Hip-hop ain't red or blue: January 2010

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Everybody knows Lil Wayne as the "Best Rapper Alive", for his unique style from his head to his toes. From the many tattoos, to his intense drug use, even down to his creative rapping techniques, Lil Wayne has surely lived up to his gangsta status. In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, the author reviewed the debut of his latest album "Rebirth". This new album is a whole new look to Lil Wayne because it's not his usual rapping, he now is taking on a new look and going for the rock scene. In this article it seems as if the author isn't too sure if he can handle this new role which many, including me, would disagree. I have been a Lil Wayne fan for over 4 years. I have taken plenty of trips around Florida just to see him perform and be in that amazing moment where you connect with the artist. I truly can say anything Lil Wayne does blows up to be the next big amazing movement. So even though people may not think he can handle this rock roll, I would have to disagree and I could bet those same people will be bopping their heads and singing along to his new rock songs. His hit "Prom Queen" at first a lot of people were skeptical about it, but then hearing it over and over again it becomes catchy and just sticks in your head. I personally can't wait for the release of this new album which had 6 different release dates since last spring. I can truly respect an artist who can use various genres of music to express himself and his diversity in the Music Industry.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Haiti Crisis and Wyclef Jean

It has been a week since the horrific 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the town of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. And it has been reported that over 72,000 deaths have been discovered. One of the world's most successful artists Wyclef Jean has always shown his nationalism in his music towards his home country Haiti. So we can all imagine how hard this must be on him. As he says in his remake of the song, “No Woman, No Cry” originally by Bob Marley, he grew up in the slums of Brooklyn and rose to wealth and fame, and now using his fortune and fame to get other people to donate to Haiti. He also attributes his rise out of the ghetto to his strength as a Haitian-American, and that strength inherent in Haitian people is going to help them recover and rebuild after this devastating earthquake. It has been stated that Mr. Jean’s own organization, the Yele Haiti Foundation has not been honest in giving the donations it has received to the Haitian community. This accusation really stung a soft side in Wyclef because before this earthquake even occurred he has always been on the Haitians side trying to get peace for his home country and donating his own time and money to various Haitian causes. In his song “President” he states if I were president instead of spending billions on the war, I can use that money, so I can feed the poor. As you can see Wyclef has always had his head in the right place when It comes to helping the less fortunate people around him.