Although I didn't watch the Academy Awards, the reports I've seen on Chris Rock's comments sound pretty darn funny and about as appropriate as Chris Rock will get. However, if Chris is making jokes about earlier shows that means, based on his previous claims that no straight black men watch the … [Read more...]
Ringtones: The New Yorker, Deceptive Marketing
February 28, 2005 By
I hadn't read the New Yorker in over 15 years until Sasha Frere-Jones' articles about hip hop became available online. His most recent contribution is an extremely insightful article on ringtones that includes the results of what can best be described as informal field research with an … [Read more...]
Who’s Lizzie Grubman?
February 28, 2005 By
I have to thank Jossip for leading me to this feature on publicist Lizzie Grubman. I'd never heard of Ms. Grubman, despite the fact that she claims responsibility for the white middle class listening to hip hop via such triumphs as making Jay-Z a crossover success in only four days! But I have to … [Read more...]
Editorial Moment: Career Development Behind Bars
February 28, 2005 By
With a variety of people upset over C-Murder's creative activities while incarcerated, I'm reminded of the obvious fact that our approach to incarceration is designed for punishment rather than rehabilitation, thus ensuring future increases in crime. While I understand why the families of victims … [Read more...]
Russell and Run Take a Business School Daytrip
February 28, 2005 By
During the recent NBA All-Star weekend festivities in Denver, Russell Simmons and the Rev. Run made a joint appearance at a business class at UC Denver. Arranged by mtvU, the event was ostensibly focused on marketing, however Simmons is described as "straying away from topics" with … [Read more...]
