This is KARAUS.
First off, rest in peace to James Brown. Without your records, hip-hop would have never became the demon it is now. With the passing of the inventor/innovator of funk & the true father of hip-hop this morning, I'm attacked with the reality that I have been facing ever since I've been in the business. The majority of black people my age (23) and younger will never grasp the true meaning of music. As Funkadelic once said, "TO NOT KNOW IS BAD, TO NOT WANT TO KNOW IS EVEN WORSE!" The ignorant form of hip-hop is dominating the U.S., intelligent hip-hop & other progressive forms of black music are deemed irrelevant & unmarketable, placing the state of "urban" music in a constant downward spiral. How low can it go?

Funk music always was a representation of freedom, rebellion and defiance. Lyrics that represented the world, music that represented the universe. With the emergence of disco in the late 70s, funk was forced to battle it as the reigning form of party music, which led to its demise in the mainstream. But the music itself always remained the most important factor. Black MUSICIANS taking the artform into another stratosphere.

And yes, hip-hop began as party music itself. But with the aid of the funk, of course, it turned into something truly important. It had a message, not always positive, but at least they were socially and politically conscious. Now, it is a shadow of its former self. Props to The Roots, Outkast and West Coast artists for always paying tribute in their attempt to keep the foundation of hip-hop (funk) alive in their work.

Unfortunately, the majority of today's generation has tried to ignore that funk music ever existed. Especially where I'm at, the state of Georgia (The birthstate of James Brown). I can't even bring myself to turn on the radio, but I'm from the South, and PROUD OF IT.

There is a progressive scene in Atlanta which includes my friends and associates Joi, Little John (who played drums for Prince at the Image Awards last year), Tomi Martin, Trina & Three 5 Human, and my partner in crime Stoni Taylor, but it remains unheard and unseen in the glare of the 22 inch rims/ platinum teeth/money-hungry/drug-selling & smoking/women chasing Dirty South Hip-Hop.

For whatever reason, the majority of this generation feels no place for education in music. They say, "If you want education, go read a book", but some can't even do that. These are the last days, and nobody knows who to blame. The government, for taking so much funding out of public schools, most can't even afford to teach our kids regular subjects properly, let alone teach them music? Or is it hip-hop, telling young blacks you don't need instruments, only a turntable & a mic? In the eyes of most industry execs, new black bands don't exist, and has no place on mainstream radio or TV.

Unfortunately, all of this has been ingrained in the brains of young black people. Being a rapper (or a dope boy) is the only way to make money & get out of the hood. The strange thing about it is, some of these hip-hop producers & rappers making simplistic, shitty-sounding tracks are actually capable musicians/artists who could help bring about change in our culture. But THEY CHOOSE TO CONFORM.

If staying true to what I believe in will lead to the death of my career, then let it be. But if nobody else tries to change things, I will take the necessary steps & do my best to change shit myself. James Brown did. And those who want to focus on the negative in his life are the same people who choose to ignore that hip-hop wouldn't have been shit without him or funk music in general.

It's cool, though. If hip-hop does face the same demise that disco did, hopefully, we'll see an uprising of music that actually MEANS SOMETHING.

And those who choose to remain ignorant to the truth, & preach ignorance to black people & the rest of the world for that matter, will FINALLY get what's coming to 'em. It's time for a change.

STRATAGEM

2007

KARAUS + exiles of the nation

www.myspace.com/karaus

www.cdbaby.com/cd/karaus

P.S. Oh, yeah, I did post this on okayplayer.com also...tryin' to reach as many people as possible. Peace
[Edited 12/25/06 9:56am]
[Edited 12/25/06 10:19am]
[Edited 12/25/06 11:35am]
[Edited 12/25/06 11:35am]

good post; do ya thang

One of the best threads in org history.