Just Good Friends: The Emcee Log

So often... too often, I'm asked why I have so much involvement and interest in Hip-Hop. I'm not a hip-hop artist; I'm not black; I didn't grow up in the projects... so what possible reason would I have to be as immersed in it as I am?

My first answer to that is, it's none of your effing business. Secondly, who's to say that any of the above statements are what outline the criteria of being a fan of Hip-Hop? People treat me as if I must have bribed the guardian of the gates to gain access to the most exclusive and critical genre in the rainbow of music. That absolutely is not the case.

I have been a fan of ALL genres of music my entire life; this eclectic nature is nothing new to me. That's bound to happen when you grow up surrounded by jazz musicians that practice their trumpets for several hours a day, a mother that plays exclusively oldies music or classic Broadway showtunes, your siblings are blasting the latest 80's pop hits and then classic rock later in life, your best friends are all jamming to Michael & Janet, and your dance school makes you fall in love with the intricacy of classical music as early as age 4. I grew up with music being so prevalent that it was another member of my immediate family. Music was home, music was out grocery shopping, music was at school, music was in my dreams at night. It was MUSIC, never the TYPE that kept me close.

Now I am grown, (no height jokes, hardy har) and am being blessed with being able to work with some of the most prominent underground (I hate saying that phrase) Emcees in the game. Through our mutual love of music, these men (and women) and I have become friends, and family. I've been trusted with knowing these artists on a true, personal level, and that trust is something I cherish like nothing else in the world. They feel the same way I feel most times, as if we've known eachother for years; hanging out, exchanging stories, even doing R&B/Hip-Hop ciphers in parking lots! I know their love lives, what makes them tick, their concerns, their pride, and their dreams, and many of them know the same of me. It's what they will never know only because they can't know how I really feel, which is how much it means to me to have these relationships with each of them.

I see my future grandchildren, and telling them these stories of all the brilliant men and women I'm working with. I see these stories being passed along for generations, teaching my bloodline to reach and touch those stars, because they're never too far.

So many of these Emcees are making amazing strides in underprivileged communities, overseas, working with troubled youth. It disgusts me to think how tarnished Hip-Hop's image has become all because of what money has invoked us to listen to, and then label it "Hip-Hop's fault". Please know that the Emcees I'm speaking of, MY FAMILY, are making MAJOR differences, and THEY are the ones that deserve the glory, and they deserve your support.

HOW TO SUPPORT:

In the same way you wouldn't think twice to purchase a concert ticket to see your latest radio drone in concert, you NEED to start appearing at the ENDLESS number of Underground shows that are going on in practically every city all over the world. Wanna hear something great!? They usually don't cost more than $10 to enter! There you go, the Underground just saved you well over $100, AND you can stand as CLOSE to the stage as you want to!

In the same way you'll buy your latest label puppet's album, you need to cough up your Venti Latte money, and spend the $5 on an artist that's trying to be able to afford to make even more music to hit you with. People try to act like all music should be free. Listen here: to any artist that's able to give away free music, more power to you. I totally get it, supply and demand, people are cheap, just gettin the music out there, whatever the case may be. Don't however, use that as an excuse to not support another artist that's just trying to make some kind of way for themselves.

If you see a dope artist perform, and they're selling T-shirts, buy the frikkn T-shirt. If they have posters available, a mailing list, selling their latest book, support them. Money is the only thing that labels are seeing (not that we're trying to get them to notice us), but seriously, show them where you'd rather spend your money: on the next comeback season of MTV Cribs Artists Making it Big With Your Dough, or by showing them that you found where real music was hiding, and you don't want that garbage on the radio anymore. (Shouts to Peter Rosenberg for all he's doing on Hot 97).

As much as I'd love to share the links to these Emcees pages, I won't, because I'd rather not reveal their identies. What I would like is for you to do your own research, and start finding out where music has been hiding, because trust me, it's there... you just have to look.. and listen.