The Walkin' Dead

The Walkin’ Dead:
Trickin’, Treatin’ and Trappin’
TRUTH Minista Paul Scott

“Hustle for death/no heaven for a gangsta”
The Cool- Lupe Fiasco



You see them hangin’ around the ‘hood late at night sportin’ the same gear; white t-shirts and saggin’ skinny jeans. At one point they had spirits, now they are just zombies who all seem to be hearkening to the same hypnotic call. Try to talk to them about real Hip Hop and all you get is blank stares and vicious growls, These are the walkin’ dead who have lost their souls. Just like the music that they have blastin’ in their headphones...

Although Hip Hop once prided itself in promoting free thought, and individuality, this is no longer the case , as many rap fans are just zombies following the trend that whatever the radio is playing at the moment constitutes real Hip Hop and is good for the culture A song could be straight garbage but if its played enough, the walkin’ dead will swear on their graves that it is the best rap ever recorded.

Although, Nas upset many people in 2006, when he proclaimed that “Hip Hop Is Dead”,” in retrospect , maybe it ain’t the music, Maybe its the people who listen to it.

The mission of the wicked has not just been to destroy a people ,physically but mentally as well. Like the creatures from the old zombie flicks, they really want to eat your brains. For example , during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the Africans could not be brought to the Americas as docile slaves until they first went through a “seasoning process” where their spirits were broken.

This same “breaking of the spirit” has been carried out in the United States through various means ranging from drugs , the criminal justice system , to the mis- educational system, all designed to create a populace of zombies that would not question authority but do exactly as they were told.

Hip Hop has been used for this purpose ,as well , as those who claim they love the culture have had their spirits broken so much so that they do not have the courage to fight against the creatures of the night who are trying to destroy it. And the results of this are becoming ever more evident.

The once vibrant dance floor has become a virtual graveyard. The music that once celebrated Peace, Unity and Love now glorifies misogyny, murder and mayhem.

Like Brand Nubian said on “ Just Don’t Learn,” “We dealin’ with death in abundance/Dirty guns and /the pungent smell/of those who fell.”

Back in the day Hip Hop was a quickening spirit with the power to wake up the dead. Now just listening to one verse of Ratchet Rap can send you immediately into an intellectual coma.

Hip Hop has become the Haunted House of Wack. It’s just one big costume party with straight A students dressing up like court jesters and former correctional officers posing as Mafia Dons. Sad thing about it is that many rap fans can’t see that it’s all just a masquerade .

Also, as it’s been argued before, the rappers themselves are not totally to blame as they are just little puppets being controlled by some evil puppet masters (in the form of the heads of record labels) who hide behind the curtain and pull the strings

We have allowed the culture vampires to suck the life out of a once great art form and nobody is trying to throw some holy water on Count Dracula to drive him back into his coffin.

Many don’t realize that what is now considered Hip Hop is a result of a diabolical plan devised by some mad scientists in labs disguised as recording studios. In the name of greed and profit the music industry has created Frankenstein monsters to destroy a culture that has the potential to liberate poor and oppressed communities on a global scale. Over the years, these monsters have taken different forms but their mission has remained the same

The latest monstrous creation is “Roger Ratchet.” He is the personification of all that is wrong with Hip Hop. A symbol of what happens when a culture loses its soul. Roger Ratchet is like the despised Disco Duck of the 70’s . He is the Hip Hop equivalent of George Clinton’s arch nemesis , “Sir Nose D’Void of Funk” who dedicated his miserable life fighting against “ The P-Funk Mob.”

At some point somebody has to exorcise this demon out of Hip Hop. Whether , they use a stake through the heart or a silver bullet, somebody has to return Ratchet Rap back to the dark evil pit that it slid out of.

In order for Hip Hop to live, Roger Ratchet must die. So on October 31st (Halloween) we are asking that the fans of real Hip Hop join us in the “ Death to Roger Ratchet Campaign" as we bury Ratchet Rap once and for all.

Join us in yelling with a loud united voice

“Death to Ratchet Rap! Long live Hip Hop! “

TRUTH Minista Paul Scott’s weekly column is , This Ain’t Hip Hop,” a column for intelligent Hip Hop Headz. He can be contacted at info@nowarningshotsfired.com. Follow on Twitter @truthminista . For more information on the October 31st “Death to Ratchet Rap Campaign” go to http://www.facebook.com/ripRogerRatchet

On October 31st We Bury Ratchet Rap

Popular Rapper Roger Ratchet is Dead

(Atlanta) After two days in critical condition, popular rap star, Roger Ratchet is dead. The artist , born as Roger Sam Boman, who was in intensive care resulting from an Acme speaker being dropped on his head, last Wednesday was pronounced dead at 10 o’clock , Friday night. Strangely enough, the rapper seemed to be on the verge of a miraculous recovery when somebody snuck into his room and pulled the plug on his life support machine. When his death was announced loud screams of Hip Hop fans could be heard outside the hospital chanting, “Hooray, the Ratchet kicked the bucket!” The 20 year old rapper is survived by 15 children and eight baby mamas.

2 Chainz Exposed

TRUTH Minista Paul Scott of the Militant Mind Militia exposes the fact that 2 Chainz aka Tauheed Epps is an intelligent academically gifted former high school and college athlete. He poses the question how can 2 Chainz claim to be a felon at 15 years old but play on the high school basketball team and earn a college scholarship at the same time, as well as the bigger question "Why do smart rappers make dumb raps?"

In this video 2 Chainz says that he was a convicted felon since he was 15.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcfWaQ_brI4

In this video from ESPN he is seen playing high school basketball in 1995
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8367126

Read the article : Breakin' 2 Chainz. Why Do Smart Rappers Make Dumb Raps
http://allhiphop.com/2012/10/01/breakin-2-chainz-why-do-smart-rappers-make-dumb-raps/

Death to Ratchet Rap! Long Live Hip Hop!
http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com

Atlanta Rapper in Critical Condition

Atlanta Rapper In Critical Condition

(Atlanta) A popular Atlanta rapper is clinging to life tonight after a vicious attack. Twenty year old , Roger Sam Boman, known in the Hip Hop world as “Roger Ratchet” was  found critically wounded earlier today outside of Ratchet Recording Studio on Peach Street not far from his home. Details are still sketchy,  but according to police reports , someone on the roof of the building dropped a 50 pound Acme speaker on the rapper as he exited the studio around five o’clock this afternoon.

The once popular artist, who is credited with creating the genre, “Ratchet Rap “ has recently come under fire from Hip Hop fans who accuse him of destroying the culture . At this point there are no suspects.

A Hip Hop House Divided

A Hip Hop House Divided: What Happened to U.N.I.T.Y. ? TRUTH Minista Paul Scott “I’m asking if you feel me/And the crowd left me stranded” Respiration- Black Star Recently, more than 50,000 disgusted and disillusioned Hip Hop fans jammed into Jefferson Square Garden to protest what had become of their beloved music . The chants of “Death to Ratchet Rap” that filled the auditorium, threatened to shake the Garden from its very foundation. But when the organizers asked for volunteers to fight against the destruction of the culture, the only noise that could be heard was the pitter patter of scared little feet runnin’ toward the exits.... In 1993, rapper Queen Latifah made a call for unity in the Hip Hop community on her song ,"U.N.I.T.Y. " Unfortunately, almost 20 years later, a lot more people have united to destroy Hip Hop than have organized to try and save it. Latifah wasn’t the first person to call for Hip Hoppers to come together for a common cause, as this was a, relatively, common theme in rap’s early history. During the early 80’s, Hip Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa was able to parlay his gift of bringing gangs together to promote Hip Hop unity through the Zulu Nation. Later, KRS One was able to round up some of the most popular artists of the period to participate in the Stop the Violence Movement, as well as H.E.A.L. (Human Education Against Lies) . Even the non-political rappers of the era found strength in numbers by organizing themselves in crews from the Juice Crew to the Hit Squad. But today, the popularity of the “Self Destruction “ video has been replaced by kids beatin’ the hell outta each other on Youtube. Contrary to the West Coast 1990 unity song “We’re All in the Same Gang,” time has taught us that we are not . We all are not fightin’ for the same thing. Although, the commercial rappers are able to brag that their fans are “lovin’ the crew” or “ain’t nobody messin’ with my clique” for the real Hip Hop revolutionists in 2012, it’s more like “Me Against the World.” The only reason that ratchet rap is winnin’ right now is because those who claim to want a return to lyricism and consciousness in Hip Hop are disorganized. Although there are thousands of disgruntled Hip Hop fans, vehemently, opposed to the negative direction that Hip Hop has taken, you can hardly name one group that is actually organizing to overthrow the reign of ratchetness. Most organizations just want Lil Wayne to perform at their next “fundraiser to rescue Hip Hop. “ Although the media try to distract us with faux confrontations like Nicki Minaj vs Mariah Carey or Rick Ross vs Young Jeezy, the real confrontations have been between those who speak Truth and those who propagate lies. Those who want to be Free and those who want to stay on the plantation. So the battle rages on between those who want to use Hip Hop as a tool to wake the masses up and those who want to use it to lull them to sleep. According to DC Hip Hop artist, Yasin 360 WiseGuy there is a lack of unity because politically aware rappers are “trying to outdo each other with consciousness and are not reaching the people.” The rapper , who recently recorded underground battle cry “Right Now” throws a stinging indictment at the advocates of real Hip Hop saying, “ you believe in this and that, but you’re not ready to go to war.” However, the stuck on stupid rappers have always been in a state of Code Red; ready to defend their right to wear saggin’ skinny jeans to the death. Remember back in the day, No Limit called themselves “soldiers “ and according to Hot Boy ,BG, “Cash Money was an army/better yet a navy.” But since the super-groups of the late 80’s/early 90’s such as X-Clan and Boogie Down Productions, the political rappers have been more like a small platoon of Cub Scouts. If you ask the average person on the street about today’s rap music , nine times out of ten he will reminisce about the good ol days when Hip Hop meant something. Even a little kid will, ashamedly, admit that he “doesn't listen to the words but only likes the beat.” Even Rick Ross on his song, "So Sophisticated," mocks that he comes from a city where “ the Muslims even Christians hate it.” So, the obvious question is, if so many people hate the current state of Hip Hop, how long are we gonna let Ratched Rap define the culture? Let’s face it. Rap Music is at an all-time low. Once you hit ratchet-ness you are on the bottom floor. The elevator doesn’t go any lower. Today the music industry is creatively and spiritually bankrupt. Like T.I. said on “Live Your Life”, although the rappers today have millions of dollars in the bank, they are “piss poor morally.” The only thing that is keepin’ commercial rap afloat, right now, is the implicit complacency of the silent majority of the population who appreciate real Hip Hop. In other words, although many people complain , few are willing to actually do something about it. For instance. I get tweets all the time from conscious artists complaining that they don’t get any support from the Hip Hop community. However, the question that should be asked is why don’t conscious rappers support each other ? Why is there no “Union of Real Hip Hop Artists?” There are unions for everything else in this country made up of people banded together for common goals and objectives, why not Hip Hop? It seems that every person who is fighting to save Hip Hop feels like he is the last man standing; the proverbial David standing alone against an army of Goliaths. But the truth is, you are not alone, there are millions of people who feel the same way that you do. We just need to rally the troops. It’s time for the silent majority to stand up and be heard ! If we organize we can determine the direction of the culture and not leave the future of Hip Hop in the hands of a few numb-skulls. Together, we can issue the ultimatum that ‘Pac and the Outlawz gave back in the day, “ You either ride with us or collide with us.” The choice is yours. TRUTH Minista Paul Scott’s weekly column is “This Ain’t Hip Hop,” a column for intelligent Hip Hop headz. For more information on the No Warning Shots Fired lecture series contact info@nowarningshotsfired.com or visit NoWarningShotsFired.com Follow on Twitter @truthminista

Have We Outgrown Hip Hop?

Caution. Kids at Play:
Have We Outgrown Hip Hop?
                      TRUTH Minista Paul Scott

“Back in the day when I was young/I’m not kid anymore “
Back in the Day-Ahmad


When Hip Hop legend, “Knowledge B. Born,” headed to the stage to finally receive his Hip Hop Lifetime Achievement Award, he clutched in his right hand a speech written in graffiti that he had wanted to deliver for years. He planned to put the entire audience of rap superstars on blast for destroying the culture he helped create. But when he looked into the faces of a room full of rich kids half his age.who were either half asleep or busy textin’ ,he just crumbled up his notes , said “ya’ll keep doin’ your thing.” and left the stage. Leaving the crowd whispering amongst themselves, “who was that old dude....”
‘
Recently, when Rakim went on stage to receive his BET " I Am Hip Hop Award ," I hoped that he was gonna diss the entire front row of rappers with a fraction of his talent. I thought maybe the “microphone fiend: was gonna kick a freestyle battle rhyme and dare any one of the no talent bums to come up and snatch the mic from his mighty hand. Needless to say, it didn’t happen. Another missed opportunity in the annals of Hip Hop history. At that point, I had to face the sad reality that many of my generation have avoided.

Maybe, we have outgrown Hip Hop.

Perhaps the saddest lament over the state of Hip Hop was Common’s, “I Used to Love H.E.R.” that talked about the sad relationship between Hip Hop purists and the gangsta rap that dominated the charts at the time. However, that was almost 18 years ago and many of us who divorced ourselves from Hip Hop have kissed and made up several times since then.

But like the classic break up line says., “The problem isn't you. The problem is me.” Maybe we are just too old to be listening to the kiddie porn that is passing for Hip Hop, nowadays. At some point the thrill of sneakin’ into your Pop’s secret drawer and peepin’ his Playboy mags wears off and you want a real relationship with a real woman.

Now, I admit there are days when I want to lock myself away from the world and play video games while smackin’ on a big box of Fruit Loops, but unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury. Neither do most folks over 25. Life is moving fast and deals that will affect my life are being made every second with or without my input. So I either have to roll with them or get rolled over.

But Hip Hop, is like Neverland, where you never have to grow old and if you are not careful you can get stuck there and be a 60 year old man poppin’ Viagra while watching " 106 and Park." And this “don’ t -wanna -grow up Toys R Us Kid” mentality is reflected in the rap of today. Instead of those black and white Parental Advisory stickers, in 2012, most Hip Hop Cd's should come with big, yellow “Caution. Kids at Play “ signs.

Today the rap industry is run by spoiled little brats with a million bucks but 50 cent brains. Somebody has, indeed, spared the rod and spoiled the child.

But the question that has always plagued Hip Hop is, who do you blame ?

When confronted, many Hip Hop apologists fall back on that classic line, “Don’t Blame rap . Blame the parents. “ But does this also apply to the Fathers of Hip Hop? Maybe they have acted more like deadbeat dads than the head of the Hip Hop household? This is the only society on the planet where the children are leading the elders.

Last year, columnist Bomani Jones addressed this issue in an article , “A Look at Chuck D’s Open Letter,” where he wrote , “ it’s disingenuous for much of the older crowd now to try and ride to hip hop’s rescue after we definitely had a part in getting to where we are.” But the sad part is that many old school cats are defending rap music with the same excuses that were used 20 years ago. They are defending the lyrics of Chief Keef the same way they did Snoop Dogg in ‘92. But Snoop never grew up to convert his misogynistic lyrics into words that would uplift the community. He only produced a legion of Snoop puppies . So Chief Keef will only produce a tribe of ratchet rappers if left unchecked.

This is not entirely the fault of the rappers ,either. Society has played a major role in the ghetto man-child mentality.

My generation was bombarded with the idea that “Black men in the America would not live to see 24.” So when we reached the ripe old age of 25, we had no game plan. Even much of the now revered “message music” of the 80’s was just repeating the nihilistic predictions for Black men. Few songs actually challenged the socio-economic factors that made such a dire prophecy believable. Even the ones that did offer such an analysis are now considered “old school.”

Rapper Mista Spot on his song , “Classic, “ questioned why you never hear the term “Old School Rock “ or “Old School Country” but their songs are forever immortalized as ageless music which can be enjoyed by their grandchildren. The same should be said about some Hip hop.

But maybe Rock and Country fans respect their music more than we respect Hip Hop. What record company would dare lump Mick Jagger and Justin Bieber in the same category and throw them on a track together? Rolling Stones fans would start bombin’ radio stations.

It must be remembered that it was the wrath of rock fans that led to the demise of Disco.

In 1979, 90,000 outraged Rockers almost destroyed Comiskey Park in Chicago at the infamous , Disco Demolition Night, where some deejays decided to blow up in stack of Disco records to protest the genre. Even today you can still catch people rockin’ the “Disco Sucks” T-Shirts. Since Ratchet Rap” is the Disco music of Hip Hop, what if thousands of real Hip Hop fans started rockin’ “Ratchet Rap Sucks” T-Shirts? and destroying CDs?

At the least , it would make a rapper think twice before releasing another immature , wack Cd.

Will the Hip Hop mental midgets hit an intellectual growth spurt before the culture is totally destroyed.

I don't know. But one thing is certain.

Like the classic Quincy Jones song says, in the end ,“Everything Must Change.”

Even Hip Hop.

TRUTH Minista Paul Scott’s weekly column is “This Ain’t Hip Hop,” a column for intelligent Hip Hop headz. For more information on the No Warning Shots Fired lecture series , contact info@nowarningshotsfired.com or visit
NoWarningShotsFired.com. Follow on Twitter @truthminista

The Great Rap Debate

The Great Rap Debate: Can Real Hip Hop Still Move the Crowd? TRUTH Minista Paul Scott “Some of you been tryin' to write rhymes for years/but weak ideas irritate my ears “ Move the Crowd-Eric B and Rakin Recently, The People’s Broadcasting Service sponsored the first Hip Hop Nation presidential debate between candidates, “B. Serious” and “Roger Ratchet .” When the moderator asked B. Serious for his thoughts on violence in rap, the artist gave an eloquent analysis on the exploitation of self hatred and stereotypes by the industry . However, when the moderator asked Roger Ratchet , the rapper ,angrily, accused him of dissin’ him with a trick question and had his goons give the poor dude a vicious beat-down, thus ending the debate... Following the first presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, many commentators said that the Prez took an L because he didn’t go hard enough . They argued that he didn't use his arsenal of intellectual weapons to drop bombs on the challenger. However, the same can be said about those who rep real Hip Hop when dealing with those who promote ratchet rap. The art of debating is a time honored tradition as, historically, many of the issues facing civilizations have been settled by verbal confrontations. The course of history has been changed by events like the debates over whether the world was flat or round ,centuries ago , and more importantly the 21st century debate over whether Kanye West’s Graduation Cd would outsell 50 Cent’s Curtis. Thanks to Youtube, some great debates have been preserved ,such as Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture) and George Lincoln Rockwell’s “Black Power vs White Power " debate, Dr Frances Cress Welsing ‘s challenge of Dr. William Shockley’s racial inferiority myth or the classic debate between Dr. John Henrik Clarke and company and Dr. Mary Lefkowitz’s crew over the validity of Afrocentricity. Hip Hop’s version of debating came in the form of rap battles, as you couldn't call yourself a real “MC” “ (Master of Ceremony”) if you couldn't move the crowd. Some of the classic battles were Busy B versus Kool Mo Dee and the Cold Crush Brothers vs Dr. Rock and the Force MD’s. But as the days of lyrics are gone, so are the days of battlin’. Today ,battles are decided by gunshots or juvenile fisticuffs at Hip Hop Award Shows. And for many , instead of elevating the consciousness of the audience, “moving the crowd” means seeing how fast people run for the exit when a fight breaks out in the club. Although, there have been hundreds of discussions about Hip Hop over the years, there has rarely been a confrontation between those who are really trying to save the culture and those who are determined to destroy it. For the most part, Hip Hop “debates” have tended to be scripted . Back in the heyday of “gangsta rap” it was easy for a Death Row artist to diss an elderly C. Delores Tucker, as the industry was glad to promote the idea that if you opposed murda music, then you were an old fogey and out of touch with the younger generation. Even when challenged by senior citizens the gangsta rappers rarely debated themselves, instead they relied on “Hip Hop intellectuals” to serve as their mouthpieces while they sat back and said “um...yeah...what he said..” But today, even the people who used to pump NWA ,24/7 , hate rap music . Also we're , obviously, not dealing with a generational but an intellectual gap as the days of the teen rap video programs have been replaced by Hip Hop reality shows about the everyday lives of rappers who are about six weeks short of a middle age crisis Unfortunately, the average supporter of ratchet rap is walking around with a confident swagga , while the fan of real Hip Hop is walking around with a “Kick Me, I’m Conscious” sign taped to his back. It's time for those who want to bring back real Hip Hop to either go hard or go home! Currently, there is a controversy over whether “real Hip Hop “ is represented best by the lyricism of legendary lyricists or the low level, lackluster, lethargic nonsense that dominates the airwaves. Therefore, the question must be posed, “ can Hip Hop still move the crowd not just physically, but mentally and spiritually? Those who appreciate real Hip hop must stand up for truth and stop accepting the big lie that people like wallowing in the cesspool of ignorance. I believe that the masses are ready for change and if it ever came down to a debate between those who want a return to powerful lyrics that touch the soul and those who love the minstrel music , the lyric lovers would win ,hands down. But those who want to save Hip Hop need to quit goin' out like suckas and get ready to rumble ! Sadly, there will always be those who insist on trying to find “beauty in the hideous,” like Talib Kweli said on the Black Star CD back in the day. For those nincompoops who defend the nonsense, the challenge is there . There are folks like me who ain't afraid to stand up for truth and won’t back down because we understand that the battle is not for a trophy or some award, but for the minds of our children. However, like EPMD said on “You Gots to Chill, “ "If you think about battlin’ you better come prepared/come with your shield and your armored gear...” TRUTH Minista Paul Scott’s weekly column is “This Ain’t Hip Hop,” a column for intelligent Hip Hop headz. For more information on the No Warning Shots Fired Lecture Series, contact info@nowarningshotsfired.com or go to NoWarningShotsFired.com Follow on Twitter @truthminista

Radio Interview about Breakin' 2 Chainz Article

Part of the No Warning Shots Fired Lecture series will also include radio discussions across the country

Check out the radio interview below about my Breakin' 2 Chainz article

http://fivefootonline.com/2012/10/07/st1-how-hip-hop-relatesdumbing-down-raps.aspx

No Warning Shots Fired Lecture Tour 2012

The No Warning Shots Fired Lecture Tour is coming to a city near you. You've been warned!

Join me for an indepth discussion about everything you ever wanted to know about Hip Hop but were afraid you might get punched in the face if you asked...


To book a tour date contact info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Breakin' 2 Chainz: Why Do Smart Rappers Make Dumb Raps ?

Breakin’ 2 Chainz:
Why Do Smart Rappers Make Dumb Raps?

TRUTH Minista Paul Scott


“Sophisticated ignorance/write my curses in cursive”
Otis-Kanye West and Jay Z

When the controversial rap superstar , “2 Shackles” granted an interview to an investigative journalist at the New Jersey Times he agreed that it would be no holds barred. When the reporter grilled him on everything from his recent baby mama drama to his beefs with rival rappers he addressed each question without flinching. Even when she pulled out a copy of the mugshot from his most recent arrest, he just smiled and autographed it for her. But when she asked him about the allegations that he had an extremely high IQ and graduated from college ,magna cum laude, he stormed out of the office knockin’ over chairs and mumblin’ something about “birthdays and big booty guhs.....”

If you go strictly by what you hear on the radio ,nowadays, you would swear that Hip Hop was made up of people with low IQ’s and short attention spans. The music that once prided itself on being the “Black CNN” now sounds more like a pornographic version of Sesame Street. Sad thing is that some of today’s rappers are ,actually ,intelligent. Now, I’m not claimin’ that they are rocket scientists but they aren’t the bumblin’ buffoons, that you here on the radio, either.

So the question becomes, why do the smartest rappers make the dumbest raps?

Malcolm X once said the difference between a clown and a wise man is “the clown never imitates the wise man but the wise man can imitate the clown.” However, on a three minute song on the radio, it’s kinda hard to tell. the difference.

Case in point is the hottest rapper in the game right now, 2 Chainz. Some may find it hard to believe that the rapper who gave us such songs as “Birthday Song” and “No Lie” is actually Tauheed Epps , a gifted high school student who , in 1996, got an athletic scholarship to play basketball at Alabama State University . Thus , putting him in the company of such , athletic ,scholar entertainers as Paul Robeson. However, it would be easier to find your favorite rapper's Illuminati membership card than it would be to find an actual record of 2 Chainz’s academic prowess. So the story goes that he was either an academic genius who graduated in three years with honors or a college dropout who only attended a couple of semesters at an institution of higher learning. However, the fact remains that he is far more intelligent than the music that he makes. If you ever listen to a n interview when 2 Chainz briefly breaks out of character and reverts back to Tauheed Epps , you can tell that you're not dealing with a dummy.

So why the charade?

One can make the argument that the rappers of today were not the first to make dumb music. Back in Hip Hop’s early years , there were songs by The Rappin’ Duke and Bobby Jimmy and the Critters. But raps by artists like Biz Markie were seen for what they were ; commedy. The songs were just an occasional break from the more lyrically complex Hip Hop of the time. No no one in his right mind wanted to hear “Pickin’ Boogers” all day, everyday on the radio. But today the airwaves are flooded with mentally challenged music that has dumbed down the culture.

The defenders of commercial rap are always quick to point out how Hip Hop is the most influential art form to ever grace the planet and how it has impacted countries around the world ,socially and economically. However, when you hit them with a socio-economic analysis of the music, they accuse you of “thinking too deep” and all of a sudden the great culture of Hip Hop becomes merely “entertainment for kids”, like some Saturday morning cartoon. But the critique must be done.

If we break down the meaning of “2 Chainz, “ we will see that in order to enslave a people it takes two chains; one physical and one mental. Of the two, the most powerful is the mental chain as taught by scholars such as Dr. Na’im Akbar, author of the book, Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery.  Because even when the physical chain around the wrist is broken, the mental chain around the brain remains.

The emancipation from mental slavery has always been the hardest task for those trying to free a people. who have been, as the scripture teaches, “destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” This is made more difficult when those who “reject knowledge” and dumb themselves down are portrayed to the youth as models of success.

However, all youth are not going for the okie doke. Recently, the group , Watoto from the Nile ,released a video called , “Letter to Nicki Minaj” which features a powerful scene where “Harriet Tubman” removes the chains from Minaj’s wrists,symbolically meaning that the chains will eventually drop from her brain. (Good luck with that one.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD8JrLFTPSM


It is no accident that the deeper we entered into the information age, the dumber the music became. It was once said that if you want to hide something from a Black man, put it in a book. But today, you don’t even have to take the bus to the library as the information is literally at the tip of your fingers. So, the mental chains had to become reinforced. The music industry has been involved in a “brain drain” where they take our best and brightest artists and turn them into ratchet rappers.

While it may be argued that teenage rappers like Chief Keef are too young to know any better that's no excuse for rappers like 2 Chainz who are old enough to be their fathers. They have made a mockery out of the saying “with age comes wisdom.”

It’s time for us to break the chains. Hip Hop artists must be pressured to stop the musical mumbo jumbo.

Like KRS said on Still # 1
“Many of you are educated/open your mouths and speak...”


TRUTH Minista Paul Scott’s weekly column is “This Ain’t Hip Hop,” a column for intelligent Hip Hop headz. For more information on the No Warning Shots Fired lecture series contact info@nowarningshotsfired.com or visit
NoWarningShotsFired.com Follow Twitter @truthminista