Rockin' My Hoodie for Trayvon Martin!

Young student-athlete, 'baller' - Trayvon Martin saved his father's life when he was nine years old. His school teacher said he chalked-up A's and B's with ease. Trayvon's mother and father said he dreamed of working in aviation - either flying or fixing airplanes. He wanted to attend college and 'ball-up' with one of Florida's green and orange powerhouse squads.

 

Dude had swagg, smarts, common sense, respect for the law -- a tight and promising package. And more than anything, he wanted to live!

 
Trayvon Martin's family, unfortunately, won't be able to see their son fulfill his "American" dream(s). Instead, his mother and father, family, friends, classmates, community, the United States and the world will have to wait for justice for the murder of this innocent kid full of promise. Yep, that's right. In the United States of America, a country which polices the world and claims to be fair and just, the most powerful nation on earth which asks it's young people to fight foreign wars, where republicans fight for 'right to life' -- actually has laws which allow [race] haters to hunt down and kill someone; this is what happened on February 26, 2012. 

The hater, George Zimmerman, as of this date, is still alive, at large somewhere on the planet and   protected. Politicians and authorities in Florida are more concerned with "policies" and "procedures" (covering up and saving face) than they are with detaining or arresting Martin's killer and holding local officers accountable.

Living in the so-called greatest nation on earth may be great for some, but for most, if not all young black males, growing up in America is a risky business.

For parents of young black males on the road to success, living "stereotyped" in the United States, the fear of a son or nephew being killed by a police officer, a total stranger, or a neighborhood hater is unending. And not surprisingly, for most young black males, their perception of America is that she does not care about "us", but only to exploit us for our gifts and talents (scoring points and spittin' rhymes). 

In the eyes of most young black males, "justice is

swift for some but not for us." It's no wonder so many young black males have an adverse view of America, rather than the positive one that vibes with her claims of freedom, fairness and justice for all. The American history of killings of black males seems to be more than just historical -- it is also contemporary. 

In a nation of so many religious followers, namely Christians who profess belief in God, it seems odd that laws exist which protect armed hateful criminals and those in authority. What or which [type of] god(s) does America really serve and trust in? And for the sake of his mother and father, who instead of grieving for their son, must first fight for justice in his name. Shame on you Florida!

The one in uniform failed his duties to perform and temporarily resigned during an investigation by federal authorities -- wow! But even worse, the 'uncle tom' standing behind him with the suit on, who has the sole power to fire the idiot in uniform right now, would rather wait until he "receives all the facts" before he'll do the right thing...or not[?]

Love, respect and peace to the family of Trayon Martin and may God deliver swift justice to those who hate, envy and seek to destroy his children. 

R.I.P. - Trayvon Martin

February 5, 1995 - February 26, 2012

(Shot and Killed by George Zimmerman)

       

Rockin' a hoodie is not the issue, being young, black, gifted and hated is!

________________________________________________________

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Special Report

Hate Crimes Reported in NIBRS, 1997-99


September 2001, NCJ 186765
By Kevin J. Strom
BJS Statistician

"Racially motivated hate crimes most frequently 

targeted blacks. Six in ten racially biased incidents 

targeted blacks, and 3 in 10 targeted whites."
 

Bryan Stevenson - EJI 

Celebrating the life of one of rap's greatest MC's - 'The Notorious B.I.G.'

Tomorrow, Friday, March 9, 2012 marks a date in hip hop history that fans, friends and family wish never occurred -- the murder of one of rap music's most 'illest' MC's, Christopher George Latore Wallace (aka:  The Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, Big Poppa, BIG, The Black Frank White). 

No one could ever know if Brooklyn's king rap singer was ready to die on that fateful night in Los Angeles, California in 1997, he probably wasn't, but during his short time living, B.I.G. did it BIG! He spit dope rhymes with a flow so sick, and a swagg so smoov -- he took New York, hip hop and, ultimately, popular culture by storm...like being hypnotized!

With 17 million units of certified sales, street credibility and raw rap game, MTV, and more importantly -- the streets and hip hop fans, consider Notorious B.I.G. 

to be one of the greatest MC's of all time. 

Already a bonafide hustler and freestyle bad-boy on the streets of Brooklyn, by the time C. Wallace laced the track with game, his delivery was fierce, fabulous and flawless! In 1995, two years before he was killed, The King MC was named Billboard magazine's best rap artist of the year for serving up platinum hits like 'One More Chance' featuring R&B songstress - Faith Evans.

No question about it, when this instantly "classic" cut hit the club(s) the ladies were grabbin' dudes' and headed to the dance floor to get their smoov groove and grind on! 

While the list of hits and raw spit well-defined the persona of The Notorious B.I.G., those who knew him best...personally, and even those who loved his music, will forever celebrate and cherish the incredible gift and memory of Christopher Wallace.

"It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up magazine. Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine. Hangin' pictures on my wall. Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl, I let my tape rock 'til my tape stopped..."  ~Notorious B.I.G.

Christopher Wallace - The Notorious B.I.G.

May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997

Nicki Minaj: All 'Game' or Insane at 2012 Grammy Awards?

What was expected to be an emotional night of celebration for outstanding achievement(s) in music, and remembrance in tribute to legendary music and entertainment industry icon - Whitney Houston (the queen of pop), this year's 2012 Grammy Awards show was, as many described, "distastefully stained" by [the] controversial and shocking performance of 'Roman Holiday', by female rap star - Nicki Minaj (aka: Barbie, Martha, and Roman).

Well known for her 'out-of-the-box', ultra-bizarre, flamboyant, highly provocative, and unorthodox style of [rap and entertainment] flow, many fans, award show attendees, and especially religious followers, were straight-up offended by the rappers untimely and perplexing display of "art". 

No doubt, if Nicki's "Madonna-esque" premeditated 'game' was to piss-off the Catholic Church or garner more fame, fortune, attention and hyped-up buzz for her "brand", she definitely did that...and some! 

So what did or will Nicki Minaj (or any of her alter-ego's) gain by taking a page out of Madonna's book of controversial performances? Obviously, she captured, although negatively, the attention and horror of thousands, if not millions, of viewers. 

But will this sort of publicity increase [her] record sales and fan-base or turn people off? 

We've witnessed many instances where controversy sells, but do consumer's, in the long run, support this sort of perceived "demonic" approach to free speech and artistic expression? 

Although controversy, as well as sex, sells products - satanic controversy may not be the best approach to retaining and, moreover, increasing a fan-base. 
Unless Nicki is suddenly interested in attracting those in society who delve in the dark side of spirituality, in exchange for those [fans] who are opposed to it, she might consider explaining the situation with her own words -- if that will help any. 

She did, in fact, explain her performance and related issues to 102.7 KIIS FM radio show host - Ryan Seacrest the day following her Grammy performance (click here to listen to full radio interview).

Outraged critics described the rappers performance as "terribly shocking", "hideous", "grotesque", "disrespectful", "insulting", "offensive", "highly satanic", "like Frankenstein", "hellish", "untimely", "sad", "inappropriate", and so on. While many upset viewers and critics question the appropriateness of her "train wreck" performance, especially considering the shocking news of Whitney Houston's sudden death the night before the Grammy's, religious practitioners, among others, wasted no time dissing Nicki and those responsible for scheduling her performance. 

"None of this was by accident, and all of it was approved by The Recording Academy, which puts on the Grammy's. Whether Minaj is possessed is surely an open question, but what is not in doubt is the irresponsibility of The Recording Academy. Never would they allow an artist to insult Judaism or Islam."

While many have taken offense to Minaj's performance, the controversial rapper suggests that her loyal fans, and those who follow the evolution of her alter egos, get where she's coming from and therefore understood the, arguably tasteless, metaphoric message demonstrated in her 'Exorcism of Roman' performance. 

Call it 'game', demonic possession, or just plain insane, Nicki Minaj and Grammy Award show shot-callers may have succeeded, intentionally or not, in casting a dark shadow over a musical moment in history (that should have highlighted the beautiful tribute to Whitney Houston by R&B vocalist - Jennifer Hudson), but the love and admiration for Miss Whitney Houston will shine far beyond this gross misstep of unfortunate, untimely and distasteful circumstances. 

As for Miss Nicki Minaj (the female Weezee) - don't let smooth taste and alter egos fool you. Although she may rub some people the wrong way, she's gettin' her [self] pimpin' on. And as long as she continues to find and create ways to widen her sphere of influence and popularity, by promoting her movement, brand and style of 'hustle & flow', she remains the baddest bitch in the [rap] game...

 

 

...like, love, hate her or not -- she may not be darling, but she is Nicki Minaj!