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What are Y'all thinking (2964 hits)

It's gut check time again. Same rules: If you are not ready to explore your inner feelings and beliefs...leave now...don't read another word! AS ALWAYS YOU'VE BEEN WARNED

----- Part XIX- So you wanna be a Rapper -by Dr. Ahmad
I’m very short on time, but I just had to get this off my chest. I was at the bank yesterday trying to deposit a few bucks when Lil Wayne/Lil John and Beyonce entered. No, not the real artist, the fake azz broke wanna be artists.

And true to character, Lil John Wayne is talking on his $800 phone about the bars he needs to spit on someone’s demo. Yup, he’s talking loud enough for everyone in the bank to hear…so we can all know that he’s a Rapper. Well before long, Be”No”say has her phone out and is cutting a record deal of her own.

Here I am stuck in the bank with these to cartoon characters. So being the nosy guy that I am… I ask them both…”Are you here to deposit your advance checks or royalties”. Both of them smiled and said no. Be”No”say was at the bank to clear up a bounced check for $12 and some change and Lil John Wayne was there to cash his check from the restaurant where he’s employed: part-time.

Combined, I think that had on well over $200 in costume jewelry; $100 of which was in their large/ dirty/ fake earrings. Both had on some of the finest swop-meet knock-offs you can get. And as mentioned, the only real thing about them was the high end phones that they both sported.

Intrigued with this pair, I made small talk and walked them outside to see the Rolls Royce or limo that had to be waiting for each of them. Nope, one had a beat up ford and the other was on the bus. But get this, as soon as I hit the “chirp-chirp” to unlock my vehicle with CA plates…both had demo CDs ready and wanted me to help them get a record deal.

But this is not the strangest part or the reason for the Blog today.

While talking to Be”no”say and Lil John Wayne…I encountered the tellers, one person who appeared to be a manager, at least four patrons and two passers-by outside who all wanted to be a Rapper and/or singer.

What in the hell is happening to my people! What makes us think that just because .000000000001% of the African-American population became rich from Rapping and Singing that we all need to Rappers/Singers? What would drive a person to walk around in costume all day waiting for a 1 in a 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 to the 10th power shot at getting a record deal?

More important…when did we lose our sense of self? Why can’t you be Ray-Ray who likes to Rap? Why do you have to be Lil John Wayne? Why can’t you just be you? Do you even know who you are?

Why are you spending the rent money on Hollywood/Halloween clothing?

Tell me I’m wrong please? Please tell me that many/most of our young brothers and sisters aren’t locked in a bedroom or basement in a homemade studio trying to be the next Lil Wayne? Tell me that I’ve missed the mark and that my sisters aren’t using the rent money to buy some Turkish girl’s hair…so the sister can look like some character she saw on TV?

Good thing cartoon characters don’t Rap or Sing…if they did my people might be trying to dress/look like Scooby-Doo…

Thoughts..

Posted By: Dr. Ahmad Glover
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 10:05AM
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LOL very funny, but true. I think part of the problem is that there is so many "little this" and "young that" out nowadays that alot of people think its easy. So much of our music has become more about the image, that talent is no longer necessary and everybody and they moma think I can do it too! Lets not even start on televison and radio. They cram so much crap down your throat that after hearing a song ten times a day its bound to get catchy. On a side note dont say that Scooby Doo thing too loud, or he might be who you see in the bank next week.....
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 10:24AM
Ed King

hey... it LOOKS easy! so why not?
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 10:41AM
r.e jones

That was a WONDERFUL observation and BLOG!!!!! Dr Ahmad our people have in some strange manner over the last 20 years or so lost or refuse to past down to the next generation the value of a great education to sustain your family, promote pride and self sufficiency in our communities, and have a good quality of life. Maybe now that Barack and Michelle Obama have shown proven success at "steady at the wheel of enhancing the mind capabilities while growing for self, family and community" it is a wise choice to get a good education (even if one can sing, dance, rap, or play any and all sports) and that education can lead to any road one may decide to take. You do not know or maybe you do how many people consistently have turned their backs on me once I began to matriculate for my Masters and now my Doctorate I continuously here how education do not make you better than nobody else and or all them degrees will never get you know where or being over qualified now. While it is true that one should not seek to obtain degrees to Lord over others(oppression) and or believe that because you get degrees you are going to get into the "upper levels of heaven" is certainly not the reason to get the degree. Degrees should be for self growth and growth of ones family, community and nation as a whole. To make a solid contribution to the society that thus granted you the permission to be part of a powerful movement that could CHANGE society into a thing for the GREATER GOOD FOR ALL PEOPLE. We all cannot be Hollywood stars, singers, rappers, atheletes, etc. But we all if taught to read and write can become the lawyers, doctors, professors, teachers, plumbers, beauticians, plumbers, realtors, finaciers, speech pathologists, therapist, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, community workers etc. to all the people including the stars. I hope I didn't get to serious in a light hearted moment as your blog was
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 11:11AM
Brynda Saunders-Winston

Hey its all about a dream, we all did it, I use to dream of being one of the Temptations, there's nothing wrong with dreaming !
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 11:16AM
Sam Bateman

They have no hope anywhere else. Lets give 'em some people. Be a successful example of something different. We can do it!!!
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 11:30AM
Robert Yarbrough

P.S. Our own out of our mouths, the conversation is; The problem is....The problem is...The problem is...... Maybe once in eternity, out of our mouths should come; The solution is...........
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 11:35AM
Robert Yarbrough

I say let young people dream..better to dream at creating something than hitting someone over the head..I still dream , and will continue to do so..
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 2:17PM
Marta Fernandez

Mr. Yarbrough-
The solution is...
For ordinary and extraordinary hard working individuals (with or without a degree) that have a sense of self and are willing to show a young brother or sister another way of being successful. Youth today only see successful Black Americans on television and hear them on radio! They don't know about the guy who went to trade school and now owns a successful contracting business or the girl who wanted to be famous but found out her passion was being a camerawoman behind the scenes! These are the images our young people don't see! Why? Nobody goes back to the 'hood once they made it out! Blacks are the only race that don't look out for each other, but, we will talk about each other! Young people's natural talents and greatest attributes are not being mined correctly! In school they only reward the kids with excellent grades, our elders only respect the kids that dress and look the part of an intelligent child all the while all the real talented singers and rappers are being locked up because they didn't know somebody that knew somebody! The artists and poets of today are behind bars because they couldn't pass a standardized test the State gave them! We have to wake up and help our youth articulate their God-given talents; it's not their fault-it's ours for not showing more Black positive images (well before now)!
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 2:54PM
Felicia Myrick-Samuels

At one point we all wanted to fly to the moon because that's what we seen on the 3 broadcast networks.... most of you remember the Space Program right? Now BET, MTV, Cribs, Unique Whips and the other 3 or 4000 tv channels shows the psedudo-rich rapper or the super star athlete was keeping it real, and now doing federal time... take your pick the rapper out of New Orleans or the pro ball player (base, basket or foot all have cats in jail NOW).... Funny I used to watch GI Joe and now I'm a Marine and have been one for almost 21 years... So Lil John Wayne or Be No Say grew up watching mind numbing garbage and wants to be the next whomever. Let them be creative, but first let them learn their craft, understand sentence structure cause exe no that most of dem kant finush a centins without a ****shunary.. yet we laff win we ce a refkord with mis-spelled words... sadly they prolly kant spell ne way... be mad defend them if you like... but everyone isnt cut out to do everything someone else does... if that ws the case Beyonce would be able to sing like Anita Baker....
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 3:53PM
GREGORY GULLEY

Ggut check! Dr. Glover we are, as Smoky once said, " the tears of the clown"---mcCain said " that one "; we are that one!

1890-1920, southern blacks-free- were leaving and going north to get real jobs and to be other than clowns: and then the Depression! Oh yea, it hurt Americans but to slaves it put them at zero again.

1950-1970 education, big city northern jobs and real opportunities for the slave, and then all the factories, steel mills and jobs went to japan and the slave cities of , pittsburg, cleveland, milwaukee, gary, etc. became drug dens and gangland. Bad for America but again put the slave at zero.

2008, subprime, derivatives, short term financing, hedges etc.; hurt Americans but the slave will go back to zero.

Lil Wayne, Amos, Beyonce, Willie, OJ: Gut check we are the Clowns.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 6:58PM
robert powell

yea jones it may JUST look easy to you, and Doctor Glover I get the point,I do and instead of JUST commenting I should have wrote an entire blog but, Id rather do it this way so that I'm sure YOU get It. For 1,what about the young man who doesent have a self and only knows rap? or the young lady who's been raped, and feel as tho video modles represent her well?ooo,! or how about this one Doc,Just the young BLACK man with A dream? Riddle me that! p.s. and yes sir I am being smart
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 8:21PM
darinesha ray

It sounds like you stereotyped them and other young brothers and sisters. When they handed you their demos did you tell them what you're telling us in this blog. What makes you think that they spent their rent money to support their dream. How do you know for sure they don't have other things going on in their lives? Sorry if I'm coming off ignorant but I hate it when the older generation just down talks the younger generation or stereotypes. Was all this complaining going on in the 50s and 60s when everyone wanted to be in a doo wop? Its the same thing now as it was then. If anyone has a problem about with the direction the younger generation is going DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Talking about them is not going to change a thing, if anything if causes a gap in generations. I posted a blog about what I've been doing to help out in this election because I see so many people on this very website talking about how they want change and want to help with this and that. At the end of that blog I asked what is eveyone else doing and 3 PEOPLE RESPONDED. Are you kidding me? So I'm starting to think too many people are willing to talk a good game but can't walk the walk. All I'm saying is if you believe that strongly in something, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 10:23PM
chivonne lawson

Also instead of hating on them for having a dream, congratulate them for not being on the streets doing other things. Sometimes people act like they didn't look up to someone they saw on television when they were younger. Would this blog be posted if they were imitating Obama and Michelle? Its something you don't approve of so its a problem. Stereotyping, judging, and demeaning someone because you don't agree with it never helps the situation, especially in our culture. If you're gonna take on the RESPONSIBILITY of calling someone your brother or sister then BE YOUR BROTHER'S/SISTER'S KEEPER. If there is going to be any unity in the black community then we have to stop hating and putting each other down, instead build each other up.
Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 10:39PM
chivonne lawson

I agree that there are other things to be besides entertainers and sports stars, but I also believe that some people see that as their way to success. I see too many comments that hit the nail on the head, but the one thing that stuck out is that a large percentage of our people say the problem is that over there and never say the solution is this right here.
Thursday, October 9th 2008 at 12:42AM
Emmanuel Brown

Whatever happened to...
"It Takes A Village"
or
"Each One Teach One"?

As a single mother of 5 young men I find it difficult to see other youth doing things that aren't acceptable like... selling drugs, gang banging, robbing & killing. Those are the things I worry about and look down on but I tell you what when I see it I address it whether they are my children or not because truth be told they are all our children... I talk to them and let our future Kings & Queens know that they are so much more and there's a whole world out there waiting to receive them.
Not everybody has influential positive male or female role models who are successful in other ways to take their hand and give them a hand up instead of frowning down their noses at them like they are less than.
If they knew better I'm almost positive that at least 90% of them would do better.

What did you say positive to OUR CHILDREN to give them inspiration and hope about what else is out there if they don't get a record deal?
Thursday, October 9th 2008 at 1:04AM
TaNisha Gray Juisee Da Queen

The whole purpose of a GUT CHECK is to do what the good Doctor Just had us do... We got old and young talking about something the IMPACTS all of us. If I spend my rent money on anything it will be to buy food to feed my family or get medicines they need... Like the good Snetor said I'm a Federal employee so my health care plan is unmatched in the civilian workforce... But that's another blog for someone far mot intune than I. A GUT CHECK is suppose to create dialogue... but now that we have talked... WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
Thursday, October 9th 2008 at 7:46AM
GREGORY GULLEY

Break break break. These foks were not YOUNG! And I am a Hip Hop head.. And...Oh yeah we had a conversation about where they wanted their lives to go...if the music thing didn't pan out.

Sorry for the short note...I'm very busy..
Thursday, October 9th 2008 at 11:23AM
Dr. Ahmad Glover

I agree with Che on this one. And I'd also point out that Beyonce is not a good example to use here because HER PARENTS SUPPORTED HER AND FINANCED HER GIFT 100%. And if you've ever seen her biography, you'd be certain that she never just sat around waiting for things to happen for her and neither did her parents. That sista has a strong work ethic and I rather dig that about her.

And though some of these rappers may have done it differently, I doubt that any of them had it handed to them. If they HAD, ALL OF THEM would be on the radio and in music videos. They had to work and sweat, too, and what's more, like ANY salesman, SOMEONE had to want to BUY IT...and they've made it so obviously many people have bought their stuff.

Look, I'm not a hip hop fan or anything, but it's not as simple as you make it sound and assuming that everyone is giving up their rent money to make a demo is rather stereotypical, don't you think? Not everyone got there or will get there the same way. I'll bet if you spoke to Will Smith and Lil Wayne, they're journies will probably be totally different, but I'll bet the one thing they have in common is that they worked their behinds off to make it.

As for the Halloween thing, I don't allow any remnants of it in my house at all. I think it's absurd that we teach our children not to talk to strangers and then take one day year to dress them up like fictional characters and have them knocking on strange peoples' (as in strangers) doors beggin' for candy. And then when we get the trick instead of the treat, we want to be mad. LOL.

Yeah...no. We don't do Halloween. And my porch light stays off so no one knocks on my door.

Blessings
Thursday, October 9th 2008 at 1:49PM
Dee Gray

I reposted because I don't know what happened in my original post.

Anyway, Gregory, I worked for the Fed for some years as well. And you must work in the part of the Fed that cares about its employees. The medical was good, but that's all we had. ...no dental, no vision. And certainly no tuition reimbursement. Where I work now, I have all that and then some. I'd argue that MY benefits structure is unmatched in the civilian world. LOL. (wink) ;-)

Blessings...
Thursday, October 9th 2008 at 1:52PM
Dee Gray

D.R. glover,!!!!!!!!!! and this is all I have to say
Thursday, October 9th 2008 at 5:52PM
darinesha ray

By the way, Lil Wayne graduated from college
Friday, October 10th 2008 at 5:54PM
chivonne lawson

Lil Wayne graduated from college? Puhleez---LOL !! What was his major?
Friday, October 10th 2008 at 7:37PM
Jen Fad

He graduated from University of Houston with a 3.5 gpa in Political Science and is currently blogging for ESPN.
Friday, October 10th 2008 at 8:45PM
chivonne lawson

Believe it or not, many entertainers have college degrees or at least some college education, this is not something that is talked about by many media outlets. Just like with sports many young people including some older people see this as a way out of poverty and inspire to be successful in this field and the field of modeling. When many of these artist are interviewed and questions about education are asked it is only then that one will learn that the artist attended college and have a degree.

A number of the people commenting on this blog don't even know the educational background of many of the artist that are discussed. I guess at the end of the day, one can not say to another to remain hopeful and believe in your dreams and then say what dreams they are suppose to believe in.
Saturday, October 11th 2008 at 11:39AM
Marquerite Burgess

E Private, I feel you. But I've always been of the mind that if the man works and makes the money, he can do whatever he wants with it. That type of spending and being the clothes horse he is is definitely not fiscally sound, but if he ain't asking nobody for the ends to support his love for clothes and shoes, well then aight. No problem. On the other hand, if he has children out there he's not supporting or he's livin' off Mommy, that's a different story.

Otherwise, it's whatever. If he can afford it, have at it. He just shouldn't bother to be mad when he has nothing to retire on in old age. LOL.

Blessings...
Tuesday, October 14th 2008 at 1:43PM
Dee Gray

Ithink we have to understand that the mentally of young people today is that they have to sling dope, bounce a ball or become rappers to make it out of the "hood". This is all that they see from the time they wake up to the time they lay down their heads at night. Their mentors are Jun-bug and dem down the street. Their focus is not on receiving an education or investing their money into to something they can hand down to their children. As parents we must show our children that there is so much more out there than rap, nice cars and clothing that really do not have any substance to them. Please do not get me wrong that we should not buy nice things for our children, but are we sending them the right messag, are we teaching them what it takes to get to where they want to go in life, using their minds?
Tuesday, October 14th 2008 at 11:59PM
Cheryl Hendrix

Me and my 16 year old son where talking today about rappers and singers. And he brought to my attention that most of the time the record holder makes more than the one who does all the hard work. Not all of them are as fortunate as the Jackson Five.

I'd rather see we give our children values in live, such as going to school and get a degree, or join after school programs and be involved in community activity, instead of their boy or girl friend. Will keep them from getting 'bored' after a while and take their 'relationship' to the next level.

As for our spendings, we need to, finally, understand that we need to set our priorities straight. I don't have hair all the way on my behind. And I do not need the burden of dealing with it. After the winter I am going 'short' again. I have priorities, and make the hairdresser rich is not one of them!

Saturday, October 18th 2008 at 10:49PM
Astrid Symor - Beighle

True entertainers should be story tellers, social critics, record keepers, activists, philosophers, and provocateurs. True entertainers should provide an accurate representation of our societal face while provoking intro/extrospection (created for style).

In many ways, I believe our overwhelming number of pre-fame celebrities does just that; they magnify the superfluous nature of our current state. Everything is trivialized. We need to beep our cars open and wear nice suits.

Nowadays, the black community, even the most "educated and accomplished" appear to be an image driven people (Keep in mind; these are generalizations similar to those placed upon our unpaid performers). There are many images to be falsely portrayed; white collar to white T, there are posers all about us.

Also, many statistics relating to one's probability of achieving a certain "thing" can be easily misrepresented. Growing up, I knew a bunch of kids that wanted to hold one of many of the more “respectable" occupations but, due to unquantifiable opposition, they were not able. This, although difficult to do away with, is a form of statistical bias. For many of our people, having the start we're given, the odds of becoming any well paid "something" seems bleak.

And, oh', V103 seems so accessible.

We must hold a trade to its core function; once we began to value and respect the entertainment that is presented to us by actively objecting to the obscene: our artists, and aspiring artists, will mirror.

Thursday, October 23rd 2008 at 11:34PM
Jeremi Arnold

I wanted to say something funny after I read the initial blog but I'll refrain after reading the comments. Plain and simple. The blog isn't hating or stereotyping. It's hating if Dr. Glover says that the rappers could never achieve what they are trying to do. It's a stereotype if he just assumed that they were rappers or that the two people probably worked minimum wage while carrying a $500 Blackberry. He had dialogue with each of the people and he heard the conversations. Mind you, if the conversation was loud enough for everyone to hear, they have a strike against them if they ever want a business loan at that bank. They have to be that much more impressive than the next man for someone to take them seriously. First of all, you should be pretty astute when you ask people for money at a bank. That doesn't mean that you have to have a 3.5 gpa. It means that you have to have good sense. It doesn't make sense to walk into a bank and broadcast your life on the phone.

Some of ya'll will hate me for this one. I have more music than probably 95% of the people reading the blog. I say that because I have more than 95% of the people that I've EVER come in contact with. I love hip hop (rap) music. Lil Wayne is not articulate. Do not judge his ESPN blog and say that he is. Many writers that you see today are where they are because they have good ideas. It's not because they are the best writers. I am willing to bet my next project that if you read something that he wrote on paper, you wouldn't be able to read it. Why do I say that? I say it because one of the common complaints about Weezy these days is that he rhymes but you can't understand what he's saying or he's repeating what he said over again. (ref. the rhymes when he's talking about Mike Lowry, the TI guestspot, and others) Lollipop was probably one of the more articulate. Also, it has been said that Weezy attended UH. Might be true. However, the rumor at the time was that he was studying English, not poli-sci. It's very easy to throw a GPA out there that isn't a real one. Has anyone seen the transcripts? I never heard that he graduated. Matters not. To say that he's articulate is really overstating it. I've listened to enough interviews to know that he often doesn't get a particular point across. He's sips constantly. Sippin' puts you to sleep so the words become less audible. Plus it's killing people. It wasn't until Pimp C died that people here in the City of Surp finally began to say "okay, this is killing us and it might kill people like Wayne". (There are various articles on that matter in places like Vibe mag for reference. Yes Weezy was the one person that said that he'd never stop.)

Take this blog for what it's worth. Dr. Glover is trying to prove a point because he's been there over the years. We are people that have seen rap at the initial form in the 70's and 80's. The hip hop culture is larger than any culture that you can think of and it might even surpass Christianity with the different countries that it touches. However, there is a means to an end. Everyone doesn't have to be like T Pain although many people are trying. Know the history. He's not the first. Listen to Zapp. Listen to some of Stevie Wonder's work. Listen to Teddy Riley. It's fine to look up to some people but it's also crazy to think that you can dress like someone and be that person. It's crazy to think that you can sag your pants and be called respectful. It's sad to think that we are respecting others by loud talking all of the time and talking down to elders. It's sad that some people listen to the music that is portrayed and believe everything that we here. You don't have to BLAST everyone that says the wrong things to you just because a musician said it or it happened in a movie. We take portrayals too far.

If there were people that wanted to be like Obama, it wouldn't be a bad thing. However, it's not cool for black people to be smart. We are called nerds or people say that we're acting white when we can put sentences together. Instead of more brothers going to college, less are going. Hispanics eclipsed us years ago along with their rise in population. "It's not cool to go to school." It doesn't make sense to own a lot of the things that we own without showing anything for it.

And yes, the same happened with jazz music and rock and roll. We lost people like Coltrane and Charlie Parker to drug addiction. In the 50's-70's jazz wasn't accepted. Hence the saying "talkin' all dat jazz". That meant that people didn't want to hear it what you were saying. It was the devil's music. Blues was also the devil's music. Anything that encouraged drugs and liquor was sacrilegious. Rap music is considered the same by many. However, they don't hear the variety that comes from it. Most people never paid attention to Common or the Roots until two years ago. Each were around for longer than Cash Money and No Limit had major distribution (early 90's). In order for the form to evolve, people have to evolve. You have to ask yourself "if I had $20,000, how would I spend it? Would I invest in the person that walked up to me with no shoes asking for a contract or would I like to see the proper paperwork that shows growth and a possible return on my money?" I'm not talking about handouts and tithes here. With a loan comes responsibility. How will I get my money back with interest? If someone cut you off in the road, chances are that you will be upset no matter what kind of car it was. Oftentimes, it boils down to how something makes your feel rather than potential. If someone feels threatened by your resume or by your clothing, you probably won't get the job or the loan.

Tieuel Legacy! aka Shawnre'...The Devil's Devil's Advocate.
Monday, October 27th 2008 at 2:25PM
Tieuel Legacy