about why he isn't going to cheat on his woman. "Crack Music" on Kanye's album talks about how Ronald Regan introduced crack into the african american community and the overall crack epidemic. They both have messages and Kanye's are sometimes harder to hear because of his arrogance. But even the last verse of golddigger I think he gives a message to women about not chasing the dude with all the bling and to stick by your man's side.
Here's the thing. None of them are perfect nor will they ever be but at least what Kanye and a few others are doing now is getting some kind of message out there. Yeah Kanye has to make a "Golddigger" to get a "Jesus Walks" or "Diamonds are Forever" some airplay but if that's what it takes so be it.
Jackie you're really getting on my case today! I also mentioned Mos Def, who I know you love, and Talib Kweli. Yes I could've mentioned dead prez, The Roots, or any number of other "backpacker" rappers. The ones I chose have had some level of commercial success which ultimately is what gets the message out. Some people reading this have no idea who dead prez are. It's unfortunate buyt true.
P.S. And yes it was supposed to be funny as well so lighten up a little.
I know exactly what you mean Jackie. Here's my point though. Once you've got your spot and the family is eating pretty good why not give us something more. Young Jeezy has had more success commercially in the last 3 months than Mos Def will ever have but Mos could rap circles around that guy. Ok so if you're Jeezy why not throw Mos or Talib on a remix or the next album? Or give the studio what they want, 15 tracks of street stories and then throw that one gem in there that is gonna make some kid who might not listen to his mom, dad, or uncle sit up and pay attention. I don't think that is too much to ask.
Well you are right on some level. But I think A Tribe Called Quest did a great job of giving a message and partying. Public Enemy is one of the biggest groups of all time and they said some pretty harsh things on their recors. Jeezy just so happens to be on the same label as P.E. used to be on so I think it's more of making the message entertaining. The groups you named were/are talented but i just think they didn't entertain us enough. Digable Planets for example could've been bigger if they had not taken the same route as The Fugees. In the past the bigger artists were able to make it work on both sides. Marving Gaye made "Sexual Healing" but "What's Going On" was just as big. I'm not saying it's easy to do but I think it can be done.
* That should be "Digable Planets could've been bigger if they HAD taken the same route as The Fugees."* My bad.
Thanks Akintoye. I try to be entertaining as well as informative...maybe I should have a record deal!!
Times have definitely changed but if 50 cent dropped a straight "conscience" album he'd still move 2 to 3 million units because of the cult following he has built up. Black people have always dictated what was cool to everybody else. Back in the day when we wore Malcolm X t-shirts and the Africa medallions the white kids did it too. Right now the artists have made hustling and pimping cool so that's what is at the forefront. How many people know about the blood diamonds because of Kanye? I've never seen it on the news. Rappers have to be CNN or more like the Daily Show...entertaining and informative. It can be done.
You're right Arson. I need to get in the studio and drop some HOT FIYAH!! LOL!
Hee-damn-larious!!!!!!!
Oh Lawd, let me get up off the floor.
Ok, ok as hilarious as that was, I like the message there too. The hip hop and black community as whole can point out injustices and blame politicians (and society in general) for our suffering, but at some point we have to exercise some personal responsibility!
Great post, oh royal one.
Edutainment Jackie EDUTAINMENT. Yes there is a bigger problem than 50 Cent rapping about "wankstas"...whatever that is. Our teachers should keep the kids informed but a lot of them don't and parents should make their kids read the paper everyday and watch the news but they don't. And those kids who don't have the proper influences turn to David Banner, 50, Jay-Z, and others to find out what's going on. it's unfortunate but it's true. brothers wear more Scarface t-shirts than marcus Garvey. yep that's true because these stories that rappers tell are more prone to be a "scarface" type story! Jay-Z is probably the most influential rapper to date. He STARTS trends and people follow them. Same thing with Puffy. I can't expect them not to continue to do what makes them money but to just be more careful about the image that they are projecting. whether they like it or not they are the role models to a lot of young people. I can see through their nonsense and take it as nothing more than entertainment but that 11, or 12 year old, heck even some 25 year old might not be able to. Responsibility is all I'm asking for.
What's up Drea! I'm glad that you got it. Personal Responsibilty is not too much to ask!
hmmm, i like the points that have been made in the comments.
"i think that our culture has lost what was once ours to the masses. and with that comes an oversaturation & exaggeration of anything that might make someone some money."
If hip hop didn't pay, who would truly rap for free? And as long as hip hop does pay, know that folks will make as much money as they can. Because at the end of the day, you gotta eat and we all know that the conscious message isn't what's selling the records.
Ddot made a good point about making the "Goldiggers" in order to get the "Jesus walks" played. Some folks won't compromise, if you will, their message, and they don't have commercial success. That's just the way it is. The white kids who buy these albums and make them successful probably don't care about the messages. Even so, if sh*t is going down in your community and you have a platform on which to express that, shouldn't it be eating you up inside if you don't take the opportunity?
Right. A lot of the white kids don't care about the message but a lot do and they are the ones that are going to be running things in a few years. Sometimes you gotta force feed people for their own good! And again I understand that 50 will be back selling rocks if he tried to be Chuck D but just work with me a little.
I agree. We need to work the system.
You're right. 50 may not do 11 mil with a "conscious" message, but he would still move more records than yours Mos Defs, Talib Kwelis, ect.
Growing up in a world where he sold crack, his mom sold crack, and he saw so much trouble at a young age, you'd think fifty would have a whole lot to say regarding much needed change. But he is one who is obsessed with money.
I see your point. The ones who are successful have the world's attention, now they need to say something worth listening to.
Jackie it's a start if nothing else. Everybody doesn't have what you or I might have had in the way of role models. Like BrownSoul said 50's mother sold crack. There are a lot of youngsters who do look up to entertainers...right or wrong... and so they should paint a positive picture while they are driving around in their Bentleys or those same kids are just going to grow up and robbed them for it.
Thanks for the discussion Jackie.
Arson I will have to check my schedule. I am being swamped for interviews....Ok I'll do it!!!
Heh...nice summit..:-)
This post is priceless!
Hot topic. I have to say that hip hop is getting kind of tired. I mean how many more videos of half naked women do we need? It's tired. I liked the post though...it was funny.
listen i love this post!
hehehe
what satire! it's a trip huh?hiphop is becoming more and more empty.
you really captured the artist here.brilliant!
"We should have heard a mixtape or something about those freaking bootleg levees years ago!"
The funniest line of the entire post. Master P or Cash Money rapping about bootleg levees! Too damn funny. Jacgue and Ddot, you two made some very valid and enlightening statements regarding the direction of hip and its influence.
e - thanks I'm glad you liked it.
anacaona- Thanks for stopping by!
eyeneye- Excellent comment! i'll be checking you out!
mizjj- Exactly! It's so freaking repetitive! Do something different!
Diamonds, Rubies, & Colapop- Brilliant?! I agree whloeheartedly! LOL! Thank you very much!
GP- I was starting to worry about you!
LMAO!! Too funny hun! I agree. I'm tired of hearing bout bitches & hoes. Nice to hear Kanye and Common (amongst others) that actually has something to say, something to relate to the impressionable ones who look up to them. I think it's about time to take it back... Kick ass babyboy! ~t~
I don't have timw to read all the comments (so many blogs, so little time) But I read this post and I thought it was fan-fucking-tastic! Funny, on-point, and just enough tongue in cheekness.
highly entertaining!
you know you're wrong, right?
LOL!
that's funny ish, for real.
That was too cute. Loved it!!!!!
Jackie, Tupac IS NOT dead! You really shouldn't go there!!! :)
"don't tell me, you're one of those folks that worship tupac & hope that he's still alive, living in cuba somewhere spreading knowledge, right? i crack myself up... "
you crack me up too, Jacquelyn
"Jackie, Tupac IS NOT dead! You really shouldn't go there!!! :)"
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.......HA!!!
Ddot - creative and sensitive (alright, not so much "sensitive" on this particular post :) but still) nice mix. I was reading through the rest of your blog and I will be back.
Okay Ddot, you are just getting lazy! Can we get our Friday random thought post. Thank you.
some people are so spoiled!!!
It's all a gemick from the "conscious hip hop" to the gangstas. It's not even worth a debate. I have seen and heard some of the most righteous MC's do some fucked up unbrotherly shit and vice versa. Don't believe the hype.
Ddot, that post was funny...Next time you host a summit I want to hear from KRS, Mase, Young Jeezy and MC Lyte.
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