Monday, August 30, 2004
New Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill & A.D.O.R. | Chi Modu | Black vs. African-American | Should "hip hop" vote for Kerry?
This really doesn't have to with anything I normally discuss on this site but I saw an article with a picture on the brand new National Museum of the American Indian (above) in The New York Times yesterday and thought the building looked incredible. (Note: archive readers, this link may be dead by time your read this. | Related: the museum's official website)
Speaking of incredible pictures, check out the official websites of acclaimed hip hop photographer Chi Modu: ChiModu.com | Hip Hop Images.
Jill Scott returns tomorrow (I believe) with her long-awaited sophomore studio release Beautifully Human Words and Sounds Vol. 2.
And in semi-related news, Funkdigi comes up with a link to "The Passion" a new Lauryn Hill joint that may (or may not) be from her VERY long awaited follow-up album allegedly to be released before the end of this year. Titled very similarly to Mel Gibson's controversial Jesus epic (coincidence?), if this is a sign of things to come, the prognosis is not good. This is far from the souled out perfection of her classic solo debut album The Miseducation and is more reminiscent, and far worse than, her now infamous Unplugged No. 2.0 and trust me, I was one of the few people who actually liked that album/DVD.
Early 90's Pete Rock affiliate A.D.O.R. finally drops his debut (?) album Classic Bangerz Vol. 1.
Ma$e is on the cover of the new Vibe but I haven't read it yet. And props to the Dave Chapppelle and the rest of the Spitkicker crew for making the cover of the new XXL which I also haven't checked out yet. There's also a new issue of Kicks er... kicking around. Sneaker heads: is this worth copping?
Allhiphop.com runs an editorial by Bakari Kitwana on "Why We Shouldn't Vote For Kerry". This seems to be on ongoing theme in hip hop this election season with some trying to make the argument that, since the Democrats take the black vote for granted (because they know we either won't vote or will automatically vote for them regardless of whether "our" concerns are being addressed or not) and the GOP is openly hostile to issues on the black agenda, voting at all or for one of the two major parties is a waste of timne.
But guess what folks? You don't vote for one of the two parties most likely to win, you really don't have a voice that can help affect policy change. If masses of young voters, black, minority of otherwise, come out and vote in November and begin the process of demanding a voice in the political process from the left or the right side, see how quickly their concerns will start to be addressed. (Spotted via Hip Hop Libertarian)
Speaking of blacks: The Times examines the problems with using the term "African-American" as a racial descriptor. (Note: archive readers, this link may be dead by time your read this.)
And also somewhat related: Fear of a Mixed Planet is the great title for the new album by Digital Underground's Shock G.
Is Jet Li's new movie "Hero" really better than "Crouching Tiger..." like some crtics are claiming? I also hear it's been out on DVD but is only now getting a proper theatrical release so what's really good?
The Olympics is a wrap but now that others have gone there, can I just go on record and ask what is it about those female beach volleyball uniforms that make every player look super hot (even though some of them are actually kind of mediocre grill-wise)? Also, Paul Hamm got over but how do you resolve how this dude got jerked? (SI.com)
