That's real. I'm feeling what you're saying about hip-hop. Sure the music has it's negatives, but think about what hip-hop has done for the young black male. Great things too.

Stay keeping it real. And if you need any help with anything down in Louisville, let me know. Would love to help!
Anthony Raspberry
araspberry@jamilibrown.com

As black people we get so caught in trying to make are lives better. That we forget that with out the civil rights leader of the past. Changing laws for the better of Black people, who knows how things would be today. So as Black people we should take time to remember these Black civil rights leader of the past who change the course of black American.

That is real! I have a place 2 Hours from there and its crazy how u can feel the spirit of the situation from outside that hotel spot.If you dont go into the museum there are plenty of unwanted vendors outside whom some are homeless have more history on the area than the caretakers....

you are a fucking asshole using the black people and exploiting everybody to get more and more. fucking capatilist.

fucking americans

Chris - I too stood at the same spot (Civil Rights Museum) as well as Sun Studios, and was amazed how one spot, one room could be so powerful. Moments, and places in time and history that exist today, most young people know little about - education and travel is the key! I would like to talk with you, Chris about the work I am doing to strengthen and build inner-city programs, facilities and opportunities through Golden Gloves of America which has long been the 1st positive step for many. I had a great experience working with Winky at our 2004 championships and would like to talk with you about doing more. Our championship product, and
network of communities and markets is positioned to be strong. I see great opportunities between us that could really take hold. I would appreciate the opportunity to connect with you. Thanks for your posting, Chris. please give me a call when possible. all my best, I look forward, Steve Abel, President, Golden Gloves of America (cell - 718.207.6265)

Young-Chris, Just wanted to acknowledge to you , that you was robbed of that Winky-fight! We as a Hip-Hop community was still very proud to see you in the ring. Keep getting your Don-King on!!!

That's good that you got a chance to see that museum. I'd like to be able to visit there sometime. I think our generation and those younger than us sometimes lose perspective about what our people went through to afford us the opportunities we have today. The things we take for granted are things that people died for just 40 or so years ago. We should all learn about our past so that we don't walk around with this arrogant sense of entitlement...watch the "Eyes on the Prize" series or read books about our history and keep the conversation alive in your family every chance you get to teach your children so that we don't become ungrateful for the people who paved the way for us. No matter how much we know, there is a ton of information out there that we can make it a lifelong learning experience if we so choose. Here in VA, people can get confederate flag license plates for their vehicles...in a few other states, too...what's up with that?!! Is that not racism being endorsed by the state government? We aren't too damn far out of the woods here and that's kind of scary.

what's up.. philly talent most def philly's best kept secret.. song writting/production team (Creative Control) all we need is to be heard by the right people...

when you said we should take our upbringing and culture more serious than entertainment, you put it all in a nut shell. Great to hear you guys hook up with the HIP-HOP PROJECT

SPREAD LOVE IS THE BROOKLYN WAY

ASA

when you said we should take our upbringing and culture more serious than entertainment, you put it all in a nut shell. Great to hear you guys hook up with the HIP-HOP PROJECT

SPREAD LOVE IS THE BROOKLYN WAY

ASA

The [type of] conversation that has been going on in forums like these has been going on for years. Everyone claims to have a solution, but nobody's listening. If people are listening, they certainly aren't paying attention. [Black] people have been spinning their wheels like this for the past 50+ years. Communally, we've been evaluating and reevaluating our current condition and not taking action. It's like we're working on C.P. time in a greater context. We are over half a century late when it comes to every major pillar that creates, sustains and advances a civilization. Everyday the Black condition changes and consequently the focus changes, then the action changes; but we're so late, and the changes happen so quickly, there's never really any action. There's no time to properly prepare for one. If one thing is certainly apparent, I would liken to believe that there is no more passion— there is no more fight left in the souls of black folk. We don't dream as we used to. Why? Partly because we've been and we are being appeased. We've been giving everything we've ever asked for. Though not all of us may have it [The American Dream], it certainly is not made unavailable. It's a syndrome that I see everyday when I see black people complain about their quality of life and then pacify themselves with outrageous purchases; cars, TVs too big to fit their homes, expensive and name brand clothing. These are components of that American Dream. Components they aspire to have for the purposes of feeling a way black people have never felt in America—RELEVANT. And that whole outline is just one of many problems yet to be outlined, understood, confronted and resolved among the [black] community. In a nutshell this isn't a problem to which you can just point fingers at and then BOOM! eliminate the conflict. The condition of [African-American, Black, American] people is going to take will-full action and understanding and implementation on a grass-roots level to even attempt to resolve.

Hopefully, my late arrivial to this thread won't be admosnished as the message is real. As a young hispanic man growing up in ENY during the crack epidemic to now working at a Fortune 500 Company. I feel the pain of both sides of the coin.

I've excelled in an industry dominated by male whites and yet I still experience a particular "look" consistantly portrayed by some of my co-workers when they see me perusing sites on my spare time such as Violator.com. The struggle continues, the understanding still evades many.

Chris, god bless and keep up the good work. I personally believe the music industry is cyclical and hip-hop is not immune this this. 50 Cent is as relevant today as De La Soul was yesterday. Slowly, hip-hops children will sway yet again. I believe it's the job of music executives to pay attention to these changes and watch for the subtle nuances that have the potential to explode thereby keeping hip-hop moving along in it's evolution.

My 2 cents.

I am not surprised when people separate entertainment from reality. It is easy to accept the difference. The only problem I see is that artists and entertainers express themselves through biography, autobiography or fiction with non-fictitious subjects. My point is that I believe that it all touches reality.

I visited the National Civil Rights Museum in May. I too was moved by the museum and suggest any who will go please go because it was very, very informative to me...and I was raised in the south.

Before I entered the museum, I was enraged at a banner for boycotting the museum. After leaving the museum, I felt the need to confront this perp. Once I reached the area, which was now surrounded by a group of young kids and chaperones, I was shocked/disappointed to find that the perp was a black woman. After listening to her spill, though, and engaging in conversation once the kids were gone, I thought somewhat differently. The woman's name is Jacqueline Smith. Her website is www.fulfillthedream.net. Her main arguments include the fact that MLK sought to serve people and also the fact that some people leave the museum with new-found or increased hate in their hearts.

Such is the case mosttimes with movements--counter-productiveness. Her points are valid, but in my opinion not overall true. The museum's purpose is solid, but does not reach its highest potential. We will always have some level of disagreement.

I am not in agreement that hip hop is tearing us down (i.e. hip-hop itself), but hip hop is an avenue to spread words. The artists and management and the powers that be decide whether those words will be positive and uplifting or not.

I can not help but think of how many individuals have come to revise their way of thinking, some sooner than others, when it comes to their actions in life--myself included, and I have some ways to go. Then again, some of us continue to be absorbed into our own realities, failing to think about the large impacts that some of our smallest actions produce.

Nobody has to please the crowd, because it seems there will forever be a separation. Continue to live and believe how you see to be right and it will play itself out as it should. Do not accept the blame that most would cast on you, because we are all hypocrites in one way or another. We live from this day forward. Do not absolve yourself of blame because that encourages those you work with or for to believe that their voice is not heard--which, in effect, could not be hip hop.

True, communities and parents should take more proactive steps in the development of society. Hip hop is not the saving force, but it was created to help.

Churches are populated with atheists, though.

Keep doing what you're doing man. You're blessed. Spread love.

ok can i vent? I prsy and hope rap does have a new wave coming. born in the 70's and listening to rap's pinnacle in the 80's i am disheartened by what is being put out now. as a new yorker, of course i am impartial to the ny music but i give credit where credit is due. but i feel sorry for the kids growing up and hearing the young doc "shoulder leans" of the world and calling that hip hop. i miss my eric b and rakims, krs one days. of course change is good...olr so they say...but i do hope true talent is making an "appearance" again. come on new york!!!.

oh and am glad to hear there is a civil rights museum in memphis. i have to go down there on business and wasnt looking forward to it. but at least i have something of interest to check out while down there.

Ayo, is that Ahmet Ertegun standing next to Lyor?

Post industrial America has a problem, because it still has workers left over from it's glorious and profitable past. And now that we are in the Information Era america faces a serious question does it right its wrongs by intergrating its outcasts through trainning and empowerment or allow. outside forces to continue to dismantle one of civilizations greatest experiments. A goverment for the people by the people.

Holla
Big Black
www,urbanimages-online.com/promo_room