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Just when I think I'm in the clear, it happens again.
Obligatory blogging.
Never in my life have I blogged on my own terms; it's always been on assignment. Instead of being a cathartic outlet (as heralded by blog-thusiasts), it is, once again, de rigueur.
Hence the title: Obligablogging. I might have stumbled upon a new catchphrase, but with the throngs of industrious (and terminally bored) youths out there, I doubt it.
This particular blog was originally created for “Hip Hop in the Media” – a blow-off turned mind-blowing intercession course my senior year at OU. If you’ve never spent 6 hours analyzing the biblical / Greek mythological references of late 90’s gang-bang rap, you haven’t truly lived. As my overly enthusiastic professor would say, “Tupac LIVES!” he certainly does.
I’m sure that this makes little-to-no sense, so if you’re at all curious, you can read those long-lost posts below. But be warned, they, too, were obligatory, and due to the nature of the course, some of the content is not meant for young children. I guess I could have started a new blog all-together, but you know what they say about hindsight.
So, requirements aside, I’ll try to breathe life into these new posts. What are we blogging about again? Interactive training sessions? Yes. I’ll breathe so much life into my interactive training session blogs that they won't know what hit them.
More, or less, to come. Happy obligablogging everyone!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Does that make me crazy?
Okay, i'll go ahead and admit that I'm kind of reaching for this post, but if you just stick with me hopefully you'll see the connection to hip hop.
One of the things our speakers talked about today was taking chances and going after your dream even when people tell you that it will never happen or it's too risky. Well, even though it’s not going after a record deal, I have a particular dream that usually draws criticism when people hear about it.
So, what is this particular dream of mine? Well, I’ve done it a few times already so it’s more of a tradition, but I always dream of continuing it. It’s solo-traveling. That’s right, traveling to places I’ve never been to, all by myself. I’m not talking about taking a solo road trip to Dallas either, I’m talking world travel.
It all started two years ago when I had planned a trip to California with my then boyfriend and he backed out at the last minute. My airfare was non-refundable (thank god he paid for his own) so I just said to myself “fuck it, I’m going.” So I boarded the plane to San Fransisco, and even though I was scared as hell to be embarking on this trip all alone, I knew it would be a life changing experience.
I discovered a completely different side of myself. Instead of being frightened and intimidated by my lack of companionship, I thrived in the solitude. I was able to experience a new and different world on my own terms, knowing every reaction to the sights and sounds would be completely my own, and not influenced by whoever I was with. If I wanted to go see something, I went. If I wanted to stop by a café and have a glass of wine at 1 in the afternoon, I could. Everything I did was purely because I wanted to do it, and that was so liberating.
Since San Fran, I’ve traveled to New York City, Los Angelas, Miami, Paris, Germany, and Spain by myself. When people hear that I’m going alone, especially to destinations abroad, they always have the same response; that’s not safe! Well of course it’s not safe! Neither is sky diving, or riding a motorcycle, or smoking! But we do it because it makes us feel good, it makes us feel alive. Seeing the world on my own terms makes me feel alive. Alive and connected. It makes me feel as if I have a personal connection with the world, and I don’t have to share it with anyone. I know it sounds selfish, but I believe everyone is allowed their own personal indulgence, even if it’s a little selfish.
So where will my wanderlust take me next? TOKYO! I’m leaving for Tokyo, Japan on Saturday. This Saturday. My parents are freaking out. They are 100% against me traveling to the East during this heated political climate, and I have to admit I’m a little nervous too, but maybe going to a place of conflict will help me understand the conflict more.
So what does this have to do with hip hop? Like any artist, I’m going after my dreams against all odds, and I’m doing what I’m passionate about. Also, if true hip hop is about being connected to culture, then this is completely representative of hip hop. My main goal of traveling is to become personally connected to different cultures, so I believe this is about as hip hop as I can get.
Plus, I hear the rap scene is really heating up in Japan. Wish me luck!
One of the things our speakers talked about today was taking chances and going after your dream even when people tell you that it will never happen or it's too risky. Well, even though it’s not going after a record deal, I have a particular dream that usually draws criticism when people hear about it.
So, what is this particular dream of mine? Well, I’ve done it a few times already so it’s more of a tradition, but I always dream of continuing it. It’s solo-traveling. That’s right, traveling to places I’ve never been to, all by myself. I’m not talking about taking a solo road trip to Dallas either, I’m talking world travel.
It all started two years ago when I had planned a trip to California with my then boyfriend and he backed out at the last minute. My airfare was non-refundable (thank god he paid for his own) so I just said to myself “fuck it, I’m going.” So I boarded the plane to San Fransisco, and even though I was scared as hell to be embarking on this trip all alone, I knew it would be a life changing experience.
I discovered a completely different side of myself. Instead of being frightened and intimidated by my lack of companionship, I thrived in the solitude. I was able to experience a new and different world on my own terms, knowing every reaction to the sights and sounds would be completely my own, and not influenced by whoever I was with. If I wanted to go see something, I went. If I wanted to stop by a café and have a glass of wine at 1 in the afternoon, I could. Everything I did was purely because I wanted to do it, and that was so liberating.
Since San Fran, I’ve traveled to New York City, Los Angelas, Miami, Paris, Germany, and Spain by myself. When people hear that I’m going alone, especially to destinations abroad, they always have the same response; that’s not safe! Well of course it’s not safe! Neither is sky diving, or riding a motorcycle, or smoking! But we do it because it makes us feel good, it makes us feel alive. Seeing the world on my own terms makes me feel alive. Alive and connected. It makes me feel as if I have a personal connection with the world, and I don’t have to share it with anyone. I know it sounds selfish, but I believe everyone is allowed their own personal indulgence, even if it’s a little selfish.
So where will my wanderlust take me next? TOKYO! I’m leaving for Tokyo, Japan on Saturday. This Saturday. My parents are freaking out. They are 100% against me traveling to the East during this heated political climate, and I have to admit I’m a little nervous too, but maybe going to a place of conflict will help me understand the conflict more.
So what does this have to do with hip hop? Like any artist, I’m going after my dreams against all odds, and I’m doing what I’m passionate about. Also, if true hip hop is about being connected to culture, then this is completely representative of hip hop. My main goal of traveling is to become personally connected to different cultures, so I believe this is about as hip hop as I can get.
Plus, I hear the rap scene is really heating up in Japan. Wish me luck!
Friday, December 29, 2006
Looks like the ball won't be the only thing dropping for New Years...
Okay, the title of my post might be a tad "insensitive" so I apologize to anyone who might be offended. But, according to many sources, Saddam Hussein's execution is immanent, and will possibly happen within the next few days. I know this has nothing to do with hip hop, but it is probably one of the most historically significant events of our lifetime, it's not every day that dictators are actually punished by trial for their crimes. And because many conscious artists rap about historically and culturally significant themes, I figured it would be appropriate to blog about it.
I'm assuming that everyone who hasn't been living under a rock for the past few months knows that Saddam was on trial for his crimes during his reign as dictator. Well, after a lengthy trial full of corruption and complications, he was found guilty and punished to death. In the past few days, the Iraqi government has readied all the necessary documents, including a "red card" - an execution order introduced BY SADDAM during his dictatorship. Can you say IRONIC? Saddam is being executed by protocol he put into place!
I often read drudgereport.com (a great site for political and social news coverage, although sometimes a bit too biased) and I found an article saying an adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (the new prime minister of Iraq) said Saddam would be executed before 6 a.m. Saturday, or 10 p.m. Friday EST. Also to be hanged at that time were Saddam's half-brother Barzan Ibrahim.
The time was agreed upon during a meeting Friday between U.S. and Iraqi officials, the physical transfer of Saddam from U.S. to Iraqi authorities was believed to be one of the last steps before he is to be hanged. Saddam has been in U.S. custody since he was captured in December 2003.
I also saw a pole showing that Americans want Saddam to be hanged respectfully because we are afraid of retaliation. I guess that means if he is humiliated publicly or his corpse ill-treated that it could cause an uprising we would be blamed. We already have a poor reputation around the world; we don’t want to do anything to cause an uprising against us.
What do you guys think? Should we care about the way his body is treated? He is human after all, even if he committed horrible acts. Even the worst of criminals deserve to be treated with basic human decency.
I'm assuming that everyone who hasn't been living under a rock for the past few months knows that Saddam was on trial for his crimes during his reign as dictator. Well, after a lengthy trial full of corruption and complications, he was found guilty and punished to death. In the past few days, the Iraqi government has readied all the necessary documents, including a "red card" - an execution order introduced BY SADDAM during his dictatorship. Can you say IRONIC? Saddam is being executed by protocol he put into place!
I often read drudgereport.com (a great site for political and social news coverage, although sometimes a bit too biased) and I found an article saying an adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (the new prime minister of Iraq) said Saddam would be executed before 6 a.m. Saturday, or 10 p.m. Friday EST. Also to be hanged at that time were Saddam's half-brother Barzan Ibrahim.
The time was agreed upon during a meeting Friday between U.S. and Iraqi officials, the physical transfer of Saddam from U.S. to Iraqi authorities was believed to be one of the last steps before he is to be hanged. Saddam has been in U.S. custody since he was captured in December 2003.
I also saw a pole showing that Americans want Saddam to be hanged respectfully because we are afraid of retaliation. I guess that means if he is humiliated publicly or his corpse ill-treated that it could cause an uprising we would be blamed. We already have a poor reputation around the world; we don’t want to do anything to cause an uprising against us.
What do you guys think? Should we care about the way his body is treated? He is human after all, even if he committed horrible acts. Even the worst of criminals deserve to be treated with basic human decency.
At least he didn't bite someone's ear off...
In a shocking turn of events, the regularly even-headed and well-mannered (kidding!) Mike Tyson was arrested in Arizona for driving under the influence and possession of cocaine after police stopped him leaving a Scottsdale nightclub early Friday. Tyson was placed under arrest after "showing more signs of impairment" during the field sobriety tests. Police subsequently searched Tyson and found cocaine on him and in his car.
So, why is this important to hip hop? Well, technically it's not, it's really just plain sad, but after doing a little research, I found some interesting connections between "Iron" Mike and the world of hip hop, so I thought maybe you'd find them interesting too:
So, why is this important to hip hop? Well, technically it's not, it's really just plain sad, but after doing a little research, I found some interesting connections between "Iron" Mike and the world of hip hop, so I thought maybe you'd find them interesting too:
- Tyson was good friends with rapper Tupac Shakur, and often came out for a fight with a Tupac rap as his ringwalk music (most common song "Ambitionz Az A Ridah"). Shakur had been in attendance at a Tyson fight on the night he was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting.
- Rap artist 50 Cent purchased Mike Tyson's 48,000-square-foot mansion in Farmington Connecticut for $4.1 million.
- In 1989, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince scored a hit with "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson", in which the Fresh Prince envisages himself taking on the heavyweight champion (and taking a beating in the process). Tyson appears as himself in the song's music video.
- In 1998 Tyson featured on an underground rap hit, "Second Round K.O" by Canibus. Tyson gives the rapper advice over how to defeat his lyrical opponent (rapper LL Cool J).
- Tyson collaborates with R&B artist Ginuwine in his 2003 album "The Senior" in which he gives Ginuwine his "stamp of approval" in the introduction of the album.
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Mike Tyson was the youngest man to win a heavyweight title belt, a HUGE accomplishment, and was rated in 1999 by Ring magazine as the fourteenth greatest heavyweight of all time. During his prime Tyson was considered unbeatable, but his once dominant career was undermined by personal problems (something he obviously still has trouble with...), lack of preparation, and periods of imprisonment.
Why couldn't he have done something positive with his career, like selling Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machines?
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Now That's My Kind of Library...
As many of you probably don't know, not that you would have any real reason to, the Library of Congress anounced today 25 movies to be added to their national registry. Why is this interesting? I'm glad you asked. Normally, this news would have warranted a big "so what?" from me, until I found out that two of my personal favorites were among the movies chosen to be saved for posterity.
My favorite Bill Murray flick, Groundhog Day, along with Mel Brooks' 1974 comic opus, Blazing Saddles, were selected from more than 1,000 candidates nominated by the movie-loving public and ultimately voted on by the Library of Congress staff and advisers from the Preservation Board. Also chosen was "The T.A.M.I. Show," which featured James Brown, the Rolling Stones and other artists in what the Library calls "possibly the greatest rock and rhythm-and-blues concert on film." (news.yahoo.com)
So why Blazing Saddles? Well, I inhereted my father's sense of humor, and it's on his list of all time favorites, so I'm biased. But the real reason this movie is so iconic is because it's not just a typical "comedy". It was a groundbreaking film in regards to content with what was once considered "shock value" material. The crude, racist and sexist film with toilet humor and foul language includes the main elements of any western - a dance-hall girl, a gunslinger, a sheriff, a town full of pure folk, and more, but it twists them around. So they become a black sheriff, a racist town, a sex-obsessed Governor, and so forth. Aside from the constant fart jokes, Blazing Saddles works as a satire on the way that Hollywood fictionalized and whitewashed American history.
Props to the Library of Congress; I give it two thumbs, way up!
My favorite Bill Murray flick, Groundhog Day, along with Mel Brooks' 1974 comic opus, Blazing Saddles, were selected from more than 1,000 candidates nominated by the movie-loving public and ultimately voted on by the Library of Congress staff and advisers from the Preservation Board. Also chosen was "The T.A.M.I. Show," which featured James Brown, the Rolling Stones and other artists in what the Library calls "possibly the greatest rock and rhythm-and-blues concert on film." (news.yahoo.com)
So why Blazing Saddles? Well, I inhereted my father's sense of humor, and it's on his list of all time favorites, so I'm biased. But the real reason this movie is so iconic is because it's not just a typical "comedy". It was a groundbreaking film in regards to content with what was once considered "shock value" material. The crude, racist and sexist film with toilet humor and foul language includes the main elements of any western - a dance-hall girl, a gunslinger, a sheriff, a town full of pure folk, and more, but it twists them around. So they become a black sheriff, a racist town, a sex-obsessed Governor, and so forth. Aside from the constant fart jokes, Blazing Saddles works as a satire on the way that Hollywood fictionalized and whitewashed American history.
Props to the Library of Congress; I give it two thumbs, way up!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Defunked: Tower Records
Tower Records, at long last, is no more. The 46-year-old music retailer was sold to Los Angeles-based liquidator Great American Group for $134.3 million after a federal bankruptcy judge approved the sale in October. Today was the last day of business at the iconic Village location in NYC; the Upper West Side branch closed yesterday. In the weeks leading up to this, cost-conscious music buffs have streamed into both locations to pick through thousands of marked-down CDs and DVDs.
R.I.P.
R.I.P.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Merry Christmas everyone!
Seeing as this is our last post until Christmas, I started wondering if there were any Christmas themed hip-hop albums out there. I know its a common thing for pop artists to come out with Christmas CD's doing remakes of all the holiday standards, but I really can't think of any hip-hop or rap artist making a CD like that.
So i decided to do a little investigating, and I came across this gem of a Christmas Rap artist. Has anyone heard of Afroman? Well, he's got a few merry little Christmas CD's, one of which is titled "A Colt 45 Christmas". His songs include classics such as "Deck My Balls", "Violent Night", and "O Chronic Tree". But wait, there's more!
I found another Christmas CD from him titled "Jobe Bells" featuring songs like "Nutscracker" and "Death to the World". Sounds like a wholesome album for the whole family!
I hope that you all travel safe to wherever you're heading for the holiday, I want to see everyone safe and sound back in class on Wednesday. And if you haven't figured out the perfect present to get your Grandma yet, don't forget about "A Colt 45 Christmas"!
So i decided to do a little investigating, and I came across this gem of a Christmas Rap artist. Has anyone heard of Afroman? Well, he's got a few merry little Christmas CD's, one of which is titled "A Colt 45 Christmas". His songs include classics such as "Deck My Balls", "Violent Night", and "O Chronic Tree". But wait, there's more!
I found another Christmas CD from him titled "Jobe Bells" featuring songs like "Nutscracker" and "Death to the World". Sounds like a wholesome album for the whole family!
I hope that you all travel safe to wherever you're heading for the holiday, I want to see everyone safe and sound back in class on Wednesday. And if you haven't figured out the perfect present to get your Grandma yet, don't forget about "A Colt 45 Christmas"!
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