Fan throws shoe at Talib Kweli during #BlackLivesMatter speech
Below is footage of the white female concert goer who threw both of her shoes at Talib Kweli at a show at Ithaca Commons in Ithaca, NY on September 3rd. Kweli was discussing the legacy of the...
View ArticleAzealia Banks wins in the end. All praise the Agitator.
It was announced today that T.I. had severed his ties from the much-maligned Iggy Azalea. Despite an apparent new album in the works this pretty much puts a period at the end of the Iggy sentence....
View ArticleAngel Diaz is an idiot. And the defense of Hip-Hop purists.
Yesterday there was an interesting dust up between Complex.com writer Angel Diaz, Lupe Fiasco and Talib Kweli. Diaz wrote a rather insulting thought piece defending the recent Drake/Future mixtape...
View ArticleLyor Cohen, Rap Radar, the coonery of Young Thug and the 360 Deal
I know I am wild late on this one. Lyor was on the Rap Radar podcast almost two weeks ago and here I am finally chiming in. Well, at least you know this is no click bait because I imagine... The post...
View ArticleStephon Marbury, Michael Jordan and ‘Athlete Activism’
Michael Jordan is an interesting figure. While widely being recognized as the greatest basketball player of all time and the person who revolutionized the world of sports marketing, his personal image...
View ArticleBET sh*tted on the Million March. Who’s surprised?
Okayplayer recently posted an article titled “BET Showed The Hip-Hop Awards Over The Million Man March — Where’s The Outrage?” It is a well written piece that echoes many sentiments I had reflecting...
View ArticleBest First Verses Volume 1. The Features
Been on an early Roots kick lately. Got the fresh playlist popping on Tidal. Anyway, was listening to “The Lesson Pt. 1 from “do you want more?!!!?!” and was once again blown away by Dice Raw’s ill...
View ArticleScreening of Stretch and Bobbito documentary at The Brooklyn Historical Society
On November 17th TOLD IT FIRST HAND a screening of STRETCH AND BOBBITO: RADIO THAT CHANGED LIVES at The Brooklyn Historical Society as a part of our “Told It First Hand” Series. Immediately following...
View ArticleIt’s time to end the era of ‘Get Rich or Die Trying’ in Hip-Hop
There were two pieces in the news that caught our eye this week. One was from WatchLoud about Kendrick Lamar playing to a half full house in Chicago and Brooklyn after iHeartMedia’s Powerhouse...
View ArticleVince Staples and the need to value youth and history.
When I first saw the headline about Vince Staples apparently claiming the 90’s were overrated my first inclination was to go in on the brother. But I knew he was no ignorant whippersnapper. I’ve...
View ArticlePharcyde’s ‘Labcabincalifornia’ changed everything. Give Thanks.
The Pharcyde, as a four man unit (Slim Kid Tre, Bootie Brown, Imani and Fat Lip) only released two full length albums, Bizarre II to the Pharcyde and Labcabincalifornia. However, with those two long...
View ArticleThe Swift Chancellor Report Ep. 4 – Kendrick Lamar and the Translation Business
For those who don’t know, our boss, the big homie Wes Jackson teaches at CUNY-York College when he is not here working on the Festival, or his book, or whatever latest venture he has his eye on. In the...
View ArticleThe Swift Chancellor Report – Tribe, Golden Era, Vince Staples episode
On this episode of The Swift Chancellor Report, Wes discusses the legacy of A Tribe Called Quest as a response to Vince Staples’ attacks on the Golden Era of Hip-Hop with a simple premise: these...
View ArticleRaekwon set to rock SOB’s TONIGHT!
Tonight, Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival Alumni (#BHFALum) Raekwon The Chef will be playing SOBs with Dave East, Scram Jones (aka Scrammington!!) and others. Raekwon is one of the key members of the...
View ArticleSwift Chancellor Report – episode 5 – Public Enemy
This week on the Swift Chancellor Report on YCRadio, Wes gets into the legacy of Public Enemy. Chuck D, Flavor Flav, The Bomb Squad, Professor Griff, Terminator X, DJ Lord, the S1Ws. From ‘Yo! Bum Rush...
View ArticleTamir Rice is another example of modern day lynching, literally
Yesterday Tim McGinty, the Cuyahoga County prosecutor, announced that there would be no indictment in the murder of Tamir Rice after the young brother was gunned down by officers in a park near...
View Article2016 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival Dates Announced!
As we wrap up the year, we wanted to wish you all a safe end to ’15 and a more prosperous ’16. We will back at it for the 12th Annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. Our dates for 2016 are July... The post...
View ArticleSwift Chancellor Report Ep. 6 – Hip-Hop Crooners from TJ Swan to Fetty
On this week’s episode we remember ‘No idea is original’. Wes discusses the legacy of Hip-Hop crooners from the Force MDs to TJ Swan to Nate Dogg Fetty Wap. This week’s topic was inspired by Lyor...
View Article“The Breaks” does not disappoint – Shines positive light on Hip-Hop
So I just finished watching the TV Movie first episode of “The Breaks” on VH1. The whole thing is inspired by the phenomenally thick and excellent book “The Big Payback” by Dan Charnas. “Payback” is...
View Article#OregonUnderAttack? Negro Please!
By now we have all heard about the self styled militia in Oregon who are occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. A lot of has been made about the double standard between the portrayals of the...
View Article