New Houston

It has been a while since a local Houston rapper have made it big on a national level.  Growing up in Houston and hearing songs that only Houston people know, and seeing all of these artists making and passing out mixtapes, I am just sitting here anxiously waiting for our next "big thing." I feel like the time is almost here.  June 27th, another Houston made "rap holiday."  If you're not from Houston you probably wouldn't understand the significance of this date.  This is a 35 minute long freestyle by several local Houston artist such as Big Mo, Dmo, and Big Pokey just to name a few.  It's chopped and screwed and much credit is giving to DJ Screw.  On June 27th, 2011, a tribute was released for this freestyle giving thanks for the old Houston legends who made a way for the up and coming rappers from Houston.  From the new group who got together to do this song I personally know 3 of these Houston rappers:  Propain, Kirko Bangz, and Marcus Manchild.  There are about 6 people freestyling on this new video.  A rapper from this group will be the next big thing from Houston.  I hoping that it's one of the people I know and I do have a bias only because I know these 3, but I do think they're music is better than the others on the song.  97.9 the box agrees with me because each one of the 3 people I know have had at least 1 single played and hit the #1 spot within the last 9 months for Houston's local radio station.  Kirko Bangz has had 2 songs reach number 1, and his video has also been on BET's 106 and park which is a huge step.  Whomever it may be, I hope it's soon that some Houston rapper makes it big and put Houston back on the map.  All of them have skills, and rap about relevant issues, and they know how to make a song that's much more than just a catchy snap beat with a cool dance.

I refuse

Finally all settled into my new place.  I absolutely love it and the new scenery.  After 3 years West Campus had just become too much.  The noise, parties, extremely drunk people and crazy music.  I would look out over my balcony only to see one of the frat houses throwing a party and looking at several wasted frat boys "Moving like Bernie."  This is one dance song that I refused to get into.  I don't remember when the whole dance movement took over, but for me in 2007 at my graduation party I vividly remember cranking that soulja boy.  Everyone was so excited about doing this dance.  From there the whole "crank dat" movement took over.  I came to college and I saw people crankin that Batman, and Robin Hood.  Most of these songs were never played on the radio.  People just uploaded videos on youtube of a song with a very basic hook, and verses that were absolutely ridiculous and came up with real catchy organized dance moves to do to the song.  Then viewers got in front of their computers and watched and rehearsed these dances.  Although I thought the songs were crazy, I still practiced these dances.  After the crank that music faded away, there was a dance called the "Ricky Bobby." Somehow the song is referring to Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights, but I never quite understood how the dance had anything to do with movie.  From there I remember seeing alot of my Dallas friends doing this weird looking dance that I had never seen before.  Here comes the dougie phase.  The dougie was not as organized as these other dances.  It allowed you to be creative and add your own flavor to it.  Like those other dances, there was not one particular song to dougie to.  This dance spread like a wild fire, and you would seeing people doing it to just about every song. The dougie lasted a good while, people are still doing especially since that "Teach me How to Dougie." song came out.  Now the new thing is the South Dallas Swag. As much as I hate to say it because I know some of these songs and dances are pretty stupid, I secretly found myself practicing all of them in a mirror, but this Bernie song I just refused.  There's no way I would ever, it's really that bad.  I really don't know what genre any of these "dance songs" fall into.  I will never consider any of them hip hop, because if this is hip hop, it really is dead.  I give Dallas all of the credit.

Hip Hop for Hiv Awareness

For about 5 years to my knowledge, may have been longer, Houston's best Hip Hop radio station helps put on this Hip Hop for Hiv concerts.  This to me was one of those ideas that sounds good on paper, but in reality I think it's kind of weird.  How it works is for about a month or so there are different HIV testing locations around the city of Houston, and people go to these testing cites, get tested for HIV, get there results and get a ticket to a concert.  My two younger brothers 19, and 17 are faithful Hip Hop for Hiv goers.  I get the thinking behind this especially with today's economy.  The only way to get a ticket is to get tested, unless you some one who had the test sell their ticket.  They can't be purchased so it doesn't cost any money.  The concerts normally have pretty good artists.  Most of them have held a top spot on The Box countdown, many local artists that have received air time from the radio stations.  Some name performers before they are really big also take part in this event.  This year up and coming artist Kirko Bangz performed.  He's a Houston native who's first single "What Yo Name Iz" song appeared on 106 and Park, that was a pretty big accomplishment because it's been a while since a Houston artist have been recognized on a national level.  Along with him were others, but he was the biggest Houston person.  All in all, several people show up for this concert, therefore several people know there status about HIV.  I just have mixed feelings about get tested for HIV in a gym or at a mall with several other people, it just doesn't seem too sanitary, and it always leave me with the question...if you find out that you are HIV positive, do you still go to the concert?

Packing Music

Today was the weekend that me and hundreds of other college kids leases were up in west campus.  My dad hired movers, but I had the pleasure of packing my entire apartment by myself.  2 hours into just packing the shoes from my closet I decided I need some music to help ease my mind and make it seem like I was speeding up the process.  I ran into a couple of problems, first of course I don't have any music on my iTunes, secondly I don't have a FM/AM radio in my apartment(but who does now day.)  I decided to give Pandora a shot on my iPhone.  Then I was faced with the question of what packing music I wanted to listen to.  I made my decision by being sub consciously influenced from my friend who came I was riding with earlier and she had in the new Beyonce CD.  Instead of Beyonce I decided to bring it back a bit and go with Destiny's Child.  As soon as I made it back to the closet and began putting another pair of shoes in the box, the first song on the station was "Survivor."  This immediately gave me a very vivid flash back to 6th grade to me with 2 of my best friends wearing camo clothes, "war paint" under our eyes, crawling on the stage at our annual 6th grade talent show.  I was a Destiny's child fanatic.  I loved Kelly, I was heartbroken when the group split.  I think I have a special Houston connection with Destiny's Child.  Their music sure did speed up the packing process along except for the spontaneous dance breaks.

Trae Day

Another figure to the underground Houston music.  Trae is another Houston icon who was originally part of Screwed Up Click.  One of my favorite songs by Trae is a collaboration he did with z-ro called ABN or assholes my nature.  Some of his lyrics are very explicit, and he is known for very violent lyrics.  Unlike some rappers, who just rap about certain lyrics that they know nothing about, I think Trae has street credibility and really has experienced most or maybe even all the violent things he raps about.  Despite some of his negative lyrics. Trae shows his kind hearted spirit every year at his annual event.  He has been recognized in Houston as some one who gives back to the community.  He has been putting on this event for quite a few years, and about 4 or 5 years ago he named and Houston agreed and called his charity event Trae Day.  On this particular day every year Trae buys several school supplies and give them to local Houston children who may not have the opportunity to get school supplies otherwise.  Trae Day is normally about a month before the first day school begin.  He also has performers at the event to draw a crowd, and other celebrities participate in the even to raise more money for the children.  Trae day is normally held at Texas Southern University, which is a HBCU located in the heart of 3rd ward.  It a bad area in Houston that has been known for alot of violence, drugs and things of that nature.  In 2009 at Trae Day, after the event was over, there was a shooting at his event.  Although Trae had absolutely nothing to do with the shooting, he publicly apologized for the behavior at the event the following morning on 97.9 the box.  After he made his apology one of the radio personalities, Jasmine NNate, made remarks saying that Trae was responsible for the shooting because of his violent lyrics and violent people are the audience he's appealing to so naturally these type of people would be at his event. There was outrage that she made such remarks.  Trae later made a song on a mixtape Nnate, calling her fat, Black, ugly, all these things that are not far from the truth.  After getting word that this song was out Nnate was offended and the entire KBXX 97.9 took action and decided not to play dissing his music to show that they know longer supported him because of his comments.  This was a huge controversy because Houston people loved Trae, and 97.9 was the only radio station in Houston that played his music.  Some DJ's from 97.9 were fired because of insubordination by continuing to play his music.  Trae still had Trae day on Saturday of this year despite what happened 2 years ago.  It was another successful event, no shootings this time.  The fact that 97.9 banned his music was a low blow and really can ruin his career.  He's not much of a national artist yet, so Houston was the main people supporting him and playing his music.  Now that 97.9 refuses to play it, not too many people are hearing his songs.

RIP DJ Screw

Being in Austin for the summer really has its drawbacks.  Hearing all of my friends from back home talking about RIP DJ Screw, and how 97.9 have been doing chopped and screwed mixes all day is sort of depressing. Chop and screwed music is something that have been apart of my life for a while.  DJ Screw is such an important figure for chopped and screwed music as we know it today.  Many people who aren't familiar with this type of music are quick to put it down when first hearing.  I remember hearing my first chopped and screwed song which was Destiny Child's song Survivor when I was in the 6th grade.  Chopping and screwing for me to hard to explain if you haven't really heard it.  In my attempt to define, it is a way to slow down a song dramatically and in a unique form go back to repeat certain parts of the song.  Maybe not the best definition, but if I had more knowledge of actually being in a studio or being familiar with that type of computer programming, I would be able to explain more. DJ Screw started off as a big time Houston DJ who was the originator of this chopped and screwed music. He died about 10 years ago and today would have been his birthday, there the best hip hop radio station in Houston showed him much love today my playing his music and other songs and music that was inspired my DJ Screw's work. Following his death, he became more of a national figure. Drake's entire November 18th song was a tribute to Dj Screw.  He starts off saying RIP DJ screw, and the song is a remake to an old Dj Screw. Song. DJ Screw received a couple of shout outs in a couple of Lil Waynes singles, but even without the recognition from Lil Wayne, DJ Screws music would have still been a huge influence on Houston's rap music as we know it.

Sorry for the Wait

I was leaving my apartment garage heading to HEB to do dreadful grocery shopping when I first heard Lil Wayne's newest single "How to Love" on the only radio station my car is programmed to in Austin, 102.3.  I'm a die hard Wayne fan, fell in love in high school when I first heard "The Drought 3."  Knew all the lyrics to every single song.  I was just amazed with how he was able to use so many catchy metaphors with his lyrics.  Some metaphors took me longer to catch on that others, but when I finally understood what he meant, it was such an "ah ha" moment.  I was very skeptical of how Lil Wayne's music would be after he got out of jail.  I just really wanted him to stay Wayne and not change who he was after his experience.  It took me a while to form an opinion on "How to Love," but thanks to 102.3, they played it numerous times, over and over, like they do to a couple songs, and I came to the conclusion that I liked the lyrics, hate Wayne trying to sing, but it just wasn't the Wayne I knew.  I was hoping that this single was not a reflection of what to come of Wayne.  He recently released his mixtape "Sorry for the Wait" I've yet to download it and from what I've heard and read, I'm not really missing anything.  I think I'm just going to continue to wait until the release of the "Carter 4" and hopefully not be sorry.