by Ronda Racha Penrice for the Grio.com

Is being gay in hip-hop trapped in the closet?

When it comes to women sexually exploring other women, hip-hop has generally accepted such behavior, encouraged it even, on the condition that those women still engage in sex with men. Lesbians often present another problem. Women who love women only are considered “gay” while women who sometimes dabble in sex with women are considered freaks. Same-sex loving men or, even worse, bisexual men, are not even in the conversation.

Over the years, hip-hop’s homophobia has spilled over into the mainstream. Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP drew protests from GLAAD for such songs as “Criminal” and “Kill You” where words like “fags” don’t go unnoticed. In the midst of the controversy, Eminem performed with Elton John at the 2001 Grammys as GLAAD members protested outside.

But Eminem’s actions aren’t as contradictory as they appear. If there’s any industry that thrives on a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, it’s the music industry, especially hip-hop. Two years ago, Terrance Dean had the industry on edge when his memoir, Hiding in Hip-Hop: On the Down Low in the Entertainment Industry – from Music to Hollywood was released. Although rumored to resemble Karrine Steffans’s explosive 2005 book Confessions of a Video Vixen, Dean’s book didn’t name names. Instead Dean, who once worked for BET and MTV, used fictional names that led to a guessing game, especially among urban bloggers.

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by J. McBride for MusicalMusing.com

This is a personal pet peeve of mine. I absolutely hate it when DJs scream over tracks on mixtapes. When I listen to a song, I want to hear the beat and the vocalist’s lyrics as they are intended to be heard without having either of those things drowned out every few seconds by some DJ screaming their name, some sort of non-sequitur or playing a lame sound effect over the track.

It all started when I was much younger, barely out of middle school and I was listening to a song with some of my friends and heard “DJ Clue” echoing over the beat. The first time I heard it, it was jarring and annoying but I thought it would be a one-time thing that wouldn’t crop up again during the song. Boy was I wrong. From then on, I’ve deeply despised DJs who scream over the tracks they’ve produced.

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“So listen, be strong, scream woopy-do, go for yours cause dreams do come true.“

Slick Rick – Hey Young World

You still dream…don’t you? I know we used to do it, but for one reason or another we may have quit dreaming. Dreaming became something for kids. Maybe someone told you, “you better wise-up, get a real job” or “it’s time to grow up.” Be kind to those who share those messages with you; they are only trying to “protect” you. Someone might have killed their dreams, but that doesn’t have to be your reality. “Dream on!”

Switching genres on you and stealing a line from John Lennon (You didn’t know Ambassador Bruny was versatile did ya), “Some say, I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one!”

Affirmation of the Day:
Today I go for it, because dreams come true!

Question of the Day:
What is your dream?

Action of the Day:
1.Grab your favorite magazines(or some you don’t own) and cut out a few images that represent your dream.

2.Get poster size construction paper and create your “Dream Board.”

3.Take a picture and share @ www.facebook.com/hiphopaffirmations

Run the Point; from where you are, with what you have!

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny

Mike Bruny is a certified professional life coach, working with ambitious professionals across the country. He helps them to rediscover their values, gain clarity for life/career decisions and live more fulfilling lives. If you want to know more, reach him at: bruny@hiphopaffirmations.com,

Periodically it seems that things will get you off track.  You get a nice rythm going and then BAM!  You fall off the wagon and the next thing you know you’re  up all night and you find yourself trying to sell your Six Million Dollar Man action doll for crack.  Well it wasn’t that bad. But we were just humming along and all of sudden the modem goes out and no internet (a sad place to be especially when you don’t have cable).  Now we got a new modem a few weeks ago but it took a while to get in the groove. Sooooooo here we is. Finally

Straight out the Chi its Kidz in the Hall. We featured there second album The In Crowd almost a year ago. It seems like they keep changing labels with the release of every album.  Last time out they were down with a restarted Rawkus Records and now they’ve aligned themselves with Duckdown Records home of Black Moon, Helter Skelter, and Sean Price.

Don’t forget, these are not the complete songs—just 90-second clips so you can get a feel for the music. If you like what you hear, go out and buy the CD.  Quality hip hop grows when we support the artists.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Just like the title says here’s an interview with Naledge right right before the release of Kidz in the Hall latest album Land of Make Believe. Check it out.

“Lack of vision makes division, product no ambition”
Black Sheep – Black with N.V.

Are you without vision? We all start off with tunnel vision. Some get ride of the tunnel and are left with vision. To increase vision, you must increase your exposure to things that you are not familiar with. If we stay in our box, then all we will know is our box. In other words, you can’t, “Think outside the box” even if you wanted to.

Affirmation of the Day:
Box, What box? I have no boundaries!

Question of the Day:
What’s your vision?

Action Step of the Day:
Make a list of 3 people who you consider “outside of the box” thinkers and take 1 of them out for coffee to brainstorm a “crazy” idea you’ve had.
Run the Point; from where you are, with what you have!

Your Ambassador,

Mike Bruny

Get your DAILY Hip Hop Aferemation HERE

Mike Bruny is a certified professional life coach, working with ambitious professionals across the country.  He helps them to rediscover their values, gain clarity for life/career decisions and live more fulfilling lives. If you want to know more, reach him at: bruny@hiphopaffirmations.com,

How the Tax Code Perpetuates Hip Hop Blingdom

by David Downs for plenti.com

That crazy new Lil Wayne video you just on Youtube: yeah, that’s a write-off.

The culture of hip hop blingdom – with its diamond-studded videos, spectacular tours, and pimped out cribs – is perpetuated by the whitest homie on the block: Uncle Sam.

According to certified professional accountants, the tax code itself perpetuates hip hop blingdom and may be responsible for its rise. The reason is simple: businesses are allowed to deduct certain business expenses from the amount they owe to the government every year. Since hip hop has made bling part of its business, they can write off the blingdom as a cost of doing work.

According to CPA Jerry Catalano [http://www.themusiccpa.com/] – who has spent decades representing recording artists – musicians can deduct business expenses so long as they are “ordinary and necessary.” But if you’re 50 Cent, define “ordinary and necessary”? That Rolex on 50’s wrist could well be considered an expense of maintaining his “brand,” especially if he only wears that watch on-stage.

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Since Common’s new movie with Queen Latifah is opening today we figured the time was right to drop this gem.  We had this conversation a few months ago but hey why not capitalize on an opurtunity.  ANYway we discuss what might be keeping Common from TRULY being the best he can be. By the way we got LOTS of love for Com. We ain’t hatin we just talkin.