ill rand in illadelph

THE STRAIGHT PATH T-Designs by dj ill rand

THE STRAIGHT PATH T-Designs by dj ill rand

2201

Done a lot but done nothing really
Haven't started but it's almost over
Trying to find the answers but don't have all the questions
Got a destination but no path
I read your story and understand my life
Fear keeps me silent. Fear keeps me stagnant
Fear of what.
Fear of being overcome with problems too numerous to solve
Taking it slowly limits the amount and magnitude of problems
It seems safe but it feels wrong

Don't Buy That: a philosophy

The concept of the straight path was incorporated into the Resist hop style of life in an attempt to filter out the negative and stay on the course toward that which is positive. To not lose sight of the ultimate purpose of Resist Hop which was designed to remind that the conscience opposes the ego and that everything is done on a level to constantly elevate the position. Now adding the component to be conscious of the straight path, the Suratil mustaqeen, will causes progression toward further elevation of the overall status. The first implementation is the straight path toward economic changes which is through the Don't Buy That philosophy. There should be a war between those who make themselves wealthy collecting every penny earned by the masses of working AmeriBlacks. We are being programmed by media images to feel the need to consume worthless products most of which are worth significantly less than they cost and when purchased. This programmin causes the consumer to have little chance of building wealth of their own because their potential working capital is diminished with every worthless product that is purchased. Test the theory: buy only the things you need to maintain your existence and replace them only when you run completely out, no excessive purchases. #1 Wear the clothes and shoes you have. Be creative in putting together different outfits with the stuff you already own. #2 Buy groceries and eat at home, no fast food, take snacks and lunch with you. #3 Save 25% of everything you earn on the job. That's $25 of every $100. Put it in an account and forget about it. #4 pick a goal such as a figure you want to save which will contribute to and increase your your net worth , a property you want to own or a business you want to start or buy. The goal has to be one that makes more money. Then watch it happen. Implementing the Don't Buy That philosophy is a way to slowly shut down the system of unequal distribution of wealth that makes it easy for corporate structures and conglomerates to collect all the money that could potentially bring significant wealth to AmeriBlacks.

THE STRAIGHT PATH

Romeo o Romeo where art thou Romeo?

I Don't Know What I would Do Without A tight Beat and A dope rhyme...if I wasn't able to create mixes my life would have a different twist right now. People often amuse me but I find that I have an idealistic vision of what I want a person to be and I avoid noticing when they lose sync with my ideals even when the inevitable demise of the relationship is evident and rapidly approaching. That is in contrast to mixing beats and rhymes which, created in my head first, they ideally always turn out to be hot like I like 'em and sometimes more hot than I thought, therefore, creating even iller creations. Even when the beats start to drift apart I can gently push or slow the record and get them back in sync. It is an exhilarating experience to find a pair of songs that can blend perfectly and ride out to musical infinity. I don't know what I would do without a beat and a rhyme. always Looking for the perfect beat

The Con

Fact: In most swindles, it's the sucker who talks himself into believing the con.
Most legitimate transactions that occur are straight swindles. There isn't a lot of honesty. Self interest always prevails. Self preservation is the strongest of instincts. I've been making the transformation from free spirited and riding out the blessings bestowed upon me to straight hustla, working the limits of the system designed to benefit those privy to the information and resources of the elite. There's a whole network of information and advantages but there's a catch, once you're in, you give up a lot, you put a lot on the line and there's a point of no return. The question is, is it worth crossing that line. Crossing that line leads to a path to freedom but it's a long road to freedom for some of us and the cost is great. The question remains, is the glimpse of this path a blessing or a curse? I often wonder why the road is paved for some and others have to labor one cobblestone at a time to pave their own way. Is there a formula for success? I have all the questions and I want more answers. Due diligence, that's a noble endeavor, does it always pay? More questions. I am on to the next plateau of what may define my future success. Leavng a legacy for my generations yet to be is what I endeavor to accomplish. I wonder if I'm being hustled or am I on my hustle to move to the next level of wealth and prosperity.
Fact: I wish it was a simple matter of forward movement and that I wasn't just a sucka trying desperately to make myself believe the con. cause everyday I'm hustling

Truly Magnificent

DJ Jazzy Jeff The return of the magnificent is like a dream project
Imagine having on hand the dopest beats and the best artists spittin tight rhymes
for Jazz to create a compilation of this magnitude has me in awe
Jazz made me forget that the sound of original hip hop has changed to the point that I question whether a lot of the new stuff should be considered hip hop at all
Jazz made me reminisce on how smoothed out melodic beats and mellow piano riffs make you feel when you hear them for the first time
and Jazz made me want the instrumental versions so that I can mix them, ride out the beat and make a track last for a while
Thanks Jazz it was a nice addition to the crate.
Also, shouts to One Man Army and DJ Virus for project F.E.T.U.S- everything they do is on the subterraneous level uh..for everybody that understands...of course
p.s.common should stop working with kanye..he can do better. it's like mixing (w)ine with j(ack) it will get you drunk but it taste wack and technically, nobody would or should do that..

Follow the dictates of your own heart and mind


We're only as good as our most fucked up scenario

When younger, I thought my opinion counted, I have since learned

I like to be kissed before I get fucked

All that matters is that we contribute what we can where we can

There are some things we do simply because the doing is the success

Writing is a conversation with reading and a dialogue with thinking

It is hard being hooked

If I get out of here alive, I am never looking back
I didn't intend to make this site for venting and I will probably delete these posts at some point when I distance myself and can get back to doing me
because woww! I have never felt so powerless in my life
It makes no sense for me to feel powerless now because lately I've been on a quest to make power moves with my life
In the past, I have always felt like I was a solo act and that I could actually fulfil my dreams as I desired
as long as I paid my bills and didn't bother anybody, why would anyone have an interest in my little life
I run my office, I do my creative stuff, I mix my records and I try to have a romantic encounter here and there it's not an extraordinary life but I've been happy with it
recently, I have been rudely awakened by a group which I have no name for
This undefined group, of which I could never belong,
have the need to sink tiny hooks into others
emotional hooks, financial hooks and controlling hooks for all kind of selfish reasons
This hook thing happens to the independent individual whose inner strength and self fulfilment don't allow for others getting too close
when you try to break free, not knowing you were on the hook, you are faced with an array of problems that you could never have imagined you'd be dealing with
The undefined group will go to any lengths to hang on to a tiny bit of control over your existence such as making you wait until they are ready to remove a hook even after being asked to, which is by far the most frustrating of situations.
I am impatiently waiting for the hooks to be removed and will never have these types of associations again
I now know the signs of the weak, the needy and the greedy who engage these behaviors and will be avoiding them at all costs
especially men who can't just walk away when I'm done with them
If I ever get free, I'm never looking back 'cause it is hard being hooked' (remember that lyric fom the Dela Soul joint??)

Believe

I was a little hasty in my initial assessment of what appeared to be my good fortune and blessing. Since I had the good news a lot of work on my part to satisfy the conditions of the business loan and the home purchase deadline have caused me a lot of stress and frustration. I've had to question whether I am making good decisions that will not lead to a financial disaster. I want to provide a good life for my daughter and myself but when this is all done I will have exhausted my savings and inherited a mountain of debt with payments that I can hardly bear to fathom affording. I question whether this is all in my best interest when my insides go queasy as I think of all the consequences of these decisions. Think positively right? Positive thinking and over extending oneself financially are unrelated topics. As the countdown to signing my financial life away begins I can only wish that I make the correct decision and am not hasty in my desire to change my life. Sometimes you can't have it all no matter how hard you try. I feel like I'm in over my head and I can't really tell if G'd is with me on this one. It's a lot.

I paid my taxes now I'm moving to Philly...that was the plan in April. It's happening. I'm leaving the dirty dirty for the dirty city. I can't believe I'm finally getting up out of here. I told some people and after the obligatory congratulations, the big question everyone has for me is ............ did you thank God? That question implies a couple of things the first being that it's not obvious that I'm the type of person that would thank God, I'm assuming this because the question was asked. I'm actually happy to keep the world wondering and guessing because having faith in that which created and guides your life is in my opinion, a private matter. If it were not meant to be a private matter then the how, what, why and where would be more overtly obvious and these wouldn't be the age old questions that have been pondered since the beginning of human existence. The question also implies that I had little to do with my fate which diminishes my contribution and efforts as if to say if I had done nothing the same result would have occurred. I wonder about that too or maybe I put forth just the exact amount of effort necessary and that effort was rewarded. No matter what the rationale used it's really all speculated and it can't be tested with formulated postulates or theorems. No one knows. That is why I have a hard time disclosing to others my source of strength and courage and where I feel my guidance originates. I also think that if more people kept others guessing and wondering about what they believed in and how they choose to conduct or manifest their beliefs there would be more peace. A great source of conflict among humans is religious belief and no one really knows that is why they have to just believe as a matter of fact you have to 'make' believe. When I was a kid, I would make believe I was a doctor. Later in life I took all the courses and did the work to become a doctor and yeah, I did thank God for it every step of the way believethat. allahu akbar

Keep On

There's the way that it is and the way that it feels.

There's the distance between the idea and the bills.

Yeah I see all the numbers but I still root for the dreamer.

I thank God for the dreamer

-MD

I feel like slappin' a nigga today

Is the word nigga offensive. The use of nigga is a natural progression for my people. Historically, regarding the use of language, niggas have always flipped it without regard to what word was being flipped or what group of people flipped as a result. Basically, we say what we want and we say it how we want to and the whole world listens. Just like we made bad mean good we made nigger our nigga. And yeah some days, like luda, I do feel like slappin' a nigga. nuff said.

Revolution

The willing of the unimaginable into Existence

Every revolutionary act is an act of love

will the unimaginable into existence,

act revolutionary

Black Music

The greatest form of flattery is imitation...
The greatest form of racism is intimidation...
The most prevalent form of racism is white on black exploitation...
The biggest reason for racism is economic power...

Black Music is Black Music...it's imitated, intimidating, prevalent, exploited and economically powerful

Who controls it?

Once Inna

finite from the start
yet worthy of admiration
like a cautionless stream of motion that drifted by
as it passed it seemed to slow to linger before continuing on
eventually fading into the distance
causing a strain on the vision as it is watched until it disappeared
what happened between the first gimpse and the last
sent a thrilling spark of magical waves of excitement through a listless point in time.
Lifetime.

Resist Hop Lyric Collection

The Resist Hop lyric collection

OneHundredPercentIntelligentBlackChild

-check the rhime/a tribe called quest

By the time that you get where I'm standing I'll be gone

-sunhine/mos def

Black Music is Black Music and it's All Good

-i used to love h.e.r/common

My Father's Words

KUUMBA

I can feel it in your presence.

Heavy forces are at work.

Extrasensory/Intrasensory

Receptions on a higher plane...mental plane.

Projecting vibrations of blackness.

Receiving vibrations of urgency.

Whispers in the back of my consciousness,

chanting repetitiously/Afrika..afrika..afrika..afrika..

..being sanctuary from a period in the life/history of a people.

Terror and death permeate my vision of Amerikkka.

Freed slaves, groping three hundred years later.

shackled to manifested slave habits.

Tinged with the character of the beast.

When his turn comes to remit, how many of ours will die with/for/because of identification with that beast?

Free your mind at all costs, even at the cost of leaving behind the body in earthly sequence.

Seek to know the spirit, the forces that lend life and living.

Learn that this spirit is undying beause our creator has provided a substance with and without form that can neither be created nor destroyed.

This substance is our blessing and power over our enemies which has enabled us to survive.

Keep on keeping on children, then the time shall come when again Kuumba will prevail and all will recognize the the Original man, the Blackman, shall have been restored to his rightful place as one with the universe.

L. Randall

aka Von Wolfe

1974

Resist Hop Local...all the stops

Resist Hop Local....all tha stops

New Release:

Resist Hop Local
... all tha stops
mixed by dj ill rand

Available March 26th

This project was undertaken in an effort to let everyone who thinks hip hop has lost its pure flavor, that undeniable feel that true heads became hungry for when the beats first dropped..this is to let em know nothings changed it is being done on the highest level still...but you may have to take a minute to realize that you are the victim of an industry designed to exploit and capitalize and the only one lost is you. You may find that you are caught in a matrix of no talent industry decision makers that jumped into this looking for the next big act to make more dollars just like that Barnum&Baily circus ringmaster. Take a minute to re-evaluate what happened to hip hop and you may realize that what you think is hip hop really isn't hip hop at all>>>>experience tha local and take that ride to all the illest stops...ya girl, dj ill rand

"Our music, our art, our creativity and our spirituality, are some of our most prized possesions, world wide

We must retain the sole and soveriegn right to own, control, exploit and commerce the special gifts our creator has given us through our rich and beautiful ancestry"
-D Abbi Shabazz

dj ill rand spinnin' RESIST HOP @ Resort

dj ill rand
(The girl dj)

Spinnin' Resist Hop @ Resort

......an hour of after dinner lounging with the Queens NY Native...in her new hood..
Location..City Place WPB
When......10 pm Every Thursday

Dj Cool CH until 3am
the truest..the purest..the illest

Directions I95 exit Okeechobee Blvd East. Left on Rosemary Ave Resort night club next to Barnes and Noble bookstore

Doe Stacks

I'm grinding into existence the Resist Hop Lounge/Record Store
It's existed in my head for a while as a means to combat the oppression
Oppression of the expression that could make our people autonomous
Autonomous in the arena of finance
I could have done it immediately
But I have a strategy
I look around and I see that having money makes more money
So continuing to stack doe seems logical
To make as much doe as possible
In an attempt to guarantee success
Eventually the Resist Hop will exist and logically cause chaos for those who oppress

Call me Harriet X (chronologically I'm down with generation X) cause on an underground RR move I plan to take one AmeriBlack at a time away from our captors

Composing this CD allowed me to do several things. First, it allowed me to fullfil yet another one of my fantasy/desires, taking the life long dream of mixing records (since '81....189th St/Ev-ski's basement) to a whole other level. That was big and it ain't easy. It sounds easy but mixing/beatmatching is far from easy. Finally having the time to dedicate to perfecting my style of dj'ing that has been with me since my 189th St. crew days was the best part. During the process I realized I do have a decent ear and my mixes are unique or at least Dj Cool CH thinks so and he's a vet. Secondly, this project transformed me into somewhat of an artist, showcasing a talent. The actual composition of the tracks or re-mixes weren't random. I did come up with them randomly when I was thinking through my records but once I did finally decide on the mixes they began to have deeper meaning. Like can you guess who my favorite artist is based on my mix? Well I had an opportunity to let myself know who and why. The lyrics yes the lyrics and the delivery were major factors in determining who was my #1 artist to mix. I think that I will always respect those who have heart and stay on the grind keeping the artform pure. I feel like I conveyed that sentiment with my mix. In my mind mainstream is still synonymous with corney just like back in the day so I find myself staying clear of mainstream artists. It's not a conscious move just the way it turns out when I'm being true to myself and my perception of Hip Hop. Resist Hop is the truest the purest the illest..my next joint is coming soon.

quadraginta

ill rand outro........ over the doomsday beat (track 14)

i'm a take a minute to go through the dedication
i'm ill rand and the cd is resist hop...cause i can't stop
it's a concept that I created a while ago
the resist is not negative
it's a statement that says your conscience opposes your ego
your conscience is higher than your ego
and so everything is done on a very conscious level
and that's speaking for the music, the whole style, all around
everything is definitely conscience opposing ego
so that's what that is
and of course the hop, that"s when you increase your power or energy
and that's what i'm always trying to do
increase my energy and be on a higher level than before
so basically resisting is doing
when you resist all the negativity when you start to live on a higher level
then you're doing something
it's something positive
i like to say that i produce different results by resisting previous ways
so i put together this little cd
it's just some of the joints that i think are hot, have been hot, are hot now
you know i appreciate good music and i appreciate all the artists that do that
so i mixed together some beats
and some rhymes
that i was feeling at the moment
some of them are kinda dope
i got a whole different style coming from a whole different place
i'm down with a lot of things
science, math, optometry, hip hop, music, beats, diggin old stuff
making new stuff, creative stuff you know different stuff
what i like, who i like
there's a lot more artists that i like but i couldn't put everybody
plus my crate is gradually becoming great
i got mad records now
but i'm still building, and building
it's steadily evolving
cause i always was down with the crews in the neighborhood
you know watching, watching always watching
but now i'm doing
cause resisting is doing....like i said....what?
so that's where that cd came from
straight from the heart
yo, i'm quadraginta.......go look it up!
anyway, i wanted to hook up the dedication
cause there's a couple of people i gotta thank
ahhh thank you thank you ..it sounds like i'm gonna win something
but seriously to my boy, cool, the c, the h, the agent, the free agent
that's my boy for real
cause when i first met you.... i knew you were the one for me (i can't sing)

but yo i knew we would do something fun together..and we did

your a side i'm b side

i cooked for you though i made you mad food so it's reciprocal

reciprocity that's what's up

so i just wanted to thank him

oh zee the house cat for feeling the project

la fam..stanley the prince

..kimora k-la

..erika mommy of five

..larry von wolf the dad

..d abbi a1 the one

resisthop...aspiring to reach new heights through continuous edification

andyoudont stop

queens 11423

i'm done..

resist hop... immortalizing the classics

truest..purest..illest

the long awaited resist hop classics mix available now

resist hop classics produced by dj ill rand

Mixing for Cake-Resist Hop Mix Tape

Ingredients: 1 cup dope beats
16 bars ill rhymes
1 Tbsp pure flavor
Mix until smoothed out and melodic
Serve piping hot

Menu of ill mixes:

Dakah hip hop orchestra Rootrill + Black Star Bright as the stars
Mos Def Beef + DJ premiere Unreleased
Common Doin it + Mr. Eon Transmit
Danger Doom Sofa King +MC Lyte Stop look Listen
Black Star Respiration
Common I used to love h.e.r Acapella + Roy Ayers Searching Yoruba Mix
K. Salaam Victory + K. Salaam Victory
Love is the Message + EDAN

Dj
Les

RESIST HOP VOZ

AMERIBLACK

descendent of the (en)slave(d)

steadily evolving

allhamdu lil laahi kulli haal

COMING SOON

sara knew she could no longer participate even though she seemed to be in more deeply than anyone else around her. there may have appeared to be a lot to lose but she was guided by the dream of gaining much more than could ever be lost. the path was created beneath her every step. she could feel the new ground developing with every interaction with her enemy. this is a story of s.a.r.a strong aggressive righteous ameriblack, a descendent of the enslaved.

not strong

only aggressive

not free

only licensed

not compassionate

only polite

not good

well behaved

chasing after death so we can call ourselves brave

still living like mental slaves

hiding like theives in the night from life

illusions of oasis making you look twice

-black star

Remembering T Bar a.k.a. Mr. Barstone

THIS WAS WRITTEN IN 2003 During the course of a romance

Tyrone Barfield
Extra-ordinary designer fuses art and fashion with out of this world hat designs that are taking the exclusive Lower Manhattan shops by storm. The Barfield hat designs are for the discriminating who take their style seriously. Brooklyn, NY native, Tyrone Barfield the C.E.O. of Tyrone Barfield Inc. says, I'm an artist and I'm into fashion so the fusion between art and fashion allows me to create unique styles and I'm always trying to impress myself with my designs." Barfield has made exclusive designs for many artists n the New York area including his friend the Broadway, film and hip-hop artist Mos Def. Coming in 2004, his under the lid collection will feature shirts, pants and shoes. This intelligent collection signifies the depth of Barfield's creative energy. Barfield has also created bag designs for companies like JINNPAK Co., the urban bagline for the creative spirit. He's also worked on projects at RocaWear and Third Eye. Barfield is a vibrant new force in the industry and is leaving his (biz)mark(ie) on the fashion world.

Written by the one who is crazy in love with him.....Cool Lezz...aka illrand---Larry's girl

(This was written once upon a time when we were cool like that...duplicated here for nostalgia)

andyoudontstop

XIII

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

the thirteenth amendment was ratified in 1865
Incarceration, the new slavery

No Comment, maybe just one

Recently I had a convo with a brother that I hadn't spoken to in about a year. As we proceeded to catch up on the prior years events we came to the subject of money and buying property (what us all grown up hip hop heads are doing now days). I had bought my apartment last year and he had purchased a house and was looking forward to the appreciation of his property as a future asset. I brought up creating an investment portfolio and he said that his faith didn't allow him to do that. That struck me kinda funny but I refrained from commenting because that kind of statement required some thought prior to an exchange and of course to respect how other people do life. I admit all I could think of was to ask if he belonged to the tabernacle of the broke and have nothin but I let it slide. Aight now for my own edification, I can try to figure out where the brother is coming from with that one. First, what is investing really? The part ownership of a company. Simply, one person or a group of people make money from something and give other people the opportunity to make money as well; the desired result is that the person or group make even more money. Why do people invest? To share in a company's profits and increase monetary gain. When you buy a big mac at McDonald's what are you doing, beside killing yourself? Are you a) investing in the company or b) contributing to the company's success as an investment? When you buy that big mac are you thinking morally? I would imagine that the premise of being restricted by faith is based on moral implication regarding what kind of company you are helping to have success for example are you thinking about whether or not they have high standards for the care of the employees, where the products come from, if they recycle, where the meat comes from and how the animals are treated, how the food is prepared, what chemicals are used in the preparation and enhancement of the food, what effect the food has on the consumer especially when supersized. If you determine that everything is good and the company is worth patronizing how could it then be against your faith to also purchase shares of its stock. Join in, the company is benefiting from its successful secure of a few of your dollars, the dollars you spend on the big mac, so by being both a consumer and an investor you also benfit in more ways. What is the dilemma (rhetorical). By the way, at the time of this post Mc Donald's Corp, ticker symbol MCD on the NY stock exchange, closed at $34.70 a share, up +0.16 from the previous days close gaining +0.46% there was no change in after hours trading. The system of corporations and investing is in place and is a source of making money. When a company such as Google can start with little to nothing and become worth 1.5 billion dollars since its initial public offering, joining the S&P index thereby cementing its blue chip status in just 4 years with a single share of the company's stock climbing from $85 to the recent 52 week high of $474 and you, searching the internet regularly, benefiting from its availability to help you search at no charge, happen to by default, view all of the targeted advertisements that make the company worth over a billion dollars; why not own part of it and really benefit. Well I think the faith angle is synonymous with, 'I don't know nothin about that'. Is there a risk of feeling as if your faith is transferred to worshiping money, or does the greed and ruthlessness of the corporate world overshadow the basics of owning parts of longstanding strong companies or new innovative companies that provide products services and income. Does anyone trace the origin of their dollars to make sure that all good comes of every dollar they earn or spend? You are more apt to staying on the good side of "faith" if you research good investments and buy the company's products and shares of its stock. I would have some of my dollars returning to me and bringing with them a few faithful friends rather than letting them go out into the world and randomly ending up who knows where doing who knows what. It could be another year before I have the opportunity to talk with that brother again but my first and probably only question to that intelligent school teacher will be, does your benefit package include a 401k? Until then, to the brother who's faith prevents him from making money on the things he spends money on.. keep the faith, I'll take the dividends. it'sall'v

produce different results

No more water, the fire next time

Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have. It seems to me that one ought to rejoice in the fact of death- ought to decide, indeed, to earn one's death by confronting with passion the conundrum of life. One is responsible to life: It is the small beacon in that terrifying darkness from which we come and to which we shall return. One must negotiate this passage as nobly as possible, for the sake of those who are coming after us.-James Baldwin
Harlem Native, Resist Hop Icon

Resisting Is Doing

The First Dollar

Resisting is doing: produce different results resisting previous ways.
Money basic: Save money and money will save you.
Fact: the first dollar saved is the noblest of financial aims. For many it doesn't seem worth it but save one dollar every day for 30 years and it will grow into $80,633 if it is invested at an 11% interest rate.
How: go to www.sharebuilder.com . Open an individual account and begin building an investment portfolio. Fund the account by setting up an automatic transfer from an existing bank account or send a check or money order for any amount you choose to start with. Five dollars will make it happen. Pick a stock to purchase on a weekly, monthly or periodic basis. At sharebuilder you can buy partial shares of a stock. For example if the price of one share of Exxon Mobil gas is $43.67 I can purchase $10 of the Exxon Mobil gas stock and build on it to increase the number of shares of the stock I own. The investment can be changed, stopped or restarted at any time. The stock market is where you become part owner of a company by buying pieces of the company called stock. Even with all the ups, downs , and swings of the stock market, blue chip companies and index funds gave a 12% return over the past 7 years. No bank will offer that. Choose companies whose products you use, companies that are doing well because of your dollars. Coca-Cola (KO) Nike (NKE) McDonald's (MCD) Target (TGT) SprintNextel (S)
Watch: your money increase over time. The journey toward wealth begins with the first dollar. Start where you are and see where you take it. QUESTIONS?

Resisting Is Doing

Part I Resist Hop Movement

Forgive me father for I have sinned, it's been over two months since my last post and during that time I've been engaged in conflict. The usual, man vs. man, man vs. the environment and of course man vs. himself. It's all a learning process and the conclusion is that some things we must do simply because the doing is the success. Dubois said do, say and write that which you believe to be true what others say can be of no significance. I was recently invited based on the content of this blog to contribute my thoughts to a forum based on some hip hop topics. I checked them out and did have something to say based on the comments I read. After being called a racist I didn't visit that forum again. It threw me at first and then I took it as a compliment because you gotta be careful when you're telling the truth. Truth, integrity and honor have no place in the game. I've been studying the game, it's deep and dirty. One cat said that I think white people are devils. False, if he was smart he would recall, the devil started out good, no comparison at all. I'm cool with being vilified, what's life without a little spice. Well in my mind Resist Hop is no longer a concept. It's a movement. I propose to the black (n.) Americans (adj.) that create hip hop to segregate and take control of their creation. Make hip hop for their people and create wealth for themselves, from the ground up. I really don't think the middle man, the white guy that benefits the most, is necessary for anything except instant gratification, willing to cut a deal and a check on the spot for fractions of the real worth. If patience were to prevail the benefit would be ridiculous. And the long term plan is not to leave anyone out but to level the playing field similar to the reason black colleges and universities exist, it's not a foreign or racist concept. But initially white people have to be iced. Once legitimate autonomous corporate entities such as those that exist in white America are established then incorporate other races into positions which will allow them to climb the ladder as we are allowed to do in their corporations in some instances. I'm talking about flippin it.

Armed and Dangerous

"I thought you boys understood it's business that's all it is. You still don't get it do you boys? No more good guys, they're running the whole show, they own everything the whole damn planet they can do whatever they want. What's wrong with having it good for a change and they're gonna let us have it good if we just help 'em they're gonna leave us alone, let us make some money you can have a little taste of the good life too now, I know you want it hell everybody does."

"you'd do it to your own kind?"

"What's the threat, we all sell out everyday it might as well be on the winning team." -Binary Star, Masters of the universe.
Decompose of Binary Star wrote, "We need to try to keep this music to ourselves we sellin out this art for some money to a guy who don't care nothin about this music, we gotta keep it to ourselves. I'm trying to win the indie 500.

I'm trying to figure out why we, the people, my people, are letting white boys run this rap shit. The music industry, the distribution and promotion, the record stores, the concerts. Yeah they have a four hundred year head start of resources and visionary-ism, but damn. This kid Bill sharp/Fat Beats records, said to me "don't pretend that white people aren't apart of the evolution of hip hop." I'm still trying to figure out what tha fuck he's talking about. But I realized he doesn't know what the fuck I'm talking about either. I'm a descendent of the (en)slave(d). That history causes me to scrutinize the motive behind his altruistic sentiment. When a white boy likes the beat and the intensity of the lyrics surrounding a hip hop track maybe he doesn't realize that we are not making that for his listening pleasure. When that white boy hears an emcee breaking down how fucked up white people cause our situation in Amerikka to be maybe he thinks we are not talking to him. He got it all twisted in (k)nots and needs to get a fucking late pass cause he over slept. What we are saying, although he may think it's all cool and he's hard core down, is a whole different rhyme from what he's hearing AND he should realize that his contribution (gaining control of Hip Hop) is yet another oppressive move. My real point is I'm done having to go through a white boy to get my brother's music. I'm sick with watching their 'appreciation' of my music on a level that causes them to feel compelled to decide what's hot and gain the majority of profit that it produces. I'm tierd of their so called 'contribution', which is basically the capitalization and the exploitation of my music and culture. Can you find something of your own to be on?? Yeah, I'm talking to you white boy. It's been time to shut all that down.

The Science of Persuasion

The basic principles that govern getting to "yes" are based on six tendencies of human behavior. In order to generate a positive response, empowerment equals knowledge of the rules of persuasion. Reciprocation: payment in kind, give away a mix EP of similar music prior to asking them to cop yours. Reciprocal concessions, ask a large request followed by a smaller request, the result, aggreement of the lesser request: would you buy ten of my independently produced CD's? Well if you can't do that would you buy one and put some of your closest friends on? Consistency: public committment directs future action, prior to asking them to buy the CD ask if they will sign a petition to support the independent artist. Social Validation: people look to what others are doing or have done. The more others that have decided in favor of a particular idea, the more that will follow. Convince them it's the largest selling independent album purchased by underground hip hop heads. Liking: Affinity, rapport, affection. A connection between people, something in common. Scarcity: Items and opportunities are more valuable as they become less available, limited editions and limited supply. At live performances circulate a petition to support independent artists and announce that a limited number of specially remixed CD's are available at the door. Following these principles should enhance the success and increase the value placed upon the work of the independent hip hop artist. For that brother on the daily grind walking the streets of NY trying to share his art with the masses on the independent level-C.R.E.A.M

In Hip Hop we trust

Why am I so serious about Hip Hop. Why do I take Hip Hop so seriously? It's all we've got. And it's got a lot. It could be our politics our economics our recreation. It could be our freedom. Freeing the mind with it's ability to transform the captive mind into a free thinking expressionalist. All you need is a beat and dreams. Borders are lifted boundaries are crossed and the distant vision becomes nearer the source. It's damn near a religion with the following. Hip Hop is a lifestyle it's a commodity. It could procuce an entire stock exchange, with a beat and a rhyme, in hip hop we trust says the bull to the market at the final bell.

Post No Bills

I had to bite this

No more dating Dj's, Producers, MC's, etc.

No more dating Dj's, producers, MC's, hip hop critics, radio hosts etc. 'Wanted: a girl to date a Dj must have strong arms for heavy lifting includes crates and my ego. Looks not important, you will never look as good as the girls on my bootlegs, white labels and CD covers but please try not to look uglier than any of my Dj buddy's girlfriends, I really hate that. Don't touch my equipment. I like music, long walks on any street that I can sell music. I like music and I do like music'. I'm done with dating Dj's, Rappers who think a Technique is a way to make love to me. I was in love with your potential I thought your hands were speaking to me. Remember when we met and you were on that revolutionary tip you said you were my man and we would be a strong black unit for change but I guess your apartment was too small to house the revolution. Grown ass man you said you about to make some cheddar with all that rappin and producin ..when will you play me the new shit? You said the sexiest thing about me beside my fat ass was the way I made you think and me and my fat ass was tickled pink but now it seems like my chords are the only thing you tickle. Fuck a guest list I'm more than just a guest I stopped analyzing your lyrics when you stopped listening to my.......... Why are you still here?? I used to give a fuck about you but now you can basically mix and scratch my ass. I know I sound amplified you can tell your friends it's just hate. What you say ain't who you are, I can't mistake talent for tenderness a beat is not a love song and a guest list is not a love letter but until I'm sure I've learned the difference no more dating Dj's, MC's, producers, hip hop critics, radio hosts, etc. Nigga the best mixer you ever had was a Geminii.

B'klynative/Resist Hop Icon
Foundation of forward thinking

Sign on the dotted number line

So you think you want to be signed? Is the sign of your expression positive? Freedom of expression in your current equation may leave you with too many variables to solve and may lead you into becoming the solution for those who seek your potential in numbers, which may only cause your mathematical problems to become more complex. As in any equation, the solution is obtained by breaking it down to the lowest common denominator. In the wrong hands, the expression is broken down to fractions of what would have actually been infinite possibilities of expression if otherwise left in its purest form. The real numbers are those gained from the root, in an attempt to stay on the positive side of the number line. stay on the grind don't sell yourself short

Hosted By Reg-E-Reg

DJ Lez

The Return Special Guest Dj Lez Spinning Resist Hop Classics Thursday May 26 @ Flow 308 Clematis Street Downtown W.P.B. Holdin' it down like gravity with Dj Cool CH for the true school Hip Hop heads Door 9PM Cover $10 V.I.P reserved for Resist Hop Guests

Natural Selection and Survival of the Illest

Brooklyn, where the number of rappers per capita has reached an all time high. Brooklyn, where originating from certain areas is synonymous with being a rapper. Brooklynites, do they strive for anything else or is becoming a mainstream rapper the number one occupational goal amongst them. Do they seek the fame, respect and monetary reward that is consistent with becoming signed to a recording label or are they seeking the distinction of being known as the illest M.C.? Regardless, with any competitive entity, Darwinism comes into effect. The ability to survive in the rap game is realized through a process known as natural selection of variations. Basically, survival of the fittest or as I like to state survival of the illest. Last weekend, at an event in the Fort Greene area of Brooklyn, called Training Camp-Open Mike, I witnessed the process of natural selection in full effect where locally known and unknown emcee's have the opportunity to perform two of their best. These wannabe famous rappers go all out to impress the audience with their stage performance, lyrical content and music production in an attempt to gain attention and recognition from their peers and in hope, gain the attention of music industry executives. The leader of the training camp M.S., who with just cause, professes to be at the top of the evolutionary food chain calls them on being wac if that is the case or reps them with props if they come correctly. As a participant you either get eaten up or survive to reach new evolutionary heights. The Training Camp philosophy is based on a series of fundamental principles that the Training Camp family subscribes to. The purpose is to make every artist better and to arm them with the fundamentals necessary to survive in the competitive arena known as the rap game. So, the question is, why don't they all make it? If they follow the procedure for making their craft their entire existence, enhancing and perfecting it why doesn't the fame, respect and monetary reward come to all? It goes back to the key component of natural selection, continuous evolutionary variations, that determine the fit-ness or ill-ness of the MC. Variances and adaptations in the 'genetic code' of MC'ing which carry the flow to the next level. Coming better than previously, increases the MC's ability for survival. Otherwise, that species of MC gets play'd out and the more ill continue to compete for evolutionary success. It's about natural selection and with every opportunity the MC must come sicker than before in order to avoid extinction. It's the game and only the illest of the ill can survive. up for the evolutionary challenge?

We are the World?? or just you

I saw Dame Dash on a 50 foot bill board in times square last week and I thought woww hip hop really has done it's thing. That had to cost, well I really have no idea but, a grip no doubt. And then I noticed the beautiful woman that was next to him and lets just say, she didn't resemble me at all. So, headed toward the subway stop on forty-deuce I started getting a little offended. Black men really are the only ones that do that. When Asian brothers get that Chinese restaurant smack dead center of the hood with the nice bullet proof take out window and all, who benefits? Not a sister, he bring his Asian queen right with him or at least takes that ghetto doe right back to build with her. Same thing with arab men and you know the white man who owns all my favorite stores on 5th av. ain't having a girl like me reap any of those benefits. Those other races most likely feel some sense of loyalty to the one who gave them life. So, we (the women designed to love a black man) are just out of luck, like the short side of a wishbone, and what's worse is if we want anything in this piece we have to make it happen all by ourselves. I don't profess to know everybody's story. But brothers who can be so hard and have such a fuck everybody attitude really can flip it on some we are the world/you can't help who you love shit. I wish I knew the real story. Fortunately, this is one story I can't get off my father or any of the men close to me because they would never go out like that. Suckas. One

Fashion Conscience

You say you want to rock Resist Hop Gear? Resist Hop is more than trendy fashion for the fashion conscious. It's a style backed by substance. You've got to be thorough. Resist Hop is thoroughly exclusive, fashioned to represent the conscious minded [awareness of one's own existence, thoughts and environment] and those guided by conscience [recognition of right and wrong]. Exclusively, Resist Hop is conscious fashion for the fashion conscience and those who know will know; those who don't will learn. thaswhasup

kicks on the block-B.K.

Un Named Hype

Names are designed to set one entity apart from another. The tracks have no names but are far from being nameless or the same. The diverse influences that brought this album into existence make it possible for the tracks on this album to lyrically and rhythmically name themselves. Names synonymous with power, strength and truth, far from the mainstream, monotonous, mono-beat bullshit put out as hip hop nowadays. It's got a lot, from slow and lazy flows about lustful desires to intense messages rocked with survival mode intensity. So, in the name of realness and for an in-depth investigation into the un-named tracks that make up the album bliphop.com; Employing the style of verbal illustration of uses for the word name let's take a look at the lyrics of a few of the tracks: a big name track16 : yeah that's what it's all about I got my money and my album and I'm about to come out I'm gonna do a lot of shows so when I come on your route I hope you come and see me rippin.. and shout 'bliphop.com". a bad name track 12: Stop biting and be you and be you and be you...Now I only hear the same thing tak-ing music to use it to make cream is good but remember you should be break-ing new ground with your sound to keep the music around..your label will build you and tear you down yeah they'll promote you well with mad zeal but only if you sound like this cause this sells I even designed the hook to make you look..stop biting and be you and be you. call me a name track 5: I'm an Afrikan so my hair won't blow back with wind like all the the other races when that's happening to them. screw them if they say my hair is nappy a lot of my people say that too but I'm happy. with it...with roots that sink into what I'm thinking which is usually that I'm just happy that I'm kickin. in name only track 15: I'm a be famous one day so if you're worth it, I'll admit it when you brag that I hit it. I'll even leave it up in my rhymes that we did it..we could be doin it now.. your bullshittin I could bring a smile to your frown through your kitten.. most people loved and they lose. name brand: track4..with more game than Nintendo and innuendos get backed up as sure as endo when the wind blows get it? and if you dig it can you pick it up listen to me rip it up. name a time and place track10: you want a battle what? can you endure the torment? I master the art of the iron fist tournament I break you down on the grass floor ultimate and take you and use your head as a hood ornament- you can bring it on-we can get it on-cause my game is strong-and I won't stop til you're gone....
I seem to have left out one verbal illustration for the use of the word name. Although there is a verse that will demonstrate this illustration adequately, I decided to approach it another way. I'm not sure if it was purposely omitted on the subconscious or just an oversight on my part but for completeness I'll mention it. Not a penny to my name: while this applies to many unsigned independent artists, I have a feeling this artist will not be hungry long he's got a lot of hustle and once he gets in ya ear it's over. Hopefully, he always stays just hungry enough to keep giving it to us like this cause he's got something for every-B-body.

So there it is, an album with un-named tracks, tracks that paradoxically, set this entity apart from any other. In an era where most new stuff is bitten and produced by so and so, this joint is 100% original, the total package. Lyrically, it's on some next ish. On the beat/production level it starts out fire and just gets deeper the more you listen and as you can tell I listened deep and my final analysis: Kwaaze is hot like the blue part of the flame. go get a late pass

Addendum: Refer to the comments section for a complete track listing for bliphop.com provided by the artist after publication of this post.

In the beginning, there was light
and then came the two turntables and the mic

1200+1200=madness

Word of the Day

Those that can't rely on self, look for unsuspecting victims to pounce on. The pounce is not usually violent it is usually in the name of friendship or L-O-V-E. But the result is the same. It's that host-parasite relationship where only one benefits and the other is left with less than they started with. In the hip hop game it should be survival of the ill-est but survival of the shystee-est is the more appropriate colloquialism. The good qualities one possesses should be admired and used as example, not taken for the advantage of those less equipped to deal in the game. Every time I open my eyes wide, I notice that the basic instinct is to cold take advantage and get ahead, with a selfish agenda and no regard to the negative effects or the heads being stepped on along the way. Reciprocity is the word of the day. Sincerity is the word of the day. Honesty is the word of the day. Loyalty is the word of the day. Look them up and get back to me.

F'ck You, F'ck You, F'ck You, You're Cool, F'ck You and I'm OUT

I recently met an M.C. selling his independently produced CD outside FATBEATS on 6th Av. I took a big chance buyin'thatshit cause the last time I bought some $#!T off an unknown MC sayin' he was the dope I needed, I ended up ejecting that $#!T and throwing it out the car window. Word...don't like garbage but always looking for that sick flow and more importantly that real dope production style..well Bliphop.com, A.bstract A.udio A.ctivism, is tight work i'LL EVEN Go further to say.... I called that brother up and was like 'when can I get this on wax?? I need that shit immediately!!' I'm in the process of going over the tracks with a fine toothed comb cause I got caught up.. on a couple and I had to hit repeat on 'em repeatedly. So, to this true school indie artist I'd like to say...thanks for putting it down so nice, you have the formula to bring it back..to the true heads. Politically speaking this brother is correct. don't sleep

what does it all mean?

Sometimes I tag myself ONE Strong, meaning, I usually roll one deep with my opinions and creative expressions. Seeing that I consider myself a highly individual individualist it's been like that for me from day one. Although I am a part of a greater entity, I have the ability to descend tangentially from that entity yet stay connected by, you know, that one point. The illest thing about opinions and expressions are that they become individual intellectual property. How they are expressed by individuals is similar to rolling the dice. Dice that, for the sake of my point, have infinite combinations, the chance for random repetition is inevitable (not to be mistaken with deliberate repetition which is considered bite-ing) but more often the combinations are different. In comparison, twenty-six letters make up thousands of words which combine into phrases. With the addition of individuality, phrases give rise to the limitless possibility of thought provoking expressions. Although, similar thoughts can be expressed by multiple individuals for the most part the exact expression and the form it takes during expression is unique to the individual (unless of course it is bit-ten). Resist Hop is an expression of individuality. The two words have standard definitions yet when combined, create a new meaning. The significance of which, is a matter of opinion based on self expression and individuality. yaknowhati'msayin'

Shout Outs

There are some things that require acknowledgement and just in case they haven't been acknowledged by any one else...I'm stepping up, but before I begin first and foremost acknowledgement to My Creator..for allowing me to roll, with what this blessing called life gives me, until the wheels fall off..and now without delaying..I'd like to send shouts..out to:
A1..the one
New BLACK STAR..bright as the stars..
Man from Brick City..for your hot 16 for a chick that's mean ..where's the ice?.......................................cream
Keith Murray..for putting out Chocolate Bar.. and makin a sista feel good nobody does that anymore
Wax Poetics..for the elevation of hip hop magazines
Mystic and Jean Grae ..representing how it should be done from one coast to the other..
The World famous Beat Junkies..everything they do is on the highest level
Mos Def....for versatility and being on so many collabos
Netflix..for the ill fast turnaround and having the tribe called quest video anthology and Lyricist lounge hip hop classics..delivered to my mailbox with one click
Hollis, QNS..you can take the girl out of Queens but you can't take the Queens out of the girl ........11423!
Von Wolf at Creative Source Lab..my dad..for photography skills unparalleled (the exclusive Resist Hop photographer)
Techniques..even though baby needs a new pair of 1200's they still get the job done
Matt from Scrapyard on W. Broadway & Peter the graffiti legends..for the Boiler Room speech (they know what I'm talking about)
Burkina nyc..for being that late nite adventure in hip hop shopping
Writer's Bench and Hall of Fame..kings..what's good H.L.?
Rawkus roster..for jumping it off..remember when?
Jazzy Jeff..Hip Hop Forever II was a nice banger for the wheel
T. Kweli.. for Quality, The beautiful Struggle and never being blinded by the paper chase
Boaz Yakin..for Fresh
One. B. Lo.-Sonogram..Mastering the Universe still
All the DJ's (Cool CH, Evil Dee, Lord Sear, Grand Wizard et. al.) who carry crates of old school from party to party on the strength that it never dies
2B continued....

Under the lid

I recently put together a line of Resist Hop hats. I've got those ill knit caps, the traditional baseball cap and the dope camo and I was thinking, what really counts is what's going on under the lid. Having style is cool but what are you bringing with it? That joint, My Kung Fu, (DCQ, CES and Mos) makes a good point about the B-Boy introducing the B-man. I hope that Hip Hop reaches new levels not just in making doe off records and ish but having the insight to parlay the benefits of being down with hip hop into reaching new heights. Legacy type heights by putting money into bigger enterprises. Bigger than restaurants and clothing stores, if you want to make a real impression, buy the MTA. That's big. It's obvious that the intelligence it takes to go where hip hop has gone is there. I continue to be in awe and have the utmost admiration for the brothers on the grind generating ridiculous amounts of doe utilizing their creative energy in all the areas of hip hop. It is unquestionably and unequivocally for real for real. So bust it, I'm just saying respect to those who are looking beyond spending sick amounts making fashion statements with ice and gear and have more going on under the lid. Resist Hop=Resist Hype. nahmean

Lids

The Lyric Collection

Classic attitudes

I was at Joe's Pub on the L.E.S. a couple of weeks ago for the Evil Dee/Lord Sear 'Sunday night Classics' and I was talking to this brother who seemed to be a regular at the spot so I asked him if they only play old school on Sunday nite. He looked at me kinda funny and replied "it's hip hop classic nite what else would they play?" According to my Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary and what I know to be true, a classic is an artist or work held to be of the highest rank or excellence serving as an outstanding representative of a kind, having lasting significance or recognized worth. Nothing about old in that definition. While I'm breaking it down, aren't five mic classics always new at the time? Don't get it f'cked up, when I go to a spot that claims to play classics I'm always down to hear old school but I have my list of new classics that I wish were getting play. I know I'm at a 'true school' party if they play illmatic joints such as One. Be. Lo- Unparalleled...'we just want to see some elevation in hip hop.. producers slash emcees.. when the beat drop...now let me see some hands in the air.. when the beat drop.. wave em like you just don't care .. when the beat drop'...yo that's a classic hook. say word.

The Total Package?

I like K. West but lately I've heard him collaborating on tracks that I don't think he belongs on. His production style is ill and he works well with heavy hitters such as Mos and Com and Kweli but lyrically he doesn't come close. His album was cute in a hip pop sort of way and he hits every time with his beats but his lyrics..come on. Maybe it's his diction that messes me up or the mid west ghetto phrases he uses that I can't get past. No dis but he's just not of the same caliber as some of the MC's he works with . Don't get me wrong I got l'v for his work and it's not that he's not f'ckable..he's got a certain amount of flyness to him and I have to admit that at one time I wanted to....uh...send him one of my J-Line, JINNPAK back packs (the Grind Pak for holding it down wherever, not the Emcee Artillery Pak for organized lyrical warfare) so he could rock the best bag out there (you know 'we got ya back' in every aspect of the game) since he's a backpackin brother. Regardless of all that, I think he should do what he does best and that is making funky music which is a must..cause he's still #1.. (KRS1) at least until Brick City's Mic Jones hits it hard, since we're talking about producers on the mic and all. What.

D.U.M.B.O. -B'klyn

Never had a rap cat for a boyfriend

He said he rhymed all the time. Always trying to find a beat and a studio. So, being down to hang with me from illadelph and all, I took him to the Chelsea on South Beach to freestyle with DKnex, a Roots like hip hop band, I know. I was ready to see what he was dealing with but he never approached the microphone. My then, guitar teacher, Leo, the Bass/drummer of the band introduced him more than once, shouted him out a few times and as I watched SAGA spit slugs to the hip hop violins, funky sounds of the triton and drums; while the one and only Master of Ceremony SAM G ripped it and mad other cats put it down, my rap cat ordered another round. As my head was noddin while the bass was banging I was thinking where does that flow come from? Clever rhymes over beats, the ability to flip topics so fluidly that it makes you say OOOOOH. That should have been my opportunity to be up close, behind the scenes and come to know if the ability to be a dope lyricist is based on your experiences and intellectual thinking or just that innate G'd thing that would allow sick rhymes to flow so profoundly (..invisible man got the whole world watching..-D. Smith). But I never had a rap cat for a boyfriend. That's peace yawll.

still in love with H.E.R.

COMMie COM is back. I keep reading that in every hip hop magazine I pick up. Yeah Common's latest drop is classic, soulful (as he puts it) hip hop but doesn't Common define classic hip hop? Think about his role in the creation of a track. He provides the sick flow and nasty hooks. I never tried to but if his last joint, Electric Circus, was broken down to acapellas no doubt we'd find there's madness in that album as well. The things you can do with that kind of genius. It's so nice to have NEW yet authentic jams to mess with on the 1's and 2's. I missed him, so much that I put everything from ..yes yes yawl and you don't stop.. to ..and you know yes you know.. acapellas over tracks like Generation of Drums and Afterdark's LL Cool DJS break mixes....yeah it's like that yawll. It gets hectic when something is missing.

Style is Free

Survival of the Illest

Resist hop premiere dj lounge spot where dj's come with the best of their crates and put it down. An open forum to share your illest mixes the way you do it, in front of other dj's and those who appreciate the good stuff . It's the real ish above ground. presented by Creative Source on Lantana's East Side (L.E.S.)

Resist Hop = Resist Hype

Resist : to remain firm in opposing the action or effect. The process in which the conscience opposes the ego. Hop: to increase the power or energy. To jump aboard.

Resist hop is a move for those who take the music seriously. It represents Hip Hop's back to the basics uncommercialized roots with all its complexities. It represents a style of DJ ing and signature apparel that keeps hip hop alive in its purest and truest form. Question: is it the records that you play or is it how you play the records? I think both are vital, but a sick beat will ride out on its own. It is said that it's not whether you win or lose but how you play the game. Winning is the way the music makes you feel, dope beats with ridiculously hot lyrics that make you say ... wwoww... how'd they do dat do dat do dat dat dat (tribe). Some music gets so much airplay that you really believe you like the track just because you have subconsciously learned the lyrics word for word. That doesn't mean it's a winner, it's just game, where winning is equated with the amount of doe they walk with. Trueness to the game is considering consciousness over ego. Appealing to the masses is easy, impressing the discriminating is a much greater accomplishment. The True heads give respect to the original school that wrote the rules (I.N.I.) and resist the garbage beats and preschool lyrics that shouldn't be classified as hip hop. That's what I'm talking about.

Respect to the one's keeping it tight so that a DJ like me can still get that feeling when I do my thing. ONE Strong

true school