It was sold as part of a debate the Union was having over whether England should pay its former colonies reparations.
This was in 2015, and at the time Nikhil Venkatesh, a then-BME at the Student Union said of the scandal, according to the Guardian,
“Reducing centuries of violent oppression to a humorously named cocktail is simply unacceptable. We are still living with the damaging legacy of colonialism. Sadly Oxford, and especially the Oxford Union, remains dominated by privilege, which is why inconsiderate episodes such as this occur. Oxford students are becoming more aware of these issues, and we have in our student body a number of activists who are trying to effect change in our attitudes to race.”
This is the context in which the Oxford Student Union invited A$AP Rocky to talk about a variety of things, including his politics and gentrification.
When asked why he doesn’t get political in his music, A$AP said he talks about what’s real to him and he isn’t going to rap about politics to “stand out”,
“Not everybody should be like Kendrick or talk about political things just to stand out. Also, not everybody should be like A$AP Mob and talk about drugs and girls and clothes. We don’t all have to talk about the same topics.”
A$AP was also questioned on his opinions on Black Lives Matter, to which he gave a rather convoluted answer, calling police shootings “inevitable” and black-on-black crime as the “main topic”,
“Why are we exploiting the beef between the urban community and the police force when 60 people got shot on a Friday and Saturday [on July holiday weekend in 2014] in Chicago in black-on-black crime? So one cop shoots a black person… that kind of shit is inevitable. Not to glorify it, but that’s nothing new. Let’s talk about the black-on-black crime. If you’re not gonna talk about the main topic, then don’t talk about it all.”
It’s not great when you’re recycling Fox News talking points about black-on-black crime, but Rocky went on to deliver an impassioned freestyle about the damage of gentrification on his upbringing,
Rocky seems to have some complex opinions about the state of race in America, which will surely not sit well with members of the left and the BLM movement.
You can watch the whole talk below as Rocky talks about his debut album, trying to go mainstream, and the impact of the late great A$AP Yams on his life.
When it really comes down to it, the 1995 classic film Friday may go down as the greatest stoner comedy of all time. Not that it was all about weed, but let’s just say it wouldn’t be the same if Craig didn’t hit that blunt.
It’s been over 20 years since the first movie dropped and a lot has changed. Ice Cube’s son is now a movie star, Bernie Mac is gone (RIP!) and no one still knows where the f*ck Chris Tucker is.
Still, even though there was already a couple of follow ups with Next Friday and Friday After Next, there have been rumblings over the past few years about ending the franchise with Last Friday. Mike Epps and John Witherspoon added to those rumors by sharing this video last week.
Obviously this is major news and there are so many questions we have about the new flick. First off would it make sense if Ice Cube’s son just played him at this point? And where the hell is Chris Tucker again?!
This could also mean that accomplished director F. Gary Gray who had recent successes such as Straight Outta Compton and Fast 8 could be making a return to the Friday franchise and helping close out the series.
If there’s one thing that’s for certain it’s that the fans are already way too hyped.
There’s a lot of speculation about how and what could happen next but the fact that this shit is going down is all the matters. Shout out Smokey and Craig.
In the last couple years, London has emerged as a hotbed of hip-hop, with artists like Stormzy and Skepta getting worldwide recognition and respect in the American hip-hop scene.
There were the token Drake features and Noisey documentaries, and Stormzy and Skepta have become legitimate stars, but the whole grime scene appears, at least from across the pond, to be pretty monolithic.
Of course, with any burgeoning music scene, the stars of the genre will drive the direction of the sound and the aesthetic, but grime has been pigeon-holed, at least in the States, by Skepta, Giggs, and Stormzy’s success.
Skepta and Giggs in particular make sense to an American ear; this familiarity has translated to worldwide success for these dudes, but grime is a much more diverse and multifaceted genre, than Skepta domination and Atlanta trap cosplay.
That’s where J Hus comes in.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTUTbijl4Fm/
The East End MC from Stratford, London has been active on the grime scene since 2015, with releases like “Lean and Bop” and “Dem Boy Paigon” showing a promising young MC having some fun over dancehall beats, but neither of these releases pointed to anything beyond making fire music for the club.
J Hus got the approval of grime godfather Stormzy, appearing on February 2017’s Gang Signs & Prayer‘s “Bad Boys” along with Ghetts.
But J Hus’ new album Common Sense, might be the most interesting U.K. hip-hop record in recent memory.
The kid from Stratford combines elements of grime, U.K. garage, dancehall, Afrobeat, hip-hop, and R&B seamlessly, all punctuated by piercing wise-cracks and boastful roadman rhymes.
J Hus shows his complete diversity as an artist throughout Common Sense, announcing himself as the new torch-bearer for a burgeoning genre trying to escape Skepta autonomy.
On “Did You See” J Hus is at his boastful best, rapping “Came looking like a ganja farmer/
Your daddy betta hide his daughter” over a springy, steel drum-driven beat, and a bouncing bass. It’s safe to say Stormzy is a fan.
The instrumental on “Did You See” could easily stand on its own in any dancehall or garage setting, shit just belongs in the club.
“Common Sense”, the eponymic second single of the album exhibits a pretty big sound, sounding very early 2010’s Maybach Music, for the typically minimalist genre. But J Hus isn’t the typical grime artist.
“Clartin” is a banger about drive-bys and ‘opps’ and could be held up to any Chicago drill or Atlanta trap, but it isn’t an attempt at copying that sound, rather a response to it. It’s London’s answer to drill and trap, not a replication of it.
After we emerge from the dark streets of London’s East End, J Hus takes us inside the crib on “Closed Doors”, a love, or perhaps more accurately a sex ballad, with some jazzy live horn instrumentation and a smooth as fuck drum kick.
The production on Common Sense makes it one of the most diverse hip-hop albums in recent memory, especially in the sometimes monolithic grime genre.
From the dramatic strings, reminiscent of early 2000s era G-Unit on “Goodies”, to the post-dubstep drums on “Plottin”, London-based producer Jae5, who produced the whole album, has created the canvas for J Hus to paint his lyrical art.
Listening to Common Sense, you get the feeling this is a record that could only be made in London at this particular moment in time.
J Hus, the son of a Gambian mother, brings in elements from across the world to make a truly global-sounding album. Common Sense is representative of the cultural tapestry of London, drawing from the litany of styles and subgenres that have popped up in the clubs and neighborhoods throughout London in the past twenty years.
But ultimately, the most crucial aspect of Common Sense‘s success the album’s basic authenticity.
There’s no token American rapper feature, no Skepta or Stormzy appearance, although both have endorsed J Hus. Common Sense makes no attempt to appeal to American audiences or craft a crossover hit to find a way onto Hot 97 or a tour with Drake.
J Hus has announced himself as a very serious force to be reckoned with, not only in the U.K. grime scene, but in the hip-hop genre as a whole.
Common Sense is a special record made in a very specific time and place. We’ll be banging this shit all summer.
While most people might know him for being that smooth dude on ‘Shark Tank’, Daymond John is more than just another successful businessman on TV.
The Queens-native is yet another example of the American dream; a young man who was deadass broke but hustled his ass off to be in the position he is today.
From chauffeuring his own 15-passenger vans in his section of Hollis, to selling t-shirts out the back of his van up and down the east coast, Daymond John did countless things not many kids would even try in 2017.
His big break came in the early 90s when he launched FUBU and the brand took off to become one of the most culturally relevant brands of a generation. By 1998, John built his company’s value to $350 million and today it’s a global brand valued at $6 billion, according to Forbes.
Daymond himself is worth an estimated $300 million. Not bad for a kid from Queens.
Today, the brand is as brolic as ever as he gets to invest in pretty much anything he wants, both on and off ‘Shark Tank’. His philosophies are studied today by many young entrepreneurs who can relate to his story and aspire to reach his level of flyness.
On the show you can see a calm, collected dude who knows what he’s doing and what he wants when it comes to investments. But it was his humble beginning that allowed Daymond John to see business the way he does.
Here are 8 Daymond John quotes that will help you in business and life.
Every successful person seems to consistently say the same thing about failure… because it’s true. You’re never going to make it on your first try and it’s your persistence to stay grounded and figure shit out that gets you to your goals.
Plans can change but people rarely do. If you’re the type to just drop everything once shit gets tough, then you’ll never get anything done in life. Daymond John took one hustle to fuel the next. In America that’s what it takes: never giving up.
He’s failed way more than he’s succeeded. It’s just that his successes have now far overshadowed his failures.
This is one of the most important pieces of advice DJ has ever spoken. So many times people believe that time is on their side or that they should wait certain things out to start what they know they should be doing.
But time is never on ya side, b. The only time you got is what you have right now in this moment. If you’re working towards your goals and being aggressive with what you want, then eventually something is going to happen. But if you’re just at the crib shwapping it all day, it’s quiet for you.
Problem solving, and more importantly strategizing, is the most important part of building a brand or business. What are your goals? What do you need to do to reach them? What obstacles are in the way?
If you don’t know the answer to any of these questions there have been many people who’ve come before you, like a Daymond John, who’ve paved the way and answer a lot of the unknown. If not, there’s always you and Google, FOH and figure shit out.
Losing money and making a fool of yourself is one of the reasons people are afraid to fail. But it’s when you have to tuck your tail between your legs, go back to the drawing board, and start from scratch where some of the greatest ideas begin.
Looking back on it today, FUBU might’ve never have become the $6 billion company if he didn’t have the determination and vision to keep shit going. If you’re going to fail, and you will, try to fail forward.
As corny as that “your net worth is your network” saying goes, it’s also low key true.
Who you’re able to surround and align yourself with dictates a lot with your overall direction and who you end up doing business with.
The best thing to do is to never burn bridges (unless that person was a true f*ckboy) but if you’re not able to see how you could eventually build with someone in the future, what’s the point of even keeping them there?
When it comes to building the brazy ideas you have, not everyone is going to understand the vision. Find the ones who do, but beyond that put in the extra hours that none of them are trying to do.
Understand your craft, competitors and goals just like Daymond John did with FUBU. Create something that will not only sustain you, but push you and change things around you. If that’s not what you’re working for then go drive a city bus.
No journey to success is walked alone. It takes a team, motivators and most importantly mentors. Daymond had help along the way and he now spends time giving back to the new generation, spreading his knowledge and kicking game to the next generation of hustlers.
But mentors go far beyond just business. They are people to help guide you through the confusing and murky parts of life and business to be able to overcome obstacles and hone in on what you’re really supposed to be focusing on.
You think Daymond John is done creating this wealth? Not even close. As an entrepreneur, that itch to keep building and expanding never goes away.
In fact, the further you get, the more your drive will continue grow and the more life you unlock and shit.
You’re definitely gonna keep failing but in the process you learn more about business and yourself. The more you actually try, the more you’re gonna get.
Hip-hop is pop culture. Let’s just face it and call it what it is. It’s grown to the point where every facet of the genre is becoming a point of interest to everyone. We literally cannot get enough, obsessed with the genre’s minutiae and the work behind the scenes of the most interesting hip-hop artists.
In the past, we knew of DJ’s and producers but they hadn’t reached the level of star power as the people behind the scenes like they are today.
Producers are coming out with solo projects, DJ’s are valued independently of the artists they work with, and even labels heads like Top Dawg’s Anthony Tiffith have their own personas. Whereas before I couldn’t tell you about anyone other than the person spitting the bars.
I loved Outkast, but until the Art of Organized Noize documentary on Netflix I didn’t understand or appreciate the genius behind their sound.
Similarly, the trap movement that started with T.I, Jeezy and Gucci didn’t really have us clamoring to know who made those beats. But now, Zaytoven, the organist who’s provided the melodies for the Trap God for over a decade, is now a part of a culture that has led him to unveil a debut album.
That’s the beauty of this era — we want to put everyone who’s contributing the culture in the spotlight.
In the past, your Metro Boomin’s, Dj Esco’s and Mike Will’s would not have the platform and public attention they do.
So how about the artists who have their hands in both pots? The dudes who spit bars and produce? Where’s their shine?
In the past, we’ve had the likes of J.Dilla, Pharrell, Swizz Beats, Ryan Leslie and even Diddy who’ve seen some success from being on both sides of the creative process. But in today’s era where accolades and kudos are being handed out for production credits, I think it’s time we take a look at the most amphibious artists in the game. These are my top five.
Chief Keef
Yes, you’re seeing correctly. This isn’t a typo. Chief Keef. His cache has been tainted due to his treatment of gun violence, obsessive drug use and his penchant for finding legal trouble, but you cannot talk about influencers without mentioning Sosa’s name.
You know this entire wave coming out of Chicago? The one led by Chance The Rapper, followed by Noname Gypsy, Mick Jenkins, Saba and more? It all started with Keef and his mega 2011 run. (I still think “Love Sosa” should have won a Grammy.)
Apart from his influence on the Chicago scene and his non-stop work ethic, the 21-year-old has also been producing his own work, even dating back to 2012.
Receiving training from arguably the best drill producer in the game and his good friend Young Chop, Keef has been releasing his production over YouTube and Instagram, and has even dropped a complete project of beats.
His latest effort Two Zero One Sevenhas Lex Luger, Young Chop and of course Keef all producing. You should check out his skills if you doubt him. See just how good of a teacher Young Chop is.
Here’s a taste of what the Chicago southsider sounds like when he’s on the beat machine above.
J. Cole
J.Cole’s has grown to become one of the most distinguishable artists of his generation. While you have to pay close attention to other’s musicality (Wale) and content (Big Sean), it’s clear that Cole’s journey has been one of self-discovery and straight up talent.
From letting Nas down while searching for that major industry single, to bringing in acts like Trey Songz, Jay-Z and Missy Eliott on his projects, Cole has changed his approach he takes to albums, ditching the preconceived notions of his style on each project. His swag now? Well, you can call him Mr. ‘Platinum With No Features’.
But perhaps more impressive than generating compelling lyrics (written entirely by himself) is Cole’s ability to also produce his own work. In fact, some of his biggest hits have been crafted by Cole himself.
Think “Work Out” (2011), “Crooked Smile” (2013) or “G.O.M.D” (2014).
Above he shows his creative process, breaking down how he came across the infectious sound of his classic “Power Trip”.
Big K.R.I.T.
With an ear for soul beats and a pen game that will go bar to bar with your favorite, one can only wonder why the Mississippi product doesn’t have a bigger name.
His discography is actually pretty flawless, too. All of his bodies of work have substance, diverse and compelling musical elements and a concentrated theme that many rappers dream to add to their bag of tricks.
Besides the gems he’s dropped on his own projects, K.R.I.T. has managed to also produce smooth joints such as DJ Khaled’s “They Ready” that had J.Cole and Kendrick Lamar and “Glass House” on Wiz’s classic Kush and OJ mixtape.
Travis Scott
I think this kid has up next when it comes to exceptional talent on both the producer and rapper tip.
Travis Scott, who started off as a producer, first made waves in the industry working on Kanye’s Yeezus , G.O.O.D Music’s compilation album Cruel Summer and even Jay- Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail.
His unique employment of auto-tune and his signature ad-libs, combined with his stage presence and mix of turn-up emotional ballads make Scott a wildly diverse and exciting artist.
Like his mentors Kid Cudi and Kanye, Travis Scott has an ability to combine the talents and skills of others to make everyone the product greater than the sum of its parts.
Kanye West
Make no fucking mistake about it. When we’re talking about the duality of both spitting lyrics and making beats, Kanye is the GOAT.
Of late, feelings towards the G.O.O.D. music star have soured a little. Between unthinkable prices for what looks like homeless streetwear, to taking photos with Donald Trump, it’s understandable why.
But please, hold your tongue when you try to slander this man.
From making beats in his apartment for ten summers to sampling Chaka Khan, Yeezy has rightfully earned the genius label. His relentless will for greatness equally drives him to the edge of innovation and insanity and when you hear the process behind Ye’s greatest hits, you may understand why.
Who else puts Bon Iver on a track with Chief Keef? Who else can go from using Reason and Logic (both complex producing programs), to an analog beat machine, to live instrumentation? What’s even more incomprehensible (for lack of a better term) is Kanye’s ability to bring diverse talents together.
We’re not only talking sampling, or making a beat from scratch. We’re talking about taking very subtle elements of large bodies of sound, extracting them and compiling them together.
Watch Cyhi The Prince (ex G.O.O.D music signee) try to put into words the magic of “All of the Lights” above. Cyhi straight up reveling in amazement.
If you look at “Ultralight Beam”, the opening track off his latest effort, The Life of Pablo,Kanye shows how he can seamlessly take talent from all over and put it together, seamlessly combining elements of gospel and hip-hop. NO ONE ELSE IS DOING THIS.
I love how the culture continues to grow. We can only hope to see a more composer-type artists like Kanye.
For as long as I can remember, Serie A, Italy’s premier soccer league, has been known as a bastion of defensive tactics and grind-it-out 1-0 wins.
Spain’s La Liga is known for its quick passing and flair players, England’s Premier League is the most intense league with non-stop end-to-end action with the most expensive players in the world. Germany is where the tacticians construct the most well-drilled teams to harry and press all over the field, all in hopes to maybe just maybe actually beat Bayern Munich.
Italy has long been defined by the Catenaccio, Italian for “The Chain”, a tactical system where every player is seemingly attached along a string to nullify the opposing team’s attacks.
While Catenaccio tactics in their original form are mostly a thing of the past, teams in Italy have found success by reverting to conservative and simple defensive setups.
The Italian national team, L’Azzuri, have used these tactics to great success in World Cups and European Championships, with four World Cups and one European Championship trophy in their cabinet.
So Serie A became synonymous with this defensive attitude, the reputation of the league being that the best teams teams would grab a goal on a set piece and then sit back for the rest of the game.
After the Calciopoli scandal during the 2005-2006 season, in which some of the most prominent teams in the league were found to be involved in a wide network of rigging and manipulating games through communications between team managers and league officials, Serie A was sent back to square one.
Juventus were stripped of their 2005-2006 title and sent down to Serie B, with other teams including Lazio, Fiorentina, and AC Milan also getting a variety of stern punishments.
To critics of Serie A, Calciopoli confirmed their worst suspicions of the league, that it was a hotbed for corruption, greed… and boring soccer.
This reputation may have been earned in the mid-2000s, but in the past couple years, with a new injection of managers and a new generation of young talent, Serie A has become one of the most exciting leagues in Europe.
Detractors point to the fact that absolute powerhouse Juventus (who used their punishment in the Calciopoli scandal to revamp and redesign their business and soccer structures) have won the league for five straight years, and most likely a sixth this season.
But most European leagues are ruled by the teams at the top. In Germany, Bayern Munich have won the Bundesliga 13 out of the last 15 years. Since the 2005-2006 season in Spain it’s been Real Madrid or Barcelona taking home the silverware, besides Atletico Madrid in 2013-2014.
Even in England’s Premier League, the supposed most competitive league in the world, only six different teams have won the title since the English top flight officially became the ‘Premier League’ in 1992, Leicester and Blackburn’s one trophy each make this seem much more competitive than it is.
This is all to say that the whole “Juventus wins every year, Serie A is boring” narrative is just straight up disingenuous. This isn’t a Seria A problem, its a European soccer problem.
Also if you think it’s only Juventus in Serie A, you’re just not paying attention.
Despite the legendary Milanese powerhouses AC Milan and Inter Milan falling off a cliff in recent years, teams like Roma and Napoli have taken their place at the summit of the Serie A table.
Mauricio Sarri’s Napoli squad are just straight up the most entertaining team to watch in Europe.
They play a fast-paced, free-flowing style of soccer, or as the French call it, champagne football. Passing out from the back, creating overloads on one side of the field, and then hitting the openings in the defense with high-paced precision.
Driven by genius Slovakian captain Marek Hamsik in the middle of the field, the budding Italian superstar Lorenzo Insigne on the wing, and sudden 30 goal scorer Dries Mertens, Napoli create whirlwind attacks that completely overwhelm opposing defenses.
Look how easily they open up the best defense in the world (Juventus) with their passing and movement.
Faouzi Ghoulam, Insigne, Jorginho, Dries Mertens, and Hamsik tool around with the Juve defense, pulling them out of their positions and then Hamsik is able to slip into space and finish an absolutely ridiculous move from Sarri’s team.
Look at how Napoli play out of the back, even with a 3-0 lead.
That’s just ridiculous. Instead of booting the ball clear and nullifying the threat of a hard-pressing Genoa side that’s trailing 3-0, Napoli pass around them in circles, as if they’re not even there, and then they’re off to launch another attack.
Here’s one last clip of Napoli because they’re so damn fun to watch. Watch how Insigne and Mertens explode towards goal from the halfway line after Senegalese center back Kalidou Koulibaly plays the ball through the lines… that’s just unfair.
AS Roma, who are currently in second place in Serie A, 1 point ahead of Napoli and 4 points off Juventus in first, just beat Juventus 3-1 this weekend.
Granted, Juventus are preparing for a massive Champions League final against Real Madrid, but Roma rather easily beating them is a sign that ‘The Old Lady’ as Juve as known, are far from invincible in Serie A.
Roma are led by former Manchester City castoff Edin Dzeko who leads the league with 27 goals and the Belgian Radja Nainggolan, the do-it-all center midfielder, who scores totally ridiculous goals and has a very dope name.
It bodes well for the health of Serie A that Roma and Napoli are right on Juve’s heels, despite the fact that Juventus bought Napoli and Roma’s best players last summer.
Gonzalo Higuain scored 36 goals for Napoli last year, equaling the 87-year-old record for goals in a season in Italy, prompting Juventus to buy him for around $100 million. To complete their business of draining their rivals’ best players, Juve then bought Miralem Pjanic, Roma’s center midfield maestro, for a cool $35 million.
Juventus is the cream of the crop in Italy, there’s no disputing that. Their financial might allows them to essentially control the flow of players in and out of Italy. Their spot in the Champions League Final shows that Juve is truly one of the top 5 teams in all of Europe, not just Italy.
Yet the Serie A title race (Roma 4 points off Juventus, and Napoli 5 points off), although all but over, is much closer than England, Germany, and Spain (beyond Real and Barca).
The fact that Napoli and Roma are keeping relative pace with Juve is a positive sign for the league.
New ownership deals at Inter and AC Milan promise to provide a huge spending spree from those clubs this summer, trying to reach the summit of Italian soccer once again. Young startup teams like Atalanta, Fiorentina, and Lazio are also showing promise heading into a new era of Italian soccer.
As for the Italian national team, after a disastrous 2010 World Cup where the defending champions failed to make it out of the group stages, there is a new crop of young players just entering their primes that will have L’Azzurri primed for a run in 2018.
With players like Andrea Belotti, Marco Verratti, Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi, Domenico Berardi, and Daniele Rugani all heading into their early and mid 20s, Italy has revamped and reloaded in a similar way to Germany’s infamous“Reboot” after the 2006 World Cup that has seen them win the 2014 World Cup.
In the meantime, watch Serie A, and when Italy is making a deep run in the 2018 World Cup, you won’t be surprised.
On May 17, 2015, Queens-born rapper Chinx, real name Lionel Pickens, was on his way home to his family when he was tragically gunned down in his hometown.
Pickens was 31 at the time of his death.
The NYPD believes the “Cocaine Riot” rapper had been targeted during the shooting which took place at Queens Boulevard and Main Street.
Chinx was sitting in his silver Porsche Panamera at a red light when a car pulled him behind him. The shooter walked right up to the car and fired a gun multiple times, killing Chinx.
Chinx, who was known for his lyrical dominance, colorful rhyme scheme, and authentic east coast presence, was also known for being a close protege to Bronx rapper French Montana.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUMk8-8FW5S/
Despite Chinx’s undeniable skills on the mic and a growing fanbase that was only getting bigger, there are still plenty of people out there who are unaware of how talented Chinx really was just before his life was cut short.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKZ1A3UBm6c/
In honor of the two-year anniversary of Chinx’s death, here are five of his most popular tracks that just might spark your curiosity as to what else his catalog has to offer.
Back in November, Dave Chappelle hosted ‘SNL’ just days after overly-tanned, extremely intellectually-limited fascist Donald Trump got elected.
It was a unique opportunity for Chappelle, the legendary comedian was just emerging from a pretty protracted period out of the spotlight.
The week of November 8th was a pretty dark time for most Americans. The new President-elect talked shit about Mexicans, called to ban Muslims from our country, openly and casually admitted to sexual assault, and even brought fuckin’ Rudy Giuliani out of his cave to rant about mandatory minimums or whatever.
It was up to Chappelle to calm the masses and he delivered one of the more memorable monologues in recent ‘SNL’ history, perhaps due to the context of the moment.
He came for the white people (conservatives and liberals alike),
“You know, I didn’t know that Donald Trump was going to win the election. I did suspect it. It seemed like Hillary was doing well in the polls and yet — I know the whites. You guys aren’t as full of surprises as you used to be…”
I can’t lie, I was buggin’ the fuck out on November 9th. Chappelle said he hadn’t seen that kind of emotion since that particularly famous trial back in the day,
“The whites were furious. I’ve never seen anything like it. I haven’t seen whites this mad since the O.J. verdict. White people screaming on both sides, ‘Aahhh!'”
Chappelle riffed on the slight schadenfreude of seeing white liberals lose their shit,
“I’m not saying I’m enjoying it — I’m just saying I’ve never seen this before. I watched a white riot in Portland, Ore., on television the other night. News said they did a million dollars’ worth of damage. Every black person was watching that like, ‘amateurs.'”
Chappelle literally predicted an actual news story while reimagining the post-election meeting between Obama and Trump. Chappelle spoke of Trump’s regret,
“Oh, God. Got to tell you, this job looks like it’s going to be a lot harder than I thought.”
But after having some fun with the crazy white people that elected this idiot and needling the liberals having a meltdown over our CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY, Chappelle had some poignant shit to say about Obama’s tenure in the White House and what that meant to Black America.
While talking about a BET sponsored party at the White House a couple weeks prior, Chappelle said he looked around at all the old white dudes with their paintings on the wall. He talked about how Abraham Lincoln had to personally go out and retrieve Frederick Douglass (the first Black man to be invited to the White House) and bring him into the White House because security wouldn’t let him in.
Chappelle expounded on the centuries of oppression that this place represented, but now a black president was having an entirely black event in the White House, “except for Bradley Cooper, for some reason” and Dave talked about what that meant to him and to our country,
“I thought about that, and I looked at that black room, and saw all those black faces, and Bradley [Cooper], and I saw how happy everybody was. These people who had been historically disenfranchised. It made me feel hopeful and it made me feel proud to be an American and it made me very happy about the prospects of our country.”
On that incredibly hopeful note, Chapelle went on to say he’d give ol’ Trumpy a chance.
“So, in that spirit, I’m wishing Donald Trump luck. And I’m going to give him a chance, and we, the historically disenfranchised, demand that he give us one too. Thank you very much.”
The week of November 8th seems so long ago now with the constant drama of the Trump administration. It’s basically just one constitutional crisis after another as we hope we don’t get dragged into some sort of nuclear war.
For his part, after seeing the absolute disaster of a presidency so far, Chappelle apologized for saying we should give Trump a chance at a charity event in New York City last night, according to MSNBC’s Willie Geist.
Dave Chappelle tonight in NY on his November SNL monologue: "I was the first guy on TV to say 'Give Trump a chance.' I f***ed up. Sorry."
When it comes to hustlers in the rap game, there are two types making waves on that entrepreneurial tip.
Obviously, first you’d have to the moguls at the top of the list. The guys like 50 Cent who went from drug dealing to selling platinum records. Now he’s executive producing on television and landing movie roles with a net worth of $150 million.
Not to mention the five richest guys in hip-hop who just made it to the Forbes Five.
Then there’s the younger independent artists who are kinda like the startups, finessing their way through the game and controlling their own brand. It takes a shitload of work but guys like Chance The Rapper and Curren$y have found the formula.
Then there’s artists like Nipsey Hussle.
He falls somewhere in between that independent rapper title and mogul status but if there’s one thing that’s for certain, sooner or later he’s headed to that Forbes list.
That’s because his mindset for business and the way he strategizes his marketing is already up there with some of the best. But how, you ask?
Nipsey has been in the game since he dropped his first mixtape Slauson Boy Vol. 1 in 2005.
He would go on to grind for the next five years collaborating with the likes of Drake, Snoop Dogg and Problem.
But he didn’t get to flex his business acumen until he walked away from his deal with Epic Records to go independent in 2010. This is when Nipsey began to shine.
He then launched his own record label All Money In. That’s when he released his mixtape The Marathon which also became a mantra.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTNA-4BBaJ7/
What made Nipsey different though was his strategic marketing scheme to sell records in an industry where no one buys shit anymore. So what did he do?
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He priced his 2013 mixtape Crenshaw for $100 each and reportedly sold 1,000 copies.
That means he made $100,000 in 24 hours for the project. This was the trailer he made leading up to the release.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74IxsEDRYZk
Even Jay Z bought 100 copies by himself totaling a $10,000 transaction.
With the success of this strategy, Nipsey keeps trying to find new and different ways to monetize his product and his brand. He did a similar thing for the albumVictory Lap through the Proud 2 Pay program, also offering it up for free with an option to buy. Through this genius marketing, and a rabid fanbase, people still copped Victory Lap for $100.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSXaoVkBOXD/
Nipsey ran this marketing plan back again for the mixtape Mailbox Money but capped the $100 copies to just 1,000 orders, making them more exclusive.
Nipsey Hussle understands supply and demand and the psychology of the consumer. People will talk about the fact that there’s a limited supply of only 1,000 his mixtapes at a cost of $100 and in turn people will cop.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEFVv5yJy7C/
He actually got the idea to price his mixtapes at this amount from author Jonah Berger who wrote about a restaurant that charged $100 for a Philly Cheesesteak in the book Contagious.
Contagious
Nipsey is able to release his music and brand himself like this in large part due to his success.
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Nipsey can give his music to guys like LeBron to preview who he knows will help promote his shit.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSou5tUBCJK/
Other stars like Isaiah Thomas rock Nipsey’s brand All Money In. The Crenshaw rapper develops meaningful and loyal relationships with stars and spreads his movement throughout popular venues, like the NBA.
Nipsey is one of the most respected artists in the game, not just for his music but for his bold and savvy business moves.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BM5ybJ_gn8E/
He’s currently working with his city to build more small businesses within the community.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BT7IOYajeBu/
And he even has his own weed strain, sold in California dispensaries.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTprg2jhapA/
He even collaborated with Fatburger when they opened their first franchise in Compton by giving employees special edition uniforms to rock.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BH-FHxhgvaU/
In an age where artists get fucked with 360 deals and royalty splits, independent artists like Nipsey are controlling their own future. As his label says it best, All Money In.
There’s a lot of things that can blow your high but if you live in New York City, then you truly know this better than anybody else.
It seems that getting dumb smacked is the only solution to a lot of the petty shit that goes on in the city but there are just some extra situations New Yorkers find themselves in that nobody else in the country has to deal with.
Let’s just say the city isn’t exactly optimized for stoners to and more times than not you’re gonna see (or smell) some shit that’ll sober you up real quick.
But sometimes when you’re just a little extra smiz, some things that are deadass unbearable. From the overcrowding literally everywhere, to unsafe smoking conditions, there are literally countless reasons why New York is the worst place to be smacked.
Being stuck on a packed ass train with a broken AC
The train is already so damn hot boy but when you hit the trifecta of being on a cart that’s shoulder to shoulder standing room, hot as shit and delayed as a motherfucker, not even being fresh off that loud pack could save you.
Add in terrible scents and wild crackheads tryna come up and you’ll wish you weren’t so damn high right now.
Making eye contact with the homeless dude
You can never really zone out when you’re in the city (keep ya head on a swivel), but making eye contact with the wrong person including homeless dudes who are ready to scrap if you don’t give them money is one of the worst things to happen when you’re high as shit.
These dudes are hustlers and know the game when it comes to panhandling. They’ll also give you the hands if they feel you’ve disrespected them.
Accidentally dapping up a guy trying to sell you his mixtape
You never know when they might strike but these dudes are looking to come up on tourists and people that are too damn blazed to make quick decisions.
More times than not, the CD is a blank and you sick. They’re gonna try to act like they’re your homies and sell you the dream but they’re all full of shit. They also probably sell weed too though.
Getting on a Citi Bike
Biking in the city is already very risky but doing it when you’re chopped is downright dangerous. Luckily when you’re high you’ll be more cautious but you might just increase your chances of getting into a fight with someone trying to rush past you.
Going to a Broadway play like Cats or some shit
This actually happened to me (against my will) and it was a straight up traumatic experience. First of all, watching a musical when you’re high is just one of the strangest things ever. The costumes, the lights, the crowded ass theater. FOH with this shit.
Then you start thinking about crazy shit like what if someone walked into this theater and tried to start poppin’ off. You start making the exit strategy in your head, how you’d save certain people and disarm the bad guy. God damn I’m smacked.
A musical like The Lion King on the other hand would be stupid lit.
Trying to smoke a blunt in Central Park
If you want to talk about hot boy situations, it doesn’t get any more risky than trying to light one up in Central Park. There’s literally tourists, cops and park rangers everywhere looking to shame anyone smoking weed.
In all reality, Central Park might be the greatest place to get blazed in the world but make no mistake about it, there is also a precinct there as well and that’s where your ass is gonna end up if you get caught boy!
Smelling Chinatown in the summer time
Chinatown is always risky no matter what time of the year it is.
But if for some reason you find yourself down there when you’re blazed in the summer, you might smell some things that you’ll never be able to forget.
It’s like a combination of a fish market, barf, hot piss and the NYC sewage system. The dumplings down there are fire though.
Going out in Murray Hill
You remember those little sardines from Spongebob that used to squad up in mass amounts and be mad annoying?
It’s just like that in Murray Hill, but with a bunch of kids who just moved to the city from Penn State and Cuse.
Going to Times Square at any time of the day
Literally the worst place in the world. Every New Yorker knows that.
Trying to smoke a blunt in Times Square is pretty much a death sentence and I’m pretty sure you’d get gunned down in the street by a cop or some shit.
Long story short there’s absolutely no reason anyone should go to Times Square ever.
Going to dinner at a bougie Upper East Side restaurant
There’s nothing worse than eating a romantic, close ass dinner with your boys after you both just faced a pack to the face.
There’s something about the spots in the UES that are just not stoner friendly.
Maybe it’s all the children, families and white people but all you have to do is go uptown 30 blocks and you can find a serious chopped cheese.
A European ass tourist asking you for directions
Bruh, what? It’s called Google Maps! This isn’t all bad though. If you’re blazed enough and have nothing better to do, it’s cool to give them completely wrong directions and have that piece of mind knowing you gave a tourist a real NYC experience.
Being in Penn Station lets out during a Rangers game
Being anywhere near 34th or 42nd street is a pain in the ass to begin with but when you’re a smacked boy, you truly will feel overwhelmed.
That many basic ass people in one area is almost too much for someone to deal with!
We’re talking about some of the corniest people you never knew existed, all making the place mad crowded and walking dumb slow. When you’re high, you will feel that claustrophobia kick in and you may feel the urge to just start swinging.
Going to a bodega that doesn’t sell Backwoods
The same goes for dutches. It’s a New York City staple to make sure there are the right rolling papers for the city’s inhabitants. There are no dispensaries out here, the least they can do is have the right roll up!
Not having backwoods is like not selling chopped cheese. A lot of bodegas actually don’t have them but they motherfucking should. It’s truly a slap in the face to not have either.
