felicia pride – hip hop appreciation week: may 18-25

Good people…yeah, I know, May’s been a hectic month!!! But see what happens you get summer vacation from the doctoral program??? All of a sudden, you can re-enter the world again!

I wanted to check in with y’all real quick to share a piece with you…so Felicia Pride put me on to Hip-Hop Appreciation Week and this writing situation that’s jumpin’ off in the literary world…here was the assignment – “What’s one hip-hop song that holds meaning for you? Could be old-school, abstract, or new-school. Maybe it motivated you, empowered you, pushed in the right direction, made you think, or simply continues to make you smile when you hear it.” So I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out how to pick that ONE song…and then I realized I couldn’t pick one…so I decided to take a trip down my writer’s memory lane and try to put it all together…so my motto for the day is “three cheers for the pen game!!!”

I wrote this piece and felt like it really did the trick for me…and the beauty of it is that it engages a few songs within my favorite era, but also places them in a certain context. When I was in grad school getting my masters, I realized that the world of academia presents this thing I like to call “the ever-changing rules”…basically, the rules continue to switch on a by-the-minute basis…the problem is, no one tells you the new rules until after you’ve followed the given guidelines from the old rules of 60 seconds ago…and the process becomes harder because you are constantly trying to stay in the game and in the loop, but the rules keep switching every time you think you’ve gotten it right…so I tried to permanently document and fix the rules for a minute – and what better way to do that than with hip-hop…of course, Big Poppa B.I.G. lead the charge for me (yeah, so what, I’m from Queens, but Brooklyn came through on the concept…hate me later!!!), and I was able to move through this piece really thinking about how some rules change while others just stay the same…

So in honor of Hip-Hop Appreciation Week, I’ma let y’all hold this down…I call it “commands in trifecta”…happy reading…and make sure you check out Felicia’s website www.feliciapride.com, as well as the blog she posted on this topic at: http://feliciapride.squarespace.com/blog/

I know she’s worked real hard to get the word out, so I’m sure you’ll be hearing from the pens of all those writers and hip-hop-heads you know and love…as well, make something happen at the keyboard yourself…and if not, just appreciate hip-hop – we get the shortest month for black history, so of course, only a week for hip-hop…so live these next few days up to the fullest…

Now back to the grind, I got that library event coming…I’m expecting to see y’all there too…don’t front on the kid!!! One love…

 

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“I been in this game for years/ It made me an animal/ There’s rules to this shit/
I wrote me a manual/ A step-by-step booklet for you to git/ yo’ game on track/
not yo’ wig pushed back”

Notorious B.I.G., “Ten Crack Commandments”, Life After Death, copyright 1997, Bad Boy Records.

 

 

…commands in trifecta…

My only but main concern is when I find my commandments/ rules and regulations/ codes of life going into literary overdrive causing conflict. What is the solution for such ever-present and ever-changing rules? And what does it mean to have to choose between one of life’s three overarching and guiding dichotomies at any given time. How do you flip a coin between a higher good versus evil, temporal right versus wrong, and fundamental life versus death?

#1-“I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”(The Holy Bible in the King James Version, Exodus chapter 20, verses 2-3)

x2-“Master of Education candidates must take a minimum of eight half-courses, at least four of which must be under the Faculty of Education. Students admitted into the specialized programs must complete the program requirements described in the HGSE Catalogue in the section on Specialized Masters Programs and Teacher Education Programs”(Harvard Graduate School of Education 1998-1999 Student Handbook, p. 9)

x3-“C.ash R.ules E.verthing A.round M.e/ C.R.E.A.M. get the money/ dollar dollar bill y’all”(Wu-Tang Clan, “C.R.E.A.M.”, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, copyright 1993, Loud Records.)

#2-“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” (The Holy Bible in the King James Version, Exodus chapter 20, verses 4-6)

x2-“Transfer credit from other institutions is not accepted.” (Harvard Graduate School of Education 1998-1999 Student Handbook, p. 9)

x3-“These friendly skies ain’t for you/ They for me and mine/ This be the year of the grimy nigguh, ragtime/ Keep these nigguhs on the run/ Peep my clan emblem/ Iron Lung ain’t got to tell you where it’s comin’ from/ Catch us swimmin’ with these sharks now, you rap villains/ We feel the same way you feelin’/ Let it be known/ What the bloodclot you nigguhs dealin’/ You crash dummies/ C.ash R.ules/ Still don’t nothing move but the money.”(Wu-Tang Clan, “Cash Still Rules/ Scary Hours (still don’t nothing move but the money)”, Wu-Tang Forever, copyright 1997, Loud Records.)

#3-“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (The Holy Bible in the King James Version, Exodus chapter 20, verse 7)

x2-“A student who enrolls at the College thereby agrees to respect and acknowledge the research and ideas of others in his or her work and to abide by those regulations governing work stipulated by the instructor. Any student who breaks these regulations, misrepresents his or her own work, or collaborates in the misrepresentation of another’s work has committed a serious violation of this agreement.”(Williams College Bulletin, 1996-1997, p. 24)

x3-“In the Underworld we take care of beef ourself/ And another thing, yo, we police ourself/ Either you follow them codes or don’t sell cocaine/ This life will swallow you whole, so git out the game/ Go to church every Sunday/ And pray hard/ And drug dealer/ Don’t quit your day job”(Jay-Z featuring Ja Rule, “Gangster Shit”, DJ Clue: The Professional: Volume 1, copyright 1998, Def Jam Records.)

#4-“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (The Holy Bible in the King James Version, Exodus chapter 20, verses 8-12)

x2-“October 12, Monday. Columbus Day holiday. No classes; offices closed.
November 11, Wednesday. Veterans Day holiday. No classes; offices closed.
November 26-29, Thursday-Sunday. Thanksgiving recess. No classes; offices closed.
December 18-January 3, Friday-Sunday. Winter recess. No classes. Offices closed December 24-25 and January 1.
January 18, Monday. Martin Luther King Day holiday. No classes; offices closed.
February 15, Monday. Presidents’ Day holiday. No classes; offices closed.
March 27-April 4, Saturday-Sunday. Spring recess. No classes.
May 31, Monday. Memorial Day holiday. Offices closed.” (Harvard Graduate School of Education 1998-1999 Student Handbook, pp. 76-79)

x3-“I know you thinking now, when all the ballin’ stop?/ Nigguh never home, gotta call me on the yacht/ Ten years from now we’ll still be on top/ Yo, I thought I told you that we won’t stop!/ Now what’cha gonna do” (Notorious B.I.G. featuring Mase and Puff Daddy, “Mo Money, Mo Problems”, Life After Death, copyright 1997, Bad Boy Records.)

#5-“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (The Holy Bible in the King James Version, Exodus chapter 20, verse 12)

x2-“October 18-20, Friday through Sunday. First Year Family Weekend
April 18-20, Friday through Sunday. Spring Family Weekend.” (Williams College Bulletin 1996-1997, p. 433)

x3-“And even as a crack fiend, mama/ You always was a black queen, mama/…there’s no way I can pay ya’ back/ But the plan is to show you that I understand/ You are appreciated/ Lady, don’t you know we love you/ Sweet lady/ Place no one above you/ You are appreciated.”(2Pac, “Dear Mama/You are Appreciated”, 2Pac: Greatest Hits, copyright 1998, Death Row Records.)

#6-“Thou shalt not kill.” (The Holy Bible in the King James Version, Exodus chapter 20, verse 13)

x2-“Cambridge averaged 4.5 murders a year in the 1980s and has averaged 2.5 in the 1990s. Nationally, cities of our size average 10 murders a year.”(City of Cambridge, Annual Crime Report 1998-9)

x3-“Fuck ya life!/ Hop on my ’98 dirtbike/ You try to stop mine from growin’/ I make ya blood stop flowin’/ Take affirmative action/ To any ass if he askin’/ Now here come the Mac-10”(Mobb Deep, “Quiet Storm”, Murda Muzik, copyright 1999, Loud Records.)

#7-“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (The Holy Bible in the King James Version, Exodus chapter 20, verse 14)

x2-“Accordingly, where one person’s present role involves grading or otherwise evaluating the work of another, or puts the person in a position to affect the other’s present performance or professional future, sexual overtures and sexual relationships, even if consensual, are inappropriate and may be grounds for disciplinary action under this policy statement.” (Harvard Graduate School of Education 1998-1999 Student Handbook, p. 33)

x3-“And DON’T/ Take the pussy if she fightin’/ ‘cause you saw what happened to Tupac and Mike Tyson/ Especially if you large, some hoes is trife/ Hit you on a rape charge have you servin’ ya life/ Yo, DO/ Get a yes confirmation before penetration, you’ll wind up in a Police station.”(Nas, “Dr. Knockboots”, I Am…The Autobiography, copyright 1999, Columbia Records.)

#8-“Thou shalt not steal.” (The Holy Bible in the King James Version, Exodus chapter 20, verse 15)

x2-“…a student must be careful to distinguish between ideas that are his or her own and those that have been derived from other sources…a student who submits work either not his/her own or without clear attribution to the original source, for whatever reason, ordinarily will be dismissed from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.” (Harvard Graduate School of Education 1998-1999 Student Handbook, p. 28)

x3-“I gotta new motto this year, don’t fuck wit my ones/ Knock on ya door/ 3 in the mornin’/ It’s just us and the guns!!!” (Jay-Z, “Jigga My Nigga”, Ryde or Die, Volume 1, copyright 1999, Ruff Ryder/ Interscope Records.)

#9-“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” (The Holy Bible in the King James Version, Exodus chapter 20, verse 16)

x2-“HGSE seeks to maintain an atmosphere free of violence and personal abuse. HGSE is also committed to principles of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. Harvard University prohibits discrimination based on such characteristics as race, ethnic group, religious belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability status and age. Harassment can create an environment in which access to education and employment is diminished. HGSE is also committed to principles of free inquiry and expression. All members of the HGSE community have the right to hold and vigorously defend and promote their opinions. Respect for this right requires that community members tolerate even expression of opinions they find repugnant.”(Harvard Graduate School of Education 1998-1999 Student Handbook, p. 31)

x3-“Shit that he said, shit that he spread/ lead to this fuckin’ four-fifth to his head/ Shit that he spread, shit that he said/ leakin’ lies on the streets gon’ leave yo’ ass dead!” (Violator featuring Rapper Noyd, “S*** That He Said”, Violator: The Album, copyright 1999, Def Jam Records.)

#10-“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” (The Holy Bible in the King James Version, Exodus chapter 20, verse 17)

x2-“Financing the high cost of a graduate education is a serious challenge. Despite its limited resources, the HGSE Financial Aid Office is committed to working with all admitted students to assist in financing their education…HGSE grant funds are awarded primarily on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Doctoral students are eligible for HGSE need-based grant assistance for years one through three of doctoral study; grant amounts range up to a maximum of full tuition cost ($20,430 in 1998-99). A limited amount of grant assistance is available for master’s and C.A.S. students; grants range up to a maximum of $2,500. Students with very high financial need may be awarded an Opportunity Grant of an additional $2,500.” (Harvard Graduate School of Education 1998-1999 Catalogue, pp. 62-63)

x3-“Don’t hate me!/ Hate the money I see/ Clothes that I buy/ Ice that I
wear/ Clothes that I dry/ Close your eyes:/ Picture me rollin’,/ Sixes,
money foldin,/ Bitches,/ Honeys that swollen/ the riches/ Nas git in
ya”(Nas feat. Puff Daddy, “Hate Me Now”, I Am…The Autobiography,
copyright 1999, Columbia Records.)