D.O.A. again

Whether you all refer to it as "Auto Tune" or even "that t-pain" there has been a seemingly unstoppable surge of NEW music saturated with a not so NEW sound. One of the earliest uses of of Auto Tune, was in 1998 in the song "believe" by singer Cher. Commonly known as a trade secret, the vocal enhancing Auto Tune was now out for the world to see, due to the fact "Believe" was a chart topping success. People eventually went on to call the use of Auto Tune, "the Cher effect" sound familiar? More than 10 years later, this instrument of deception is back again, and with a vengeance.

This musician's tool has been used to enhance many of the mundane, repetitive voices of the present,IE T-Pain. Rappa turnt sanga, T-Pain would undoubtedly love to take blame for breathing life in to this ever popular electronically induced form of entertainment. Auto-Tune is currently a mainstay in the hip-hop world because of T-Pain. With his hit song "I'm in love with a stripper" he burst on the scene with his mediocre singing skills, draped in machine sounding perfection.

Mr. Pain has struck gold with his synthesized deception in such away, that most have moved on from "the cher effect" and now to refer to auto tune as " that t-pain " T-pain has even been heard to smugly suggest that he be properly compensated by anyone who chooses to use Auto Tune.... What?! If anything T-pain should hand out some of the cash to Cher!, I'm sure she doesn't need it, but still...

All though T-Pain must have been sipping on that "purple stuff" when this suggestion approached his decorative top hat engulfed head , his point does hold validity. Because T-pain has found extreme success thanks to auto tune (and actually being able to put together a catchy song) many popular mainstream artist have migrated to the use of auto tune. Lil Wayne, Drake, R-Kelly and Kanye West just to name a few, have all adopted this futuristic sound. Mr. West even released an album called "808 and heart beaks" with the majority of the tracks demonstrating the auto tune sound," he used that T-Pain!!" and he seems to love it, unlike his 'Big Brother"On the flip side there are many unknown, unsigned artists also using auto tune. Unknown and with no significant buzz, these new artist feel as if using auto tune will allow them too soar to the top of billboard charts. Perhaps this isn't their quest, but that of the record executives concerned with duplication and imitation in order to produce record sales. This is where T-Pain should focus his discrepancies, at those striving to achieve success on his semi-extravagant coat tails.
As predicted, ( by me ) new artist using auto tune to soar to the top, only enjoy moderate success. When the second single comes around it fails to live up to the previous single and falls to the depths of one-hit wonder hell.

In his new song, Jay-Z definitly challenges the abuse of auto tune. Entitled "DOA" (death of auto tune), Jay-Z questions rappers masculinity and musical capability. "You niggas singin' too much, Get back to rap you T-Pain’n too much" clearly stating music is becoming co-dependent upon this particular method of making music. An earlier occurrence displaying Jay-Z's distaste of the usage of auto tune can be heard in the song "put on remix" featuring rapper Young Jeezy. Jay proclaims " I don't need no T-Pain, I got this one!" I do believe Auto Tune must die, at least be badly injured. There has definitely been an abusing of the sound, causing everything to sound the same. In hip-hop, creativity is a key component along with innovation.

So as a message to all of you singers and rappers, I do not wish to discourage your thirst for stardom. I am encouraging you take a different route and flirt with creativity and create something memorable. And for all the house hold names...This is the death of auto tune, moment of silence…

Priorities? Anyone???

Louis Vuitton bag $800, PRADA sneakers $300, GUCCI shades $650, not being able to pay your rent... senseless. Priorities in the minority communities are grossly out of whack! Expensive clothes and gadgets are on top of every ones wish list, f**k food and shelter huh?

Have you ever encountered one of your friends driving a 2010 BMW with all the trim, sound system, and rims, and when you call his cell, it's cut off?, a brand new G1 phone at that. Its because portraying a fancy lifestyle takes priority to taking care of life's necessities.

Have you ever paid a visit to one of your acquaintance's homes in the projects? Upon entering this building, you notice it isn't even suitable for the great number of rats in and all around it. The one! out of two elevators that is working skips certain floors, and is drenched in spit and urine. Upon entering your friends apartment, you see a 52 inch flat screen television, Jordan sneaker boxes and you might even see a damn Picasso! In awe you peer back in to the grotesque building hallway trying to figure out what's going on. You may think that you're seeing a mirage, you're not. The sad actuality is that people have no problem living in poverish conditions in order to be able to say "man I love this new v, cost me a years pay and I won't be able to pay my health insurance, but it's worth it".

I've learned that when shopping people actually weigh their options. "Should I get these sneakers or buy groceries this week". Mother's, don't be surprised if your child is eating dinner at your house all of next week, at least they have nice sneakers. Ever seen something as mind-blowing as father making their kids eat hot dogs and beans for dinner, just so he can go out to the club and pop bottles?, I haven't...yet, but I'm sure it goes down.

Our economy is currently in shambles, but this obviously doesn't curb our societies appetite for living lavish. Due to this recession, your company recently laid you off. On the walk to the subway cradling, your nic-nacs in an empty file box, you pass several women with the latest Louis bag. This visualisation doesn't seem fair does it?. Part of the reason you see these women with these fancy bags is because they have more money than you and can afford to have
one. The other sad truth is draped in denial, women buy the bags believing the recession doesn't affect them. The rich with tons of money, and the poor who spend their rent money on this bag to be fly at the club on Friday night, priorities are in a disarray...

The thing is, the rich will be okay, somewhat. But the "not so well off" woman with bills due, and a pink slip waiting for her when she comes back to work Monday morning from a weekend of partying and flaunting...will awaken to a harsh reality. The dude with the expensive car won't be able to afford the gas for his multiple cylinders, and I bet neither of the two have a drop of money saved for their kids tuition, but I bet the children's sneakers and cell phones are very nice...
now weigh that out...

-Rasean

"ya' over the hill son!"

Hip-hop is a relatively young genre of music, geared toward a young, hip audience. Anyone can listen to it, even partake in a freestyle battle or two, but by all means, RAPPING is a young man's game.With the exception of Jay-Z and few other hip-hop veterans, rappers are getting younger and younger. I am roughly the same age as some of the highest earning rappers in the industry and even older than many!

A far fetched dream has become an attainable reality for pre adolescent boys and girls world wide. Now, if your 35 and on your myspace page it says "rapper" under occupation and you don't have an album, record deal or even a fan base..put the mic down pops.

Almost everyone aspires to achieve a certain level of stardom. Women would like to be models and actresses. Guys want to be ball players, actors, some fancy a career in rapping. In the 'hood, in particular, almost every dude has dreams of becoming a rapper. The glitz, the glamour, women and fast cars all appeal to a young man. Many try to achieve greatness investing all of their time and most of their life to the cause, but when is it time to hang up the mic?

Its okay to have dreams, and don't let me crush them. That doesn't mean dreams aren't meant to be crushed at all. As a teen some of these "over the hill" MC's should have developed a fall back plan somewhere along the line. No woman wants to be sitting there chatting amongst friends and when asked what her man does say " oh, my baby's a rapper" and if she can't provide any record label information or any sort of credentials its not because she's being humble, its because he's a nobody. Don't be surprised if her girls counter with the follow up question of "nah seriously, what does he do for real" or "isn't he like 35? "

Now let's say this nearly middle aged man has talent. Who would want to sign someone his age unless they want use him as gimmick. If you have a seemingly "baby" face and look considerably young for 35, then hey, give it a shot. But if once in the game you start to go prematurely gray and begin wearing high dress socks with shorts, we are all going to figure out you're not 22.

At the current state of our economy, we can't afford to hold on to *pipe dreams. Pipe dreams won't pay the bills and provide for a family. I understand, I too love music so I comprehend someone continuing to reach for that greatness in which they admire so much. But when things aren't going according to plan sometimes you have to jump ship.

So for some of the older MC's who considered a second option, use that degree you obtained when you realized that you just might not make it. For those who swore to the high heavens that they would "get rich or die trying" and continuously sacrificed themselves in order too "blow up son"...once again drop the mic, maybe get a city job??

-Rasean

Thoughts on the Omar Edwards murder...RIP

Thoughts on the Omar Edwards murder....


Is this how a black cop has to get upgrade to detective?

Last week, in my hometown of Harlem NY, there was yet another a senseless murder. This, probably the thousandth senseless murder of this year (not really, but you get my point ). We had to a bury yet another young black man, all though on different circumstances, senseless nonetheless.

For those of you who haven't heard Omar Edwards, a 25 year old, rookie officer was added to the roaster of slain black men in New York city. Edwards was murdered when merely trying to foil a robbery attempt on his vehicle. Officer Andrew Dunn came in contact with Edwards while the latter was pursuing this criminal. Likely assuming Edwards was in the act of a robbery himself (can you smell the irony?) fired 6 times and hit him 3 times, leaving Edwards' young family with no patriarch.

The obvious truth is, if Edwards hadn't been brandishing a weapon while in pursuit of this criminal in plain sight, he would have most likely avoided being shot. With in this same truth lies another less accepted truth. If Edwards had been a WHITE man waving around a weapon in the Harlem streets, his life most likely would have been spared. The fact is any black man seen with a gun has to be committing some sort of crime in a cops eyes. On second thought, really ask yourself, if YOU saw a plain clothes black man running down the avenue, pistol in hand would you really say "oh he must be a cop, its ok" I wouldn't, I'd take cover.

So Dunn's premature assumption is justified due to societies view on certain members of within its society, but this doesn't make it right. I am not saying Dunn is a racist, but the fact remains a young Black! Cop is dead because he was black, aside from the fact we have faulty system of law and order in this fine city.


Now one must delve in to the degree to which this injustice was performed. Why did Dunn fire 6 times? Why was there no warning hurled at Edwards? According to an eye witnesses there was nothing said to warn him, thus there was no sufficient chance for Edwards to reveal he too was an officer. History tells us that even if Edwards had an opportunity to reach for his badge, that too would have been reason for Dunn to shoot Edwards down. Think back to the senseless (word of the day) murder of *Amadou Diallo an African immigrant shot 19 times!! (out of 41 shots fired!!) at the front door of his new york city apartment attempting to reach for his wallet for the purpose of proving his Identity.



Police officers have to protect themselves from eminent danger, and must take extreme precaution. With precaution, one must posses clear, concise judgement. If someone is suspected of committing a crime and also suspected of having a weapon and they proceed to reach some where other than sky, you have to act fast or it could cost you your life.
These previously stated facts are understood, but the NYPD (along side other cities) are notorious for excessive behavior, dramatically blurring the lines of right from wrong.

Edwards was buried last Thursday an occasion graced by the attendance of many of his colleagues, colleagues once again reminded of the dangers of being an officer of the law.
Throughout the dense crowd was a look of sadness accompanied with the significant realization that it could easily be one of them in that casket. I bet none of the officers expected that yet another of their own another would be murdered, and again due to "friendly" fire.

After this incident I would hope a new procedure will be implemented to prevent such a tragedy. They've began working a new gun that can identify other police officer's service pistols in a certain radius, riiiiiight. Maybe they should focus on training their new recurits, just a thought. Along with new precedents and standards within the police force there must be change within our society. In order to change what's around us, we must first change ourselves. RIGHT?

- Rasean

Pull Ya Pants Up!

Being in my 20's, I'm a young guy, fond of fashion and innovation. Now, what I'm not fond of is idiotic trends. Especially not ones where I would have to adopt a bow-legged style of walking to ensure my pants aren't going to fall to my ankles, but instead fall just beneath my boxers. Geez.....


Pants sagging is at an all time low, excuse the pun. I once seen a dude about 16 years old on the train, using his reflection in a #5 train door to adjust his pants. His intention was not on pulling them up, (never that) his focus was on lowering them. He carefully lowered his excessively tight "skinny" jeans just enough so that his crotch was exposed and the the world can view The style of boxers he wore.

Don't get me wrong I have followed a trend or two in my day. For instance, about 6 or 7 years ago, most guys (and girls) all their closets filled with the latest basketball jerseys and other sports apparel. Around this time everyone was also aware of a city dude's obsession with a crisp white tee. As time progressed, Polo's and button down shirts eased in to our previously hood saturated closets, a trend spear-headed by rapper Kanye West. This trend offered hope to our young society letting them know it was okay to dress properly with a touch of style.

There seemed to be a thriving progressive outlook on today's Hip-Hop influenced culture, only to backfire and usher in a new brand on metro sexually tight pants and fancy scarves. Have you ever heard a grown man refer to his jeans as skinny jeans? Whoa! When did this start happening? I'm not saying you have to wear pants that look as if you can hide a shotgun in them, its fine to wear pants that fit you a little more snug than most of us are use to.

The thin line is crossed when you refer to them as skinny jeans. What's next? Capri's? Air forces with wedges? Just let Lil Wayne or Chris breezy come on stage with. Stockings, all the young guys will be wearing them. (maybe) Take for example all the colorful scarfs all the men wear with the intent on looking stylish abandoning the original purpose of keeping you from getting a head cold. By the way, 80 degree weather is not scarf weather. This is a trend you would think would be strictly for females but many have adopted it due to their attraction to following trends
Once kids started realizing it was now cool to be stylish, the flood gates were open to outlandish new trends with spins on the old ones, IE. Exaggerated pants sagging.

What boggles me, is how so many people, the majority being women can't stand a guy with his pants sagging...but the trend remains triumphant? Guys only continue do something this absurd if there's someone out there who enjoys it. So ladies don't perpetuate this silly trend! If ladies all simultaneously said " man I hate fitted caps " dudes like me would have no choice but constantly get haircuts.

Ladies, the next time a guy approaches you with his pants looking like he has something weighing them down, its not money, dismiss him, fight the power!

-Rasean.

Double Trouble

  "Double standards are when certain applications may be acceptable to one group, but seen to another as taboo."

The double standard in reference to sex is widely debated amongst vast social circles. In society, It is globally acceptable ( amongst men ) for a man to sleep with any woman, numerous times and be praised in the eyes of his fellow man. There seems to be a incessant spree of ravishing, exceeding the purpose of pleasure only to focus on the procurement of a heightened number of sexual partners.

At any given time next to you, there is a man who has rendezvous numbers, not necessarily that of "wilt the stilt" (wilt chamberlain), but he does well for himself. This man engages in trysts, one night stands and late night booty calls at least twice a week. To his male onlookers and admirers he is a god, master of the sexual arts and fully equipped with a well polished playa's card. Meanwhile a woman with similar sexual prowess, whom is single and not afraid to mingle, satisfies her sexual appetite with a new partner, let's say, each month, "what a ho". This is not my personal a opinion but is probably what some might express. Contrary to what many may think, men aren't the only lifeline to this double standard. In female bathrooms and around office water coolers alike, a
display of character defamation takes place, in reference to a particular "promiscuous " girl.

Woman too associate the act of a woman having more than one sexual partner in any certain acceptable time frame, as being a slut. These women may be jealous of this particular woman because of her carefree and self affirming nature. They see how easily she attacks her non sexual goals so they then condemn her a less christian like traits as compensation for their melancholy woes, full of life's disappointments. Perhaps they wish they too could find themselves attracted to a man and then consummate that attraction and keep it moving.

I myself always believed that this double standard derived from the physical aspect of sex. A man could have sex consistently throughout the year , and there will be little signs of wear and tear on his Johnson(assuming he doesn't over due it )as long as he practices safe sex. A woman who engages in the same act, for the same amount of time might have a noticeable transformation to to her anatomy, her vagina to be precise. Now this alteration brings forth a distaste amongst men most likely the reason so many men are fixated on having a virgin. In discussion about this theory, I was brashly informed that, a series of kegels will fix this little dilemma through a series of contractions, ladies problem solved?, Ha.



Looking beyond a sexually connotation for an answer to this facetious standard of living, one might bring the factor of male dominance in to play. The fact we were believed to be created first and since then has had our grasp on the molding of society, maybe men believe simply " I can do what I want and you can't" once again not my opinion but a mere suggestion. In any event, this double standard has became a way of life an actuality of sorts. The best way to work around them is to be an understanding person, more so and intelligent person. If we are adults and realize we are all equals this standard of life will erase it self, but I wouldn't hold your breath just yet. Thoughts on this??

-Rasean