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IN THIS ISSUE:
NEWS: SNOOP NO LONGER GOING WILD… WITH WHITE GIRLS
NW FOCUS: BELLINGHAM’S BLACK BUSINESS BOOM?
POLITICS: ROADMAPS TO PEACE SHOULD BEGIN AT HOME
SPORTS: SPOKOMPTON HOOPFEST SHOOTS MORE THAN HOOPS…
ARTS & EVENTS: EARTH, WIND & FIRE, DANCING BEFORE
SEPTEMBER
ON THE GRIDDLE: BOY 1NDER DROPS HIS ‘ALBUM OF THE YEAR’
CHANGE THE GAME: WHERE IS THE LOVE?
NEWS:
SNOOP IS NO LONGER GOING WILD…WITH WHITE GIRLS
According to a CBS news report (which is an embedded news
agency), The S-N-Double O-P is no longer ‘going wild’ with
girls, because get this – there aren’t any Black and/or Latino
girls going wild – or haven’t you noticed. Now as much as I
would like to attribute the newfound absence of Snoop from GGW
to the reverence respect, and dignity he has for our women
that’s not it. Snoop says that he can’t get with the all
White-girl casts of the current Girls Gone Wild brand and has
decided to cut his agreement to host the videos due to
misrepresentation.
Fellow MC and entrepreneur from New York, Akinyele (of ‘Put It
In Your Mouth’ fame) has already begun The Akinyele’s Girls
Gone Wild Tour. Ak’s tour, which is nationwide, features a
multicultural cast of girls hitting strip clubs. Snoop has
mentioned doing the same thing as Akinyele – a tour will
feature more naturally tanned skin and less injected lips than
he is currently being associated with.
When reached for comment Snoop reportedly said, “If you
notice, there hasn't been no girls of (ethnicity) at all on
none of those tapes," Snoop Dogg complained during a recent
interview. "No black girls, no Spanish girls — all white
girls, and that (stuff) ain't cool, because white girls ain't
the only hoes that get wild.” Wow…so, much for uplifting women
of color…LET’S ALL GET MONEY!!! IT’S A FREE-FOR-ALL!!! Does
anyone ever wonder whose daughters (or mothers) these females
are? I guess none of these girls want to run for public office
or lead a firm some day, getting ‘neckid for nachos’ and all.
http://www.girlsgonewild.com
http://www.snoopdogg.com
http://www.akinyele.com
SEATTLE HIP-HOP SUMMIT SCHEDULED FOR JULY 23RD
Organizers of the Seattle-branch of the Hip-Hop Summit Action
Network led by Dr. Benjamin Muhummad and Russel Simmons have
reported that the Seattle-Expo, originally scheduled for June
4-9 has been rescheduled for July 23rd.
“It’s official…that’s our official saying for the Seattle
Summit,” said CEO of the Seattle Summit, Wyking. His partner
Keith Tucker confirmed the rescheduling of the summit and
reported that it will be a great occasion that will include
artist, fashion and feature showcases during the four-day
summit. Costs to attend the summit are posted on the website,
but reportedly range from $40-$100 with varying benefit for
price.
http://www.seattlehiphopexpo.com
KUTFATHER, LAYIN’ IN SAN DIEGO’S KUT
When former Streetsounds DJ/Producer/Co-Host, Kutfather,
jetted out of Seattle some people were shocked and saddened to
know that the Pacific Northwest Hip-Hop veteran was leaving
the rain and evergreens behind. People speculated this reason
and that reason about why the O.G. Hip-Hop head went back home
to “Daygo”, “The S.D.”, “The Six One Nine” or whatever you
want to call it, but he probably just needed what we all do –
some real sunshine and love. He got both upon arrival.
Sunshine and excited anticipation from the city that he left
to come to Seattle were waiting for Kutfather when he stepped
off the plane.
“Kutfather is a legend out here in S.D.,” says Damon Jones of
Soul System Entertainment. Jones wasted no time working with
the vet. He has already begun to work with the superstar DJ,
conducting bookings and management services. Jones, who left
San Diego to attend Washington State University in Pullman, WA
reminisces that he recognized Kutfather on the wheels of steel
one night in the late ‘90s, djaying at The Art Bar in Seattle.
“We were kickin’ it and I heard this voice talkin’ about ‘This
is the New DJ Quik!!’ and I looked up and it was Kutfather –
he’s been doing it for a long time for a reason,” said Jones
via telephone in San Diego.
Look for Jose Gutierrez’s What The Dilly Yo? exclusive
interview with Kutfather soon.
NW FOCUS:
BELLINGHAM’S BLACK BUSINESS BOOM?
When cats think of Bellingham, WA Black folks and minorities
are rarely the first subjects that sprout into minds – at
least “mines.” However in addition to Western Washington
University (which does boast a strong Asian and Asian-American
presence), there is not really much to speak of in terms of
resources for communities of color in the North Sound area.
Latinos/Hispanics are growing in population at a rapid pace
and they are slowly incorporating more Latino-friendly
establishments like mercados (markets), restaurants and
bilingual and immigration service centers. Yet a recent
establishment of Black-owned operations has captured the
attention of the geographically marginalized community in
Bellingham.
Among the new Black-owned business are Zora’s hairshop,
Rapunzel’s hair supply and Speak E-Z’s Memphis Barbecue. Now,
three new Black businesses do not constitute Tulsa’s Black
Wallstreet or Atlanta, but for a town like Bellingham that is
approximately 80 miles from Seattle and 50 miles from
Vancouver, BC this is a significant addition to the scant
population of Blacks who call The ‘Ham home.
The presence of these Black businesses can definitely impact
the transient population who come and go. For a lot of Black
college students at Western (and other geographically and
multiculturally isolated colleges and universities) the simple
question of, “where can I get my hair done, did or braided?”
is a factor in how welcome and at home somebody feels. “I go
to Zora’s and get my hair braided and faded – I like her
business and we need to support it,” says 19-year-old Joel
Nelson of The ‘Ham.
As for eating Speak E-Z’s, which is scheduled to open in early
July, provides a sense of down-home cooking that can be found
and supported with real dollars at The Fish House and Southern
Kitchen in Tacoma, Ezell’s and La Louisiana in Seattle, but
Bellingham? The presence of such an operation is almost an
anomaly in Bellingham, but has been receiving support from
communities of color and organizations like The Loving
Brothers of Whatcom County. From a business analysis
perspective, the success of Speak E-Z’s, will hinge mostly on
the support of folks who love Memphis barbecue and the people
of color who support the start-up. “We cook everything
barbecue – if you got it, we can barbecue it” is the slogan of
Speak E-Z’s.
With constant requests and demands to increase the presence of
Black businesses, only time will tell if our communities have
the taste, spare the time and spend the cash needed to support
our independent businesses.
THE “NEW Y FM” IS COMING…AND HOPEFULLY STAYING FOR GOOD THIS
TIME
When Y104.9 FM hit the airwaves in 1998 there was a sigh of
relief from the Pierce County community, because there was
finally a station that could and would play the heat-rock
tracks that Seattle’s Number One Hit Station would not.
Finally, we could hear Ice Cube, Ras Kass and more, but the
dream was short-lived and Y104 dropped, stopped and rolled
right outta T-Town. In 2003, word has it that the station is
prepping for a revival – Billy Graham style.
According to the website, www.thenewy.com, management and
staff led by CEO Myron B. have gauged the desires and response
of the community and are set to hit the air again very soon.
Staff did not respond to an e-mail sent to them, but if the
website is any indication of what the programming will consist
of, The New Y will be an urban/Hip-Hop format, which is just
what Tacoma and the South Sound need. It is no mystery that
KUBE 93 felt the presence of the “Old Y104” in 1998, as
listeners discovered and embraced the new alternative, but one
of the constant criticisms of “the Old Y” was that the
programming was too diverse, almost like “urban public radio.”
Listeners were subjected to blues artists following Dr. Dre or
a Peabo Bryson song after Ice Cube and the vibe just failed to
gel effectively for some listeners.
From all indications there is, again, a new player in town and
his name is not Reggie Hammond. The New Y is apparently in its
incubation stage and has not yet publicized any on-air or
management staff other than Myron B., but with X014.5 in
Mercer Island, KUBE 93 in Seattle and the presence of The New
Y, the traffic jam is about to get that much more busy. And
that’s a good thing for the listeners in this age of media
conglomerates and wack, predictable and non-risk-taking
program directors and staff.
http://www.thenewy.com
IS DAMON KNIGHT GOING BACK TO CALI?
Word on the block says that Seattle-based KUBE 93 FM on-air
personality, Damon Knight may be leaving “Seattle’s Hit Music
Station” to go back to Los Angeles, where Knight is reportedly
from. Possibilities for Knight are The Beat 92.3 FM or The
Beat 100.3 FM. Which will it be if Knight is Audi 5000?
POLITICS:
THE ROADMAP TO PEACE? DOES THE U.S. HAVE ONE?
With all of the madness and emotional, religious and otherwise
history fueling the fire of violence in the Arabic lands of
the so-called “Middle East” (as one scholar asks, where is the
Middle South, Middle North and Middle West? – don’t let
outsiders label ya, is the lesson within the question), one
can only hope that the U.S. interest in the holy lands does
not amount to oil and profits. Especially with the U.S.
surviving in frailty with our own unique brand of violence and
madness, the best example would be to implement the starting
blocks of the roadmap for peace in the U.S.
Look at the United States. Two years ago the nation is rah-rahing
with red, white and blue flags in hand. Two years later,
violence in several major cities is up. Rape and sexual
assault are statistically increased according to the FBI and
kids are still getting blasted, sniped and beat down at school
of all places. The moniker of “what you don’t know, can’t hurt
you” that some embrace is for those who are privileged enough
to be able to ignore the realities of our own nation’s
sickness. The U.S. is still playing a tug-of-war over the
question of equality in the United States. Some people think
that Affirmative Action programs have been successful for
people of color and are now baseless. In fact, 60% of
Affirmative Action beneficiaries in Washington were White
women prior to Initiative 200 passing in the fall of 1998.
Twenty percent of the beneficiaries were White men. What does
that leave people of color, who supposedly “take jobs from
Whites, even though they are less qualified?” Well, you do the
math…it reads 20% to me.
Where are the “truthtellers” and so-called elected public
service people in the U.S. who are mending the unnecessary
divisions of race, violence and substance abuse within our own
nation that subtly divide these United States daily? Where are
the law enforcement agents who are willing to hold each other
accountable for abuses of power and authority? Where is the
leadership that is willing to go against the grain and admit
that our own nation needs self-improvement, before it can
credibly criticize the violence of nations that it has
manipulated for decades? The United States is one of the
youngest nations in the world, founded with violent and
subversive tactics and we speak as if we are the wiser than
elder nations, because we are wealthy only because of the
exploitation from free and cheap labor. Get it right - one has
to stay awake and read to know what is going on between the
lines.
SPORTS:
SPOKOMPTON HOSTS HOOPFEST… AND THEY SHOOTIN’!!!
Alright, alright the city’s real name is Spokane, but you can
call it what you want: Spokompton, Spokavegas, Spookaloo,
Spokilla…whateva. What is definite is the pandemonium that
awaits the isolated eastern Washington city each summer as the
world’s largest outdoor basketball tournament, Hoopfest, hits
Spokane. This year was not different – straight
outofpocketness…
See, Hoopfest is not the raggedy tournament put on by your
“cousin an’dem” – this is a world basketball event featuring
teams from all over the globe and these guys aren’t even the
major attractions. During Hoopfest, Spokane lights up with
parties, people, population and police. According to one
estimate, upwards of 20,000 people converge on Washington’s
second largest city each year for the annual tourney. But it
wasn’t all hoops and honeys as usual in 2003…they shootin’,
they shootin’ – MADE US ALL LOOK… AND RUN TOO!
One party that looked like a still shot straight outta the
“Dre Day” video got shot up and no joke – less than three
minutes later Spokane’s finest were laced in body armor with
M-16s in tactical mode…gawhllllly. From gang signs to
boughetto females, the spot was laced and the gunshots added
the only missing ingredient for the perfect scene from a 1988
NWA video. The thangs we go through to play some ball and kick
it a little bit. Some of ya’ll gunhappy cats need to get a
girl, a room and stop takin’ 50 Cent so seriously – “YOU NOT
LIKE ME!”
Cats usually get in where they fit in at Hoopfest in Spokane
and they did this year. DJs Kun Luv and Luvva J, Tune and Paul
of Seaspot were housing the city despite gunshots and
honeydrops. They were at the Spokane Step Show and a few of
the clubs that were packed to the rim, but with the presence
of so much tinted skin the annual show of force from law
enforcement was in effect, ‘cause some of y’all don’t know how
to act.’
Shouts out to the 509 representors who were in effect at
Hoopfest: Deep Pockets, Kane, Isamu Jordan of the
Spokesman-Review, Keek The Ghetto Prez and the ballers and
bonitas from all over the map…
PAYTON, MALONE TO BE LAKERS?
If only wishing made it so… It appears more and more each day
that The Glove and The Mailman might be delivering the goods
for the Los Angeles Lakers next season. Payton’s agent, Aaron
Goodwin has made it clear that Payton’s prime interest is to
play with the Lakers next season, but he has also mentioned
the Portland Trailblazers and the Miami Heat as teams running
a close second to LA. Payton has made it no mystery that his
career is near an end and he wants a championship to accompany
his many awards as a defensive standout and all-star.
Malone has expressed a similar interest to play with LA,
however he is reportedly considering Utah as the team that he
will soon retire with. Malone’s goals is, like Payton’s, a
title ring on his finger. With John Stockton retired and
little impact talent remaining in Utah, some experts say that
Utah might not win a championship, which makes the Lakers the
prime contender after a turbulent 2002-2003 campaign.
Look for a decision for each of these superstars very soon,
because as usual Cash Rules Everything Around Moves in pro
sports. Dolla dolla bill ya’ll.
NOTHING NEW FOR NEUHEISEL
Did he interview for the 49ers? He said no. Did he swindle the
Colorado Head Coaching job out of one of Bill Mcartney’s
assistants? No. Did he violate NCAA recruiting rules? No. Did
he gamble? YES?! Of all the activities that former University
of Washington Head Football coach, Rick Neuheisel thought
could have been acceptable to admit to – gambling was the one.
Some things just don’t make sense, but his removal from UW’s
football helm does to UW Athletic Director Barbara Hedges.
Coach Neuheisel (who will probably not have a problem finding
work) was clipped from the Dawghouse in May of 2003 and
appealed his termination by the university. Hopefully this
appeal by Neuheisel will be as honest and responsible as he
likes to appear for the dozens of families whose living rooms
he sat in while convincing Mom and Pops that Junior would
enter college a boy and leave a man under his supervision. I
am not a judge of anyone, but it appears to me that this is
nothing more than a case of Karma, or as the saying goes,
“what comes around goes around.” No one can escape the laws of
nature for long and with the lies about the Niners’ interview
and his swindling with the recruiting reputation of other
Pac-10 schools, it looks like Neuheisel will soon be looking
for a Neu job. As a Cougar, who doesn’t like, but respects the
Husky program – the Dawgs need a Washingtonian like Don James
runnin’ the show anyway… PEEEEAAACE.
First, Mike Price and now this…and to boot, what happened to
Shai? Everything’s falling apart (sigh).
ARTS & EVENTS:
KUBE 93 SUMMER JAM – 7/21 @ The Gorge (Eastern WA)
SEATTLE HIP-HOP EXPO – 7/23-7/26 @ Seahawk Stadium (SEA)
SNOOP DOGG - @ The Paramount (SEA)
EARTH WIND AND FIRE - 8/23 and 8/24 @ The Pier (SEA)
ON THE GRIDDLE:
BOY 1NDER DROPS HIS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Seattle-based MC and writer, Boy 1nder has dropped his solo
offering for 2G+3 entitled, Album of The Year which tells the
tale of a young brother looking for peace, love, Jesus and
Hip-Hop and not in necessarily the wrong places.
Boy 1nder drops his album as a testimonial and detailed story
of his trials and tribulations, offering commentary into the
state of current day social, religious and Hip-Hop affairs.
This is not Boy 1nder’s first offering however. He has
appeared with his crew, C.A.V.E. on prior work and is
affiliated with the heart of Seattle’s top MCs. And don’t get
it twisted, Boy 1nder is a Christian, but his content exceeds
religion and addresses perpetrating cats and faulty “Hip-Hop
critics.”
Check for Boy 1nder, he’s on the rise with quality music
representing that Sea-town and something that some cats need
to hear.
http://www.seaspot.com
CHANGE THE GAME:
“Where is the love? Where is the love?”
- Black Eye Peas (2003)
“Love is love”, “It’s all love”, “How ya love dat?”, “Where ya
love at?” Love is a special thing and it seems to be an
overused word without much application of the meaning in my
observation.
We often talk about how we love something or someone, but as
KRS once stated in his classic ode to the word, “Love’s Gonna
Getcha.” Love, a lack thereof or false love are plagues that
subtly affect us in a negative way all day, er’day. “How?”,
might you ask. Easily. I am not sugarcoating anything here.
Brothers and sisters don’t greet each other in the street,
don’t uplift and encourage each other and do not
unconditionally support each other. Now, I know some of us
shut down when people preach, but consider that some of us are
chosen to teach and all of us are capable of learning.
Willingness and patience to learn are the prime questions.
Regarding the issue of greeting each other: Have you ever
noticed the power of a greeting? Greetings are cool ways to
influence each other’s attitudes throughout the day. I can
remember occasions when I was upset or down and out about
this, that or the other but someone decided to say hello with
a smile on their face. That made a difference to me and it
makes a difference to others, because with all of the drama
and nonsense that we deal with on the daily some sort of
positive human interaction is often overlooked, but it can be
effective – unless you enjoy our communities and those within
fearing each other rather than getting to know each other.
It’s really nothing to say, “What’s up” or “how are you?” to
another person, and sometimes the anti-social person won’t say
anything, and that is what it is, but the effort pays off in
the end.
We don’t encourage each other enough. Especially within
communities of color, we have a tendency to be prejudiced
against ourselves and doubt almost on-sight anything that is
being administered by or associated with people of color. If
we don’t encourage, uplift and have confidence in our own
brothers and sisters, how do we expect others who are
unfamiliar with our ways and culture to have any positive
regard for us at all? A question to pose to ourselves. There
is a certain lack of quality associated with being a person of
color (especially Blacks, Natives and Latinos), right off the
bat. This is definitely not a truism as individuals create
their own realities. As difficult as life may be at times, we
put ourselves where we stand or fall. So, with this pre-judged
lack of quality attributed to us, encouragement and upliftment
is needed, especially for those doing the work of the people
and the community. When we see these people give’em a pound,
say “what up” or do something positive. We have been taking
people for granted long enough. If quality is not associated
with us, because of our skin color, history or whatever, we
need to increase the level of performance to maximum
satisfaction. Time to change the game.
Finally, the issue of unconditional support. I know that few
of us actually enjoy the concept of doing something for
nothing – this attitude is inbred as a United States
capitalist moniker. I am aware that some suckers like to pull
a fast one on those who support them, from the fake-homeless
cats with signs who are healthy with resources, to the cat
that wanted your support at his/her party. Still,
unconditional support and love are the outer symbols of a
healthy person and community. I am not saying to randomly go
out and trust everybody, but rather to study up on folk and
see who is sincere with their requests and messages to you and
others around them. Unconditionalism, I’ll call it, is the
idea that ‘I can give you my time or resource and not ask for
anything back, because I know that you will give of yourself
as quickly as I gave of me.’ This is the homeboy factor. To
change the game, one thing that we can do is support and help
each other’s ventures and hardships, whether it be a party, a
community event, a friend in need of substance abuse
treatment, whatever. It is a risk just walking outside
sometimes, we can show some unconditional support for those in
position of need, because sooner or later we’ll be in that
position too.
For those who choose to change the game, we need cats willing
to make the small changes. Cats who say, “What up, how are
you?” Cats willing to say something positive and smile a
little bit when everything, todos cosas and I mean er’thing
seems negative. We need folks to walk on that faith plank and
support the unrecognized and nameless pillars of our
communities – not just hood superstars. There really is not
any time for cats that want to stay the same and regurgitate
pre-historic and/or ineffective ways of doing things and
living life…take a risk baybee! Who came to change the game?
It’s all on that LOVE…
SHOTS…
* Shots to all of the graduates for doing your time and
setting the example to the youngsters, showing them how to
really shine… now keep it movin’ real tough-like.
*Shots to Gene Dexter for writing that letter to the manager
or owner of Mr. Lucky’s, criticizing his comment that on one
club night (that apparently had some interruption because of a
skirmish) the club had “too many Blacks in it.”
*Shots to Blaine, WA’s own Luke Ridnour of The Oregon Ducks –
this man is the Sonics guard of the future. Welcome to the
NBA. Do the damn thang…
*R.I.P. to, former Atlanta Mayor (the city’s first Black
Mayor), Maynard Jackson who passed away on 6/22/03.
- “Some change the game, some stay the same.”
J.S. Gutierrez Jr., Ed.M.
DJ Luvva J
jose@seaspot.com
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