our generation has no voice.

[Cold Truth]

we have no cause. is bush the best we got? dont we have anything better then a bunch of tired cliches to motivate us? is the constant lamenting of the obviously sordid state of hip hop both as music and culture the best we can rail against?

he fight for nothing in our music. we have poverty and destruction in our own backyards, and the best we blame ur local, state, and national governments all the while neglecting the power we each hold within the various gifts we have been given. we think we can make changes by voting... we foolishly believe that our power lies in ballots bearing the name sof people who would forget our own the second the last syllable was spoken. we think change takes place in government buildings and on sidewalk filled with people marching and chanting... holding up signs and wearing tee shirts decrying our causes.

what good does your music, your education, or your life experience do the world you live in? are people around yuo better off for your presence? who cares if we go platinum! does it really matter ho many cats dig your song, ho many spins it gets, or how many ladies jck now that you've arrived? what kind of PERSN are yu? des yur art REALLY reflect yur life? hen was the last time yu fed a hungry person? when was the last time yu sacrificed money out of your own pocket so that that kid up the street can have a nice pair of shoes? who benefits from your existance?

iv ebeen REAL depressed the last month. i had a "great" job that was supposed to help me do some big things, and in the end i got screwed. suffice it t say that a the cliched traw that broke an already eary back, and the last month has been more f the same emotional reckage that permeated the last year......well.. my entire life really...and its taken me aaaaaaay longer then usual to snap out of it

and you know what? its alot of things i need to make sure im doing right outside of this music. utside of making money and finding a good job. im talking little sthings that go a long ay in turning a decent human being int a veritable saint. i'm talking abut being cncious of how the things i d affect the lives of others. isnt that the general ideal so many of us romanticize abuot in our music? ho many of us actually do that? ho many of us use our positions in life as a mean to help someone else up the ladder? how many f us are concius and there to support friends ho may be depressed, ho many of us show cnsistant kindness to total strangers?

it took everal thing to ake me up and get me back on the right trail.

1. the suicide of 3rd i, a girl from okayplayer. i realized that i asnt too far off frm here she was. i as certainly dead inside.
2. the 2 pms i gt from a cat that i dont kno telling me he was praying for me
3. the face of a stripper. she looked exactly like my recently deceased "second mom". it reminded me of how this women lived her life for the betterment of thse around her right up to the bitter end. stopped me dead in my tracks.
4. a close friend and former/potentially once again love interest who is going through a similarly emtional time and then gets into a bad car accident

man, life is too short to be deprsed. its to fleeting to STAY that way, at any rate. yuo have to fight back. life-REAL life-is much to precious t lose sight of within something as powerful as the music so many of us profess to love and create.

i dont care what realm of your life its in, work, play, hobby, whatever... remember that yur life her aint worth a damn unless its there hlp heal the world around you. every last one of us has the power to make a real difference, be it a talk with someone who needs an ear, be it buying somebody a hot meal, coping some school supplies for thse kids whose family either cant or wont d it, and generally just being an unselfish person. if you are an artist, if yu are in school, whatever yur long term life and career goals may be, remember that these are the things that are most important in the long run.

 

[RigorMortis]

our generation has to many peeps supporting sellouts, sellouts in music, sellouts in your social area, political sellouts.
everybody is on to the bandwagon of short term succes, but what is succes if it is an empty shell supported by empty shells... nothing but most dont see it.

 

[Relic]

I have posted 3 times in this thread and it wont stick..

K again....Life moves in cycles, as surely as some days seem to suck you are guaranteed a day that is opposite.I have read the articles and archives on you cold and you have been through alot...
I mean Ive been thru alot been you have ben thru aLOT!
Anyway I fgure that you must have been put here to do something great no matter how small because no one goes through shit for nothing.When Im in the thick of it I know that I am supposed to be learning somthing and thats why I'll keep bangin my head against the wall until I see that there is a door to go through (so to speak).
As far as our gen not havin a voice, thats true, the boomers(parents) never listened anyway so even when we speak it does fall on def ears.
Musically I dont work with an artist unles they are saying somthing positive, prolly wont get heard given the current state of hiphop but still...
The music isnt dead its just underground/internet.
True we as people ought to do somthing positive in our personal, I work with doestic violence court cases so I see alot of bad shit all the time.27,000 + worth of bad shit in fact....
Hang tough man you are gonna be blessed Cold! Learn your lessons make a difference and move forward!!

It sounded better the first time I wrote all this but thats the jist!

 

[5th Sequence]

Cold Truth, that shit is right on point. i haven't read anything this real since i can remember. I totally agree with everything you touched in that. i feel like we got pretty similar mentalities its nice to hear it come from someone else thats respectable as well.

I gotta say though.. i wanna help people up the ladder but I gotta get a solid grip on my own ladder before i can pull others up with me. thats where i feel i'm at... but i'm working hard to make that change so i can make a difference in other peoples lives.

Good post man, you got me thinkin now.

 

[A B]

Cold Truth, that shit is right on point. i haven't read anything this real since i can remember. I totally agree with everything you touched in that. i feel like we got pretty similar mentalities its nice to hear it come from someone else thats respectable as well.

I gotta say though.. i wanna help people up the ladder but I gotta get a solid grip on my own ladder before i can pull others up with me. thats where i feel i'm at... but i'm working hard to make that change so i can make a difference in other peoples lives.

Good post man, you got me thinkin now.

But thats exactly what most people say anyway and nothing gets done because of that mentality. I dont mean that to sound as negative as it probably does but there are very few people that will ever truly reach the comfort position, that they seem to want to achieve before helping.

Giving from what you need, will appreciated far more than giving from what you dont need. I mean its a ladder, you're never going to get a solid grip because your always going to be trying to climb higher, and eventually you'll get so high that you wont be able to reach those below, so when are you going to ever be able to help the ones you truly want to??

Cold, i thank you for your post cos its really made me think about some things in my own life. On the other hand i have to say that after a certain point emotions become choices. You have the power within you to change your emotions.

Depression like all other negative emotions can be very dangerous, so i just pray that you can find the inspiration to make a different choice.

 

[5th Sequence]

AB, I see your point my man and it's definitely valid. But I stand by exactly what I said. If it comes down to me eating or the next man... i'm looking out for self point blank. And i'm not exactly eating phat either, so i'm still just making sure I have enough and taking things from there.

I got a big heart though, and when I am in a position (not at the very top of the ladder where I can't reach people) then I am going to be pulling more people up. For now, I'm pulling up who I can by whatever means I can afford to. But i'm not about to fall or lose my grip for the sake of nobody.

 

[Qwerty]

AB, I see your point my man and it's definitely valid. But I stand by exactly what I said. If it comes down to me eating or the next man... i'm looking out for self point blank. And i'm not exactly eating phat either, so i'm still just making sure I have enough and taking things from there.

I got a big heart though, and when I am in a position (not at the very top of the ladder where I can't reach people) then I am going to be pulling more people up. For now, I'm pulling up who I can by whatever means I can afford to. But i'm not about to fall or lose my grip for the sake of nobody.

WOW

That's exactly how I think. And I'm glad to see someone think the same, cuz people look at me like I'm a selfish mutherfucka.

Two of my female friends are going to Africa to live with the poor people for 2 weeks and try to help them and also get "some spiritual growth". I told them, that I would never go there to help right NOW, becuz i feel i gotta help myself than help my family and my close people. Then go see other places in the world. Once I do succeed at making butter off the only thing I feel I was put here to do : music . And once my family and friends are relatively happy. Then I'll try to help the world.

Look at Jay-z. All his life he was rapping mostly about hustling/cash/hoes, built his empire and now look at him : doing conference on World Water Crisis.

This is exactly what i'm talking about, that's the model I want to follow :

Since I know what I'm up against
We as rappers must decide what's most impor-tant
And I can't help the poor if I'm one of them
So I got rich and gave back, to me that's the win/win - Jay-z from "Moment of Clarity"

 

[Benny BuKu]

It's a cold world we live in....and to make a long story short...we should do whateva we feel is necessary to give the future generations the best chance at hapiness...and even more importantly, the best chances of survival. Because at the rate we're going...they're won't be many future generations.

and FUCK BUSH........sorry Fade...had to do it.

BB

 

[5th Sequence]

and FUCK BUSH........sorry Fade...had to do it.

sorry had 2 quote that.

An good looking Qwerty.

 

[trez260]

that's a lengthy read Cold. i got to scramble right now, but i want to read what you posted and offer a response. i'll drop my response tomorrow. Peace.

 

[trez260]

Aiight man. i broke down your post and commented on each part.

we have no cause. is bush the best we got? dont we have anything better then a bunch of tired cliches to motivate us? is the constant lamenting of the obviously sordid state of hip hop both as music and culture the best we can rail against?

we can't be fully dependent on the leaders of the country for our immediate needs. i beleive that it is up to us ourselves to take care of ourselves, individually, as a community.

he fight for nothing in our music. we have poverty and destruction in our own backyards, and the best we blame ur local, state, and national governments all the while neglecting the power we each hold within the various gifts we have been given. we think we can make changes by voting... we foolishly believe that our power lies in ballots bearing the name sof people who would forget our own the second the last syllable was spoken. we think change takes place in government buildings and on sidewalk filled with people marching and chanting... holding up signs and wearing tee shirts decrying our causes.

no doubt. right big business is pimpin the rap game right now. while cats is on tv talkin about the jewelry,cars (which are most likely rented, or they blew part of their advance on) the execs are sittin on their own islands laughing all the way. there was a time where most artist made sure that amidst their "the best emcee boasting" "hood stories""something to dance to" records, they found a very clever way to lace their music with information that people could take and possibly change their lives, educate them of things they where never taught or never learned. some just said, or made reference to some things so dope it just made you want to know more about it. something you don't hear anymore unless you dig hard for it.

what good does your music, your education, or your life experience do the world you live in? are people around yuo better off for your presence? who cares if we go platinum! does it really matter ho many cats dig your song, ho many spins it gets, or how many ladies jck now that you've arrived? what kind of PERSN are yu? des yur art REALLY reflect yur life? hen was the last time yu fed a hungry person? when was the last time yu sacrificed money out of your own pocket so that that kid up the street can have a nice pair of shoes? who benefits from your existance?

iv ebeen REAL depressed the last month. i had a "great" job that was supposed to help me do some big things, and in the end i got screwed. suffice it t say that a the cliched traw that broke an already eary back, and the last month has been more f the same emotional reckage that permeated the last year......well.. my entire life really...and its taken me aaaaaaay longer then usual to snap out of it

and you know what? its alot of things i need to make sure im doing right outside of this music. utside of making money and finding a good job. im talking little sthings that go a long ay in turning a decent human being int a veritable saint. i'm talking abut being cncious of how the things i d affect the lives of others. isnt that the general ideal so many of us romanticize abuot in our music? ho many of us actually do that? ho many of us use our positions in life as a mean to help someone else up the ladder? how many f us are concius and there to support friends ho may be depressed, ho many of us show cnsistant kindness to total strangers?

it took everal thing to ake me up and get me back on the right trail.

1. the suicide of 3rd i, a girl from okayplayer. i realized that i asnt too far off frm here she was. i as certainly dead inside.
2. the 2 pms i gt from a cat that i dont kno telling me he was praying for me
3. the face of a stripper. she looked exactly like my recently deceased "second mom". it reminded me of how this women lived her life for the betterment of thse around her right up to the bitter end. stopped me dead in my tracks.
4. a close friend and former/potentially once again love interest who is going through a similarly emtional time and then gets into a bad car accident

me being the God beleiving,God fearing person that i am. those events that you speak of i would take them as lessons learned thru them to better yourself

man, life is too short to be deprsed. its to fleeting to STAY that way, at any rate. yuo have to fight back. life-REAL life-is much to precious t lose sight of within something as powerful as the music so many of us profess to love and create.

i dont care what realm of your life its in, work, play, hobby, whatever... remember that yur life her aint worth a damn unless its there hlp heal the world around you. every last one of us has the power to make a real difference, be it a talk with someone who needs an ear, be it buying somebody a hot meal, coping some school supplies for thse kids whose family either cant or wont d it, and generally just being an unselfish person. if you are an artist, if yu are in school, whatever yur long term life and career goals may be, remember that these are the things that are most important in the long run.

i'm with you all the way man. i'm very familiar with that depression shit man. so if it's a ear that you need holla at me. but ultimately,you said it. if cats would be more willing to help and invest in each other (invest a lil time, an ear, some knowledge and experience, doesn't always have to be money) not only will it have a positive effect on others, you'll even feel better, despite the situation that you're in. keep it movin homie, it gets greater later. peace.

 

[bigdmakintrax]

Thing is I been depressed and I have tragedies and defeats in my life too just like anyone that has had to struggle or didn't grow up with 2 parents or money, I mean I could get detailed but everything you said is on point, main thing is your focus needs stay on track even though goals change, but finding what it is you are to do is sometimes hard and sometimes easy....inner happiness has to be established before anything else, you have to love yourself first and understand where you are, that is the buoy in the sea of life...I dont get into religion or anything like that heavily, because thats a personal choice...for some religion is the buoy and relying on faith or something like that....but yes life is way too short...I just lost my uncle who was really like my brother...but hey look life goes on, you can't get bogged down by things out of your control, make yourself happy or if it means helping someone else in some way, yes by all means do that!....someone once said adversity does not build character, it reveals it!

 

[afriquedeluxe]

hey cold, glad to see your back on track. To tell you the truth I didnt realise things had gotten that bad, but now knowing, am definately relieved that you are ok. one key point here, that's already been made, is that life is just too short to spend any of it on depression. it really is a waste of energy. I can't really relate to what's happened to you, but for me, whenever things aren't going as i wanted them to, i just slap myself out of it quick and begin finding constructive ways of recovering.

 

[JP hardboiled]

We don't have a voice because we only care about what's coming out of our own mouths. We don't listen or "truly" care like all the hypocrites say..

It's probably hard for many of you, but if you join some organizations you'll learn that you get what you give. That is how to really get involved and change things.. The best thing about it is that the work you put in you see results.. if you don't put work in nothing happens...

Really, most the general talk about "helping" the world is BS, especially once the person is done loathing and being depressed unless you truly care and get involved in creating and being a member of organizations... Here's the backup for what I'm saying..

In the 1920's during the Progressive Era fournd of organizations and membership rose.. that period create massive reforms and ammendments to the constitution like giving women the right to vote, which was huge in hindsight( right now you probably think "who cares?") Next, during Civil Rights people got organized and worked together to get more amendments to the Constitution. Organizations joined together and many times organizations like the NAACP were founded by "the enemy." Anyhow, things worked out because the networking of organizations gave people a sense of unity and pride, something we lack today cause people just like to complain and do nothing about it.

Nowadays, nobody has the time to join organizations. Instead, we got a lot of critics who talk a lot but do anything to support there views. Guess who the biggest culprit is? The president? rich people? No, its the middle class. There is only revolution when the middle class wants change because they are the majority and far outnumber the rich, which is what happened during the French Revolution. Though, not all middle class people are blinded sheep being led to the slaughter.. I'd say about 25% actually do something like getting in organizations and promoting their ideas/helping others out.. That is the only real way to have power... Only through organizing can people agree on some solid issues and move forward. Otherwise you just end up being of the millions of critics who really isn't doing anything to "help" out...

Strangley once I started getting involved in organizations I started being nicer to people. Because we all end up helping each other out rather than competing, which is what seems to be a major problem with people.. I started being less skeptical, apathetic, and resenting than usual..

So stop being hypocrites and join an organization that supports your ideas. There are so many out there, you just have to look. Sick of the music industry? make an organization to combat it, though producers/artists can be so full of hot air and pride they won't to join your organization because they are too cool. And there lies the problem...foolish pride. Something today's generation has a lot of so they never accept anyone/or organization that wants to represent them.. we always find faults in anyone/ anything that comes along... It's really up to people to get involved and do something..

Otherwise your just a hypocrite. You say you care but what are you really doing?

 

[5th Sequence]

We don't have a voice because we only care about what's coming out of our own mouths. We don't listen or "truly" care like all the hypocrites say..

It's probably hard for many of you, but if you join some organizations you'll learn that you get what you give. That is how to really get involved and change things.. The best thing about it is that the work you put in you see results.. if you don't put work in nothing happens...

Really, most the general talk about "helping" the world is BS, especially once the person is done loathing and being depressed unless you truly care and get involved in creating and being a member of organizations... Here's the backup for what I'm saying..

In the 1920's during the Progressive Era fournd of organizations and membership rose.. that period create massive reforms and ammendments to the constitution like giving women the right to vote, which was huge in hindsight( right now you probably think "who cares?") Next, during Civil Rights people got organized and worked together to get more amendments to the Constitution. Organizations joined together and many times organizations like the NAACP were founded by "the enemy." Anyhow, things worked out because the networking of organizations gave people a sense of unity and pride, something we lack today cause people just like to complain and do nothing about it.

Nowadays, nobody has the time to join organizations. Instead, we got a lot of critics who talk a lot but do anything to support there views. Guess who the biggest culprit is? The president? rich people? No, its the middle class. There is only revolution when the middle class wants change because they are the majority and far outnumber the rich, which is what happened during the French Revolution. Though, not all middle class people are blinded sheep being led to the slaughter.. I'd say about 25% actually do something like getting in organizations and promoting their ideas/helping others out.. That is the only real way to have power... Only through organizing can people agree on some solid issues and move forward. Otherwise you just end up being of the millions of critics who really isn't doing anything to "help" out...

Strangley once I started getting involved in organizations I started being nicer to people. Because we all end up helping each other out rather than competing, which is what seems to be a major problem with people.. I started being less skeptical, apathetic, and resenting than usual..

So stop being hypocrites and join an organization that supports your ideas. There are so many out there, you just have to look. Sick of the music industry? make an organization to combat it, though producers/artists can be so full of hot air and pride they won't to join your organization because they are too cool. And there lies the problem...foolish pride. Something today's generation has a lot of so they never accept anyone/or organization that wants to represent them.. we always find faults in anyone/ anything that comes along... It's really up to people to get involved and do something..

Otherwise your just a hypocrite. You say you care but what are you really doing?

I agree with everything until you call us all hypocrites.

Recognizing the change you want to see is one thing, complaining about it and doing nothing about it is one thing, but recognizing it and not being in a position to do something because of your own wellbeing is another.

Starting an organization is a great idea though. In an indirect way, that's kinda what some of our music represents. If someones music represents a belief that you share than you like their music and become a fan (everybody who is a fan is somewhat like a member, part of this organization so to speak that believes in whatever the music is about). It's definitely on a smaller less "influential" scale than an actual organization is.

On the opposite though, we have fans (or members) of music that represent that foolish pride and whatnot.

I don't know where i'm going with this lol, but i see you though hardboiled.

 

[JP hardboiled]

I agree with everything until you call us all hypocrites.

Recognizing the change you want to see is one thing, complaining about it and doing nothing about it is one thing, but recognizing it and not being in a position to do something because of your own wellbeing is another.

Starting an organization is a great idea though. In an indirect way, that's kinda what some of our music represents. If someones music represents a belief that you share than you like their music and become a fan (everybody who is a fan is somewhat like a member, part of this organization so to speak that believes in whatever the music is about). It's definitely on a smaller less "influential" scale than an actual organization is.

On the opposite though, we have fans (or members) of music that represent that foolish pride and whatnot.

I don't know where i'm going with this lol, but i see you though hardboiled.

Cool 5th sequence, I'm glad someone hears what I'm saying.. I turn pessimistic and then depressed like Cold Truth once I start thinking about society and why we as humans who are supposed to be able to use "reason", can't change the world for the better.. But if you look into history there are instances when we did change things for the better.

Music definitely reps what we stand for... I never liked Systems of a Downs stuff till I heard them live and they were spitting political knowledge inbetween sets.. I have a greater respect for them now.. but how many rappers besides 2Pac, can we say have a really grounded, thought out, and explained concept of what they believe in their music? We have no equivalent to Rage Against the Machine...

Maybe we should start our own music organization that promotes real music and addresses issues in the industry. In a way Illmuzik is like an informal org., cause we all believe in good music.. but "good music" isn't defined and we don't have a constitution or statement of goals.

 

[bigdmakintrax]

There are and have always been attempts to try and express political thought and commentary through music, I mean look at all the good, love and happiness feel good music of the 60's and 70's, also the funk and p funk, pre dating hip hop that most of us love to listen to and (err sample and borrow for our own creations)which in a large part was so much a product of the war years of Vietnam and the whole civil rights and feminist movement in a very related but indirect way(someone made a statement about the album covers and the lost art in another thread,go back and read some of those covers and you might start to find like minds aren't really that far apart speaking of generations)....a lot of people reach back to that good soul and rock music because a lot of it was a reflection of the political climate, and I mean real music with a band and musicians building and politiking to make music on a whole higher level that discussed issues and made songs about it, now yes there are some bands out but nowhere near what those times brought nor the songwriting that was there, most people like poets and such that do a lot of the smoky club or bookstore floetry probably are the closest in touch with politics in what they speak than do the commercialized breed of artist do.....so the main thing is you have to either connect with the like minded, build and then form some sort of movement, you can't force a mindshift in those that generally aren't that deep into what you might feel is important but you could make them listen thru your music and if you cant write to your own music find yourself an artist, put a project together and make a statement through your art and craft.....I oun know though can you name some leaders that stand for something of the generation?.....I see a lot of the vets that have been wounded or returned from the war now just either running for offices and such....so I think the mindshift is coming because people have grown so fed up and distrustful especially the last 5 or 6 years.....

 

[Formant024]

Sage Francis does a good job on the political raps but thats only underground stuff like most of the underground stuff is able to bring out political content. All the big publishers are under governmental control in the US, so much for freedom of speech...

 

[StressWon]

its the bronchitus thats goin around,,,,,