Archive for October, 2009

BRING YOUR OWN BEATMAKER…

Friday, October 9th, 2009

stat

When Combat Jack and I first started discussing our plans for an internets meet and greet we didn’t think we would have the turnout that ended up showing up. i definitely didn’t expect to see Statik Selektah up in that piece. Not that Stat wouldn’t fux with me because he knows I respect his grind enthusiastically.

Talkin’ ‘Bout You (Ladies) from dallas penn on Vimeo.

But when Statik did show up and proceed to hang out with the internets all night I felt truly blessed. Among the many artists that paid their respects to NahRight, OnSmash, OkayPlayer, 2DopeBoyz and the rest of the internets Statik was that dude that willingly and graciously took pics with whoever asked him.

Statik Selektah brought Joe Scudda through with him also. Stat and Scudda politicked with Truck North who drove in all the way from Phillytown. Diz Gibran wasn’t at the bar-b-cue but I fux with Diz. Joe Scudda, Truck North and Diz Gibran are three fly young emcees putting their grind on the line for their music.

I’d like to think that I had something to do with these artists coming together and making this track and video. Some six degrees of Kevin Bacon type shit. That’s me just trying to connect myself with the winners. Statik Selektah’s last album ‘Stick 2 Da’ Script’ was laced with bangers so I don’t expect any less from the next joint – ‘The Pre-Game’

Statik Selektah “Jaded” ft. Joe Scudda, Truck North, & Diz Gibran from Statik Selektah on Vimeo.

BILLY SUNDAY’s Guide To Black Women’s Hair…

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

ebony3

Editor’s note: A DP.com Martin Luther King Jr Holiday Weekend Black History Month classic…

In a few weeks we will all be under siege with another 28 days of Black Bullshit. Some of you take advantage of Black History Month to learn the names of some of your jig co-workers. That’s nice of you.

As a preemptive public service I thought we should create a guide to help people learn more about Black women according to the hairstyles they wear. The thing about Black women is that each different hairstyle comes with its own prerequisite attitude and lifestyle. This handy guide will help you choose a comparable Black female friend based on the style of her hair, and the best part is that she won’t even know how you knew so much about her.

skeeball THE SKEEBALL
I took this name from Byron Crawford because it’s so apropo. Skeeball head chicks are always unbalanced. Heaven forbid you are trying to get close to a bi-racial skeeball head girl. These chicks have too many issues to even begin to wrap your head around.

upchuck THE UPCHUCK
Sometimes this style looks like a mini explosion at the back of someone’s head, but I think it’s meant to look somewhat Euro-casual. If the Black chick that has this hairstyle also wears a shaggy off the shoulder sweater I think you can trust her because she evidently doesn’t get out too much.

lil' bro THE LIL’ BRO
When the skeeball starts to grow back in hopefully the girls mind is also returning. By the looks of this sister and the rack she’s holding I would be down to talk some ‘Free MUMIA’ bullshit with her in the chance of scoring some pro African poon.

curly lil' bro THE CURLY LIL’ BROHAM
Here’s a look at the wet side of the Lil’ Bro style. Remember that girl group TOTAL? The lead singer had this haircut and she wasn’t gay after all. At least I don’t think so. Girls that sport curly lil’ brohams are cool to hang out with, but make sure you let them know from jump street that they have to pay their own tab. These chicks are saving money on styling by wearing this hairstyle so they can afford to pay for their own dinner.

crazy lil' bro THE CRAZY LIL’ BROTHER
The name says it all when you meet one of these chicks. She’s one of those broads that had one of those ‘horrible’ long term relationships. She’s just getting her shit back together after a small stint in the pysche ward. Inside she’s a nice girl, but everything you say reminds her of the last dude. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT have sex with her. She will stalk your azz.

broke bitch THE UNEMPLOYABLE
Sometimes known as the W.I.C. check. Whoever wears this style I can guarantee you they don’t have a job or their own business, unless you call braiding hair in your kitchen ‘ghetto entreprenuerism’. The other thing that I can almost assure you is that this woman’s name has way too many vowels. Something like Starrkeysha.

self employ THE SELF-EMPLOYED
When you see this hairstyle you should understand the ambition that is contained in the wearer. She is a driven hard worker and she owns her own business. The question though is how many people want macrame knitted clothing? Not too many. If she could pore her energy and focus into a commodity that people wanted then maybe she might have enough money to pay for her own movie ticket.

stripper THE STRIPPER BRAIDS
This is what being self-employed is all about. Nobody tells her where to go or when to come (pun always intended).

finger waves THE O.G. FINGER WAVER
I’d like to act like I don’t have an aunt that has this hairstyle, but I’m sure there is someone in Petersburg, Virginia related to me wearing this ‘do.

blondread THE BLONDIELOCKS
Whenever I see a lady wth her hair bleached out blonde I just shake my head. I don’t have conversations with these women because I imagine that their sensibilities and politics are all jacked up. Who was the one that told them their hair looked better blonde? And why did she believe them?!?

boygirl boy THE BOYGIRL BOY
Quick message to parents… Stop making your sons look bitchmade with long hair. They’re boys and they aren’t supposed to be cute.

doobie THE DOOBIE WRAP
This is what you want to get next to fellas. Everything about this female is right on point. Long pressed hair, nice smile, and uh, nice kerbangers. You see she has a nice little fat on the back of her arms too so you know she can cook. I say bring some fried boneless chicken breasts over her house and a bottle of Reisling wine. When you get this sweet tender thing just a little drunk she will go down in you. At least that’s what her hairstyle is telling me.

doobie THE DOOBIE DON’T
Anytime you come across a chick with her style this tight my advice would be to leave her alone because she is gonna cost way too much money to keep up her hair and trust me all she thinks about is her hair. She’s in love with her hair because everyone compliments her on it. Her hobby is her hair. Her baby is her hair. If she has a child it is getting fed after her hair.

doobie THE BLANGE DOOBIE
Black women love to dye their hair this wild color that combines auburn and blonde streaks. I have taken to calling this hyrbrid hue Blange (pronounced blahnj). The really excessive women will also dye their eyebrows and try to match up their lipstick. You can’t tell her she isn’t fly either. She parlayed her community college experience into a civil service job and she balls out in Miami Beach every Memorial Day (yawwwn).

lion queen THE LION QUEEN
Speaking of civil servants, let’s not forgot the wearers of the oversize box braids at the office. I wonder sometimes if actual African people look at Black Americans and laugh on the inside.

shirley THE SHIRLEY TEMPLE DREAD
Blue contacts? Nose earring? Looks like another charity case if you ask me.

non pro THE NON-PROFIT
Figuring out someone’s profession from looking at their hairstyle is one of my talents. This style is worn by most of the Blacks that have graduated from historically Black colleges and universities and now work at one of the countless educational and non-profit endowments that have been established to give these people with worthless degrees someplace to work. She shops at IKEA and makes you take your shoes off when you come in her house, but she smells so damn good its hard not to eat her up like a plate of collard greens and macaroni and cheese.

bonetural THE BONETURAL
Combining LISA BONET with the natural wet look is one of my favorite styles, but be sure you check the back of the girl’s scalp for the weave. You’d be surprised how many liteskinned ladies are imitation Indians. She told me she had some Sioux in her blood, but she really meant lawsuit. Too bad that I have a thing for the grey-green eye chicks because she was a grimey type broad to steal money out of your wallet when you were asleep.

bonetural THE SELF-UNEMPLOYED LIL’ UPCHUCK NON-PROFIT CURLY BLONDE DREAD
I know that I killed all the above women that had these elements in their hairstyles and the truth is that I’m sure they’re all really nice people once you get to know them. I just had to point out that the greatest thing about Black women has nothing to do with their hair. Their undeniable power comes from that space on their shoulder right where the neck comes in. It’s soft and tender and usually smells like some kind of fruit. As long as a Black woman has a clavicle she doesn’t really need any hair.

DY-NO-MIGHT!

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

black dynamite

I’m thinking that ‘Black Dynamite’ is going to be the movie of the year in my mind edging out ‘Up’ for the top honor.

Here’s four public service announcement videos that were made in 1973 during the height of the orphange heroin epidemic. ROFFLEsk8s!

What I need to know is where can I come up on a Fight Smack In The Orphanage tee?

Slowjam For The Day…

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

the fam

All of this corporate fuxery has me heated, so to cool down and chill out I play me a slow jam…

A Tribe Called Tanya Morgan…

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

tanya morgan

My former colleague from my former column at XXL, CARL CHERY, called me blasphemous when I said that Tanya Morgan was A Tribe Called Quest 2009. Let’s be perfectly honest and clear that I am not giving the accolades and achievements of ATCQ to Tanya Morgan, but instead I am looking at them as a structural entity that resembles Tribe. ATCQ had four members along with Consequence and J Dilla. Tanya Morgan has Che Grand, but no one to resemble the avant garde JayDee.

Getting past the exacting and technical references to the legendary rap group this lessondary rap group occupies a similar sphere in Hip-Hop’s cosmology. Tanya Morgan, like ATCQ, are progressive rap artists and this makes their commercial success an uphill battle. Their content is more cerebral and esoteric than the majority of the peers at their level. Tanya Morgan’s vibe is laid back and cool without arrogance or hubris. These are the cats that would kick it at the student organization open mic at the local community college.

atcq

A Tribe Called Quest was the same type of everyman rap group. They eschewed stereotypes and crafted great music which broadened the horizons within the Hip-Hop genre. The idea that people can come from tough living conditions and rise above those situations with their art is the essence of Hip-Hop in the first place. This is the legacy of A Tribe Called Quest that I see reflected in Tanya Morgan.

At the end of the day though you have to make good music.

And this is what Tanya Morgan does.