CLUB ETIQUETTE

Peace! Just to lighten the mood a little, I had to post this cuz it's hilarious but true. Heed these words club hoppers!

CLUB ETIQUETTE 101 by Karlie Hustle (www.myspace.com/karliehustle)


1. Don't leave the house without gum.

2. If you leave the house without gum, don't open your mouth until you reach your vehicle post-club. People don't want to smell your stank liquor/cigarette breath. Gross.

3. If you don't know how to hold your liquor, don't drink much. A history of blacking out, making out with people you don't know, and waking up on a sidewalk with a cocktail napkin stuck to your arm are all symptoms that you can't handle an adult club outing. You have two options: stay home or taper off on the booze.

4. If you go somewhere knowing you're going to be drinking and knowing your baby daddy/mama or ex-boyfriend/girlfriend will be in attendance, and you haven't yet made peace with the situation, you're not that bright. Not only is the outlook for a good time slim to none, after a few drinks, you'll likely make an ass of yourself by confronting them and/or a person they are dancing/drinking with. You will look a hot mess, cause a major spectacle, and be the head float of fellow club goers shit parades. Don't fuck up a decent time for other people because you have emotional problems. Just stay home and take some pills or something til you're over it.

5. Fellas, if you're interested in a female, try to make eye contact with her. If she sees you once and doesn't continue eye contact with you after, she's not interested. Don't force the issue.

6. Fellas, if you decide against my advice noted in point #5 and force the issue, don't call the woman a bitch because she blows you off. Call yourself a dummy for trying to twist her arm. Women choose men. Not the other way around. It's nature. Don't fuck with nature, or you'll be the dick in the club that hollers at everything walking and the one we complain about in the bathroom like "God! Why won't that dude in the black hat get a clue!?!"

7. Ladies, if you're going to drink yourself under the table, for God's sake don't wear a short skirt. The whole club seeing your cooter as you're getting manhandled on the dance floor by some dude that looks like Craig Mack's cousin is a bad look.

8. If you want to act a fool and start shit because you're bored, you have problems with your inner child and should seek counseling. Only people with major issues resort to violence when someone accidentally bumps into their drink in a packed club. If you're first instinct is to yell and wild out or make bodily threats in the event of a total accident, you don't belong in a crowded place at all. Another place to avoid for people like you is Wal-Mart on a Sunday.

9. Going out requires a shower and the use of an iron and some form of wardrobe discretion. If you look like you just got off the sofa after three days of strep throat, that's the reason why women aren't returning your lustful gazes. Get your hygiene game up.

10. If you buy a drink for someone, that doesn't mean they owe you anything other than a thank you. A 10-minute conversation full of "so, shawty, you lookin kinda thick" and "what's yo man got ta to wit me" type shit is not mandatory for the receiver of the beverage. If you don't get a convo out of it, take it as a good deed done and move on. It's a club. Having any kind of expectation past getting drunk is a launching pad for disappointment.

WALE'

Peace to you and yours on this day of wisdom born all being born to knowledge knowledge,all being born to wisdom. A few months ago I took a productive trip to D.C. As I'm doing the knowledge to the area, gettin a taste of what the people do and how they get down, my God pops in a C.D. Now, one thing that D.C is known for is go go. Truthfully, I have never been in to too much go go. It's cool if I'm at a party with a band and I'm dancin the night away, but you wouldn't find it in my C.D. collection. On the flip, one thing D.C. is not known for is rappers. But one talented emcee, Wale' is attempting to change all that. Mix together, Lil Wayne's cadence, D.C. swagger, and a little bit of go go, and you get in my humble opinion, a very talented emcee who may be relatively unknown outside of the D.C. area. He raps his ass off, has a lot of personality, and reps his area well. My favorite track happens to be "One Thing About a Playa," a song with an infectious hook, successfully interweaving hip hop and go go. Check out his myspace page at www.myspace.com/wale202 AND you can download his entire album for free at www.studio43group.com.

PEACE

I Medina

P.S. I finally got with the program and put up a myspace page (Angeleye/ I Medina), complete with a few songs I rhyme on. Check me out and let me know what you think!

www.myspace.com/angeleyecali

GANGSTA RAP IS HIP HOP

Peace to everyone on this day of knowledge power all being born to equality. First I would like to thank all those who voted for me (Angel Eye) and RXC/ Classic 1824 for the Pittsburgh Hip Hop Awards. We didn't win (wasn't judged based on who was the best rapper, but who got the most votes on the Internet), but thank all of you for your love and support.

Recently, on a list serve I'm on, there was a discussion about whether gangsta rap should be considered Hip Hop. In being aware of the power within all of the ciphers we are a part of, we cannot overestimate nor underestimate the effect that music has on people. So often, Hip Hop gets the blame for what's wrong with the world, and don't get me wrong, some stuff is too much for me, and I'm very liberal minded. However, we cannot underestimate the effect that a lack of values and cultural base has on our communities, namely children. Here are a few points from my perspective:

1) Hip Hop did not start off with the intent of being some positive revolutionary movement. It was a combination of things based on where people were at. There was so-called gangsta music, party rap, bling music, just kickin it having fun ridin down the street music,so-called mysoginistic music about how many girls you could get, straight beats and rhymes and music with positive messages. We cannot continue to romanticize this. That's like how people romanticize pre-colonial Africa or ancient civilizations (as if it's just one big place where everybody did things the same way in a positive manner). Everything wasn't all good about it. You can't just focus on the best part cuz that's relative anyway. One person's best part might be De La Soul. Another person's best part might be Kool G Rap or Snoop.

2) Hip Hop is a reflection of the good, bad and ugly side of what's taking place in our communities. For the most part, Hip Hop is where the people are at. Not to say that there aren't studio gangstas and some people's images are manufactured and pushed to a certain population cuz there are. But there are some rappers that people actually relate to. I understand why Jeezy was upset when Nas said Hip Hop is dead. He's like, "Hip Hop ain't dead cuz I'm rappin." And I respect a lot of the music comin from the south and the bay cuz it reflects the struggle and experience of a lot of the masses of people, and if I don't respect it, to a degree, I don't respect my people and our varying experiences. Then I start separating myself, thinking I'm different (7:14) from the masses of people (sometimes unconsciously, with good intentions), then how effective can I be in positively impacting?

How can I hate on somebody if that's where they're comin from. Just because someone raps about different topics, with a different style from a different region doesn't mean that it's not Hip Hop. It just may not reflect where you are coming from, and of course people would like to see more of a relatable experience on the radio. I agree. Coming up, there was more diversity in the music. That's the main issue to me and see that fight as valid, although not the largest priority. I get tired of having to turn the radio down when I have some children in the car, cuz they can't listen to most of it on my watch, especially after having broken some lyrics down (but they listen to it anyway on their own time, just like I did when I was a kid). Now you're inundated with the same shit every day and that's counter-productive and boring. I wouldn't want to just hear so called conscious rap all day every day either, cuz that only reflects one experience and I would be bored with that. Are we really remembering accurately what we listened to when we were kids? I bet it wasn't just one thing, and some of us as junior high and teenagers were shakin our asses to some mysogynistic, pimpin, gangsta shit. Don't tell me ya'll weren't fuckin with NWA or Snoop's Doggystyle, or Dr. Dre's The Chronic, or Kool G Rap, etc.

3) If you have a problem with the music people make, go grab some kids and teach them something else. Expose them to different things. Help change their living situation. Then they'll make different music. You can't ask a kid to be a rap nationalist or whatever if that's not their experience. Even if you challenge the "system," there will always be kids rappin like that as long as those conditions exist. When me and a brother did Creative Liberation, our youth arts and Hip Hop program, there was a heavy educational component that many of them experienced before they came to the program. We had to reorient them mentally and culturally first. With some kids, it was easier due to their orientation growing up. With other kids it was harder due to their orientation growing up. We unveiled many of the lies, myths, and reasons behind the condition of our people, they understood and expressed their reaction to it, started changing their mind set and the things they valued, and THEN they were able to make some music that was reflective of their mindset while still being themselves. Take whatever lyrics you don't like and break it down with the children, ask them what a pimp, hoe and bitch is and see what they say (cuz most of them don't even know...they're just singing what they constantly hear all the time) and after that, see if that is how they see themselves. Our issues are so much deeper than the music. I remember being 9 years old, listening to Too Short Freaky Tales in my walkman, and even went to a Too Short and 2 Live Crew concert with some other neighborhood children. I grew up and still do listen to all kinds of stuff. The music was not detrimental to my existence cuz of the values that were instilled in me. That's what has the most power.

4) Part of the issue with so called conscious rap (and I don't like the term "conscious" either. Consciousness is awareness, regardless of whether the awareness reflects good or bad) is that not enough focus is placed on instrumentation, bangin beats and being relatable enough for folks to understand you. Unless you're preachin to the choir or making music to perform in coffee shops with people who already think like you, you gotta make that shit hard man! Not meaning be other than yourself, but being able to make your message relatable to people. Put some knock into it and don't be preachy! Otherwise, you just look like a lame, separatist corny hater who cats wouldn't want to be around for 2 minutes cuz you don't have any fun.

You can't teach somebody if you see yourself as so unalike, that you repel them. And everybody can't play that position (but check out www.myspace.com/rebelmusic1824 or www.classic1824.com for some of our music that strives to strike that balance....music with a message, but not corny). Hell, even take some popular beats that you would love to rhyme to, jack that shit, and spit some hot shit over it. At least the music will catch people's ears. No matter how I look, headwrapped and queenly, I don't want to spit to no flowery stuff cuz I know what I like and I'm not trying to preach to the choir. So when somebody hears me rhyme, to a beat or acapella, I rhyme aggressively (not like a dude, but strong and confident, assertive.), I try to choose a bangin beat selection (original or not), and get my message out where it's visual, but not too complex. I ain't rhymin bout no hexagons and some cloudy flowery shit, and I don't wanna hear it either. So at the very least, no matter who's listening, they'll say, "She can rhyme," and may get something out of it. It's a shame to go to a show full of conscious artists who make music "for the people" and the people we rap about aren't even in attendance cuz it doesn't appeal to them. Next time you're at a so-called conscious hip hop show, check who's in the audience, and you'll see if the music is doing its job. Mos Def could have been that artist that resonated with different populations across the board. Even Lauryn Hill could have been somebody who related to all sorts of people, particularly women everywhere. But they went in another direction for various reasons.

If you do music for the people and you perform your music for a block party in the hood, and it doesn't bring people to the stage or they walk away you gotta think about if your music is applicable to them and change your strategy...not the essence of your message, but how it is delivered. Rap for some kids and see if they like your music. I love trying out rhymes on the kids I work with, asking them if they understand what I'm saying, and when they say "Oooh, Sister Medina, that's hard," I know I'm going in the right direction.

5) Gangsta rap is Hip Hop. Pure and simple. It just might not be Hip Hop you particularly like or relate to. Times are a little different and it's hard to sell "conscious music" to 80s crack babies who don't live your lyrics. Do the knowledge to the cipher you're in or trying to speak to (meaning, look and see what's going on around you) and see what you need to do while still remaining your authentic self. It ain't easy, but it ain't for everybody.

P.ractice E.valuation A.uthenticity C.reativity E.ffectively (PEACE)

I Medina Peaceful Earth

PITTSBURGH HIP HOP AWARDS- VOTE FOR ANGEL EYE AND RXC/CLASSIC 1824


Peace to All! I build that everyone is positive, productive and peaceful on this day of culture. Pittsburgh, PA is having its first Pittsburgh Hip Hop Awards and I am nominated as a finalist for Best Female Artist (under the name Angel Eye), and the crew I rhyme with, RXC/Classic 1824, is being nominated for Most Inspirational Artist (we don't preach to the choir, we teach to inspire!- I Majestic). It would be great if you could support us and go to www.pittsburghhiphopawards.com, go to the vote section, and put in your bid for "Angel Eye" for Best Female Artist and RXC/ Classic1824 for Most Inspirational Artist. It's really quick and takes about 3 minutes! Voting ends Jan 12 and the awards are on Jan 14 so vote and spread the word! If you want to hear a sample of our music, go to www.myspace.com/rebelmusic1824 or www.classic1824.com. I'm unsure about the out of city/state voting stipulations (didn't see anything on the web-site that said you can't) so if you don't live in Pittsburgh, give it a shot anyway! Thanks to all who nominated us!

Peace and Love

I Medina (Angel Eye)

YOU MUST NOT KNOW BOUT ME...THE BRUISED EGO OF THE BLACK WOMAN

Peace! In the past few months, Beyonce's song, "Irreplaceable," has become the anthem of scorned sistas everywhere (Beyonce and Destiny's Child are good for anthems...usually relating to some relationship or lack there of with a man...hmm). On this day of understanding, I came to the realization that this latest effort looks good at the surface, but reeks of a bruised ego beneath. I'm not going to get into whether the song is for a certain someone cuz that's beside my point. She's tellin this dude to roll out cuz he did her wrong and she can replace him in a second so hurry up, pack your shit and get the hell up outta here, with no regret, remorse, sadness, nothing. Now she might be speaking for the woman who is so fed up from being dogged out that she is cold and callous toward the brotha. Truthfully, I don't see this as realistic. Although it's just a song, the fact that so many women identify with it calls its relevance into question when looking at the state of Black male-female relationships and our ability to hurt, disregard, and discard one another without so much as "shedding a tear." To me, if this is a man who you've been with, who you cared for, it may not be so easy to send the brotha "to the left." I'm not saying that if a man continiously disrespects a woman and she has reached her limit, she is in the wrong for removing that negative element from her life if that's what she sees fit. On the contrary, I do not advocate keeping anything or anybody around who is hurtful (especially one who seems to be talkin shit on his way out). But we can't keep acting like we don't feel things and mask our emotions under a shield of this tough, superwoman as a defense mechanism from feeling and dealing with the pain cuz what lies beneath is a bruised and hurt ego that doesn't understand why a brotha could act the way he did. I am by no means saying get stuck in the pain, but if you don't deal with what happened and why, you'll only continue to bury your feelings, moving from man to man, potentially attracting the same type of brotha going through the same cycles. I mean, would you really want "another you in a minute" if the previous dude did you wrong? Do the knowledge...




To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
Everything you own in the box to the left
In the closet that's my stuff - Yes
If I bought it nigga please don't touch
And keep talking that mess, that's fine
But could you walk and talk at the same time
And It's my mine name that is on that Jag
So remove your bags let me call you a cab

Standing in the front yard telling me
How I'm such a fool - Talking about
How I'll never ever find a man like you
You got me twisted

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
matter fact he'll be here in a minute - baby

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I can have another you by tomorrow
So don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

So go ahead and get gone
And call up on that chick and see if she is home
Oops, I bet ya thought that I didn't know
What did you think I was putting you out for?
Cause you was untrue
Rolling her around in the car that I bought you
Baby you dropped them keys hurry up before your taxi leaves
Standing in the front yard telling me
How I am such a fool - Talking about
How I'll never ever find a man like you
You got me twisted

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
matter fact he'll be here in a minute - baby



You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I will have another you by tomorrow
So don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

So since I’m not your everything
How about I'll be nothing
Nothing at all to you
Baby I wont shead a tear for you
I won't lose a wink of sleep
Cause the truth of the matter is
Replacing you is so easy

To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
Everything you own in the box to the left

To the left
To the left

Don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
matter fact he'll be be here in a minute - baby

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I can have another you by tomorrow
Don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
matter fact he'll be be here in a minute - baby

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I can have another you by tomorrow
Don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable