Even though he raps like he’s struggling to drop deuce, Jeezy is set to drop an album of the year contender.
The zeitgeist of Hip-Hop at this very moment is dope. As much as folks might still have the straps on their backpacks cutting their blood circulation, it can’t be ignored substance exists in the songs of many folks on the radio. It can even be argued that the crack rap tracks Jeezy dropped from previous albums possessed just the same amount of substance but with a less direct political standpoint.
What may be a shock to some, Daddy Yankee receives minimal rotation in my speakers, so I can’t say that the endorsement will steer me towards voting for a Reep. But he did have a song called “Gasolina”. I can’t recall a single lyric from the song, and I’m not just saying this because my weak Spanish abilites. What if it was a deep commentary on the petroleum crisis? Probably not, but gas prices are going down. Coincidence?
Not to mention, the Jabawockeez make an appearance in the video for “Pose”. Super Crew better make an appearance at the DNC this week, cause those 34 million ABDC votes shouldn’t be ignored.
Oh, and if this endorsement is a surprise to some, just do some research on Cuban-American political identity.
Ninoy Brown. It’s a name that partially came from Wesley Snipe’s character in New Jack City. A nickname given to me by friends who put a twist on the nickname given to me by familia.
I was born in Manila, during a period of unrest where Filipinos were taking to the streets in opposition to the dictatorial rule of Ferdinand Marcos, who declared martial law on September 11, 1972. Under his rule, subversion was dealt with through imprisonment, disappearances, and death. A counter intelligence program that actually still occurs today. But while Marcos was in power, a man by the name of Benigno Aquino, nicknamed Ninoy, stood in opposition. Ninoy was imprisoned shortly after the declaration of martial law on false charges of murder and subversion. Eventually, Ninoy was allowed to go to the U.S., after hunger strike, gaining the hearts and minds of the Filipinos, and losing an election due to fraud on the part of Marcos’ party.
As an outspoken critic of the Marcos regime, Ninoy consistently fought against martial law and the suppression of dissident voices in the Philippines. He vowed to return to the Philippines, while in the U.S. On August 21, 1983, exactly twenty-five years ago, he set on a flight back to the Philippines only to be gunned down by an assassin’s bullet upon exiting the plane. In the days after, constant rallies took place in protest of the killing and in support of the message for which Ninoy stood.
I was born a couple days after the assassination. Several family members were in the streets along side the sea of yellow shirts and hands raised, fingers forming the shape of an “L” for “laban” or fight. Relatives wanted this kid to be named Benigno, but instead my parents possessively invested in a colonized name. Yet, even without it on my birth certificate, the name “Ninoy” stuck and family and family friends would end up calling me this for the rest of my life. Due to the nickname, growing up I had always found a connection to the People’s Power movement that took place during the few years I was raised in the Philippines.
So with today’s date, we mark the twenty-fifth year since the assassination. If Aquino had survived, many argue that much might not be all the different today. But what he stands for is a powerful symbol of opposition to a very brutal dictator. Until his death, he knew that the status quo in the Philippines had to be changed. He fought for a democratically free Philippines, free of the oppressor. Even with premonitions and warnings of possible assassination attempts, he returned because he felt strongly for what needed to be done for his country.
“If its my fate to die by an assassins bullet, so be it. But I cannot be petrified by inaction, or fear of assassination, and therefore stay in the corner.” -Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino
If you’re in San Francisco, there will be a candlelight vigil at City Hall today at 6pm.
Last year’s Rock the Bells festival was unimpressive. 2007 brought the most high profile line-up by way of Rage Against the Machine. Yet with this, the vibe was destroyed as non-Hip-Hop head Rage fans claimed asphalt at McCovey Park and rested on blankets throughout most of the acts. Not to discredit Rage, but when your billing creates an atmosphere where a majority of the audience remains stationary and unmotivated during Public Enemy, The Roots, Wu-Tang Clan, it is an indication that a separate show would have been more suitable. Due to this experience, I held no anticipation towards the release of this years lineup, which I blame on Guerrilla Union.
My apathy subsided when I read the names of Tribe, Nas, and a reunited Pharcyde, leading me to embark on a journey to Shoreline Ampitheatre.
Upon planning for my visit to Toronto, I was interested in gaining some knowledge on the experiences of my folks across the northern border, Pilipinos that turned each statement into a question through the use of “Eh?” Coming from Cali, I often constrain the Pilipino experience to a very West Coast-centric frame. It is always mind opening to learn more about what’s up with our community in other regions as each of our immigration experiences has generated unique perspectives and stories.
Your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper/Hip-Hop journalist, EyeASage aka Ms. Krishtine de Leon, rocked it at Milk in SF last Friday for Gold Medals & Gold Grills. Alongside Hopie Spitzhard, Irie Eyez, and DJ Celskii, EyeASage came with her raw swagger and appeared ready to chin check fools disrespecting her set:
My jaw dropped when I saw the Madison Square Garden clip from last week. Even with a bunch of leaked Clyde Carson tracks, my Bay bias can’t overlook how giant this track is.
As O-Dub would say, this is a period where we will be expecting to lose even more legendary artists, who did their part to innovate the sounds that we are able to appreciate today. While their music will continue to show immortality, their physical presence unfortunately will not.
