It's Not About Hip-Hop

No, seriously. This post isn't about hip-hop or music in any regard. This is a blatant show of self promotion. I promise y'all that this won't happen often (it's the first time it's happened here, anyway) but well, this IS my site after all, so...yea. Bear with me for a moment, please.


If you didn't know, I'm a writer. (duh!) In addition to penning articles about rap albums and hip hop culture, I also dabble in erotica. Yea, yea I know, that's a bit of a stretch, huh? Be that as it may, I've been writing for a number of years now and have recently published my first book, entitled Quickiez Online: The First Anthology. If you're a fan of Zane or Nikki Turner, then you may want to give me a listen. As a matter of fact, you DEF want to give me a listen!

I've published in two formats: paperback and e-book (for you Kindle, Nook, iPad owners out there). The links are below. If you do order, thank you so much for the support. If you don't...it's ok, it's not about hip-hop.


E-BOOK version: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/121484

PAPERBACK version: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/TheNiftian



-The Niftian

Drake and Common: Hip Hop Hypocrisy

Everything that I want to say about this topic has been put forth very clearly in this HipHopDX.com article. Read it...


http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/editorials/id.1839/title.aggressive-content-common-drake-the-hip-hop-beef-double-standard

Give Me Some Ideas!

It's time for a new Pioneer Series, I think. I need some ideas for some topics. There aren't really any rules, except that they have to have been an influential figure in the world of hip-hop, whether it was by rapping, tagging, breaking, or DJing. I went slightly modern with the last couple of topics, but I really want to take it back for the next few. Here are a couple ideas I have for now...

1) Crazy Legs
2) Scarface
3) Waka Flocka (I'm joking, I'm joking!!!)

I am also thinking of branching it a bit, also. So instead of just profiling people, I would also be discussing events. For example, I could discuss the phenom of break-dancing, the movie Beat Street (which I recently saw for the FIRST time--shame on me, I know), the birthplace of hip-hop (which was briefly covered in the article on Kool Herc, as most may remember), or something to those effects. Again, looking for some ideas.

I may be the lead writer/editor, but this isn't just my site. What is interesting to you? What do you want to learn about? I learn when you learn, and I am entertained the same way. Hit us up!

TheNiftian@gmail.com

Skillz: Rap Up 2011

Skillz first came out with his Rap Up at the end of 2001 and to much fanfare. The city of Richmond, Virginia and the handful of people that were scouring sites like Kazaa, Morpheus and AudioSatellite, went bananas over this guy that used what was (at the time) an insanely popular Bubba Sparxxx beat and hammered it out of the park. His flow was off the charts and he put the most hilarious spin on many events of the past year, some that we had remembered and some that we had forgotten. Either way, the man had a hit.

Mad Skillz (as he was known at the time) came out with another one the next year, and another for 2003. Again, a hit and another hit. I looked forward to the annual blasts, because Skillz had the...well, the skills, to bring it home. The songs were always a much anticipated cap for the year. Time went on, the internet grew and with it so did his popularity.

After 2005 or 2006, Skillz said he wasn't doing any more Rap Up's, that is was only supposed to be a one or two time thing. I hated the news, but couldn't blame him. After a while, that's all that he was known for and he wanted to show people that he was more than just the world's most infamous ghostwriter. I respected the decision.

Less than a year later, his mind was changed. Copycats and massive fan pressure brought him back to it. Although the man was back on the mic with his yearly urban review, the spark was gone. The beats were no longer popular rap singles but instead laid back R&B singles or beats by little known producers. Skillz sounded bored...which in turn made me bored.

It's gotten to the point that I don't even look forward to the Rap Up's anymore. Twon Johnson hit me with a link to the latest one (provided below) and I found myself surprised because I hadn't even given a thought to it. There used to be a time when I looked forward to Christmas, New Years and the Rap Up; now, I look forward to egg nog and that's about it.

Anyhow, that's my mindset on it...do you feel as if Skillz has lost his passion for the now annual tradition or is he still bringing the pain? Hit us up at TheNiftian@gmail.com and spill your thoughts!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSn0XUkzheE&sns=fb