“The media does play a big role in destroying the hip-hop culture movement, but many of you in the hip-hop community are the biggest enemies of hip-hop and you will be the ones who will help the enemies of hip-hop to destroy it, or to bring it back underground, because of your ignorance of knowledge of hip-hop. This has started the difference between "old school" and "new school". 

To myself there is only one school and that's the learning, evolving, going through the different phases or cycles school of hip-hop. That is the real hip-hop school. A lot of you in the world of hip-hop better start looking at the problems in your own backyard as well as the world, because while you are enjoying yourselves etc. there are many plots being sprung to destroy hip-hop in the world”. ~ Afrika Bambaataa

Generation gap has always existed & will always be, it ain’t a surprise that hip-hop is facing this problem. Usually thought thrives on conflict, but this time the conflict is so “ungrounded” that no thought can thrive on it. All they do is nothing but criticizing each other. And what's really interesting is that they don’t criticize the content…if you look closely, you'll see that they are talking about the form; when hip-hop is about the substance. As a matter of fact, I can’t even say that the beef is between old school & new school cuz there's no such a movement as new school. Old school is a unity, when new school is a bunch of people trying to do themselves. So, in fact, the old school artists criticize the industry. I would rather call this beef “old school vs. the music industry” aka “pioneers vs. the people who messed up the culture”. Anyway, it surprises me that pioneers talk about the form, when the substance suffers the most. In my book, old school represents the deep lyrical content, rebellious nature & new school represents mastered sound, world's recognition. So why are we talking about “skinny jeans”…like for real?!!! 

Hip-hop pioneers have priceless experience of going “from nothing to something”. They started the culture & the game from the scratch. They didn’t need major labels & media to gain respect and make a difference. There are a lot of interesting “moves” contemporary artists can learn from the old school colleagues in order to be free to create real music without being industry's “puppets”. So called “new school” generation is good at making money. Now imagine what it would be if they collaboed w/ each other… Will “new school” generation listen to the old school? Just like I already said, the “new school” movement isn't homogeneous: we have a mainstream movement & an indie/underground movement. Mainstream artists have already tasted so called “good life” and I’m not sure if they are ready to stop the “clownery” they participate in, to make a difference. In order to change the game, a person must go through thick (the way to the top) and thin (being on the top) & unfortunately not a lot of people proved that they can handle the “thin” part. Indie & underground artists would definitely learn from the hip-hop pioneers, but the old school people gotta be ready to stop all this mockery & work together as a fam. Otherwise, all these inner beefs will lead to self-destruction & the next generation will have to reconstitute the culture from the beginning. So if y'all wanna be loud & make noise, go ‘head! …but your ACTIONS are supposed to be loud & not only your mouth…do something!

Take a look at what an indie artist Floco Torres has to say on this issue. I cosign his p.o.v.…almost completely.

         So while radio stations and TV keep on playing songs by wannabes like Nicki Minaj, hip-hop community is still struggling to bring true femcees to the game. Recently a lot of hip-hop veterans have stated that female rap had to be revived in order to revive the whole hip-hop movement. But as y'all know, talk is cheap. I've been waiting for one of those veterans to make some real moves & this move has been finally made by the one and only DJ Premier. He mixed a track for an up-and-coming femcee Dynasty aka D-Y & this track called “Femcee” is heavily promoted by Primo. Dynasty has been grinding in the rap game for a while & she finally has a chance to show the world how much of a true artist she is. D-Y has everything to change the game and murder them candy-coated chickenheads & Barbies: mad flow, substance, understanding of what true hip-hop is, dope personality and swagger. Feel free to check out Dynasty's music on her myspace & youtube pages and keep on watching for her, cuz this is only the beginning. 

One of these diamonds in the rough goes by the name of Nneka. Her name means “Mother is supreme, mother is the best” and she reps her name to the fullest. Nneka is a mixture of different cultures: a daughter of an African father and a German mother…born and raised in Nigeria, she had been influenced by a lot of cultures and eventually became a voice of the ghetto we all live in … the ghetto called “The Earth”. She is not one of those “hot”, candy coated, “ghetto”, half-naked “divas” … nah, it’s not the case. Her music is a lot deeper than that. Nneka’s lyrics reflect her life experience, journey from Nigeria to Germany, issues of the Third World countries, moral values of our time and other things that are beyond the material world. Her style reminds of Erykah Badu & Lauryn Hill. Nneka has a unique raw sound as a singer and a soulful flow as an emcee. Even though she sings more than raps, it’s safe to call her a singer/femcee cuz Nneka is a true artist. 

This month Nneka has had a mixtape called “The madness” out. Her true talent amazed a lot of your favorite artists like Talib Kweli, Lauryn Hill, Nas, Jay Electronica, and Damien Marley …just to name a few. They were impressed so much, that they made guest appearances on the mixtape. I guess that such list of guest appearances speaks for itself. So let the madness begin… 

Download "The Madness" (FOR FREE) here 

For more Nneka check out her myspace page & twitter.

“Prelude to perfection” is a mixtape by an 80's baby, young talented emcee/producer/entrepreneur from Detroit…Young Scolla. One of those things that single out the hip-hop generation born in 80's is that these “kids” are either “lost” or “found”. The 80's babies, who keep on listening to what the industry wants them to listen to, are definitely “lost” cuz they've been brainwashed, they have no idea of what real music is. The “found” generation escaped to the world of old school hip-hop, they know their roots, they carry on tradition & they are hip-hop enough to make a difference. Without a doubt, Young Scolla belongs to the “found” generation. He knows how to combine a hot sound w/ a deep lyrical content. When asked about his outlook on the rap game in general he had this to say: "There's been a lot of controversy over the Hip-Hop is Dead campaign. I say Hip-Hop is in a coma. Not to knock any music that's coming out but there is an over saturation. No depth in the music anymore. People aren't saying much. Until there is a balance, rap is going into a pit fall..." They call him “Scolla” cuz he aims for excellence with everything he aspires to do and reach for. This mixtape introduces to the world his inner growth. Scolla talks about hip-hop, success, love, relationships & other things we all go through everyday. 

There are all kinds of songs on the mixtape, but the brightest one is “Maybach Music 2” (Remix). He took Rick Ross’ track and showed what a real lyricist could've done w/ J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League's dope beat. I’m sure y'all remember the original track…hot beat, catchy chorus, and a bunch of bragging…typical “ringtone rap” song. But real rap/hip-hop track has nothing to do w/ that, so Scolla shows how hot 16’s…a hot verse…can turn a "fake" song into a real masterpiece. 

I must say that I checked a few “old” tracks by Young Scolla and I was really impressed, cuz he definitely stepped up his game in terms of content and flow. So if this mixtape is only a “Prelude to perfection”, then what's perfection? 

For more Young Scolla check his twitter, myspace, youtube, blog & official web-site. You can also sign sp on www.youngscolla.fanbridge.com for exclusives from the emcee.

Download “Prelude to perfection” (FOR FREE) here or via sharebee. 

P.H.I.L.T.H.Y.’s EP “Love Songs For Losers & Ballads For Ballers” is something everyone can relate to. He decided to talk about an eternal issue: love. And the EP shows his own approach to love…to the kind of love that is a lot more than just kisses, hugs & beautiful words. The emcee doesn’t try to preach…nah, it’s not P.H.I.L.T.H.Y.’s style. Young man talks about his own experience and it’s up to you if you wanna learn the lesson or not. This is one of those things that make him so original. He is known for practicing what he preaches. Talk is cheap, that's why P.H.I.L.T.H.Y. walks instead of talking. He's not afraid to be himself, even though he is not a typical rapper. P.H.I.L.T.H.Y. is original in every way. And “Love Songs For Losers & Ballads For Ballers” is just another proof. Just take a look at the concept of the EP: "What's love radio". Intros are presented as listeners’ calls on the radio-station. Every listener speaks on a love issue he’s dealing w/ and the next song is dedicated to that issue. The lyrical content reflects P.H.I.L.T.H.Y.’s deep inner world. When the majority of male rappers are on that “big pimpin’ thing”, he ain’t afraid to be a gentleman and to show the world his beliefs. This EP breaks all the myths you've heard about man’s love and shows that “love is what chu make it”. 

Download “Love Songs For Losers & Ballads For Ballers” (FOR FREE) here

Or Via rapidshare

For more P.H.I.L.T.H.Y. check out his Twitter, Myspace & Blog.

In other words, welcome to the world of a Phenomenal Hip-Hop Individual Living Through His Years! 

Small Eyez was told at an early age that he would never be capable of playing a musical instrument due to birth complications that left him with the use of only one arm. Rather than dwell on the restraints and limitations put on him by others Eyez began to use Hip Hop as a way to channel his creative energy. Eyez first officially appeared on the scene with the critically acclaimed Debut "Vipassana (The EP)", Released in April of 2006. Vipassana garnered rave reviews within the press from noteworthy publications such as Okayplayer.com, RapReviews.com, Groundlift Magazine, & SOHH.com to name a few. Small Eyez has performed alongside the likes of Hip Hop Legends like Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, Young Jeezy, Juelz Santana, & Monica. (Via his myspace page)

Download Small Eyez' new EP "From the Sol" (for free)

For more Small Eyez: Myspace, Twitter 

Frankly speaking, I don’t really get why people consider recession to be some kind of evil. It’s only a moment of clarity. It’s only a wake up call and nothing more. It’s a moment when a customer becomes the hustler. Cuz customers don’t have enough of money to buy everything they want, so they have to choose what's important and what's not. Every time they buy something, they give that product/company a chance to live. And every time they stop buying something, they sorta kill the product/company. So at the end of the day it’s a survival of the illest and only the best companies stay in the game. 

But it seems that music industry refuses to recognize the rules of the game. They act as nothing’s going on; they don’t apply any changes… when the system is yelling, “Help me! I’m dying!” The industry keeps on living in an imaginary reality. And I must say that their “imaginary reality” affects a lot of people outside of the industry. It creates a scary illusion. When you watch TV, listen to the radio or visit a record shop, it seems there are only a few artists in the game and they are so wack, but you have no alternative and have to listen to those “artists”.

However, in reality, there are thousands of great artists who struggle on their way to their potential fan-base. They have unbelievable work ethic. They don’t try to be a “one hit wonder”; instead they keep on experimenting and making real, unique, genuine, meaningful, and soulful music.

In the beginning, big companies came to hip-hop artists asking begging them to advertise their products, today major artists are enslaved by those big companies. But since we DO go through recession, WE can CHANGE the situation. And when I say we, I’m talking ‘bout FANS. WE made hip-hop universal. WE crowned the “kings” and the “queens” of the game. That's why WE can RESTART the system. 

Actually, the “restarting” has already begun. People stopped buying albums, cuz at least 50% of material on an average album is wack, so they simply download those albums for free. As a result, album sales decreased and industry bosses lose their money every minute. But what's really important at this point is fans’ reaction. Y'all can ask me, “What can WE do? We have no power, no influence…” Sorry, but I beg to differ. 

As I said earlier, there's an alternative to “ringtone crap rap” and this alternative is independent record labels. They have everything to prove that hip-hop has always been alive…everything but big fan-base to be world wide. So what can we do?

First of all, you have to look around and check for some indie artists in your area code or online. I’m sure that you can find at least a few dope artists. Once you found those artists, show them some love: buy their mixtapes/albums/songs or visit their shows. In order to do that, you can visit their web-site or ask them in person. In this case, every fan invests his/her few dollars and eventually an indie artist/label has a budget to work with (fact: recording songs and performing requires some money). 

Also, you can call on local radio stations and request your favorite songs. Radio stations and their sponsors are into ratings. If they know that this or that artist attracts audience, they play his/her music. So if YOU let them know that WE ALL wanna hear REAL MUSIC, eventually that will have to play what WE want…maybe not today, but tomorrow they will. After all, THEY are supposed to entertain US. And they don’t wanna lose listeners, cuz in their world listeners = $$$. We are valuable.

The next step is “spread the word”. If you know a great indie artist, tell your friends about this artist. “Promote” him/her via twitter, myspace, facebook or any other social network. Play this music everywhere you can. In other words, make sure that all the people you know heard of this artist.

There’s one more step for real hip-hop junkies. You can join your favorite artist's street/web team and help them. As a matter of fact, a lot of people think that artists owe their success to their talent. It’s not quite true. Artist's talent creates material, but artist's success is a creation of his/her team. Music is a product of collective contribution. Some of y'all have no idea how many people had to work hard to give you an opportunity to hear the song you call your favorite. The music game is a team game. So if you feel that this or that artist has potential to make a difference in the music game and you care enough about hip-hop, then what are you waiting for? 

I’m sure that there are a lot of other ways to make a difference. What are they? Well, it depends on your situation… Just be creative!!!… Be hip-hop!!!…

In the words of Malcolm X, “Power never takes a back step — only in the face of more power”. So why can’t WE be that stronger power? Why can’t we remind the industry that it was invented to please US? Some of y'all might ask, “Who are us?”… We are hip-hop nation… a nation of dreamers who proved the world that nothing was impossible. How many people believed in that “hip-hop thing” in the beginning? That's right! Hip-hop is a “self-made phenomenon”. So maybe it’s time to tell the music industry, “Take a step back!”…

One of those artists is an up-and-coming female emcee Mae Day. Earlier this year (on Feb. 3, 2009 to be more exact) she dropped her second album called “Cherish The Day”. This project compliments her talent perfectly. She has a very powerful flow. It’s able to fit any kind of track; it’s very soulful & hard-core at the same time. She is a real MC (Master of Ceremony). The moment you start listening to her songs, you just can’t stop; you wanna press “rewind” really bad. Her music takes over your heart and mind. She is undeniable.

The whole project would've been way too risky for a lot of artists; they would've preferred working with “big” producers who create “mainstream” tracks than trying something new and fresh. But word “cliché” ain’t in Mae Day's vocabulary. As a huge fan of good ol’ music from 80-90s, Mae knows what real music is. “Cherish The Day” is a Sade-themed concept album produced by De Notes (who used to be a part of SickNotes production team) and mixed by DJ Mick Boogie. The two Detroit natives created a new inimitable sound w/ the help of their chemistry and true love for hip-hop. The most impressive part of the project is that while Mae Day is talking to the listener via lyrics, De Notes talks via beats. Beats complete lyrics & lyrics complete beats. It’s a perfect combination. When it comes to lyrical content, it ain’t hard to tell that Mae was influenced by legendary old school MCs and she carries on tradition. As a matter of fact, she is a friend of MC Lyte…you know they say, “real recognize real”. Deep lyrical content is an essential feature of Coiya “Mae Day” Renee's style. Today, the majority of rappers focuses on a memorable/catchy hook and forgets about messages. Their verses sound horrible and eventually the whole song makes no sense. But it’s not the case. There's no bragging or “blah blah” in her songs…nah, it’s a straight real talk. Coiya  touches upon a variety of topics: love, life, success, determination, dreams, and hip-hop. Every human being can find a Mae Day song to relate to. But you won't hear any explicit sexual lyrics from her; her style is what Mia Michaels calls “sensual innocence”. Unlike some other so called new school femcees, Mae Day doesn’t try to create that “sexy hoeish image”. She stays feminine, but at the same time Mae is strong/skillful enough to compete w/ any male MC; baby-girl can punch w/ rhymes. 

The strongest joint on the album is … well, I must say that each and every joint is a classic one… each and every song is a masterpiece. There’s something special about every song.

But besides incredible rapping skills, Mae Day has an outstanding personality. She is not your average girl. She has her own philosophy and she lives according to that philosophy every day of her life to the fullest. When the majority of artist are down for whatever to “be on top” and get them $$$, Coiya Renee does everything her own way and stays true to the culture; she ain’t looking for “temporary fame”, her every move makes her classic & legendary. Even though being an indie artist ain’t that easy, Mae keeps on going this way & after 7 years of hustling on hip-hop scene she has already accomplished a lot. Despite the fact that Detroit doesn’t show its artists love ‘till they make a big break, C. Renee repps her city to the fullest and doesn’t forget to give Detroit the first crack at whatever she's doing. But at the same time she ain’t trynna take over Detroit. Her mindset and set of goals are bigger than a city, she was born to be a world wide known artist…and she will be…

In other words, Mae Day is the total package: form & substance; unbelievable rapping skills & a deep personality. She has that “it” factor. You simply can’t deny her. So feel free to get to know Mae Day and watch history in the making, cuz Mae Day's way to the top is a birth of a new legend. 

For more Mae Day check out her on Twitter, Myspace, & Imeem  

You can download “Cherish The Day” through www.maedaymaeday.com (FOR FREE)