Sunday Inspiration

I pondered on the state of Hip-Hop in an Obama Era, post 9/11 , which was the last time Hip-Hop promised “Change” in action & movement!  Post 9/11, everyone was revved up for Change & Consciousness, but once the spotlight dimmed from the cause- entertainment, creativity & music set aside righteousness toward more shock & awe with little to no consciousness! I wanted to be hopeful in the change to come, but I had been disappointed before, so now I have to be more selective on who or what I put hope in. I was weary about BET International taking their programming to Africa because of the heavy rotation of the Hip-Hop videos that was not the “Change” promised post 9-11.  I was afraid of BET entering Africa & influencing the youth with an emphasis on a hip-hop that fails to inspire & excite consciousness on a continent that truly can only survive by the inspiration & excitement of consciousness.

 I found myself drawn into the programming on BET one Sunday, when the Coco Brother  appeared on my screen. Yes , he’s every bit the fine, coco poised Obama-like man, that the name given to a young preacher appearing on a Sunday morning show called “Lift Every Voice” in  the Era of Obama would allude to. If this was a planned marketing placement, then kudos because it worked!  I got passed the beautiful gift-wrap packaging & pressed play on what was in the package; yeah I turned the volume on! The sounds I heard made me recognize that he was “the real deal” in his chosen cause. He was a true believer who was not afraid to put in the work to attain his goal of spreading the “word”.

 I thought the same as I briefly flipped the channel during a commercial break  & landed on THS (True Hollywood Story) of Zac Efron. Someone in the story about him referred to him as “the real deal” because he had truly worked toward the superstardom that he is experiencing now.  Even with his “American Dream” ideal type of upbringing, he didn’t just get lucky in his achievements–he put in the work toward his goals & dreams & is now reaping the full rewards & benefits. The Obama era celebrates this & sets the challenge for all to pursue, give & receive love that inspires & excites, whether it’s in its simplicity, in its grandeur, or in a perfect balance of both!

I turned back to BET & saw LL Cool J being interviewed by the Coco Brother. I shook my head in agreement & smiled as I watched & listened to the interview, knowing that it all made sense. I love the moves being made by LL Cool J. lately –Farmer’s Blvd. Represent! He has been truly giving back to the community in many ways & now on a biz level in fashion with an exclusive deal with Sears, a corporation that offers affordable quality clothing that cost just as much to make as his counterparts who charge a lot more, targeting many of those with very little! I praised BET for being the vessel used for LL Cool J to give a lifetime achievement award to Russell Simmons in the Era of Obama. I enjoyed Russell’s speech & recognition of hip-hop’s merits just as much as we condemn it for its faults. 

As my love to hate & hate to love relationship goes with TV, it brought me love = inspire & excite on that particular Sunday. I became completely hopeful in Hip-Hop & BET entering Africa, as I watched & listened to BET’s Lift Every Voice , the Coco Brother , 106 & Gospel &  Tye Tribbett. I recognized that they also represented hip-hop. Like Wanlov the Kubolor says in the documentary Black Star Rising, “Right now hip-hop is the same word as music”! I was energized, inspired & excited on a Sunday morning, jamming to Mary, Mary’s  “Get Up”, with its head nodding, body thumping dance groove & Tye Tribett’s  “Good in The Hood”, with a 50 come check me type of  beat! This was all good music in the movement of Hip-Hop & its many global fusions in sounds & consciousness!

I thought to myself, if only Hip-Hop would really recognize its global influence & see that affluence & power are measured beyond currency, the movement would be limitless!  So I maintain hope & look forward to what’s next!

Tye Tribbett:Good in the hood video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Px_a18429g

Mary Mary: Get Up video: