Tagged: Nas

“Macklemore has more Grammys than Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., DMX, Busta Rhymes, KRS-One, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Run DMC, Public Enemy, Big Pun, Young Jeezy, Ja Rule and Kendrick Lamar COMBINED.”

I just saw the above quote on Complex’s Facebook page and my jaw dropped!! Complex also  created a great video with commentary on the Grammy’s history of selecting white rappers to win the award for “Best Rap Album,” but I don’t know how to embed it on this site. Based on the voting history and habits of the Academy’s predominately white members, it looks like Australia’s very own, Iggy Azalea, will be the next white “rapper” to say they have more Grammys than some of hip-hop and MUSIC’s influential artists COMBINED?? In the video, they state:

Macklemore isn’t the only rapper who seemingly has benefited from his white privilege. With her four nominations, Iggy Azalea has more Grammy  nominations in rap categories than MC Lyte, Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown COMBINED. She even has more rap nominations than eight time Grammy winner Lauryn Hill — who has mostly been nominated in r&b and general categories.

SMDH. Neil Portnow and the powers that be over at The Recording Academy need to get it together!!! [The public would be shocked to know how the voting really takes place.] Find out what will happen at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, which airs tonight.

UPDATE: Overall, I thought the show was VERY BORING, especially the performances [Annie Lennox killed! Lol]. Iggy went home empty handed, but the award for “Best Rap Album” was given to…..EMINEM! [This is his SIXTH TIME winning this award and if you ask me, he didn’t deserve to win the last two or three.] Kendrick took home two awards for “I,” the first single off his sophomore studio album that will release later this year. Beyonce and Jay-Z added a few trophies to their massive collection as well. And congrats to SAM SMITH for taking home 4 awards in the top general categories, including Best New Artist, Best Pop Album, Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

“so don’t you forget no way. who you are and where you stand in the struggle.”

A couple weeks ago, I got a chance to watch this incredible documentary on the life and times of the late great Bob Marley. The older I’ve become, the more I’ve gravitated towards Marley and his music. His spirit was one of a kind and he definitely left the world way too soon. I encourage you to check it out!

One contemporary artist that has always paid homage to Marley is Lauryn Hill. Next month, she’ll be touring with Nas on select dates throughout the U.S. The tour has an interesting title — Life Is Good/Black Rage — and the imagery used to express Lauryn’s “black rage” is even more provocative. Peep it below.

She’s definitely making a statement — and it’s not subliminal. There’s a chapter in Dr. Frances Cress-Welsing’s book The Isis Papers titled “Paper Money and Gold As Symbols” that sheds light on the message. I’ll do a post with some of those quotes in the near future. It’s being reported that she’s preparing to release a new song by the same name of the tour, “Black Rage.” As far as subject matter, the lyrics are said to discuss “the derivative effects of racial inequity and abuse.” According to Lauryn, she states, “I’ve been a long standing rebel against the stale, over commoditization. As artists we have opportunity to help the public evolve, raise consciousness and awareness, teach, heal, enlighten and inspire in ways the democratic process may not be able to touch. So we keep it moving.”

Based on her quote and the artwork for the tour, I hope this means that she’s going to go back to her Unplugged days!! It’s time to stop performing records solely from The Miseducation or The Fugees’ classic The Score — she can’t “raise consciousness” or do any of those other great things she mentioned by rearranging and remixing those same damn songs. Definitely time to switch it up. Lauryn released Unplugged in 2001 and so much of what she sings about on that double album is still culturally relevant. Who gives a fuck about album sales when you’re creating music of that caliber? [Black] people need something that’s going to connect with and reawaken their souls — now, more than ever. I believe Lauryn is the answer. I know many have counted her out, but I hope her new music is able to re-fill the void she left…

Here’s Lauryn performing a cover of Bob Marley’s “So Much Things To Say” on her guitar circa 2001. 

Tour Itinerary

10-20 Phoenix, AZ – Arizona State Fairgrounds
10-26 Asheville, NC – Moogfest
10-27 Nashville, TN – Riverfront Park
10-28 New Orleans, LA – Voodoo Festival
10-29 Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom *
10-31 Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center *
11-02 Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle *
11-03 Norfolk, VA – NorVa Theatre
11-04 Washington, DC – DAR Constitution Hall *
11-07 Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory *
11-09 Rochester, NY – Main Street Armory
11-11 Boston, MA – House of Blues *
11-14 Chicago, IL – Congress Theatre *
11-16 Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium *
11-17 Magna, UT – Salt Air *
11-19 Oakland, CA – Fox Oakland Theater *
12-31 New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall

* with Lauryn Hill