I first saw this a few months ago when you know that election thing was going on. anybody know how that turned out by the way? ANYway if you saw it take this time out to see it again since it is the mythical made up 100 day mark for Prez 44. If you HAVN’T seen it sit back and enjoy (9:59)
5 Rap Acts Who Belong in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame
GrownHeadz, ever ahead of the curve, created this very special Hot 5 months before Run-DMC’s induction into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Still, out of respect we decided to keep them on the list, as well as fellow honorees Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The rest of the rappers and groups named here haven’t gotten the invite yet, but they damn sure deserve one.
Run-DMC (inducted 2009)
No question, for these guys, the honor was long overdue. Run-DMC has true rock credentials. Three of their biggest hits were rock records: Rock Box, King of Rock, and Walk this Way. In fact, their second album King of Rock featured rock songs almost exclusively. Besides, Run-DMC, more than any other group, was responsible for hip-hop’s dominance of music in the 21st century. But we already discussed this before.
Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five (inducted 2007)
Initially, I was one of many who questioned Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five’s induction into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Don’t get me wrong, they were innovative, considered at one time the best in the field, and they made history when The Message went platinum in 1982. All that’s good enough for the Hip Hop Hall of Fame; I just didn’t think it was far-reaching enough for the Rock Hall. But the Hall of Fame has been good at picking artists who are the foundations upon which the city is built. Some early inductees into the Rock Hall like Louie Jordan, Smokey Robinson, and James Brown are not considered “rock” acts, but provided a basis for many rock acts who followed. In that case, of all the early innovators of hip-hop, GMF & FF definitely fit the bill. Plus, when they released The Message it put EVERYBODY (including other rappers) on notice that hip-hop was more than just party music.
The Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys do not get a free pass into the Rock Hall of Fame because they are white. They get in because they truly blazed a trail in hip-hop. They have gone from frat boy anthems (Fight For Your to Party) to headlining concerts that highlight China’s human rights abuses in Tibet. Along with rock-oriented rap hits, Beasties went all the way back to their punk rock roots and busted out live instrumentation on a few of their albums, like Check Your Head and Ill Communication. And, lest we forget, Sabotage is basically them singing (bless their hearts).
Public Enemy
Why PE? The better question is Why Not? Their first, second and third albums pioneered the “Wall of Sound” technique, and featured straight-up rock songs like Sophisticated Bitch and Channel Zero. With all the screeches, sirens and dozens of samples per song, a PE album demanded to be played at 11. Add in Chuck’s BOOMING flow and you have rap that is most transferable to rock. Bring The Noise lost not an ounce of credibility or funk as a rock remake. Furthermore, PE travels with a full band to supplement their sound on the road. One journalist jokingly wrote that Public Enemy was trying to be the Rolling Stones of hip-hop. Well, with both Chuck and Flav pushing 50, still putting out records and selling out shows, they just might do it.
NWA
Sex, Dugs and Rock n Roll. In terms of pure rock attitude, NWA was as hard as it got. When your favorite band scares your parents shitless, is under FBI surveillance and continues performing despite obscenity fines, you know they just don’t give a fuck—and you love them for it. Second only to PE in rebelling against authority, they were the Rolling Stones (bad boys sexing everything in sight) to PE’s Beatles (clean-cut good guys). And if you look at the line up, it’s pretty extraordinary. They had Dr. Dre long before he was hailed as one of the best producers of all time, Ice Cube, one of the top lyricists ever (though MC Ren was no slouch), and Eazy E, one of the first artist/label owners in hip-hop, whose label signed some classic artists (DOC, Bone Thugs n Harmony). If NWA were inducted, it would acknowledge one of music’s greatest beatmakers, rappers, and entrepreneurs all in one swoop.
If ever there was an album for a grownhead this might be it. There have been concept albums before, but this might actually speak to more than a few people. The Divorce is just what it says its the musical journey from love to break-up. And not just some teen-age love stuff. REAL grownfolk problems like trying to sell the house to split the proceeds, mortgage forclosure, etc. But I don’t want to make a review out of this. We present Dagha, The Divorce and we let YOU decide if you can feel it.
As always, these are not the complete songs, just 90-second clips to give you a feel for the music. If you like what you hear, buy the CD. We’ve gotta support if we want real hip hop to flourish.
***NOTE** This album is ONLY availible as a download
by Da Emazing One for OldSchoolScholar.com
I have this question that I wish to ask everybody. The question is simply this, “does money measure the depth of your
love and respect for Hip Hop culture?” Now, if your answer is a quick “Hell No,” stop to think about this first. You see the BCM (Bloodsucking Corporate Machine) is forever proud to let us know that everybody has a price. Now, allow me to repeat the question again, “does money measure the depth of your love and respect for Hip Hop culture?”
Let me give you a few relative scenarios to explain what I’m talking about. Let’s say you’re a Graff Writer and an employee of a BCM approaches you saying, “Wow, Man! You’re very talented! I’m a publisher, and if you sign with us we can make you rich and famous!’
What if you’re an emcee, rap artist, or rapper, and you’ve just rocked a local crowd at a party. An employee from a BCM steps to you and says “Yo, Man! I love the way you rap! I’m a producer, and if you sign with us we can make you rich and famous!”
FOR THE REST OF THE STORY CLICK HERE
Since we don’t have passwords, secret handshakes or ID cards we need to figure who amongst us does not belong. Who amongst us is not really a “grownhead.” There is only one way to tell (pause), YOU are a grownhead IF…..
43)…you wish SOME radio station SOMEWHERE would become the home of Adult Contemporary Hip Hop, “Playing all your favorite Hip-Hop hits from the 80’s and 90’s!”
44)… you actually passed a test because of something you could hum from School House Rock
45)…you remember when Grand Puba was in Masters of Ceremony, Busta was in Leaders of the New School, and when DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill) was in 7A3
46)…you consider The Go-Bots a flimsy, pale imitation of Transformers, but you watched it anyway because it was a cartoon and it was on
47)…you NEVER thought Run-DMC would fall off
48)…when you got married it was hard to find a DJ that played Tribe Called Quest, Redman, Blacksheep and everything else you rocked in high school or college
49)…you remember when MC Hammer was just “ghetto” famous and you danced your ass off to Let’s Get It Started
We’ve been meaning to post this for a minute but it seemed like other stuff just kept coming up. We thought it was just a joke..NOT. Its the real thing check the site here. We are not exactly cinemaphiles here at Grownheadz, but we’re pretty sure Sundance 2009 hasn’t happened yet. ANYway check it out.
It’s been nearly 20 years since I’ve seen quality hip-hop consistently beamed into homes across the U.S. on the 
proletariat waves of mainstream networks, so I’ve been overjoyed the past couple weeks to have caught PE, Luda, and Santigold on TV.
Jimmy Fallon has been bringing the pain, hardcore to the brains of his Late Show audience, with The Roots smoking all other late night bands and funking up the musical guests. Back in the day, Arsenio had that game sewn up. His stage saw more hip-hop acts than the Apollo. It was worth it to sit through the brother’s softball intros, excruciating interviews, and near-Fetchit clowning for the three minutes of astounding brilliance that was the musical set.
Today is much the same. Fallon is painful to watch; he’s not funny, gratingly ingratiating and looks constricted in his fashionably tight suit. The Roots as house band is the lone shot of hip that may save the host, and Fallon’s not stupid in booking musical acts that play well with them—though their decade plus of touring has helped hone their act, I’m sure.
In fact, Jimmy’s biggest danger is being upstaged. Black Thought and ?uestlove aren’t second stringers. If they ever get some lines written into the show, or the chance to just kick it casually on-air and display some of their natural charisma, forget about slow-jamming the news—Fallon might be singing the blues.
For all those grownheadz looking for something to do this summer here is your best chance to see the best of the old and the new.
Here is the website (not much on it yet)
For the uninitiated check out the Wikipedia post to get more background info and past line ups.
Some artist at past shows have been featured in the ALBUM of the WEEK like Murs, Immortal Technique and Kidz in the Hall
So if yoy remember the Fresh Fest or ain’t been to a show in ahile keep an eye out
Just some things we hadd layin around that you might find interesting
Louis M. grafix has his list of best and worst hip hop album covers
Songs move ya. Songs can take away the pain, Songs are weapons. Poet /Actor Saul Williams gives his list of the 5 best protest records.
We all hear about the advent of the “studio” gangsta well here is the list of gangsta’s that take it way past the recording booth
Well well another mix of the week. You’ll notice there is no track listing. i could say its because i want to surprise you, let you EXPLORE the music, yadah, yadah,yadah and yadah. Nope its deeper than that . I’m in Charlotte NC, and left my track listing at home. ANYway I’ll post it later (although I said that once before and never got around to it)
