Getting Over Race...

What an amazing concept, huh? I'm not even sure if it can happen...but I find myself wondering more and more everyday if I can work towards that. Not in the, "Oh, I don't see you as [insert color here]. I just see you as a good person..." type of demeaning way. I'm trying hard every day to teach myself to not prejudge someone on sight based on any one particular characteristic. I'm just as guilty as many for doing this on occasion but I hear the first step to recovery is admission, yes?

Please check out this interview with Debra Dickerson. Methinks she and I are on the same page. I'll know more once I've purchased her book, The End of Blackness. After you've read her article, take a look at some of her reviews:

NY Times

January Magazine

The Village Voice

Another word for synonym...

My brain is moving a mile a minute. I feel like Raymond Babbitt, 'cept I'm fully aware of my surroundings and I'm very much over Jeopardy. I consistently read the news and ask myself, "Is it just me?" I can't possibly be the only one finds the unfortunate humor in everything. At one point, I wasn't. My sister once admitted to asking herself the same question very often. We're busy with our lives now so I don't really know if she's still asking. I could, of course, ask her...but this feeling of being alone in my questioning is rather soothing.

Like right now, in fact, I have so much to share...but wonder how much of it is really worth sharing? It's like filing through a Rolodex of information but never actually choosing a card. How does one combine his shared love of hip hop with his love of oxtails, peas & rice? What would I really be accomplishing by telling Zune owners that having a non-working Zune for a few days due to a leap year date issue really isn't ruining their lives? Does anyone really care that Isiah Thomas, whose tale is uncommonly similar to Mayor Dinkins', might have actually done exactly what he was hired to do as GM? Is it really beneficial to anyone that Yugo's are probably the only thing I've ever searched for on eBay and didn't find? And what's more interesting is that Yugo line production just stopped in 2008?! (Really...who was still buying these things? Can I still buy a Sterling?)

I bet Alex Trebek didn't know any of that. He probably couldn't list the original members of Mantronix either. But that's neither here nor there.

All that being typed, what am I to do? How does one prioritize thought when finding a matching pair of socks proves to be just as frustrating as doing taxes? Maybe I should seek therapy. But then again, is thought prioritization an accredited course at most colleges? If so, how does one choose a thought prioritization specialist? Is there a non-anonymous thought prioritization meeting every Tuesday that has thought prioritization specialists listed on a cork board? Let's face it, it's easy for people to say, "Hey...seek help. Go see a shrink." No offense, shrinks. I just don't know how to spell psychiatrist and continue to wonder if it's a "psychologist" that I need to see. Personally, I think you guys do the same thing...but the iatr and olog simply put you in different pay brackets. You know...like Q-Tip and Jay-Z.

Anyway, I'm sure whatever it is I'm searching for, trying to figure out, looking to accomplish, hoping to find, pining to own, running away from, etc. will make itself known shortly. I just hope it's not one of those it's been under your nose the entire time kind of things. That would only serve to annoy me. So much so that I would probably give myself something else to find. I'd make sure it's my #1 priority too.

One love...

Bigg Russ

Just when I thought dying of natural causes was bad...

John Travolta's son, Jett, died just after New Year's due to complications regarding his seizures. The full story hasn't come out. Regardless, it was plastered on every front page of every newspaper and website that felt it necessary.

I didn't mind the coverage. Parents aren't supposed to outlive their children. I sincerely believe that.

But what about the controversial shooting death of Oscar Grant by police (video)? The deceased was unarmed and handcuffed. Will this get as much coverage?

Sadly, I think I know the answer to that question. Maybe if O.J. were involved...

- Bigg Russ

Fear...

This is probably my most polarizing emotion. I'm not talking everyday, run-of-the-mill fear such as hoping you don't get hit by a bus or watching the Knicks. I'm talking true blue fear of everything I know coming down around my feet. The fear of total loss of control. I've been dealing with this fear for quite some time. Years, in fact. No, it's not related to the now 'official' recession. No, I'm not talking about family. You can't control family. If you think you can, then you're fooling yourself. I'm talking about the one thing you can control. Yourself.

There are times when my mind gets so wrapped up in one thing, I feel - and it has happned on occasion - that I'm losing control over other parts of my mind. No, not I'm not going crazy. I'm talking concentration. There are times when I feel that life, in general, just may be too much. Too much bad news (heck, too much news period). Too many empty bank accounts. Too many bill collectors. Too many home owner issues. Too many extended family problems. Too many plans that I feel NEED to get done. Too many movies to catch up on. Too many whatever!!

I've been living in the past recently. Just out of control. Listening to 80's music. Catching up on old friends and acquaintences. Wondering what it would've been like had I done this or that. Or had I not done this or that. So forth and so on... This isn't a bad thing, per se...as it's been quite fun. The problem is I'm finding it hard to re-join the now as the now just isn't fun. Well, that is...no where near as fun as then. Hindsight being 20/20 and all that...

I am realizing though that I AM in control of myself and will be able to re-join the now eventually. Getting it out in this blog is probably a step. Ya know...like quiting cigarettes. Regardless, Bigg Russ IS here and Bigg Russ will continue until he's called home. Until that day, I hope to have regained full control. Before that though, I will need to get over this fear and deal with the deeper issues. I wish I had a hand book though. This stuff is tiring!

Thanks for reading...

Bigg Russ

I'm only going to say this ONCE (this week)!!

I'll keep this short and simple: HIP HOP, as I know it, is NOT dead.  Here's proof.

Q-Tip, EPMD, Naughty By Nature, Public Enemy, Charles Hamilton, Big Daddy Kane, The Roots, Kanye West, Common, Nas, Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Blu, Nicolay & Kay, Ludacris, Outkast, Busta Rhymes, Talib, Evidence, Mos Def, Sean Price, EMC, KRS-One, Rakim, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Premier, MCLyte, Black Milk, Little Brother, 9th Wonder, Illa J., De La Soul, Dead Prez, Tonedeff, Jadakiss, Wu-Tang, The Harlem James Gang, Eminem, Redman, K'Naan, 88-Keys, Bishop Lamont, Mike Phillips, The Pharcyde, Souls of Mischief, Cypress Hill, The Cool Kids, Gym Class Heroes, Kidz in the Hall, Wyclef, Royce Da 5'9, Large Professor, PETE ROCK, Heavy D., C.L. Smooth, Black Violin, D-Nice, Willy Northpole, DJ Honda, Jean Grae, Black Spade, Erykah Badu, LL Cool J., DJ Mick Boogie, Buckshot, MF Doom, etc...

This is a list of artists who have performed recently or have shows scheduled and/or released full length albums or mixtapes.  Some of them are also involved in Hip Hop in other artisticcapacities (film, photography, art, books).

Seriously, if Hip Hop is dead...then I must be heaven.

As always, thanks for taking the time...

Bigg Russ

hiphopsince71@gmail.com

PRESIDENT OBAMA

CONGRATULATIONS!!

The follow-through...

Regardless of the outcome, after we've all voted and reminded our friends and enemies to vote, and worn buttons, and placed bumper stickers, and flooded Pennsylvanians and Floridians with phone calls, and planted yard signs, and e-mailed to death, and debated over debates, and laughed with SNL, and blogged, and have become mesmerized by Zoe Kravitz, and have used the words maverick and change more than we ever thought we would...we still have to DO THINGS as a country. One man can make a difference. But it takes a nation of millions to facilitate real change.

I thank everyone who's voted. It's an important act. But I'm also asking that you don't stop at the polls and expect good things to fall into your laps. We, all of us, must participate together for change and a better tomorrow. Let's follow-through so that the next president, eight years from now, has a hard act to follow...

One love.

Bigg Russ