Posted on 12/31/2004 4:40:18 PM PST by mrustow
It's been a hard Kwanzaa this year. I haven't received a single card, and the "holiday" is almost over. I received a lovely letter yesterday from a black New York reader, but she didn't say a word about the black supremacist holiday. She wrote to give me a heads-up that while Halle Berry and Alicia Keys are making a movie about George S. Schuyler's daughter, Philippa, they don't even know how to correctly pronounce "Schuyler." My reader, an admirer of George S. Schuyler, pretty much ordered me to rectify the matter.
I was looking forward to getting Kwanzaa notes and cards from my black supremacist readers this year. After all, I received more than enough e-mails from them the rest of the year.
Back in May, I received this love letter:
In a message dated 5/30/2004 9:50:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, sb262@msn.com writes:
"I just happen to be on my computer and happen upon your commentary. And right away I knew you are around the same age as I am . Their I fully understand your total ignorance of my people.
"It's a_s hole like you who is the problem. I do not know were you got your facts about blacks in your America,it seems you left out a lot of facts about how the way a lot of us became.
"But what caught my attention was you using a Nazi to describe my people and how we should be handle.
"We are not animals , but you sound like a zoo keeper .
"I will say this , as long as people like you keep it up side down, it will be even harder for people like me to turn it up right.
"Now you have a nice day.
"Sheridan Brown"
My first thought was that that this was some white frat boy pulling a practical joke, in a contemporary version of the sort of prank that the late Ann Landers used to deal with on a regular basis. Then a more horrifying thought occurred to me - that the writer really might be black.
Although I had most recently published an expose on urban police crime reporting, there was no clear connection to that or any of my other articles. Somehow, I don't see the Sheridan Browns of this world turning anything right-side up.
At one point, I felt the love from Grouchy Greg, the publisher of allhiphop.com, who with my permission, ran Part I of my two-parter on pro-Al Qaeda rapper KRS-ONE (aka KOP).
Subj.: Nice article on KRS
In a message dated 10/24/2004 2:08:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time, grouchygreg@tmail.com writes:
Can I run this in our editorial section?
GROUCHY GREG/FOUNDER/ALLHIPHOP.COM/
I responded,
As long as you don't change it, be my guest!
Regards,
Nicholas Stix
Greg wrote back,
"I won't change ONE word. Thanks so much, it adds the great balance I look for for our site. I don't agree with you, but that's cool, we don't have to agree. Thanks again and if you ever want to post your editorials related to hip hop (I know you probably don't write them frequently), please let me know.
"KRS is not as revered in the game as you may believe. Other rappers have consistently pointed out his contradictions, but few will battle him due to his prowess on the mic. A friend of mine has challenged him to a debate he has yet to accept.
"GROUCHY GREG/FOUNDER/ALLHIPHOP.COM/
"Can we stay in touch?
"GROUCHY GREG/FOUNDER/ALLHIPHOP.COM/
I answered,
Dear Greg,
The piece looks great at AHH, and I'm already getting tons of "love" mail. You're right that I probably won't be writing a lot of work on Hip-Hop -- not due to lack of interest, but an ever-widening gap between my interests and the time it takes to research, write, and rewrite a piece. But I greatly appreciate the offer, and will think of you first, if I decide to write on Hip-Hop again. And of course, I'd like to stay in touch.
I think it's great that you ran my piece. The 'Net tends to be as provincial as the mainstream media, with people preaching to their respective choirs. I want to reach people who disagree with me, but most editors are not as open-minded or interested in healthy debate as you are.
Thanks again for running the piece, and we'll both try and keep in touch.
Regards,
Nicholas
Unfortunately, a few hours after Greg posted my article, it disappeared from his Web site, the link was destroyed, and when I asked him what happened, he failed to keep in touch. So goes the life of a racial healer.
One letter came in so far under my radar, that at first, I failed to see its significance. I noticed (it must have been the middle of the night) that the correspondent was a publicist, but didn't realize WHOSE publicist he was.
Keep in mind that a publicist is, no less than a lawyer, an advocate (in some Romance languages, the word for lawyer is "advocate.") for his clients, no matter how indefensible they may be. Often, in both cases, the advocate is no more and no less than a professional liar. Recall Madonna Ciccone's publicist, Liz Rosenberg. A few years ago, when Ciccone was desperate for PR, and was semen-shopping, among other things, a steady stream of stories were published about her (one was that she was pregnant). In case after case, including the first reports that Ciccone was pregnant, Rosenberg would categorically deny that the story of the day was true, only to be shown up as a liar, every single time. Never in my life have I seen such a series of rumors about an untalented celebrity to all be proven true.
But keep in mind as well, that the advocate officially speaks for the celebrity (or wannabe celebrity). And so, if the advocate is a liar, the client is a liar. For if the client is unhappy with the way her advocate represents her, then she must sack her, which Ciccone has not done with Rosenberg. Which brings us to KRS-ONE (KOP) and his PR flack, "Hard-Hittin Harry."
When you read the following set of apologetics from Harry and KOP, search for a refutation of my articles. You will find none. You'll see enough sound and fury for a screed by the late James Baldwin, and with just as little substance. Note too that KOP lied, when he claimed to have supported young people voting. As he clearly said at the time, "Voting in a corrupt society adds more corruption. America has to commit suicide if the world is to be a better place."
What HardHittinHarry is saying, is that no one may criticize Hip-Hop. Only those may speak about it who have, in effect, signed a loyalty oath to sing the praises of the totality of its "beloved culture." Thus is Hip-Hop not only for the talentless, but for the brain-dead. Enjoy!
In a message dated 10/24/2004 9:38:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time, HardHittinHarry writes:
Good evening Mr. Six.
My name is Hard Hittin Harry from Meridian Entertainment. I just finished reading your disturbing op-ed piece on rapper, KRS-ONE (not KOP as your meager attempt to belittle his moniker). My partner, Chase and I are his publicists. I don't even know where to begin with that crap that you call journalism. You really need to crawl back under the rock that you came from.
First of all your racist views and disrespect for Hiphop culture doesn't even give you the qualifications to even write about our beloved culture. In your lame piece, you define a rapper as "typically a talentless black who want people to subsidize him, so that he doesn't have to get a j-o-b. etc.." You must be joking right? In case you haven't noticed, Hiphop is an worldwide and international culture nowadays. Surprise! WHITE kids are rappers too (Perhaps you have heard of Eminem?)...as well as Blacks, Latinos, Asians, and the list goes on.
By spreading that type of ignorance, hatred and lack of understanding of our beloved Hiphop culture, you are clearly part of the problem that KRS-ONE speaks about. I can go on and on about your trashy piece, however, I am doing you favor by sending you KRS-ONE's most recent statement.
In closing I'd like to paraphrase Mr. Jeff Campbell of the Colorado Hiphop Coalition in his recent response to the Daily News when he says, "You cannot even begin to understand Hiphop, or the community it represents. You are a part of the machine that seeks to destroy us as a people. KRS-ONE is no threat to you, you are a threat to us." I think that statement best fits you and all people like you.
If you would like to learn more about Hiphop culture, feel free to visit websites like www.templeofhiphop.org or www.zulunation.com. My suggestion is that before you write about anything...do your research. You will come off looking better than a racist and uninformed idiot. I will pray for your soul.
Respectfully,
Hard Hittin Harry
CFO/Meridian Entertainment Publicity
Music Editor/ Demographix Magazine
917-984-0517
http://www.planetmeridian.com
http://demographixmag.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For Immediate Release!
Contact: Meridian Entertainment
p. 201-521-9742 e. planetmeridian@aol.com
# # #
KRS ONE says, "I AM AN AMERICAN PHILOSOPHER"
It seems that the more Hiphop speaks, the more people listen. Whether it's through lyrics, Hiphop panels, books, videos or radio, Hiphop is the voice being heard 'round the world. Since the 1980's Kris Parker a.k.a. KRS One has undoubtedly been a "voice" for Hiphop, and many times "THE voice" of Hiphop, having alternately been known as The Teacha for his educational lyrics, and The Blastmasta for putting any cat who dared challenge him on blast. He is an artist that for all intents and purposes has represented the positive side of Hiphop his entire career. He's been praised, cursed, adored, hated, worshiped and criticized, however, it cannot be denied, KRS One is an American philosopher, teacher, lecturer, and leader.
The most recent jab in the critical arena has been the New York Daily News. The Rush and Malloy gossip column ran a segment that accused KRS of forming solidarity with Al Qaeda, because of statements he made at a recent New Yorker Festival panel discussion. KRS-ONE says, "Let me be clear and we can refer to the audiotape. At NO POINT during the panel discussion did I EVER declare solidarity with Al Qaeda and for the Daily News to print that is not only irresponsible…it's dangerous!" This is the same KRS who was recently honored on "VH-1 Hiphop Honors" alongside RUN DMC, DJ Kool Herc, Tupac Shakur, DJ Hollywood, Rocksteady Crew, Public Enemy, The Sugarhill Gang, and the Graffitti Movement. KRS ONE, the artist who began organizations such as The Stop the Violence Movement (which spawned the widely revered single "Self Destruction"), H.E.A.L. (Human Education Against Lies), and The Temple of Hip Hop, which organized a panel discussion on this very issue a year after the attacks (9/11/02) in Hollywood, CA titled "I (eye) on Terror". KRS-ONE further comments on the backlash towards his recent statements.
"My statements, taken out of context, were never meant to infer a lack of compassion or to disrespect or demean the losses of 9/11, and I apologize to anyone I may have offended. It was a terrible tragedy, which still hurts many of us. My point was that we've been bombing other people's 'world trade centers' for many years, and 9/11 could have been a repercussion of that fact. It should have been a wake up call!" KRS goes on to say "Is it impossible to explore the reality, not of WHAT happened that day but WHY it happened? The towers were chosen because they represented the financial pockets of white America. I DO NOT believe in killing innocent people for any reason, I do NOT appreciate what happened on 9/11, but I also don't appreciate the hundreds of thousands of women and children who sit in hospitals or graves in Iraq, Baghdad, Fallujah, and other cities in the Middle East and around the world because of the bombs that Americans dropped on them in an attempt to kill 'terrorists'. Is that anti American?"
At a recent sold-out show in Denver, CO, KRS opened the floor for a Q&A discussion immediately after his performance. He invited a crowd member on stage, who proceeded to introduce himself as a US soldier and recounted how he watched his fellow soldiers getblown to bits in Iraq. Having recently returned from Iraq, the soldier went on to explain that he wasn't for George W. Bush or Sen. John Kerry in the upcoming election. The crowd cheered as he implied that he too, was down with Hiphop culture. However, the crowd booed when he said that he would have to side with Bush because Kerry voted against a bill that would have given more money to support the U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Touring the country, and performing at consistently sold out shows, KRS finds this type of sentiment coming from many people, from all walks of life. "Marines, Israelis, Palestinians, Army soldiers, Muslims, Black Americans, White Americans, all find their expression in hip hop, and express full support." KRS says. "THEY, the Hiphop community, didn't take my words out of context, because THEY understand how corrupted our society has become and that it's time to speak out. Right now, there are troops willing to risk court marshalbecause they are refusing to fight since they have seen first hand the atrocities of this war."
It is undeniable that Hiphop is an international community, not just an American community. When artists travel the globe, they are able to see the flip side of what people feel and believe about American policies. An artist is no longer limited to his hood, school or family and they come to realize that not everyone believes that America is beautiful. "For the sake of African American security, I think we should distance ourselves from corporate American interests." Kris ponders, "I believe African Americans should seriously consider their role in the world's opinion, and not just America's opinion."
With that being said, contrary to the Daily News saying that "Parker also sneered at efforts by other rappers to get young people to vote", KRS says "I think all Hiphoppers should register to vote, this is why I commend the work of Citizen Change and the Hip Hop Action Network. I highly commend Russell Simmons and Sean 'P-Diddy' Combs for the work they are doing. The reason I think they should register, is so that we can depend on a high voter turnout when we do in fact find someone who represents us."
Finally, KRS-ONE directly addresses The Daily News' depiction of his "downward spiraling career." He says "I am preparing to release my forthcoming book, "The Gospel of Hiphop", as well as a paperback version of my previous highly acclaimed book, "Ruminations" hitting stores next month. We are also gearing up for next year's 8 th Annual Hiphop Appreciation Week ( May 15 th - 22 nd 2005) and its theme "Freedom", and I plan to participate in the upcoming "World Hip Hop Summit" in Paris, France." KRS One happens to be among the wave of musicians, artists and actors who have been recently speaking out against the US policies and the "War on Terror". Soon, we may find more than enough people who "represent" the American youth, Hip Hoppas, and the voices of the voiceless.
End
Freedom of Opinion?
"Satisfied" by J Live - "By the time Bush is done, you won't know what time it is/ If it's war time or jail time, time for promises/ And time to figure out where the enemy is/ The same devils that you used to love to hate/ They got you so gassed and shook now, you scared to debate/ The same ones that traded books for guns/ Smuggled drugs for funds/ And had fun lettin' off forty-one/ But now it's all about NYPD caps/ And Pentagon bumper stickers/ But yo, you still a nigga/ It ain't right them cops and them firemen died/ The shit is real tragic, but it damn sure ain't magic/ It won't make the brutality disappear/ It won't pull equality from behind your ear/ It won't make a difference in a two-party country/ If the president cheats, to win another four years"
"What Would You Do" by Paris - "Now ask yourself who's the people with the most to gain (Bush)/ before 911 motherf***as couldn't stand his name (Bush)/ Now even brothas waivin' flags like they lost they mind/ Everybody got opinions but don't know the time/ 'Cause Amerikkka's been took - it's plain to see/ The oldest trick in the book is MAKE an enemy/ Of phony evil now the government can do its dirt/ And take away ya freedom lock and load, beat and search"
"What Goes Around" by Nas - "Never to worry, all the wrong doers got it coming back to 'em a thousand times over/ Every dog has its day, and everything flips around/ Even the most greatest nation in the world has it comin back to 'em/ Everybody reaps what they sews, that's how it goes"
2004 - Jadakiss on his smash single "Why" asks "Why did Bush knock down the towers?"
2004 - Dirnt of Green Day, "The world's in a confused state, I'm pissed off and I'm angry, and I feel like I'm not fully represented."
2004 - Artists in California clog freeway overpasses with their anti war art. Expectedly, many of the artists have suffered a backlash for their divisive art. Many of them (Freeway Blogger, Billy Nose, etc) have received death threats. And Fairey, a commercially successful artist, said his design business took a hit once he began mixing his art with his politics. "Four thousand e-mail subscribers, about 25 percent of my list, unsubscribed immediately," he said.
2004 - the Hip Hop Action Summit - Defended Hip-Hop culture before members of the U.S. Congress and before federal regulatory agencies, eg. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
2004 - "Mosh," from Eminem's Encore LP, finds Slim Shady lyrically indicting the president while pleading with his fellow Americans to unify in insurgence and be heard. "Maybe we can reach al Qaeda through my speech," he adds. "Let the president answer on higher anarchy/ Strap him with an AK-47, let him go fight his own war/ Let him impress daddy that way/ ... No more blood for oil."
2004 - Faithless , the group most known for spawning Dido, released what became their first Stateside hit, the funky anti-war single "Mass Destruction." the group's rapping frontman, Maxi Jazz (real name Maxwell Frazer) says, "The conflict that we appear to be in doesn't stop with soldiers going to somebody else's country and fighting. The front line is right here, in train stations, in shopping malls."
2003 - Dixie Chicks - "I think people were misled and I think people are fighting a war that they didn't know they were going to be fighting," Maines said on NBC's "Today" show. "And I think they were misled by people who should have been asking questions and weren't." The country stars faced criticism and even death threats after Maines said she and her band mates were ashamed that President Bush was from Texas. She made the remark in London shortly before the war began. Though Maines apologized for the phrasing of her remark, some radio stations banned the group's music. The group also received death threats in the wake of Maines' comments. Maines said Friday she did not feel vindicated by how the war has unfolded: "I would have liked to have been proven wrong." (CNN)
2003 - Russell Simmons stages Anti War efforts in conjunction with the organization Musicians United to Win Without War. Other artists in the organization include Jay-Z, Outkast, Zap Mama, Busta Rhymes, Sheryl Crow, Massive Attack and R.E.M., Rosanne Cash, Lou Reed and David Byrne among others.
2003 - The Philadelphia Hip-Hop Summit registered over 11,000 voters, the largest number of young new voters registered ever at a single hip-hop event in the united states;
2003 - True Majority , an organization started by Ben & Jerry's ice cream founder Ben Cohen, ran television commercials by Mos Def and Russell Simmons along with earlier ads done by actresses Susan Sarandon, Janeane Garofalo, Tyne Daly and Amy Brenneman. (They can be seen on True Majority's Web site www.truemajority.com)
2003 - Jay-Z broke his silence about the U.S.-led coalition's war with Iraq. In the remix of European artist Panjabi MC's overseas hit "Beware of the Boys," Jay mixes his Brooklyn braggadocio with anti-war sentiments. "We rebellious, we back home/ Screamin' 'Leave Iraq alone," Young Hova rhymes over a sample of the theme from the "Knight Rider" TV show. "For all my soldiers in the field/ I will wish you safe return/ But only love kills war/ When will they learn?"
2003 - Jewel comments on the conflict in Iraq. "I'm glad people are talking about it now," she said. "It's gotten to where it's frightening to see how little people are being encouraged to speak against it. I wish it wasn't happening, but I'd hate for the troops to feel unsupported. I don't make the decisions. It's frustrating."
2003 - Russell Simmons, "So all of these right wing people who think they can correct the truth that comes out of the ghetto, the hell with them. If they understood history and culture, they know that it's always been this kind of rap about young creative culture. The good news about America is that we've always protected people's rights....." (hsan.org)
2003 - Eminem Lyrics -"F-- money/ I don't rap for dead presidents/ I'd rather see the president dead/ It's never been said, but I set precedents' were heard from the 'hood all the way to government offices and caused the Secret Service to investigate the rapper.
2003 - Fat Joe "My position hasn't changed, too many innocent women and children and soldiers were killed over there." (MTV)
2003 - System of a Down's, Tankian , whose band shined a spotlight on the peace movement in its "Boom!" video, noted that the coalition's reason for invading -- alleged weapons of mass destruction -- has not been substantiated, nor has Saddam been located. "No one ever talked about liberating the Iraqi people from him until the war was labeled with that name," Tankian said. "Everything was centered around the weapons of mass destruction. The real intentions of this war still worry me, because reconstruction of the Iraqi state will depend on an administration whose concerns -- oil anyone? -- may outweigh the reconstruction of a nation."(MTV)
2003 - Former Rage Against the Machine vocalist Zack de la Rocha released "March of Death" with DJ Shadow and posted it on the Web. Following the Beastie Boys, who released the anti-war song "In a World Gone Mad," John Mellancamp who put out "To Washington", and Lou Reed recorded an updated version of his song "Walk on the Wild Side" with producer 7 Aurelius. His reworked tune was a commentary on the war.
2003 - Lenny Kravitz , who recorded a protest song with Iraqi pop star Kadim Al Sahir added, "I'd like to see human beings get to a place where they can learn to be peaceful and to use their minds, because our minds are very powerful. You see what we create with our minds. It's astonishing. So why can't we take that same mind power and put that toward learning to resolve issues without having to bomb each other?" (MTV)
2002 - Re: The Coup album cover. "The problem that Boots ran into had to do with the front album cover which depicted Boots holding a detonator blowing up the now destroyed World Trade Center. The cover was shot several months ago and was in line with Boot's philosophy of not liking capitalism. The World Trade Towers have been viewed as a symbol of capitalism all over the world. Boot's depiction was designed to symbolize a concept; little did he know that his picture would be eerily prophetic." (Davey D)
2001 - The Hip hop group The Coup's album was pulled after it's depiction of the towers in flames cause many people to protest.
2001 - During the Temple of Hiphop's Fourth Annual Hiphop Appreciation Week in May, KRS-ONE's Temple of Hiphop, held The International Conference for Peace at the Delegates Dining Room in the Secretariat Building of The United Nations. Attended by over three hundred attendees, the room was filled with international delegates, MCs, DJs, breakers, graf artists, Hiphop pioneers, international and mainstream media. The event was dedicated to the formation and signing of a Hiphop Declaration of Peace document. KRS-ONE says, "In order to survive, a culture must have history, rules, laws, traditions, rituals, goals, and leaders." All of these things must come within the family and not outside the family."
2001 -The first National Hip-Hop Summit, themed "Taking Back Responsibility", held in June in New York City. Since that time, HSAN has been on the forefront of initiatives that have tested and affirmed its efforts are timely and effective. Founded in 2001, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) is dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of Hip-Hop music to serve as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns fundamental to the well-being of at-risk youth throughout the United States. They are united in the belief that Hip-Hop is an enormously influential agent for social change which must be responsibly and proactively utilized to fight the war on poverty and injustice.
Subj.: Sorry
In a message dated 10/24/2004 9:59:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time, HardHittinHarry writes:
for misspelling your last name...MR. STIX
Thanks for the post, mrustow. It appears Mr. Stix is getting the old racism bath. That means it sounds like conservatism.
With Happy New Year's FReegards,
MR
Thanks, MR. I'm going to ping you to my New Year's thread. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It does have some humor in it.
Chris
BTTT
Hey KRS, about your "career"--no airplay, no play. You ain't been on the radio since you sucked Michael Stipe's hiney back in the day.
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