Black men talking about black men. That is what Your Black Brothers is all about. Whatever affects you as an African-American male is fair game for this blog. Black men discuss everything from black sports, to black health, politics, religion and everything else. Brothers unite and talk it out...that's what we do here.
Consider it a strange dream, but I had some thoughts about the Jay-Z beef with the rapper Beanie Sigal. No, I'm not here to talk about keeping street cred. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Half of the artists in the hip hop industry are not nearly as hard or as real as they claim to be. They're too smart for that. The guys who are really as hard as most rappers claim to be are either in a jail cell or a casket. That's the truth. What got my attention was when Charlamagne Tha God was fired from 100.3, "The Beat" in Philadelphia. I've known Charlamagne for years from our work on The Wendy Williams Show, so this made me a little upset. What was even sadder is the allegation that Jay Z may have played a role in getting Charlamagne fired, in large part because Charlamagne conducted an interview with Jay-Z's new rival, Beanie Sigal. This incident represents more than the standard thuggery that some might see on the surface. Instead, it brings forth a plethora of issues that relate to business, entertainment, money and corporate power. Here are some quick thoughts:
DMX released a statement Wednesday due to reports that he was throwing food at a Maricopa County detention officer. DMX states: "Many of you know me as DMX but right now I am speaking to you as Earl Simmons ... For the record, I want to state 'I Did Not' physically touch or hit an officer. This is just another attempt to destroy my credibility."
-- Posted By AutumnJones to yourblackhiphop at 2/27/2009 12:00:00 AM
As a writer I know the power that words can have on one’s mind. I remember reading “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” as a kid and being mesmerized by the vivid word play of Roald Dahl. The sounds and denotations of the words were so powerful that it made me feel first person with the text. My love for words eventually became 16 bars. My first rap CD was Heavy D and the Boy’s second album “Big Tyme” and from then on my collection grew to “Ready to Die”, “All Eyes on Me” Thug Motivation 101” and the list goes on. Rap is a mainstay in my life. The morning ritual consists of: brushing my teeth, listening to the enthralling beats of the enormous rap collection that has grown exponentially since 1989 and eating. Over the years my tastes have grown within the genre. When I was around 5 or 6 my uncle would grace my ears with the sounds of Chuck D’s politically charged anthems, Q-Tip’s laidback grooves and even the sounds of the Fat Boys. This inception into the realm of hip hop took many twists and turns. From the East Coast, West Coast, Dirty South and even the Midwest, this love of mine called hip hop has uplifted some of my darkest days. It has been my pre-game warm-up music, getting dressed to impress music, background sound while I’m studying music, the cant wait to hear your next album music. It’s been everything. But now I’m falling out of love with it.
Recently I have decided to start deleting some of the music in my library. I must admit that it has been a very hard process, but its one step towards erasing my life of negativity. I have asked God for the strength to erase a lot of different things in my life, but this by far has been the longest and hardest change to make. Hopefully my testimonial will bring about change.
Rap and/or Hip-Hop are often times generalized and characterized as a genre of music dedicated to the degradation of women, the high praise of money, and the inundation of profanity in the lyrics. Too many times have I heard members of the older generation slam the entire genre, calling it a “disgraceful addition” to music as they reminisce about the days when “cats used to harmonize on the block…”
“They say hip-hop is dead…” but the artists that refuse to see it go have done a good job of bringing back the reasons why people loved hip hop in the first place.
Those that kept up the feel of the old-school rappers and their flow include artists and groups like Dead Prez, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, and even Nas or Common. These rappers have floated around since the days of old-school, and have stayed true to the hip-hop they once knew. They keep the issues and lives of black people the focus of their flow.
New age rappers like Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco have come onto the scene and done the same thing to a mainstream crowd. Many fall into this category, and I call them the blessing in disguise. They have joined Nas, Common and the others above in the “Talented Tenth” of the rap world- if you will. They speak about issues that are not categorized into the three above stated classifications of rap songs, but still draw the same huge crowds.
I like to read the poetry of Tupac Shakur. There was a rapper that gained respect as both an artist and an educator/author. Tupac was a lyrical genius, with a story to tell in every single one of his songs and poems. Others like Lupe follow that path, and David Banner is somewhat close to being in the same boat- as he often discusses and exemplifies the roles of black men in America.
I respect a lot of artists. Method Man, Redman, Ice T, DMX, Snoop Dogg (although I don’t really like his music), Big Boi/Andre 3000, T-Pain, and many others are exploring their other talents as actors, businessmen and community activists. For all of these reasons, these artists deserve their fame and fortune.
I respect Lil’ Wayne for having the ability to command crowds, and come up with such creative and colorful lyrics. However, I have my reserves about his lifestyle and contributions to the world. Call me crazy, but I think a man with his power should do more with it than just sip syrup and count money.
The unfortunate thing is that rappers who only feel the need to talk about big booty hoes, makin’ it rain, crankin’ that [fill in the blank] and anything else of the sort…still are able to make money. This is where hip-hop and rap becomes almost laughable. How can the world take the genre seriously, if some of its own members don’t take it seriously.
I say hip-hop is not dead, it is just at a crossroads. The smartest rappers are educators, businessmen, and multi-talented people. Those who don’t have the super status of men like Jay-Z, Kanye West, 50 Cent, or P.Diddy need to ask themselves and decide whether or not they are capable of taking on the responsibility, and doing their assumed jobs as contributors to upholding the integrity of black music and the black community.
Interview with 1st and 15th Recording Artist, GemStones, by Tolu Olorunda. GemStones (formerly known as Gemini), is a recording artist on Lupe Fiasco’s vanity record label 1st & 15th. He was raised in Jeffrey Manor/South C on the South Side of Chicago. In 2007, he shot the video for the first single off of his upcoming album, Troubles of the World called “We On” featuring Lupe Fiasco. He appeared on MTV for “MTV Diary” and in August 2007, he was a “featured artist on MySpace.” In December of 2007 GemStones was featured on Fiasco’s sophomore album, The Cool. He appeared on tracks “Free Chilly”, “The Die”, “Go Baby”, and Lupe’s first single “Dumb it Down.” He recently endured a startling experience, which he aptly describes as his “transition.” He lost over 70 pounds, and picked up a socially-conscientious style of Hip-Hop. A highly articulate and lucid speaker, he claims to still posses the lyrical-velocity that accrued fans in the first place. Fresh off “The Cool Tour,” GemStones is now ready to take his place in the Mainstream. His mixtape, Testimony of Gemstones was released June 20th and his debut album, Troubles of the World is due to drop in fall of 2008. I had the pleasure of speaking with GemStones on his life, his music, and his overall outlook on a broad swath of issues:
Thanks so much for joining us, GemStones. Can you pls. inform us of your background, past projects and the struggle leading up to 1st and 15th records?
Well, I grew up in Chicago, as a rapper/singer. Originally, I adopted the name, “Gemini,” because Gemini is a sleek personality, so I was double-sided. My negative side was me rapping, and my positive side was me singing. I ran into Lupe (Fiasco) in 2001. I was recording in a studio, and Lupe walked in with the late “Stack Bundles.” At the time, Stack Bundles was also signed to 1st and 15th Records. When he heard my verses, he was so impressed, and before time passed, I was signed to 1st and 15th. I then began putting songs together for a whole year, by grindin’. I was living with a couple of producers, who made beats and offered them to me. After a while, I finally got a record-deal. Then I started recording with Lupe, and then he released his first major album, “Food and Liquor,” and I was featured on almost every song on it. And in 2006, when MTV did the special, “My Block Chicago,” I was featured as the headliner. I also hosted “Sucker Free Sunday.” And then late last year, Lupe released his 2nd album, “The Cool,” and I appeared on about 4 songs. I joined Lupe on “The Cool Tour” where we performed shows in almost every major city in the world. In the middle of the shows, Lupe would stop it for me to showcase my talents, and rock the crowds of sometimes, about 15,000 people. With all that, people began to notice me, and I got a whole page in the Source magazine, and a whole page in XXL magazine. And recently, I just released my major mixtape, “The Testimony of Gemstones.”
What are the lessons you’ve learned - musically and beyond - from working with Lupe Fiasco?
Well, I’m more conscious of what I say now, and what comes out of my mouth. In the beginning, I was just rapping to put rhymes together. I watched Lupe’s music evolve, and as I was around Lupe more, I saw the impact he was having on people, with his new brand. Lupe helped me find my voice; and his influence made it easier for me to find out what my calling was. My lyrics and my rhymes are a lot more potent than they we’re before. I’m still rapping with the same intensity that I was, but I’m just more socially-conscious.
Can you describe the radical makeover that you underwent, with regards to your musical and physical life?
I wasn’t eating good; I was out drinking and smoking, and wasn’t taking care of my body. I was injecting all kinds of toxic into my body -- and destroying it. I was up to 320 pounds, when I had a mild heart attack. I was out with Lupe one night in L.A, when I felt a numbing-pain on my left side, and all I could think of was the fact that I was about to have a heart attack. I thought about how I had survived the hood - with gun-shots and so much more - and how I couldn’t go out from food. After that, I went to the hospital, and got my body back on track. I started eating vegetables, chicken breasts, and drinking water. With regards to my music, I started transitioning from the bogus, negative style of rap I was performing, to what I’m involved with today. But, I didn’t plan for it to happen; everything just fell into place after my weight loss. Before I knew it, I became healthy spiritually, mentally and physically. In the past, I had catered to my fans and whatever they wanted to hear; I had degraded women, and with my mother listening to my music, it grew uncomfortable. With my new self, I wrote songs like “Skeleton” and “Good morning.” I realized that if I wasn’t part of the solution, I was part of the problem, and so I made a 180 degree turnaround.
Why the name-change from Gemini to Gemstones?
Well, I had some legal trouble, where someone already owned the name, so I had to make the fix and change it to Gemstones.
What is your overall perspective on Hip-Hop today - especially in the Chi – which is widely rumored to be the next biggest thing?
I think Hip-Hop will be good. I never thought Hip-Hop was dead, but I also thought it was on life-support. And, with cats like Common, Lupe and myself - keeping it strong when things weren’t going as good - we helped it. It was because of cats like that who didn’t sell out for a dime -- that Hip-Hop never died. And if you notice, things are starting to get better – it’s recovering. In Chicago, we hold the elements of Hip-Hop down. We have always made good music for the soul. I also believe that with my transition, I’ve made a big impact with keeping Hip-Hop alive. Even in the clubs; the music that is being played today, trumps that of 3 yrs. ago. Yet sometimes, I feel that rap has to be responsible for some of the more negative things that happen around us. And, whether we as rappers want to admit it or not, the kids are listening to us. When young girls start to believe that they can’t be lawyers and doctors anymore; that all there is to be is some video vixen, you have to take it seriously. The tongue is mighty, and when we realize that we can speak things into existence, we might become more conscious of our lyrical content. I think that if we could turn the negative to positive, we would become so strong as a people.
What’s your take on Barack Obama, and do you have any criticisms of his campaign?
I say thumbs up to him. It’s good to see a black person in a position like that. We’ve been held back for so long, and for any black person who’s doing something positive, I’m always with it. I wish him the best of luck.
You come from a rich musical background. In fact, you describe it as being vital in your shaping. As an artist and entertainer; how concerned are you that many public schools are slowly but drastically losing their music programs?
I’m very concerned, and I think that we as adults and entertainers need to step up and step in. We need to put our foot down. As soon as we start doing our job, things would start to turn around; but I’m hopeful that we’ll be alright though.
Can you tell us about the Testimony of Gemstones – which is your latest mixtape?
The Testimony of Gemstones is me testifying and apologizing to all my fans, who I might have misled in the past. I might have led people to destruction with some of my past lyrics. I don’t know what to call what I do, but it’s not rapping. I’m telling the truth; it just happens to come over a beat. Rapping seems to be ‘just putting words together because they match.’ The Testimony of Gemstones is all about real life and inspiration. I came from nothing, and I’m testifying to everyone who can relate to me, and the subjects that I touch on in the mixtape, are rarely touched on by most of these rappers. Ever since the release, I’ve been getting ‘5s’ all across the board, and people are going nuts over it. The response so far has been amazing, and it is an orientation before my album, “Troubles of the World” drops -- which is slated to drop later this year. I made the mixtape to prepare the public for Troubles of the World. The album is so raw, that I had to ‘dumb it down’ for them in the form of this mixtape.
Lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring artists and entertainers, hoping to get ahead in the ‘wildfire’ industry of Hip-Hop?
Don’t sell your soul, and don’t ever sell out for a dollar. People chase the dollar and miss the pot of gold at the end of the road. Also, never give up on your dreams – which is the main thing. Kanye West once told me, “to be with greatness, you got to play with the greats.” Lastly, keep God first and stay humble; patience is a virtue, and you can ‘Touch the Sky.’
For more information on GemStones and his latest/future projects, visit: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=66875165
This interview was conducted by Tolu Olorunda, Staff Writer for YourBlackWorld.com
