Broke Phi Broke: Sallie Mae Turns 40
In 2006, I graduated high school. Seven years ago and a non-linear path later, I must admit I’m quite happy that me and Sallie Mae don’t happen to look at each other with the same disgust. Well, actually I take that back – we just act like a civil divorced couple who only show up [...]
On Melissa Harris-Perry & The “Risk” Of Being Poor
Let’s get this out of the way first – I’ve never been “poor”. Not by the standards of wondering where was my next meal going to appear, whether or not I would be with or without power or anything of the sort. To counter, I never grew up privileged and by the grace of God [...]
On Eazy E And Hip-Hop’s Masculinity
Magic Johnson & Eric Wright are forever linked for two things. One, the two of them during a period in the 80s absolutely ruled Los Angeles, Johnson wit the Lakers and Eazy with N.W.A. They compiled fans for all walks of life and while one always did things with a smile on his face, the [...]
On Trayvon Martin, The ‘Project X’ Murder & The Media’s View Of The Young Black Male
The long-standing narrative of being young & black in America has always been prosed the exact same way – lovers of the material yet too caught up in the moment to justify support for a cause. The current generation of African-Americans, especially its young boys fall along the same vitriol Tupac Shakur ran with for [...]
When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong: McDonald’s Edition
I have friends who’ve either worked or are currently working fast food. They complain, they grit but it’s still a grind to get them somewhere other than where they are. Society looks at them as if they’re on the bottom of the food chain in terms of respectable jobs and all of that friction leads [...]
Mos Def Urges Troy Davis Tribute At BET Hip-Hop Awards
Mos Def urges BET to pay tribute to the public murder of Troy Davis during their upcoming awards show. “The BET Awards are happenin’ in Atlanta, Georgia, apparently this weekend on Saturday, right? I’m making a strong, serious recommendation and suggestion.In the interest of humanity and the rights of human beings all over God’s spaceship, [...]
Will There Be Justice For Troy Davis?
If the story hasn’t been laid out in front of you on national television and given the sort of sensationalism as some of its counterparts, you may not have heard of it. You may not know about Troy Davis and the unwanted situation he is currently facing. Davis is facing death square in the face, [...]
The World Doesn’t Want Authentic Texas Rap
New York City hails itself as the birth place of hip-hop, an area that claims it has produced the best rappers and still dominates discussions in terms of who runs the genre regionally. Their radio stations matter, if an artist from another city goes there to perform, it’s a big deal. Despite all of the [...]
The Bridge Between Mississippi Hate & Burning London
Mark Duggan. It’s not a class problem, it’s a human problem. While our country finds itself in economic turmoil, it also deals with the sort of climate amongst its people that has been long reported, unreported or dismissed by its media. Caring more for issues going on abroad rather than issues at home, the television [...]
The Fight to Put a Hip-Hop Blog on the Map
Being accepted as a hot blog is like a job interview. Trust. In 2007, during the great blog creation period and also when rappers still thought ringtones were going to be career savers, multiple blogs sprouted up across the country with each one aspiring to become the next big blog. Problem was, out of the [...]
