The Beat Box - Day 14: Celebrating Hip Hop History 2013

Whassup Peeps?

Keeping on the daily posts about Hip Hop History Month, I wanted to spotlight a Hiphoppa that's highly underrated but well paid. A lot of people don't give Timbaland his due props. He's not only a super producer but he's also a excellent human beat box. He's even put beat boxin in many of his songs.

Here's Timbaland doing a set during the Jay-Z Magna Carta Holy Grail Tour where he starts off beat boxin and creates a music track using his skills. Enjoy!

 

If you're interested in learning more about The Gospel of Hip Hop, The Temple of Hip Hop, and Hip Hop's elements, check out the link below at Amazon.com:

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Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin

The Rap Beat Creator, Emcee, and Hip Hop Scholar

www.RapBeatCreator.com

Day 8 - Celebrating Hip Hop History Month 2013: Check Out My Gear

Whassup Peeps?

Using fashion to express one's self is nothing new. Fashion can be used to signify a person or a whole culture's ideology. According to The Gospel of Hip Hop, the element Street Fashion is the study and application of urban trends and styles. The Gospel also states: 

"Not only is fashion a very ancient for of communication, but our expressed consciousness was (and still is) also represented in the way in which we adorned, colored, and dressed ourselves."

Some examples of Street Fashion include LL Cool J's Kangol hats, Run-DMC's Adidas, Slick Rick's eye patch. Its not necessarily the actual clothing item itself that was important. It was how they expressed themselves while wearing them. Even something as common as a bandanna has been transformed by the Los Angeles street gangs such as the Crips and Bloods as a form of expression. 

In more recent years, urban designers such as FUBU, Karl Kani, RocaWear, and Phat Farm have captured the spirit of the Hip Hop Culture and created brands that are recognized world wide. 

Here are some pics below of the Hip Hop element Street Fashion: 

Rock Steady Crew - Photo courtesy of Stok La Blog

LL Cool J - Photo courtesy of Beastiemania.com

Run-DMC - Photo courtesy of TV Tropes

Cross Colors (As worn by TLC) - Photo courtesy of TheBoomBox.com

Sean Jean (As worn by P. Diddy and Son) - Photo courtesy of visionaryartistrymag.com

Wu Wear (As worn by Eminem) - Photo courtesy of vtghype.com

Ecko Unlimted - Photo courtesy of ioffer.com

Rocawear (As worn by Jay-Z) - Photo courtesy of bet.com

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If you're interested in learning more about The Gospel of Hip Hop, The Temple of Hip Hop, and Hip Hop's elements, check out the link below at Amazon.com:

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Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin
The Rap Beat Creator, Emcee, and Hip Hop Scholar

www.RapBeatCreator.com

Jay Z, Kanye, Madonna Join Stevie Wonder's Florida Boycott In Wake Of Zimmerman Verdict (REPORT, UPDATES)

Jay Z, Kanye, Madonna Join Stevie Wonder's Florida Boycott In Wake Of Zimmerman Verdict (REPORT, UPDATES)

Whassup Peeps?

In reference to the link above, I'm glad to see some of the most elite names in the entertainment industry standing up and continuing to use their influence to protest against these unjust laws. I said I would speak on Trayvon Martin situation in my blog. I have already voiced my opinion on Facebook shortly after the verdict. One of my friends asked me what my thoughts were and I will share that post with you here:

"TJ, funny you should ask because my thoughts at the time of the post were not just singular. They went from rage to sorrow to helplessness to "I can't believe this bullshit" then back to "Yes I can believe this is the same ol' bullshit." And it ain't just the State of Florida that has a problem...not just the United States either. Its the consciousness we have individually and collectively that is the problem. Who are we really? I mean we must be something special because we keep getting held down from attempting to do our best. I was really angry yesterday & today I'm still upset but all that heat Im feeling in my my mind,body, & soul will be channeled into something positive like a song or a vote or an awareness campaign or something. We can't fight with the oppressive system using guns because that's a war we can't win. We can however use our Spiritual gifts to overcome this madness. Go do something nice for someone else today even if all you can do is pray. Some how some way some good will come out of this." 

We as a nation should not let this event die down and get swept under the rug. Nor should we allow ourselves to get distracted by the media by things like the birth of the Royal baby. No offense to the Royal Family but that ain't got nothin' to do with what's really going on right now in America who by the way is still an offspring of the United Kingdom but that's another post.

There have been many protest since the Zimmerman verdict and I hope they continue because these "incidents" continue to happen. Right now some injustice is being done to someone somewhere. What are we, the people, going to do about it?

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist

Beyonce, Jay Z & Thousands Gather For "Justice For Trayvon" 100 City Rally (PHOTOS) | Global Grind

Whassup Peeps?

I haven't said much on this blog about the Trayvon Martin (R.I.P.) situation. I will have some things to say about it tomorrow when I have more time to post. For now check out the support that is being offered by Beyonce and Jay Z as Rev. Al Sharpton's 100 City Protest. Click on the link below the check out the pics:

Beyonce, Jay Z & Thousands Gather For "Justice For Trayvon" 100 City Rally (PHOTOS) | Global Grind

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist

This Is Ballin!: Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports Is Reportedly Close To Signing Kevin Durant

Whassup Peeps?

This is Ballin'! As if Jay-Z wasn't making enough power moves. Check out this latest article on his company Roc Nation Sports looking to signing Kevin Durant.

Click on the link below to read the article:

Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports Is Reportedly Close To Signing Kevin Durant - XXL

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist

The-Dream Teams with Timbaland for New Jay-Z Album

Whassup Peeps?

If you haven't heard Jay-Z has been working on a new album. It may be old news to some but its brand new to me. He's got some A-List producers working on it too like Swiss Beatz, Timbaland, and The Dream.

Click on the link below for the original article:

Rap-Up.com || The-Dream Teams with Timbaland for New Jay-Z Album


Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist

Is The Hiphop Culture and Rap Music Still a Vehicle To Get Rich?

Whassup Peeps?

I was visiting one of my favorite websites, www.CelebrityNetWorth.com, and they've recently compiled a list of "The Richest Rappers In The World 2013". I don't know about you but this is inspiring for people who are serious about being in the music business and business in general.

In the grand scheme of things, the people listed are not the only ones getting paid. When an individual starts getting paid in these large amounts, rest assured there are plenty of other people making money off of them or with them too. So not only are they generating wealth for themselves, they are generating wealth for other people as well. 

Here is the list: 

The Richest Rappers In The World 2013:

• 1. Diddy – Net Worth: $580 million (up $80 million)
• 2. Jay-Z – Net Worth: $500 million (up $25 million)
• 3. Dr. Dre – Net Worth: $360 million (up $100 million)
• 4. Master P – Net Worth: $350 million (no change)
• 5. 50 Cent – Net Worth: $260 million (up $10 million)
• 6. Birdman – Net Worth: $150 million (up $35 million)
• 7. Eminem – Net Worth: $140 million (up $20 million)
• 8. Snoop Dogg – Net Worth: $130 million (up $10 million)
• 9. Ice Cube – Net Worth: $120 million (up $20 million)
• 10. Lil Wayne – Net Worth: $110 million (up $15 million)
• 11. Kanye West – Net Worth: $100 million (up $10 million)
• 12. LL Cool J – Net Worth: $85 million (up $5 million)
• 13. Timbaland – Net Worth: $80 million (up $5 million)
• 14. Pharrell Williams – Net Worth: $80 million (up $2.5 million)
• 15. Akon – Net Worth: $80 million (up $2.5 million)
• 16. Beastie Boys - $75 million each (no change)
• 17. Ludacris – Net Worth: $75 million (up $5 million)
• 18. Busta Rhymes – Net Worth: $65 million (up $5 million)
• 19. Nelly – Net Worth: $60 million (no change)
• 20. T.I. – Net Worth: $40 million (up $10 million)
• 21. Big Boi – Net Worth: $40 million (no change)
• 22. T-Pain – Net Worth: $35 million (up $5 million)
• 23. Ice-T – Net Worth: $35 million (up $5 million)
• 24. Drake – Net Worth: $30 million (up $5 million)
• 25. Rick Ross – Net Worth: $28 million (up $3 million)
• 26. Nicki Minaj – Net Worth $25 million (up $5 million)

Click on the link below to read the full article:

The Richest Rappers In The World 2013 | Celebrity Net Worth


Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist

New Music By Jay-Z! "Open Letter" to Critics

Whassup Peeps?

I love the way Jay-Z is killin' all the haters with this new song 'Open Letter'. If you haven't heard it, its attached in the link below. Cuba is a beautiful place and why shouldn't we be allowed to go there based on some old rules that were set up during JFK's time? Let that man live! This man and his wife just figured out a way to get over there to experience what life was like in that country. I'm sure anybody could do that if that's what they wanted to do so why all the hatred? Jay and Beyonce, keep killin' 'em. 

Click on the link below to hear to song:

Jay-Z, 'Open Letter': Havana Trip & Sports Management Rumors Addressed In Blistering New Song (AUDIO)

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist