Rewind....Redo

This is a very different angle than Mr.Clerge had used previously to present his work. The Spoken Word Piece is the same where he tries to demonstrate his interpretation of what some artists in hip hop have resorted to and personifies their philosophy.Which he succeeds in doing.Whether his point of view is right or not, well from a broad scope Mr.Clerge may have something but he is rather extreme.In saying that artists are consciously putting down the mantle and responsibility of educating our youth.I believe he may have to do more research and specify artists for him to be more accurate.The performance aspect of the piece has improved along with the ANGLE that the artist shot his piece. The idea of having two different personas having a conversation represented both sides of the pendulum which was interesting as well as creative.But the articulation of the artists was still mediocre and he may have been better served without the video editing tools used. His future may be bright if he persists to work on his trade and polish his abilities. The issue he presses upon is very real and imminent in our society.We are failing to realize the severity and rapidness of artists such as Mr.Clerge is impersonating are getting deals and assuming the name of hip hop openly and proudly.Clerge addresses an important issue and we should take note of that.

A Message? Critique

The piece performed by Ricky Clerge show's promise in the young mans ability. But also reveals many polishing points he must work on. The subject matter of his work attempts to confront an issue that is evident in hip hop.The art has transformed and taken many shapes but, it has approached a point where the integrity is cheapened by those who are money hungry. Clerge tries to portray the persona of artists that sell themselves out in order to gain money and fame. Lyrically the artists have traded in their thoughts and perspective for a catchy rhyme or hook that they are told will sell.Or they use a gimmick as in a gangster lifestyle which may not describe their lives at all. Clerge must work on the performance aspect of his work such as eye contact and articulation. But he also does show promise for the future and has aspiration sof going farther in the spoken word art of theatre and confronting issues that he sees as important and shedding light upon them

Midterm Project

Authenticity?

Authenticity has been a key point of discussion recently in my Hip Hop Theatre class. Whether artists are being fake or real based on how they portray themselves publicly, through lyrics and music videos. Collectively as a class we have more or less agreed that being real or authentic is relative to how you were raised and what one grows up seeing and experiencing. Whether fans can relate to rappers like Soulja Boy more than Weezy . or Eminem more than Will Smith . Is completely uncontrollable by the rapper if they are being real. Although Popularity does not discriminate, it can be the cause of selling out or becoming fake. Where do you draw the line between it all being business and cheapening the art?

In My sleep

New song from Joe Buddens upcoming album "Padded Room"

file:///Users/Ricky/Desktop/joe_budden-in_my_sleep-2dope.mp3

A Pioneer

Known as the first commercially successful rap artist Kurtis Blow is a historical figure in hip hop. Blow first began as a break dancer and DJ going by the name of Kool DJ Kurt.It was not until after much persuasion from Rusell Simmons that Kurt adopted the name of  Kurtis Blow. The Blow was to stand for a “body blow” In 1976 when he joined a group called “The Force” which was lead by Russell Simmons. The Force sponsored parties around Harlem and soon moved into Queens. During this time Kurtis learned how to MC and was paired up with a DJ named DJ Run who would later become part of the eternally famous RUN D.M.C. Blow was the first rapper to sign with a major label and gthe first to have one of his single go gold in “The Breaks” But although Blow had early success his albums never gained that much success. His old school style of strutting and rapping technique was appreciated at the time. But rappers to come quickly after him had such an evolved style and flow that Blow’s popularity was short lived. But Tribute’s are still paid to him even by some of hip hops most popular rappers in the new millennia such as Nas”If I Ruled the World”. Which was Kurtis’s last hit single. As Blow’s rapping career diminished he became a producer so that he could help up and coming rappers rise up and flourish their talent. He also spent several years hosting as a DJ for the Los Angeles based hip hop FM radio station, Power 106, every Sunday night on the "Kurtis Blow Old School Show." Although no longer recording music, Blow starred in the 1997 rap documentary, Rhyme and Reason. Kurtis Blow is now a minister trying to spread spirituality to children immersed in hip hop. He has started a “Hip Hop Ministry” to spread the word to children “in a language they can understand. He believes that there is a spiritual side to hip hop that has not been recognized.