And what I loved most she had so much soul
She was old school, when I was just a shorty
Never knew throughout my life she would be there for me
On the regular, not a church girl she was secular
Not about the money, no studs was mic checkin her
But I respected her, she hit me in the heart
A few new york niggaz, had did her in the park
But she was there for me, and I was there for her
Pull out a chair for her, turn on the air for her
And just cool out, cool out and listen to her
Sittin on a bone, wishin that I could do her
Eventually if it was meant to be, then it would be
Because we related, physically and mentally
And she was fun then, I’d be geeked when she’d come around
Slim was fresh yo, when she was underground…
In the lyrics above from one of my favorite songs, Common laments about the debasement suffered by his true love, real hip-hop music. The BBC reports on a recent international hip-hop conference in Connecticut where it was evident that the love is being kept alive in other countries around the world, countries where artists treat hip-hop music how she was meant to be treated:
A recent international hip-hop festival which brought together rap artists from around the world has raised the question of why non-US rap is so political – whereas mainstream American rap appears frivolous… Rolando Brown, of event sponsors the Hip-hop Association, said the festival highlighted there was “more of a focus on positive community development” outside the US… We have been able to filter out the elements of sex, money and drugs – you don’t get that in Tanzania,” he explained.
“You don’t get airplay if you talk about these things in your music. Over 99% of the rap in Tanzania is in Swahili – and it actually has a political message to it.” “They are the records that sell and appeal to a wider demographic of people than any type of music…” [Link]
However, many artists in Hartford blamed the current preoccupations of US hip-hop on the music industry, and stressed they believe record labels and radio conglomerates are actively promoting negative stereotypes to bury rap with a positive or political message.
“Being sensational about violence or sex or drugs is a huge part of it,” said Chee Malabar, a rapper with Asian-American act The Himalayan Project. “It’s easier for Americans to buy into that than it is to look in the mirror and say, ‘some of the social policies and institutional hierarchies are messed up’.
“That’s hard to sell, and ultimately it’s about selling…” [Link]
The BBC article ends with a zinger that perfectly captures the current problem with the crap that passes for music on the radio:
“They don’t really want to hear about your opposition to George Bush – they’d much rather hear about what you want to do with George Bush’s wife,” she said.
“They don’t want too much politics or too much sociological content rammed down their throats, because they’re looking at rap as a fantasy – ‘if I can famous, I can get iced-out teeth as well’…” [Link]
That’s not quite it but lords knows I’ll answer whenever I heard the word “poonani” @=)
I hear you on that, but you’re omitting one of my personal favorites: Alaap. Those guys had the power to transform an apartment complex’s community center into a rollicking pindu party.
DJ Drrrrrty Poonaani-jaabi,
Oh yes, you are totally right about Alaap. Alaap rocked. There’s a couple of others I’m missing, I know, but I don’t have the cassettes with me here to check up. Quick, throw me some names!
Malkit Singh did “Tera dupatta satranga da”, right?
BTW, in 1995 or so, there was this guy named “Bobby” (maybe a young Bobby Jindal, before he crossed over to the Dark Side). His black-white picture on the cassette was what had induced me to buy it. The songs sucked, a type of hybrid slow jam/bhangra that I quite couldn’t grasp.
ooh im down for a roller skating thing, and i cant even skate… but ATL was awesome.
Aside from Apache Indian and Bally Sagoo, I think you pretty much summed up the best of the early 90s bhangra scene.
That would be the late and great Surjit Bindrakhia.
Hmm, you’ve stumped me with that one. Perhaps you’re thinking of Johnny Z, before underwent what was to become a pattern of identity crises and morph into Taz and then into Stereo Nation?
And btw Bobby Jindal has always been a member of the Dark Side, even if he refuses to acknowledge his membership to the Brown Side.
Apache Indian, yes, and also Jazzy Z. But Bally Sagoo is a producer. There was the Sahotas as well, but sorry, they don’t compare to Apna Sangeet. There was also Hans Raj Hans (whose concert I went to in LA!! Back in 1996) but his music is still alive and kicking.
Re: Bobby (who was tremendously handsome; another thing I remember was that on the cassette cover, he’s resting his arm on a car, with his kadaa conspicuously flashing– don’t know what to make of the purpose of that), his last name was a common Punjabi last name– Gill? not Singh…. something else…
Bobby Jindal… sigh…. at times, I am at a loss of words when someone mentions him.
Jazzy Z? I believe you’ve unintentionally created a portmanteau of Johnny Z and Jazzy B; the latter of whom can only be described as completely ridiculous.
Good luck with your quest to find the tall, brown, and handsome man on the cassette cover, just don’t lose any sleep over it. @=)
“Congressman Jindal supports a policy of ‘no abortions, no exceptions,'” so I support of policy of “No Jindal, no exceptions.”
Hey, Jazzy B is not soooo bad…. Tall, dark, handsome Bobby on the cassette cover has probably already gotten his shaadi done. A mundelike that doesn’t stay single for long.
Oh, I now have some words re: Bobby Jindal: he is basically a jackass and sell-out.
This is not hip hop, but it’s really good. And I’m not just saying htat because I know the guy 🙂
the one am radio
I listened to a few tracks, it’s not bad at all. In fact, it’s quite good. Hrishikesh sounds a bit like like a desi Iron and Wine. The few desi emo-hipsters I’ve encountered have been nothing short of dreadful and intolerable, this dude seems to be pretty unpretentious. (I’m hoping.) Defintely an artist to watch for.
He’s coming to SF next month, likeminded mutineers should try to catch his show.
I find it funny that most of you have been talking about hip hop and Asians, whether justifying it or opposing it, but few of you are actually listening to the music that Asian hip hop artists are putting out there… I saw about two or three shoutouts to Outlandish, 1Shanti, and Karmacy; three artists that I do respect. However, if you’d listen to your own Asian mainstream sounds… Bobby Friction and Nihal, you’d be surprised what you’ll find. Sure, they do dwell in the “money, sex, n alcohol” with a desi touch hip hop alot, but they do have their artists that will surprise you. For instance, ive been hearing some big things about a guy named MC Riz. And did the lyrics from the Common track not click in anyone’s mind? An Asian hip hop duo by the name of Sunit and Raxstar came out with a track earlier this year or late last year, I forget, called “Keep it Undercover”. Whether they copied Common is a different question, but the entire track revolves around the rappers love for this girl, well you assume it may be a girl, but he never explicitly says it, until the end when he says “we have a mutual trust and I would never abuse it, cuz the woman I’m in love with is music”
“… there was curry in the air I could smell the masala around the time Gurdass Mann came out with Challa I’m taking you way back to when the rain was purple before Michael Jackson became controversial she would dance with me tell me about the places that she been the things that she’s seen and everything in between and I would listen to her, so would everybody else sometimes I wish that I could keep her to myself…” the lyrics to the track, roughly…
I really enjoyed reading this post and the comments that followed. I’m not sure if anyone is reading the comments on this post anymore, but this guy is great: The Leano
Nice to see hip hop dealing with male sexual inadequacies, the total opposit of whats out there on popular radio now. More here.
arabian music has the best beats and rythem so why doesnt any1 make it more popular and mix with thw rnb and regatone. u cant go wrong with that. after all arabians know exactly how to move
I don’t know much about the history of rap in the US, but I get the unified feeling from those deeply involved in rap that the music today is not like anything it was decades ago. Unfortunately, it has regressed and the material written nowadays does not have the same meaning and impact it could potentially have in creating awareness of underrepresented and overlooked issues in different American communities. The thought and consciousness within and of society has diminished slightly in the music. Though this is not true of every work done by every rapper or musician, its value can and should be reexamined. It all probably depends on the interests of the respective writer. I myself usually rap about issues I personally feel are pressing or important to me and not as well known among others. But of course, I dip into mainstream indulgences at times to get away from stress arising from my own lyrics.
Peace, PooPac