How Hip-Hop Influenced the Sh*t Out of Me

 

This is kinda related to today's post lol. I also just like this song and wanted to show it here. I hope you guys enjoy! :)))

• Word Count: 618

    I know I talk about my senior year of high school a lot – and I know I should probably stop – but it’s really where a lot of this shit started. A lot of the shit I’m into now stems from me experimenting in high school. Back then, I had a little more leeway; I went to places I shouldn’t have gone, and I found out things I had no business finding out, but that doesn’t mean I regret it. I love hip-hop. 

    When I found out about N.W.A at 17, I did a full deep-dive on hip-hop itself; the origins of it, the main pioneers, hell, there are things about hip-hop that I haven't discovered yet. The main thing that attracted me to it was how bold it was; the music was bold, and so was the culture surrounding it. The people in hip-hop- you can tell they have so much fun with what they do. If anybody’s willing to experiment, be bold, and fuck around finding out, it would be a rapper. Hip-hop isn’t allowed to be “normal” or bland, and that’s what I like about it (and that’s not to shit on other genres, so don’t start). 

    So anyway, you could imagine how 17-year-old me felt when I was introduced to everything. Bro, I was all over it; the graffiti culture, the fashion, I found my way into skate culture and fell in love with that too, grind fiction, the whole nine yards. Before I knew it, the shit was influencing the media I consumed, nearly dictating my life, and I happily let it. Hip-hop is a form of escapism for me. You know, in Kendrick Lamar’s album, Section.80, where he was saying he was hypnotized by hip-hop? That’s how I feel about it too. 

    Similar to metal and rock, there are so many subgenres in rap music. That’s why I don’t take people seriously when people say they won’t listen to it. Motherfuckers listen to one song they don’t like and start generalizing the whole genre. I will say, while we’re on the topic, there’s a lot of anti-blackness directed at hip-hop too. It’s one of the only genres that still has a majority of Black artists. For years, Black people have deeply influenced – if not directly created – the majority of music genres, and every time, we have been pushed out and ostracized. It’s like making a club, inviting a shitload of people, and then they kick you out. It’s bullshit, ain’t it? With that being said, I feel this weird sense of protection for hip-hop. So many people are so quick to disrespect the genre, and at the same time, want to copy it. It’s like they don’t want Black people to have anything, and it irritates me. 

    Irritation and disrespect aside, though, the last thing that makes me love hip-hop is the pride. When it comes to hip-hop, no one is ashamed of their roots or who they are. If anything, rappers and MCs let their roots influence their artistry. I know I’ve said this before, but seeing people be proud and love themselves- it makes me want to do it also. Rap music, along with the culture tied to it, has to be one of the most lively things I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve never seen something that I wanted to be a part of so badly; it was something I involved myself in with no hesitation, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Hip-hop taught me love, pride, and a level of confidence I know for a fact I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. Needless to say, it influenced the shit out of me. LMAOOO 

- CD ★

☆ BONUS MATERIAL (FOR FUN :) ☆

I also wanted to play the song I was referring to when I talked about Kendrick Lamar. I also just like this song too lol. Thanks for listening! :D

NOLA: A Reflection by CD

 

This isn't related to this post, honestly. It's just the video I thought of when I was editing the article. I hope you guys like it anyway lol. :)))

• Word Count: 459

    I went on a vacation a week ago and took a train to New Orleans. Overall? It was nice! Hot as hell? About to melt? Yes, but nice either way. A while ago, I talked about wanting more out of my life; I said I didn’t like how it was going, and all that kind of stuff. I felt like something was missing…and I think I found it in New Orleans. 

    Now, realistically, could I live in New Orleans? Fuck no. The heat was something I couldn’t even describe; too many men got weird with us since we were tourists, and everybody looks at you like they want to run you over when you’re crossing the street. Well…that last one can apply to all of the states, but that’s not the point! The things I didn’t like about New Orleans, the city made up for it ten times over. There was so much art and pretty things to look at in Louisiana. Everywhere you go has a fucking mural, graffiti, or some other form of art. I even went to an art exhibit for the first time with my brother. The shit was awesome; I loved it. I saw an underground band play some jazz shit too. 

- I honestly wish I could show you guys, but I wouldn’t even be able to credit the band. By the time I got there, they had already introduced themselves. :’)

    The reason why I found what I was missing had a lot to do with the environment; I needed a change in scenery. Not to mention New Orleans is just so lively and cultural. Everyone was having fun, everyone was outside, and everyone was Black. I don’t give a fuck what anyone says; it’s nice to be around people who look like you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in the South too, and I love it down here…but the people down here? Where I’m at? Let’s just say they’re good at making people feel uncomfortable. So, to be in a spot where people didn’t do that so much? I’m more thankful than I want to admit. 

I think taking that train to Louisiana made me realize my life itself wasn’t the problem; I’m just bored as shit. I know my hometown like the back of my fucking hand. Every crevice, nook, and cranny- I got that shit down. I think I’ve gotten to the point where I’m just bored with where I am. I’m not even talking about mentally this time. You know what? Maybe I can get on that train again. I can just say “fuck it,” and see how far it takes me. I can’t do it, though; I still got some shit to figure out. I’ll get there one day.

- CD ★

August Announcements: Album & Film of the Month, Content Updates, & More

 

This video is somewhat related to today's post. This is for anyone who wants to learn more about Outkast. I hope you guys enjoy it! :)))

Hey everyone! My bad for being less active online; I got a lot going on, if we're being honest. However, the grind does not stop, my people LMAOOOO. I still love my blog, and I still got things to do. Anyway, I have a few announcements for the month. I'll be quick! 

1. For album of the month? You KNOW we had to go with Stankonia by Outkast (2000). I really liked the album and took the time to showcase it on the blog. I really hope you all enjoy it. Also, you can check out my album review if you want. 
2. Now for film of the month, I decided to go with Politickin' by Palmer Williams, and I loved how the film was shot. Even though the themes aren't as similar, I still wanted to show it off on the blog. I'm actually mad I didn't find his work sooner lol. 
3. Honestly, you guys have small pieces coming from me soon. They're going to be more personal pieces. I feel I've been doing good on the blog, talking about nerdy shit and everything, but sometimes I want to switch it up. So, I'm going to be doing that. 
4. Now...I would talk about my plans for YouTube, but I'm very sure I said some shit last month, and I wasn't able to go through with it. So, you know what? I'm just going to surprise everyone and upload when I want to. LMAO

    Alright, that was it; there wasn't much for this month, I'm sorry! I do hope you guys enjoy yourselves this month, and I'll talk to you guys later! ^o^

Stankonia by Outkast: Album Review

Stankonia by Outkast (2000)

Rating: 8.5/10

    I know a while ago, I told you guys I wanted to give other genres some love, but lately, I’ve been having a hip-hop itch. I wanted to go back to the blog’s roots and listen to an album that’s been on my mind for a while: Stankonia (2000). Now, I have a small connection to this album, more specifically one song, So Fresh, So Clean. Dude, I love that fucking song. Every time it plays on the radio, my mom blasts the song, and we sing it together. She’s been doing that since I was a little kid; she would rap the parts, and I would sing. Anyway, I’m drifting from the point; my bad. I finally decided to listen to the project, and I wanted to talk about it today. 

    I’m probably going to use this word with all of my album reviews, but this album was extremely experimental. This was my first time listening to an Outkast project, but I fully understand what attracted people to their music. Their shit was so weird, funky, and cool. Every beat on this album was weird as shit in the best way possible. I don’t know, the best way I can say it? You can tell they were just fucking around and finding out. Nothing about this project is “normal,” and that’s exactly why I like this album. I also liked the small breaks in between. It felt like I was listening to a TV show. Like those old commercials you used to see as a kid? I thought it was cool as shit. It also reminds me of those classroom scenes in Lauryn Hill’s album. Anyway, I love when artists own being weird, especially in the early 2000s and 90s; it just makes me admire them more. 

    I also want to comment on the album cover itself. The shit is fire. It’s something about it that just makes me like the album more. Additionally, hearing self-expression being done in their style of rapping is something I’ve never heard before. It’s weird, it’s loud, it’s catchy, their voices blended so well, and you could tell the artists were just having fun. I would’ve loved to see André 3000 and Big Boi perform or something. I would’ve loved to see a Tiny Desk or SOMETHING, shit; it’s alright though. Regardless, this was a good album, and I can’t wait to listen to their other stuff sometime! 

- CD ★

FAVORITE TRACKS: 

You know I couldn't leave you guys hanging! LMAOO 

I think my biggest enemy is me: a journal entry (5)

 

This song is somewhat related to today's post. It's the song I thought about when writing this. No clue why, but I hope you guys like it! :))

     When I made my video titled “I’m a loser and that’s okay,” I didn’t think much of it at the time. I just wanted to make a video and talk shit, putting my thoughts out there. I said something about wanting to get things done and wanting more out of life…and to be honest, I haven’t done shit since I made that video. I haven’t accomplished anything, nor have I actually tried. For a long time, I blamed everything under the sun. I blamed my family, my old friends; I blamed people who were no longer here or in my life, and not once did I blame myself.

    Now, don’t get me wrong, I went through some bullshit. I’ve had things happen to me, and I know I didn’t deserve them. My point is, people have contributed to the bad in my life, but I’m the one who’s not moving. I’m the one who’s not getting my shit together, and after a while, you can’t blame anybody anymore. My biggest enemy is me. There are so many things I want to do in my life; there are so many people I want to talk to and be close with, but it’s not happening…and that’s on me. The part that makes me feel like a dumbass is knowing that I’m capable, and just not moving. I know that I can do shit, but I won’t do shit. It’s like seeing everyone around you walking, and you’re just standing still for some dumbass reason. 

    When I have thoughts like this, I try not to compare. I genuinely have the coolest friends ever. All of them are doing well and will continue to do so, but at the same time, I’m not them. I have my flaws just like they have theirs. I want to change, but unfortunately, wanting doesn’t mean shit; I actually have to start doing shit. LMAO

- P.S. Depression is a bitch. Fuck them! 

- CD ★