The Show...Should go on

Im going to make a splash a few days late on this one because i had to let it sulk for a moment; once i realized it bothered me deeply, the motion began. I usually do not report upon speculation but there seems to be a consensus on this one. Chris Brown was unable to perform a tribute to Michael Jackson at the (cough, cough) BE (cough) T awards, a man who heavily influenced the art and music of Brown.

Amidst his hiatus Chris Brown has been relegated to an outcast by the music community for physically damaging Robyn Fenty. This would have been an optimal time for him to return, a very safe and uplifting event where he can break the awkward ice. I don't believe this was a moment to focus on Brown's misstep, actually i acutely think he would have been the ideal candidate to pay a tribute. There are times in life where you have to realize the situation is bigger than you or your feelings and i suppose Shawn Carter operate with that viewpoint.

As an (approximately) 40 year-old man Carter should understand the shortcomings of youth. We have all committed some deplorable acts as we transitioned into adulthood, some more than others. I would imagine Carter would be a person capable of sympathizing with Brown as to my understanding he has laid hands on a female before. I understand the idea Fenty was on a label that he once ran and facilitated but what allegiance/responsibility does he have to her. This could be hear-say (usually i don't acknowledge such) but there were also rumblings that he threatened Brown with violence, why would he mettle in the dealings of 20 year-olds, considering he has no blood relationship with any of them. All of Carter's retorts seem unwarranted and excessive. As the older individual I would imagine that he would be able and willing to teach Brown and Fenty a few lessons, as you can see how this affected both of their careers. I put a lot of onus on the "leaders" to do more leading and less criticizing as they forget their own personal trangressions.

The point is there needs to be a little more unity amidst the music community, then they can make this thing better for everyone. Wrong is wrong and i don't expect Carter to coddle Brown, but don't kick the brother everytime he tries to get up. Oh and i just found out Al Sharpton was lobbying as well, i have no words for him.

Such a Long way to Go

On June 24th the BET Awards were held in Los Angeles, CA. Standard procedure was followed for the ethnic award show, several musical performances with a few awards sprinkled in between. Among all the gripes i could make about the show i will save the remaining 34 and just vocalize the one which i feel is one of the most indicative of suppressed issues.

For the male hip hop award, my man Lupe Fiasco was not nominated. For a gentlemen who has contributed some incredible, innovative, and prolific pieces to a musical genre that is devoid of such attributes it excavates my heart to see him overlooked. For as much concept and musical structure as he puts into his music it is funny (or not) how he can win a grammy but he cant get a BET Award! Not as if he needs a BET statue would validate him, although i feel it would dignify their awards, it just shows our lack of direction. As a side note i should mention that the audience wasn't really clapping when they were listing the nominees and they said Missy Elliot but the people went crazy when they mentioned Trina. Missy puts exponentially more work into her music than Trina and it shows, however i digress.

People have the liberty to create whatever they would like, and that is fine by me. The more appalling fact is what the people support. When you have a song and you can say "that song is just like song x" then it really isn't that creative. Take the hip hop condition at the moment for example, one person makes something that's hot and then you have 10 replicas behind it, yeah the songs may sound catchy at the time because that's just like the other song that was hot. But are you really that talented if your song is just like many others on the radio. At that point you haven't created anything, you have just issued your version of it. On the contrary when you have something innovative and pioneering that's put together then thats what should be rewarded. That is pushing the envelope and showing true musical talent. So back to my man Lupe, his music is novel, articulate, and musically authentic as a song and not just a track. If you haven't noticed it really isn't about Lupe exclusively, the roots to this soliloquy run deeper than that.

Music is meant to do a lot of things such as evoke fun, tears, reflections, and many other feelings. Most of us like to have a good time and i am no different, but my deepest rift lies in the fact that we consistently like our music dumbed down. It doesn't appear that as a culture we enjoy our simple, fun, and exuberant tracks as well as the tracks that supply the content, we are always stuck on the same gear. As I state all the time, when people feel connected to the music thats when its potency is highest, and as fictitious as some of these tracks are it amazes me that people are able to label them as "real talk" and people don't realize how uncool and serious some of that talk is until it jumps off the paper into real life.

I will slow it down and finish with these few paragraphs. We are stuck in a bad gear and driving nowhere fast, at some point you have to take the hip hop car out of park and drive around the block and see whats really happening. Oh, and reward the people who are really putting their creativity and concept into their music, that's probably why Kanye was always so upset about awards, i would be too if people were winning awards for music i could put out in my sleep and i put intricate amount of details into my pieces and the awards are being handed to the other guys. It just highlights the idea that you can't give a kid filet mignon and a burger and expect him to pick the filet, he just doesn't know any better. Im gone!

Just had to get that off my chest...