Blog Posts by Subject: Hip-hop

I met this girl, when I was 10 years old
And what I loved most, she had so much soul
Lyrics from "I Used to Love H.E.R." by Common

Former Actor and California Governor, Ronald Wilson Reagan was the President, while in New York City Edward Irving Koch was nearing the end of his Mayoral run. The Cold War was nearing its end and for many kids growing up in the South Bronx in the early '80s, there were more important things to worry about, than what Communists were doing on the other side of the globe. Crack Cocaine and HIV/AIDS had their grip on nearly every inner city community across the country and ruined households. Gun related 

Recently, The New York Public Library hosted JAY-Z in conversation with Cornel West and Paul Holdengräber where the rapper spoke about his newly released book Decoded. Now, this is my feedback as both a librarian and a fan.

Rapper Jay-Z is known by many as being a living legend. The truth is, with some of the best rap lyricists such as Biggie Smalls, Tupac, and Big Pun succumbing to tragedy, Jay-Z is a reminder not only of hope but of a particular generation of evolved rap music makers and their ability to artistically express their visions and perspective on life to their audience using wit, street knowledge, and a deep desire to share the world 

A few weeks ago I had no idea who B.o.B. aka Bobby Ray was. I don't listen to the radio often, and I'm not a huge fan of hip-hop. I did run into some buzz about him on the Internet, and heard about how he was collaborating with a wide variety of artists that I either like or find interesting (Rivers Cuomo from Weezer, T.I., Eminem, Hayley Williams from Paramore), so I thought I'd give his new cd, The Adventures of Bobby Ray a listen.

This album may be one of my favorite pop albums to come around in some time.

Is anyone else left with a bad taste in their mouths after the Grammys? Are we all really so anesthetized now that we need fireworks, an army of glittery dancers, and trapeze acts just to stay interested in music? There always seems to be a contest to see who can put on the most ridiculously over-the-top stage show, but just seems to me like an adult version of dangling shiny keys in a baby's face. OK, yea, put on a great show and all, but seriously?! It just reminds me of how Top 40 types are just too famous, too rich, too showy to feel legitimate anymore: punk rock bands with stylists; singer-songwriters without in-studio pitch