Our mission here at Afronerd really is a difficult one. We attempt to inform and provoke critical thinking but admittedly we are up against a lucrative and insidious cultural behemoth-thug life. I just happend to trip over a site entitled, ThugLifeArmy.com whose sole purpose one would think is to uphold tenets of the late Tupac Shakur. I will be the first to say that I actually purchased and liked some of Shakur's music. Unfortunately, his political and social confusion in my estimation contributed to his untimely death. He was literally a walking contradiction and I'm just not sure about the site's title. Credibility gets lost in the wash when you make reference to thuggery in one instance and consciousness in another. One article in particular, written by Bruce Dixon actually possessed some valid points. His criticisms (as it relates to this article) regarding true journalism and the truncated imagery that TV-One and BET provide are irrefutable but he loses me with his highlighting of the annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference. In all fairness, perhaps my ire should be aimed at the Caucus' awarding of the "Lawn Jockey" to at least four Black members of Congress who score lowest on the semi-annual CBC Monitor report cards. As many criticisms that have been levied against the Caucus, I would recommend that they pass the award amonsgt themselves. This insistence that if one is not a progressive he or she must be a lawn jockey is counter-productive and just not accurate. When will the madness stop? Check out Mr. Dixon's article and make your own conclusion.
First Annual Lawn Jockey Awards
And one more thing...courtesy of ThugLifeArmy.com (again, you lose me with the name folks)-NYOIL has been submitted for Grammy consideration:
Controversial Hip Hop Rap Artist Gets Grammy Look
8/15/2007 3:25:39 PM by Robert
A controversial hip hop rapper who advocated the lynching of other rappers whom he deems inappropriate has been submitted for nomination to the Grammy awards in both Category 3 for "Song of the year" and Category 31 "Rap Solo Performance".
The controversial hip hop MC in question NYOIL (pronounced NY Oil) from Staten Island NY released a song titled "Y'all Should All Get Lynched" to unprecedented fan fare in October 2006. The song which decries the behavior of the rappers who "sell out" the black community with lines like "All you fake a** gangsters y'all should all get lynched, because Malcolm X died for you to act like this and Martin Luther King died for you to act like this, and this the best you can come up with?" has become a cult favorite on the internet. The accompanying video was banned by Youtube within 48 hours of loading with over 6,000 views with no explanation. Fans of the artist have uploaded the video onto different sites with roughly a million views collectively.
Sources inform us that the song is getting a push from established artist on the (Grammy) board in response to what is perceived as a "Disgust with current hip hop trends"
This coup would be the first in Grammy History, if nominated NYOIL would be the first independent Rap Artist to achieve such an honor.
NYOIL – Released the single "Y'all should all get lynched" to internet outlets on October of 2006. The single has been picked up by BET Networks and licensed for an animated video (see Read A Book).
NYOIL debut album is called "HoodTREASON" The Warm Up Album is in stores now.
NYOIL explains that his album represents a return to HIP HOP! "It has a throwback feel to it in that it is a complete album with SONGS with content and lyrical ability". Further more, "We have done this with NO budget, No label, No drug dealers, No pimps, Hoes, Hustlers, Killers, and Corporate bottom feeder support, We are dedicated to showing independent Hip Hoppers that there is a way to make the sort of music that u feel in your heart and not sell out or not sell at all". "Follow our lead.. support real hip hop.. and good luck to you all". says NYOIL
With the release of "Hood Treason," and with it the continuation of the war against negativity in hip-hop that began with the video, NYOIL aims to disprove hip-hop's belief that positive and soft are synonymous. And if one thing's certain from hearing him speak, the Staten Island MC is just getting started.
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