Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt Review

Reasonable Doubt was released on June 25, 1996 as Jay-Z’s first studio released album on behalf of his own label Roc-a-Fella Records. It is evident in this album that Jay-Z had an old money, mob family type of vibe. Kevin Liles of Warner Music Group and Def Jam Recordings said that “Jay was a very cultural rapper” with a “conversational style” in the Dalorsworld Documentary on Reasonable Doubt. Reasonable Doubt is the foundation of everything Jay-Z has done throughout his rap career including creating Roc-A-Fella Records from the ground up. In Reasonable Doubt his rhyme scheme is very intricate and also visual, seemingly coded for the environment which he was a part of during the 90s.

Objectification of Black Women & Black Womanism v. Feminism

     

           In Western culture women of color are often stigmatized and portrayed negatively which causes countless issues within many power structures in society. The symbols associated with black women create dichotomies and major division in Black America which are constantly at battle with one another in the new media of the black millennial generation. The “hypersexualization” of women of color throughout time is problematic due to how Black women are presented on a grand scale. The control of the Black women’s image has been prevalent since women of color were on slave plantations prior to Reconstruction. The conceptualization of women of color and the images associated with them have been in the hands of the white male power structure. In the age of new media and throughout time following Reconstruction Black women have slowly and steadily began to control their own images.

Michael Eric Dyson vs. Stephen A. Smith Remarks on Mark Cuban's Post Racial Society Comments

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban’s remarks pertaining to society’s challenges with racism and Donald Sterling exposed the issues white males have with racism, bigotry and prejudices in society. Mark Cuban’s remarks highlighted his white privilege, proved he believed we live in a post-racial society and he also attempted to balance his statements by addressing stereotypes. “I know I'm prejudiced, and I know I'm bigoted in a lot of different ways,” Cuban said. His remarks were alarming and problematic due to the negative connotations associated with his diction.

Once Again Review - John Legend

Once Again Released Oct. 16, 2006

As the second neo-soul studio album by the talented, John Legend, ‘Once Again’ is a beautifully composed piece of work. Released by GOOD Music and Sony Music Entertainment late in 2006, the album had great reviews according to The Rolling Stone, The Observer and The Village Voice. John Legend according to Wikipedia.com “co-wrote and co-produced the bulk of the album, working with collaborators such as Kanye West, will.i.am, Raphael Saadiq, Craig Street, Sa-Ra, Eric Hudson, Devo Springsteen, Dave Tozer and Avenue.”

Rihanna and The Oversexed, Erotic Image of The Black Woman

A few months ago it was announced that Robin “Rihanna” Fenty  would win the  Council of Fashion Designers of America 2014 Fashion Icon Award. The songstress is a pop icon that undoubtedly turns heads for her striking beauty and perfectly conceptualized looks. Her stylist Mel Ottenberg and Adam Selman, a designer she had previously worked with were the major influences on her nearly naked dress she wore to this year’s CFDA Awards. The Swarovski crystal encrusted dress was custom designed and made by Adam Selman and a team of individuals. The translucent, mesh dress had over 230,000 Swarovski crystals. On Josephine Baker’s birthday June 5^th, Rihanna tweeted a photo of her next to the iconic entertainer stating:

“Happy birthday to the late Josephine Baker! You have and will continue to inspire us women for decades to come!”

This creates a paradigm between women of color who are entertainers and viewed as oversexed in the eyes of the mass media. The mass media as a whole ‘over reports’ on the sexually deviant lives of women of color by presenting them as wild, hot, highly sexual beings. Shows on VH1, Bravo TV, etc. associate negative connotations with being a Black women in Western culture. Artists such as Rihanna, Beyonce and countless others are seemingly always in the spotlight. Their images are worth money which explains why in the mass media some Black or non-black women are obsessed with the images they see of these two stars. It all perpetuates a false reality since viewers, listeners and readers do not literally know the lives of these women.

AMERIKKKAN KORRUPTION - CAPITAL STEEZ

AMERIKKKAN KORRUPTION came about during a time in my high school years where everyone was following fads and trying to fit in and naturally I did the same. It got to a certain point where I asked myself why? I started to open my eyes, I was a slave to television, media, and the daily motions of what we call the AMERIKKKAN Dream. My only intentions are to get the AMERIKKKAN Public to open up that 3rd eye just a little bit, and from there we ALL can grow. –Capital STEEZ of ProEra

ProEra based in Flatbush Brooklyn has a cult-like following and an underground appeal. The rappers, producers and artists whom make up ProEra are known for their inherent ability to make great hip-hop. The topics they talk about in their music makes mainstream artists obsolete to hip-hop heads. One of the most unique members committed suicide almost two years ago, Courtney Jamal Dewar.