The State of Hip Hop: Part 4, The South...and Drake

Like it or not, the South has risen faster in today's hip hop landscape than any other region. Now, as lot has been a lot of snap music/gimmicky dances/trap music with shabby lyrics that has gotten undue glory; this has been met with due criticism from all over. But there are bright spots - both new and established - who naysayers tend to sweep over in this whole "niggas from the South can't rhyme" bullshit that gets thrown at Southern rappers. They acting like the North never had any whack rappers get buzz (Tony Yayo anyone? Remember Jim Jones "Ballin"? Freeway with the whining voice?). This is my home and I'm gonna promote those brights spots dammit. So before u try to right the south off, read this...

Attention please, J. Cole (pictured on piano above) has arrived folks. I’m a fan. After about 2 years of impressive mixtape material, his album “Cole World: Sideline Story” delivers potent lyricism and storytelling over laid back beats; he produced about 90% of the album too. For all the doubters, listen to "Breakdown" and "Lost Ones" and tell me he can't lay out a story. Rather than tales of fortunes selling dope, he’s telling tales of uncomfortable abortion disputes, drug addiction in his family, everyday relationship issues, a rise in rap after failed hoop dreams, and hoping to motivate more hood cats to get to college. He incorporates just enough flossing to keep the radio fan base happy; which keeps his mentor Jay-Z happy. He’s representing NC real well right now.

2. 2. Although I liked them better together, NC natives and Former Little Brother group mates Phonte and super producer 9^th Wonder are oozing with hip hop tailored to the everyday man. Both just released quality albums, and the multi-talented Phonte’s other group The Foreign Exchange delivers relaxing but soulful music. Not to be forgotten, LB’s other former MC Big Pooh should be dropping an album too. If u didn't know, now u know.

3. 3. ATL’s dominance over South Hip Hop seems to be fading a bit. My favorite group ever OutKast (Fucking right, I said it) has broken up and neither seems overly pressed to put out their own music but they're still lighting fires to features on others’ songs. Ludacris had been putting out grown up music with content (once you get past the obligatory radio singles), but his interests seem more in making movies. T.I. has put his hard lessons learned into deeper music, but he can’t seem to stay out of prison long enough to stay in the studio and produce. Luckily, B.O.B. has come into the game addressing messages the average rapper won’t touch – the invention of AIDS, paranoia of a Vietnam soldier about what his lady is doing, etc – in his own unique style. In a few years, he may be holding the city in his hands as far as serious hip hop. There are a million substanceless club rappers thriving – Waka, Roscoe, Gucci, Soulja Boi, etc – but they’re not capturing my attention outside of a party atmosphere where I need a lady in my ‘kitchen’ grinding on me.

4. 3. Now that I think about it, Houston may be in the same predicament as Atlanta as far as losing its influence. Of course the elder statesmen Scarface and Bun B are still holding it down when they want to come out; but they been in the game since the ‘80s. The SwishaHouse team – Mike Jones, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire – has gone largely silent and none of them were ever overly lyrical to begin with. I never liked Lil Flip and was happy to see T.I. dismiss him from rap relevance. Names like Lil Keke still float around, but is a true MC gonna step up and take the torch handoff from ‘Face and Bun? Who knows.

5. 4. I’ve decided that Lil’ Wayne is simply too cocky and too high on a regular basis to link concepts and like he could in his stories ‘Dedication’ mixtape days. He’s still a punchline machine but he leaves each one hanging randomly with no overall context. His verses are like this: “Bullshit, bullshit/ unrelated ill punchline/bullshit, ill punchline/ Weezy [insert word starting with an F] Baby/ catchy hook by Drake/ Young Mula baby.” I’ll give them credit though, Birdman fucked over everyone else on Cash Money and bet the house on Weezy, and now they’re swimming in money and they’ve rebuilt CMB. But rather than just being a hot rapper, Wayne is capable of being much more of a real MC than he is. Next young nigga that tried to put him in the ‘Greatest Ever’ discussion might catch a polite backhand followed by a Marty Jennetty dropkick though.

1. Break from regularly scheduled programming: Neither are from the South but since I just discussed Weezy and the rebuilding of Cash Money (now Young Money Cash Money), I guess this is a good spot to discuss Drake and Nicki Minaj; with their current influence, I can’t leave them out. Drake is more of a tweener rapper-singer sound than an actual MC but he has found a niche in the rap game and is making millions off of it. Although I can’t really assess him on an MC scale at all, he makes good music to ride to in the car and I can’t salt his game. As far as Nicki, she’s also riding a bit of a gimmick and takin the abandoned top female MC spot (vacated by Kim, Foxy, Remy, Digga, etc.). He’s the Barbie character with the funny voices and the plump ass (the scrumptiousness they can create with silicone) who occasionally creates bright moments on the mic. They do what they’re expected to do in their dynamic and make money. I can’t say I’m a huge fan (although I would like a sex tape or some nudity of Nicki to leak), but I won’t hate. Respect.

6. 5. Slack Ass Alert: No will deny Jay Electronica’s is vicious on the mic “eating wack rappers alive, shittin out chains.” That doesn’t change the fact that his lazy ass need to go ahead and put his tremendous skills onto an actual album. The whole ‘next to blow up’ has an expiration date. I had Erykah Badu’s magnificent ass in my bed, I might be prone to keep on stroking too. But his fan base has been waiting too long. Get it done Jay.

7. 6. What A Performance: I'm not even sure what to think of Rick Ross anymore. He should be seen as a study in character personification. He has created a persona and ridden it to the top of the rap game despite constant badgering from people exposing the fraudulence. He represents the lack of authenticity that plagues hip hop now. But I can’t lie, I listen sometimes cuz dude can flow. Maybe the rap game really craves another B.I.G. and his delivery reminds everyone of him; he has even filled that very supersized void as Diddy’s BFF and strip club right hand man.Or maybe White America (who still buys the majority of rap records bought) just don't give a damn about legitimacy. No matter what people say, he’s dropping smooth rhymes and has made that imaginary money he rapped about into tangible bank. BUT, next youngster to tell me he’s as good as Biggy is getting thrown out of a 3^rd story window though; not enough to kill ‘em, but enough that they’ll never blaspheme like that around me again

99.Laughingstock: In the landscape of Southern rap today, I could use this word on so many people. A lot of guys are making a mockery of lyricism for club music. Gucci Mane is an easy target with an ice cream cone tattooed on his cheek. But at least these guys are creating some kind of success. In this kind of landscape where u can sell off gimmick or beats and circumvent lyricism, the true laughingstock would be someone who even stands out as whack amongst the whack rapper; I present OJ Da Juiceman. Not only is he irrelevant, I once saw a freestyle where he was so bad that he made Gucci (part of the same cypher) seem like Cannibus comparatively. It was amazing in its God awful-ness (yea, i made it up to express my distaste). I'd rather listen to a chick throw up a night of margaritas. SMH

89. Dark Horse: Years after David Banner’s buzz ended, Mississippi has a better rapper worth bragging about. Big K.R.I.T. has a laid back but soulful and introspective style that will win him over respect in hip hop circles even if he never makes it commercially. Check out his single “The Vent” from the mixtape “The Return of 4Ever” if you haven’t heard about him yet.

The State of Hip Hop: Part 3, The Northeast

Everyone in the Northeast is insisting that hip hop must be dead. I think some of it is spite because Southern and Midwestern rappers are getting more shine, but it is undeniable that too many whack rappers are getting way too much shine. Why is it easier to find Gucci Mane than Talib Kweli? You shouldn't have to look so hard to find the true MCs that are still around. Thank God we seem to have passed that T-Pain phase, but rap still needs some new lyrical blood; including the region where rap started. The living legends are holding it down but they do it forever. There are rappers on every corner up there but are any of them ready for primetime. Hell, Jay-Z got his own label now and didn't bother with anybody from above the Mason Dixon line. Someone has to step up big reppin' Gotham City and Philly to keep them interested. The game ain't dead, but it definitely needs a vital transplant of innovation; losing the attention and influence of the epicenter of the culture will close the casket quicker.

1. Jay-Z is still Jay-Z; or maybe he’s back to being Shawn Carter. When he can take time from his life as a businessman and mogul to be in the studio, he’s still as smooth as ever with a effortless delivery. However, he’s understandably not hungry as he was in his prime (Understandable, when you’re a half billionaire and your legacy is set). You’ve read earlier what I thought of Watch the Throne when I discussed Kanye. For Shawn, Beyonce’s pregnant, he got a stable of MCs in Roc Nation to manage, and his dream of moving the Nets is becoming a reality; he has more on his mind than making his own music.

2. 2. Nas is still spitting that heat that his faithful loves and the average person just isn’t in an intellectual enough mood to listen to. I still get excited whenever see a new Nas song online. He recently put out a great album with Damian Marley that I don’t believe got nearly as much love as it deserved. I feel like soon enough, he’s going to go on the attack again and produce something else that’s going to tighten as many assholes as his Untitled “Nigger” album did. Let’s hope so.

3. 3.Mos Def and Talib Kweli still eloquently deliver street news. I wish I just heard more of them on a regular basis. “Just Begun” with both of them, J. Cole and Jay Electronica was fire.

4. 4There are older legends still recording such as MF Doom and KRS-One. However, honestly I only take a listen if it’s recommended to me by someone.

5. 5Over in Shaolin, Raekwon put out “Shaolin VS. WuTang” recently which was a very well laid out story-telling album full of features and concepts. Call me old school, but I still love when he and the rest of the Clan, especially Ghostface, hop on a track together. I went crazy when Wu-Tang came and did a concert at Tech while I was in school.

6. 6 Jadakiss is still my dude; unique combination of raspy delivery and street wisdom is rare in the game. The “Last Kiss” was thorough and he’s put a lot of hard-hitting verses on other people’s songs lately. Busta Rhymes is on a mission to display his still remarkable skills to all his doubters on anybody’s song he gets to put 16 bars on lately.

7. 7.15 years or so into making sure Philly’s flame doesn’t go out, The Roots put out another great but underrated album in “How I Get Over.” Black Thought is still potent and Questlove is still a force to be reckoned with.

8. 8.I know DC is borderline geographically, but since my grandparents in PG County are considered Northern in my mind, Wale who lives right around the corner from them also falls in the Northeast. He’s been consistently delivered impressive mixtapes (latest being “Eleven One Eleven Theory”). His album “Attention Deficit” had some jewels on it that didn’t get their due love either. He brought conscious realist rap laced with go-go to the national spotlight and is the mascot for the rap game in the District. Represent.

9. 9.M.I.A.: Somebody put out an APB for Beans. Beanie Sigel was my dude when I wasn’t feeling a lot of other dudes coming out of Philly (Freeway, SMH). But every since deciding to attack Jay-Z for what he sees as disrespect while he was on Roc-A-Fella and locked up, I haven’t heard much of anything from here besides a few features. I hope he gets his focus back. And where the hell is Slaughterhouse's album? Either it hasn't come out or I missed it. When u got 3 legit MCs...and Crooked I, you got serious potential.

10. Laughingstock: I’m gonna ignore ‘close but no cigar’ cats (ex. Papoose, etc), the wack niggas with buzz (ex. Tony Yayo, SMH) and the ‘has beens’ (ex. Ja Rule, Ma$e, etc) and point out the fallen former rap bully. FUCK 50 Cent. This cat went from the most vicious in the game (“Get Rich or Die Trying” album) to crooning with chicks (you gonna ridicule Ja Rule for this and then make “Candy Shop”, “Just A Little Bit”, “Best Friend” and more?) to gimmick tracks saying nothing beyond how rich he is (“I Get Money”, “Baby By Me”). What the fuck happened to you man? How do you look yourself in the mirror Curtis? For someone who guaranteed the death blow to anyone he goes after, do u truly think u're more relevant in the industry right now than The Game or Rick Ross? Stay away, drink your Vitamin Water and count the money it made you. I respect your business saavy, but your services are no longer needed here.

10.Dark Horse: It would be easy to name Meek Millz, Jae Millz, Peedi Peedi (how do you get taken seriously with a name like that?), but I've been hearing about these dudes for years waiting for an album, so I'm going a different direction: East. Dave East was literally just introduced to me a few days ago but his mixtape "American Greed" impressed me; he had concepts and smooth flow. I'd need to hear more before I'd call myself an actual fan, but I'm rooting for him.

The State of Hip Hop: Part 2, The Midwest

I respect most of the artists that have come out of the Midwest, each successful one has usually brought something new and different in their sounds. Some are getting a little long in the touch and others can go missing from time to time; but their titans are still in place for the next little while to come.

1. 1. Even after just 3 albums, Lupe Fiasco is already a legend in my eyes. Even his latest album “Lasers” which he hated because he was forced to make it differently than he wanted it, delivers quite a few tracks that are truly remarkable; it’s just lacking the consistency and cohesion of the first two and has a few overly radio/club tracks for his tastes. This guy’s music can bring the hipsters, hood niggas, skateboarders, revolutionaries, nerds, DJs, and everyone else together. Gotta give his respect , even if you disagree with some of his more controversial opinions (Obama is a terrorist, etc)

2. 2. Kanye is Kanye. He can still make dope beats with or without amazing yet rarely heard samples. He still has rare moments of lyrical brilliance or societal awareness mixed into his cocky brand of having fun in his rhymes. He’s still entertaining and can still put together get collaborations. “Watch the Throne” with Jay should have been epic, instead it turned out to just be a good album that no one will still be bumping next year.

3. 3. Of course, Eminem is still a one of a kind lyrical assassin; but he’s rich enough now that he can disappear whenever he wants. I personally like the introspective and emotional flows; he definitely has had a chaotic enough life story to support such story lines. He also gets credit for starting the process of truly pressing Dre’s resurrection. He’s teamed up with Royce Da 5’9 to from ‘Bad Meets Evil’ which could make some real noise too possibly.

4. 5.1M.I.A.: In my opinion, Common only has two albums which I wish could be permanently stricken from the record: “Electric Circus” and his last album “Universal Mind Control.” After “Electric Circus” he jumped back in the game with the classic “Be.” That being said, I think he owes his faithful a redemptive follow-up to cleanse the bad taste left by “Universal Mind Control.” I know you’re getting older and the movies are more and quicker money, but please don’t leave that as our most recent memory of you. In his defense, he did put out an old school rap sounding joint called “Ghetto Dreams” with Nas, which was tough. Also missing, what happened to Twista?

6.5 Underperforming: A few years ago, I deemed both Kidz in the Hall and The Cool Kids as rap groups that were on the verge of doing big things. They both have style that is a throwback towards more golden hip hop times, which was refreshing even if it might not sell much. But I just haven’t heard much music from them at all. I’m not going say they’re gone, but they gotta earn their way back to that conversation now.

7. 61Laughingstock: Just a few weeks ago, Nelly was the headliner for a show here in KL with a slate of abysmal local acts. Be reminded, Nelly’s first album almost went diamond (10 million), more than pretty much any other hip hop album I remember. Not to say he was ever high on my list, but damn doing cheap shows in Malaysia may be worse than doing club shows in The ‘Lou. Sad.

. 4. 9 Up and coming: Kanye’s Detroit-based G.O.O.D. music newcomer Big Sean has a nice flow to him. Right now it’s still up in the air whether he will go more commercial or turn up his lyrical side. But for a newcomer, he has the talent to do some things.

5

The State of Hip Hop: Part 1, The West Coast

This is part one of what will be a 4 part series on the players in hip hop game by region as of September 2011, as delivered by myself Nigel L. Orr/N.O./Darkness/Orr #2 Nigga. We'll start on the left coast, I'm not sure why a state as big as Cali hasn't produced more good musicians since the heyday of gangsta rap in the early to mid-90s. Oregon...well, I just never really expected anything out of Oregon beyond some decent seasons from the Blazers and Ducks anyway. As far as Washington, Seattle has many enthusiasms, hip hop just doesn't seem to be one of them. It is what it is, let's get to it. The picture below says it all...

Unfortunately, The Game - the current workhorse of the left coast rap game - rose a decade removed from West Coast gangsta rap’s heyday. But he’s still delivering it masterfully if you’re still in the mood for it. Although it’s regrettably that he’s keeping gang culture in the spotlight, the biggest Blood in rap is not only throwing up his signs but telling hood stories too. In 2011, he’s carrying the West Coast on his back. The R.E.D. album is thorough, it's the most lyrical I've ever seen him; it helps to have good features and beats from both Dr. Dre and DJ Premier.

22.. Snoop is playing a whole different kind of ball now. He hasn’t been “Doggystyle” Snoop for a while. He’s a family man and is making music for a much wider audience counting his paper (Katy Perry, etc). Although I’m not buying that kind of music from him, I’m not mad at him. Get ur money and raise them kids.

3. 3. M.I.A.: It's amazing how Dr. Dre is still king of Cali even though he's still got us all waiting. But Eminem seems to have pried him out of the weight room (where he been gettin his Hulk on) and back into the studio to put effort towards making the mythical DETOX album a reality. He’s even made up with The Game and other West Coasters he had tensions with before. I hope he pushes it through and delivers. Furthermore since we're on missing artists, my man Murs has gone silent, he makes that smooth everyday man relatable music too. And Willie Northpole from Arizona showed some promise in spots, but I don't know where he went either.

4. 4. Laughingstock: G-Unit’s West Coast replacement (hell, he might have gotten more than one) for The Game. I’m not even gonna bother looking up their names. Fucking failures.

Coming up next: The Midwest

Are u Serious: Modern Savage Middle East Sexism

This medieval style punishment that is still allowed in the Middle East towards women must stop. I remember a few years back, Obama and other prominent world figures had to step in and stop one country from putting a lady accused of cheating (with no evidence of course) to death by stoning; that's right, the members of her community were going to bury her up to her shoulders in the ground, line up and pelt her with stones until she was dead...in the 21st century. Furthermore, I saw a documentary years ago where if a woman in her village is accused of cheating, a red hot pot is used to judge if she is lying or not. Basically, once the cast iron pot is red hot, they will touch it to her tongue 3 times. If her tongue burns, she's a lying cheater and will be stoned. If the tongue doesn't burn, she told the truth and will be permitted to live. Fuck the evidence, fuck trying to figure out if there was a time where both ppl were unaccounted for or anything like that. It's like in pick-up basketball, when there is an argument on a call and someone says "Shoot for it, the ball never lies." Whether or not you fouled me, if I'm a lights out shooter, I'm gonna make the shot; if I can't shoot, I probably won't. Now you're applying the same concept with a burning hot object and a human life at stake. I don't used such words lightly: but it's barbaric. By the way, I don't think anything more than a fine would have been asked of the other man even if she was deemed guilty and stoned. More recently, the past few days on Al Jazeera Online (the most respected of the Middle Eastern international news sources), there has been a lot of coverage on what gone on both positively and negatively for women in Saudi Arabia. They are on the cusp of gaining the right to vote and run for public office for the first time in the history of the country. But at the same time, a woman was in court facing indictment for driving, which women have been banned from doing in the country. What was her punishment for such an offense? 10 lashes with a whip. R u fucking seriuous??? They used to do that shit to slaves trying to escape. I haven't seen that shit since Will Turner was getting whipped on the 2nd "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie. This is Saudi Arabia, the world's largest and most profitable supplier of petroleum and crude oil; they should be a role model for the rest of the region. But instead they have a situation where women can now possibly be elected to Parliament but are forbidden from driving themselves to work at the country's most powerful governing body. If they break the rules, even an elected female official will be forced to remove their burqa (be reminded, the average women there has everything except their eyes covered due to the men's fear that even uncovering the rest of her face will garner unnecessary attention from other men; which they will blame on her and not the other men) and receive 10 lashes by the whip to getting behind the wheel of a car; which teenage females are permitted to do in most of the world. This isn't just some form of vigilante justice, a judge - most likely, a man who went to law school and did time as a lawyer before being elected as judge - made this ruling in a formal court hearing. As much as they like to blame Islam, I live in a Muslim country right now and it is not like that. Just because something is tradition and has been for hundreds of years, doesn't mean it is right. The world is changing and evolving, their behavior towards the mothers and daughter of our future should be doing the same.

My Inner Goon: Ignant Thoughts Sept 27th

Some days, ss I sit at work, My Inner Goon takes over for a while. I start thinking of porn, the crazy ads on the sides of any website with even mildly sexual pictures on it, my sexual experiences and more and start thinking;these are some of the things that are running through my mind:

• How terribly small does your dick have to be for you to need the 4-6 inch male enhancement that they advertise in the commercials? Are there that many men out there with a Vienna Sauage for a dick? Shameful.
• Since the invention of sex, how many potential kids have been wasted via condoms, pull outs, cumshots, swallowers, anal creampies, masturbation and other non-conceiving disposals? The number is probably astronomical; just seeing it on paper would probably make my head hurt. Lol

• · Uncircumsized penises scare me; they look like some kind of sea monster or something. As a guy, when you watch porn, your attention is fully on the woman, the guy is like a prop that just happens to be there; so for something on him to be so distracting that it takes your attention and startles you, means it’s some truly upsetting shit.

  · Hood or not, Keyshia Cole is fine as shit to me. Period, I’d be sitting up in the house trying to deal with the crazy as family if I could make that mine

  · Rihanna – despite the big forehead, laundry list of celebs she’s slept with (Jay-Z, Drake, J. Cole, Breezy, Eminem, Andrew Bynum, Matt Kemp, etc), and craziness Trini side (she broke a glass over her brother’s head over a petty argument and likely provoked some of Breezy’s wrath when they got physical) – could bear my children. Period.

  · Since seeing her naked and without make-up (surprisingly unimpressive), Scarlett Johannsen is at risk of being knocked off of my already short “Beckys I would not only sleep with, but bring home to my mother” list. Jessica Biel and Jessica Alba are still safe; everyone else is up in the air, especially since Angelina is about 75 lbs these days

  · Physically, Beyonce’s only weakness has been her relatively small breasts. Therefore, she’s gonna be ridiculously dope right after delivery while she still has those big lactated titties. It’s gonna be mind blowing. Mercy, mercy, mercy

  And that's just a few minutes of brainstorming. LOL. This has been another sneak peek at My Inner Goon...

Things U May Not Guess

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover (I’m not even sure what my cover tells people these days), but here are some things you may not guess about me:

• I was an Eagle Scout
• I got in trouble with my college’s Dean of Students...a few times
• I truly believe I could be happily married within the next 4 years or so if the right woman and right situation come along
• I didn’t really know how to speak to/attract women at all until I was about 17 years old
• I earned multiple full academic scholarships to very good schools (Florida A&M, Morehouse, etc.), which I turned down for my full athletic scholarship to Georgia Tech
• I’ve cheated on a college final before (didn’t get caught); it wasn’t the plan, but a classmate made it too convenient to turn down
• I’ve never smoked cigarettes of weed in my life; the only thing I’ve ever smoked is hookah
• I started drinking at 14 years old
• I was a senior in high school when I lost my virginity...to a girl I came to find was a complete slut
• I’ve slept with a married woman...and her dick-chasing roommate (long, complicated story)
• I look at 3-4 different news sources from different continents daily
• I also watch porn or explicit pictures almost daily
• I used to be somewhat shy with low self-esteem about my appearance
• I’m seen as a hard head and cocky guy in Malaysia; they’re not very familiar with young people who are willing to think for themselves and stand up to others over their beliefs
• I’ve been to 8 different countries on 2 different continents
• I, like many of my friends, have had a ‘pregnancy scare’; However, I am now convinced that the broad was lying to get back together with me (another long story)
• I’ve never slept with a chick that was not at least half Black

If any of these shocked you, I will just say don't judge me. Even if u do, so what. I've Been Called Worse...

Do Better: No Education, No Ambition, Now What?

I couldn't resist posting that funny pic even though this is serious problem. I’ve been here in Sandakan (East Malaysia on the island of Borneo) for a few days now and I haven’t seen a whole lot yet. But one of the things I have observed makes me sad: there is no priority put on education for small children. I work on a construction site, where the general workers live on-site in tenements that they built out of the project materials and whatever else they could gather. It’s bad enough that grown men have to live this way but that’s just how it goes in Malaysia. But here I’ve seen so many 10-14 year olds working at my site, at restaurants, and everywhere. All I can keep thinking is: what kind of life are they setting themselves up for? Not only do they have no idea what they’re missing or what is going on in the world, they may not know about anything going on outside of this construction site. If this is the case, there is no ambition in them, no drive, no expectation of a better life at all. All they know is that tomorrow, the sun will come up and they will come out and continue to server as helpers for lightweight construction work such as grouting and finish work until the day ends and they walk back to their tenements and start the process over tomorrow. Once this project is over, they will likely find another project nearby and start the same lifestyle over again. I was once told by a Malay co-worker of mine that locals – even the educated ones – are essentially programmed to be robots in this country. Whether you go to school and college or not, once the work world comes at you, the expectation is to settle into some convenient lifestyle close to home. Get married, get some job (often with no upward mobility), work hard enough not to lose this job in the next 40 years, start a family and never think about anything outside of that. I talk to locals about my travels and they’re amazed, even though they’ve spent their lives in this part of the world. You’re from Kuala Lumpur and you’ve never been to East Malaysia? If you plan ahead, you can fly there for next to nothing. You’re from Kuala Lumpur and you’ve never been to Singapore? It’s a 4 hour bus ride for something like $10 US. I dare not even ask about China, Australia, Thailand, or somewhere else slightly further away. So what are they waiting for? The truth is they’ve never even thought about going somewhere else. That’s why my presence and situation shocks so many people. I’m not saying every American thinks globally because most don’t. But even Americans I know who have never left the US have travelled a bit within their region of the US; they have wanted to see SOMETHING other than what they see in their hometown every day. Well, over here, travelling that region of the US is like going from country to country, and the locals have not done it. You ask them why and they stumble. They say they don’t want to miss work like they don’t have leave like me. They may say money, like it’s not dirt cheap if you plan ahead. At the end of the day, it’s a mindset. To me, they’re existing and not truly living. Forget travelling, but most locals (even many educated ones) don’t even have any idea what is going on outside of their country. How is it you have cable television and the internet but you have no concept of current events whatsoever? I could see if you had hobbies or enthusiasms which were taking up your time, but no that’s not the case either. I’d guess that if you charted out their days it would go: Wake up, work, back home, eat, watch tv, talk about something other than current events or hobbies with your family, go to sleep, start over. To me, you only get one life and that is no way to spend it. I know my two cents doesn’t mean much to them and wont change their culture, but I can’t surround myself with people like that. Knowing how sensitive Malays are, this is one of the things I’ve been trying to spare feelings about when people here ask me “Nigel, you’re not going to stay here in Malaysia forever?” I can't say "I feel like I'm losing intelligence if I'm willing to stay surrounded by dumb fucks" so I have to gracefully sugar coat this kind of question. I'm tired of it. It depresses me, I weep for them. This lack of education makes things like the Nazi shirt mentioned in the last blog entry necessary. Readers out there, I never thought I would appreciate you so much just for the simple fact that you can read. SMH. Selamat malam

Do Better: Is that a Nazi Swastika?

You may have heard me speak before about the occasion thought in my mind to politely slap the shit out of someone repeatedly. Well, I recently had the same urge when I saw Malays walking around in a shirt with a Nazi swastika on it. I know what you’re thinking; it was an Asian religious symbol for luck and prosperity first. And I know that, I've seen it on temples in Thailand, Singapore and other places. But no, this was the tilted swastika in the circle and the red background just like the one on Hitler’s arm (and it wasn't crossing it out like the one I inserted); str8 skin head, Neo-Nazi swastika. I had heard about this foolishness before. Apparently, they try to defend it saying that “Well, I’m Muslim. I don’t like Jews. Neither did they, so we’re on the same team.” My reaction first time I heard it, “WHAT THE FUCK?” Ridiculous, right? The lack of education (blog coming next) shows through immensely with such simplistic and misguided logic. Had we been in an English speaking country, I had the right to: 1) try to educate the man that Hitler would have also despised you (a Malay), me (a Black man), or anyone who wasn’t prototypically Arian (tall, blond haired and blue eyed), 2) assume that he knows more about Hitler which would entitle me to slap him as mentioned above. But here, because of the language barrier, I can’t even communicate with him to rid him of this deeply misguided mindset towards Nazis. All of this is processing in my mind as he walks by and I catch a glimpse of the back of his shirt………………it’s made by Levi’s. HOOOLLYYYY SHIT. Are you serious? Levi’s, which I’ve since been told is actually like a Hebrew name, is taking advantage of these uneducated people and using them as the marketing base to sell this filth? The anger inside which was brewing deep within but being held at bay by my rationale about the unknowing foreigner all of a sudden rose very quickly. I can’t think of a more disgusting example of selling your soul for the profits. Even in the immoral world of business, some lines should not be crossed; this is one of them. You know what, it’s time for me to go. The level of uneducated individuals is starting to annoy me. You think there are some ignorant people in America, you can’t imagine some of this bullshit. Do Better…

Real Talk: The Sad and Cautionary Tale of Troy Davis

Just in case you forgot, there is still prejudice and inconsistency that has been allowed to perpetuate in our penal system; remember it is run by old, stubborn, conservative white men groomed during segregation. Troy Davis, the Georgia man convicted of shooting a white (yes, it matters sadly) police officer in 1989, has been executed by legal injection today. This comes after his execution date has been moved 4 times due to the ridiculous circumstance around his case. Essentially, there was no DNA evidence or murder weapon ever linking him to the murder. He was convicted largely because there were 9 different witnesses who identified him as the killer. I can understand completely how a jury would see this as sufficient evidence to convict him at that point in time. However, over the past 22 years, 7 of the 9 witnesses have completely recanted their testimony saying that either he was not the shooter or they can not conclusively say that he was the shooter. So the question becomes: what would make these people lie on the stand for a case with death penalty at risk? Police coercion. I admit upfront that I am biased because I personally have a problem (or twenty) with several things about what the average street level American policeman has become. But this is one of the many reasons why. Police don’t like seeing other cops go down obviously, which once again is understandable. However, the lengths they will go to in a search for vengeance are unreasonable at times. In this vengeful conquest, it seems to matter more to the institution that ‘someone’ goes down for the murder, rather than focus being on ‘the right guy’ going down for it. So do I think policemen are capable of intimidating or threatening 7 people into saying that this man was the culprit even if they weren’t sure? Yes I do. Hell, I’m not sure I wouldn’t do the same thing if me or my family were at the point of a standard police-issued .22 caliber handgun. Furthermore, there have been several cases in the past where witnesses (often someone who is not commonly exposed to Black people) identify the wrong person. Hell, I still go places where a non-Black person says they can’t tell the difference between me and one of my homeboys when we look nothing alike. So if I’m someone in the legal system, this adds enough doubt that I should at least look into the validity of the witnesses’ claims. I’m not saying let him out today since the media is covering every minute. But take the time to make sure he’s the right guy; he’s been on death row 22 years, he can wait another 10 months to follow up with the witnesses and evidence (or lack thereof); after the supposed standard for conviction in general, much less execution, is supposed to be “beyond a reasonable doubt.” And it seemed like someone may have listened to this logic today as his hour was coming, but then a call from the Supreme Court – the highest court in the land – came in and denied this request for stay, likely just wanting an end to the ‘drama.’ So in the end, an innocent life may have been lost because the possibility of searching for justice was veto’d by the ‘big dicks of the court’ in the 11^th hour. The whole ‘reasonable doubt’ jargin got put on pause I guess. It was more important to end the media circus, leave a closed case closed and not have to admit mistakes or the possibility of police coercion in our legal system. I’m not even mad anymore, I’m just numb and introspective. Lesson learned: Live your life right, stay on the right side of the law and out of the legal system; you’re not guaranteed a fair shake once you’re in there. Value your life because it’s not a given that the establishment will. I have a close homeboy from high school - serving 5 times as long for armed robbery (with a bebe gun) as someone I ran track with served for homicide – who can attest (keep your head up Josh). Just like with those 22 years served, your life is gone once it’s gone, no getting it back. So if nothing else, Troy sounded like he was at peace with God, and I hope his life helps this message spread and save future people from the same fate. But guess what, before you go anti-America, remember that this is still amongst the best legal systems in the world. In China, he would have been shot in the head a couple weeks after trial and they would ignore all scrutiny from anyone. What a world we live in, right. On a sad day, here’s a little Real Talk.