Vid of the Day 5/10/08

J Dilla/ Illa J- "Won't Do" from the shining



Some nice cameos in there as well.

New Forum

Forum<-----
With the lack of quality Hip-Hop forums around the net, I decided to add a forum to DHHM. It's hard to find a forum these days without the 12 year-old Souljah Boy fans, so I'm hoping this develops into something good.

The forums is blank right now, so it's up to you guys to start some topics and get the thing going, so don't expect to come into a fully developed forum. I'll be here taking suggestions, adding sub-categories as needed, and giving the people what they want. If it gets big enough I'm sure I'll add moderators, but it's not going to be some strict forum, it'll pretty much be you guys saying what you please. I'm not going to try to play some god.

Links are at the top and bottom of the post, and I put one below the subscribe links that will permanently be on the right. Enjoy, and don't shy away from registering.
(the register link is on the top left below the banner)

Forum <-----

Immortal Brutality

HipHopDX wrote
The outbreak of criticism in response to the acquittal of several New York City police officers in the shooting death of 23-year-old Sean Bell has prompted rapper/activist Immortal Technique to compile a list of stories showing the pervasiveness of police brutality across the United States.

“Police State Chronicles” will be a collection of experiences of real people from different ethnicities and socio-economic statuses—including Technique himself—across the country detailing police misconduct.

After the stories are compiling, Technique intends to distribute “Police State Chronicles” to the media, Congress, the Department of Justice and even the United Nations.

“The violation of people’s fundamental human rights, is not just a race issue, or an inner city issue, this is a national issue,” Technique said via statement. “The state is taking people's most precious belongings, their lives, without any sort of due process.”

“Historically, the police in this country have been kept separate from the military so as to protect people’s civil rights, but as this police state becomes more militarized and its abuses grow, it is a harbinger of the fragmentation of our democracy.”

Technique also made an appeal to all readers and fans that have had an experience with police brutality to contribute.

“We would genuinely appreciate people's participation in sharing their stories,” he said. “Please do not think your story is too small or too insignificant to share.”

People interested should include their name, location and permission for Immortal Technique to use the name/story in the packet. E-mail stories to policestatechronicles@yahoo.com.

The Myspace blog, from Immortal Technique, can be found by clicking here.

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Anyone have a personal story to tell involving police? What's your take on the boys in blue? Personally I'm a little disgruntled by them, sometimes I feel like they're doing the job intended, other times I feel like slapping them.

Theme Song (You guessed it)- N.W.A. "Fuck the Police"

Obama and Hip Hop?

Recently I've noticed random artists popping up with songs for presidential candidate Barack Obama. A couple months ago I came across two songs endorsing Obama, and with his recent brushing off of his shoulders during a speech, I wondered to myself what affect it would have on the race.

The first I saw, "Yes We Can" (also joined by a follow-up) is by Will.i.am, isn't exactly a "song," but more of a recital of one of his speeches by celebrities with guitar and piano in the back. Not a bad lineup of people on it, John Legend, Common, and Kareem Abdul-Jabar are my personal favorites, the rest are pretty much random.


Will's story behind the song

"I was sitting in my recording studio watching the debates...
Torn between the candidates
I was never really big on politics...
and actually I'm still not big on politics...
but 4 years ago, me and the black eyed peas supported Kerry...
And we supported Kerry with all our might...
We performed and performed and performed for the DNC...
doing all we could do to get the youth involved...

The outcome of the last 2 elections has saddened me...
on how unfair, backwards, upside down, unbalanced, untruthful,
corrupt, and just simply, how wrong the world and "politics" are...

So this year i wanted to get involved and do all i could early...

And i found myself torn...
because this time it's not that simple...
our choices aren't as clear as the last elections ...
last time it was so obvious...
Bush and war vs. no bush and no war...

But this time it's not that simple...
and there are a lot of people that are torn just like i am...
So for awhile I put it off and i was going to wait until it was decided for me...

And then came New Hampshire...
And i was captivated...
Inspired..."

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So a couple days after I come along this story of Kidz In the Hall making another tribute to Obama here here.

"What many fail to realize is that one person can control his or her own destiny, it just requires due diligence and the ability to fight adversity,” says Kidz In The Hall’s emcee, Naledge. “I happen to think that Barack Obama embodies everything that is promising for the future of our nation and represents the hope I sought to speak on in the song."

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I have to say I definitely give Kidz anthem my vote over Will.i.am's. I may be a bit biased, but this is something I could actually listen to and think of as a good song, whereas Will's is a bit like a speech with fill-ins.

What I wonder is, first off has Obama even heard these? Will they have any, even a minor effect on the race? Would you vote for Obama just because he's favored in the Hip Hop community? and lastly, why does our community favor him? Is it because of the color of his skin? Or do they actual agree with his political views?

Personally I am an Obama supporter, so I'm with it.