#thelyricallydrivenone

New @kendricklamar HUMBLE https://youtu.be/tvTRZJ-4EyI #TLD1 #RapMusic #HipHopCulture #LyricallyDriven #TheLyricallyDrivenOne

#TLD1 #HipHopCulture #RapMusic #LyricallyDriven #TheLyricallyDrivenOne

"Elvis was a hero to most But he never meant shit to me you see Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plain Mother fuck him and John Wayne Cause I'm Black and I'm proud I'm ready and hyped plus I'm amped Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps"

Redman is #Top5DeadOrAlive @TheRealRedMan

“The Next Movement” ~The Roots Come Alive~  1999

The Rza needs to be “D.R.O.P’d"… As long as I can remember Hip Hop has been the counter culture. The way we spoke, dressed, simply existed in society based on our experience defied societal norms. These same renunciations, the defiant, radical departures from the mainstream are not only what pulled us in, but bound us to one another. We were determined to break through, tear down, and dismantle the structures that sought to sanitize us into their comfort levels with our existence. Yasiin Bey even boldly declared, “I used to spit the King’s English/ But caught a rash on my lips/ So now I chant just like this!” And, to that end, the Wu was no exception. Fast forward over 20 years, 6.5 million albums domestically, 40 million worldwide, and one Quentin Tarantino later, one of our own has dissented into rationalizing the denial of our humanity and respectability politics. “How, Sway?” There is no justification for the assumption that attire presupposes one’s morality or propensity for violent behavior. If that were true, surely I’d be right in assuming my life were in danger every time I cross paths with a police officer. Oh wait, that last part is true. Sadly in 2016, perhaps now more than ever I am acutely aware the only thing stopping me from being the hashtag is space and opportunity, because well…I’m black in America. But isn’t that what it’s NOT supposed to be? Moreover, aren’t such allegations the very antithesis of Rap music and Hip Hop culture. Fighting the criminalization of Black youth solely based on appearance has been a lynchpin in this experience from its inception. When, in his interview with John Heilemann for Bloomberg Politics, founding member of one of our most celebrated ensembles in all seriousness opined that a young Black male’s mere appearance (one that brought him fortune and fame) is valid justification for fear leading to the mistreatment of his own people the only fitting response I could muster was, “Rza what the fuck?” “When you think about some of the brothers who are being brutalized by the police, you also gotta have them take a look and us take a look in the mirror at the image we portray. If I’m a cop and every time I see a young Black youth whether I watch him on TV, movies or just see them hanging out and they not looking properly dressed, properly refined, carrying themselves, conducting themselves at proper hours of the day, things that a man does. You’re gonna have a certain fear or stereotype of them…I think that’s another big issue we’ve got to pay attention to is the image that we portray that could invoke a fear into a White officer or to any officer.” ~The Rza~ We currently witness, not hear about, WITNESS outright abortions of Justice where black men are concerned. They are available for infinite instant replay, and exponentially growing numbers thanks to camera phones and the Internet. I am filled with both anguish and horror daily as my consciousness is afflicted with story upon story, a growing list of hashtags, and Black mothers tears over their children at the hands of those sworn to protect them under the guise of fear. Hip Hop is mainstream now, complete with white rappers winning Grammies for mediocre wording over exceptional emcees. It goes without saying in a world with no Tupac and a thriving Rick Ross that even if a person raps about criminal activity it often simply isn’t true. Instead of actually being in the trap many are merely trap adjacent, only witnesses, but spectacular ghetto griots. In truth what exists are poetic fabrications of real life experience so vivid you just might believe them. Black men shouldn’t be compelled to dress strategically as a means of survival. There shouldn’t exist a time where any person should fear fashion. The Rza’s assertion that there is validity to white police officers’ claims, and thusly their brutality and over policing of Black people is somehow justified is beyond insulting and disrespectful. It’s downright vexing. Especially when we consider he is a significant inspiration for the very fashion he condemns. The only logical conclusion is the Rza needs to be “D.R.O.P.‘d”. Never thought I’d say this about one of my own, much less a cultural vanguard from the Wu, but hey! Money changes people. See his full interview here: http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/videos/2016-01-07/rza-on-martin-shkreli-black-lives-matter-and-donald-trump P.S. Come get Don Lemon too while you’re at it. 
@thelyricallydrivenone

“So many battle field scars, while driven in plush car. The life of a Rap star is nothing without heart.” ~Ambitionz Az A Ridah~ All Eyez On Me

I’m a fan, Eminem could have been another Vanilla Ice, but his lyrical ability is UNDENIABLE. In addition, while he polarized Hip Hop Culture for not only his content, but also for his race, he has demonstrated an intestinal fortitude to stay true to the Art of Rap in a way that few Black artists have while maintaining his identity, and not succumbing to the fate of other mass produced plastic rappers. A lyrical heavy weight, Shady has earned the right to stand among Rap’s elite, and be called a “dope emcee”.