Hip Hop & Women

Charrell Mack hasn't been in the hip hop game for long, but she's made it known that she is here to stay! Mack has been seen at mini hip hop showings, spoken word events and other venues and has made a huge impact at each and every one of those places. Being a woman in this game has not, and I repeat, has not held her down one bit. She goes hard and doesn't let anyone stand in her way, which is why she has come so far so fast. The works of Charrell are always significant to what is going on in the world today. She speaks the truth in a way that our generation can learn from. She's not here to become the biggest super star, although that is a bonus to her, but she's more so here to be heard. Charrell wants people to hear the message she's trying to get out, for her words are more powerful than money.

This particular piece is a recent one and it's my first time hearing it. As you can see she is speaking about how men in the hip hop industry treat women. She makes vaild points especially her emphasis on how women are also sisters & mothers. I can understand her frustration in the video because I am tired as well of men rappers exploiting women and degrading us like we're nothing but some prize. Her points were strong and valid and the last few lines had me, "The next time you need a Bitch to hold you down/Don't look at me/Just take your ass straight to the dog pound." truth be told.

I really hope everyone especially men really take the time to listen to what Charrell has to say because this isn't a joke. Hip Hop today is getting away with too much shit, and it's time that someone acknowledges those loop holes and closes them. What Charrell is doing, I believe, will not get ignored because women have come to far already to be heard and Charrell is just another woman soldier lending a voice to help fight this sexist war. I do believe she will make a huge impact in hip hop this year and many years to come. Charrell Mack is our generation and her voice will be heard a lot more so watch out.

The Hottest Show I've been to THE SEVEN

I really don't know where to begin with this show, but I can tell you one thing it was something I've never seen before. So I went to Temple U. and met up with my best friend to see the Hip Hop Theatre show "The Seven". Prior to going inside I was expecting a huge auditorium similar to that of Zoellner, but I was 100% WRONG! lol. The spot where the show took place was similar to the Black Box but a little bigger. I felt like I was apart of the show because actors were everywhere. They really engaged the audience in a way that no show I've ever been to has done. From the jump I was sold with the show. The 3 main characters were great! The father, Tydeus, of the two sons, Eteocles and Polynices was a mix between a pimp and James Brown. He showed up with a nice fro and huge sideburns to match, along with a red one piece bell-bottom suit that was lined with zebra strips and he had on the gold platform shoes to complete his phunky fresh outfit. His character was crazy and I swear he said nigga about 200 times through the show..."Save me lil nigga!!" I can't get that line out of my head. The story behind the play was a greek tradegy in where two tight nit brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, were both in line to become King, but the issue was was that only one could be King. So they decided to each rule for a year a piece and Eteocles took the first year, while Polynices left to the forest. Then the father turned the bothers against eachother and blah say blah....but what was hot was the performance of each part because the show was one big concert to say the least. Each line that was spoken wasn't a line but rather a bar or verse. Like when Eteocles became King first they portrayed it as him being a huge rap star, he had on his platinum chains, diamond earrings, fly outfits and even the dearing fans. The interaction between characters was also hot because it was again spoken like rap song. Every character had their own style of rap especially The Seven. Like Capaneous for instant, was one of the Seven and his character was like that of a hardcore, thugged out gangsta. He can out in all black, baggy jeans, dark shades, oversized hoody, bandana scarf around the mouth and a hand gun tucked inside his waste band. It was hilarious. And so his rap was so dope and I was just about how bad ass he was and the one line I remember was, "I'll punch Zeus in the head/ I'm so bad ass I got medusa in the bed." Like every line from every song was hot and you actually forget almost that this play is a greek tradegy. The rest of heros from the Seven were very interesting and there was this sick beat boxer that portrayed the sound of The Seven coming, like that whole its the end of the world back ground music. One of my favorite parts of the play was the fight scence. I thought the scence was going to be about fake blows to the face and all that jazz, but nope the fight scence was like a dance battle. A member from Eteocles side would step out and then a member from Polynices side would as well then they'd go at. To say the least it was hot.
I would have to say the entire and I mean entire show from beginning to intermission to the end was GREAT! I included the intermission because it was as if the show didn't stop for some of the actors grab the audience on stage and they had dance offs, the electric slide going and everything, it was like a party. I would also like to mention the faboulus DJ, Dishona Tatuem, who I think made the show flow so well, and she was probably my favorite. She was the narrator for the entire play and her delievery wasn't boring like that of a Morgan Freedom, narrtor, {no offense, he's a cool dude} but she spoke every line with convection and attitude. Her swagger was flawless for she knew how to say each line and said it so well and comfortably. Not to mention girl can sing!!

The overall show was again a huge success and if I could I'd definitely go again. Attending Hip Hop Theatre plays just became my "thing," and I do hope to attend more.

One Name

Relly, Relli Rell, Charrelly, Relisih, C-Mack, MissMack, Miss Merry Mack and even Cheryl
I never thought my name could have so many names
Is each one different or do they all mean the same
I mean I answer to each one when someone calls it
I turn my attention and even smile a bit
It's just a nick name and doesn't phase me
There just nick names for they don't define me
It's not Relly Rell getting an A on the test
It's not C-Mack long jumping further than the rest
Charrelly isn't being noticed for her talent with art
& MissMack isn't the name that's goin gto help me start....

My career of my dreams that I hold close to my heart
All those names may be me, but
They do not represent, portray, or even complete me
I'll use the name my mother gave me 20 years back
November 9th, 1988
My name is Charrell Mack

I'm Just Sayin....

Okay so I just so happened to be a victim of Laryngitis. And the timing sucks lol cause I always look forward to participating in class and Tuesday was a fun day with the Ducky Fuzz/Fuzzy Duck game and the great disscussion off of Tara's presentation. So I'm just going to say my piece now.

Sooooooo Mr. Soulja Boy Tell Em'. Okay I personally don't think he's a great rapper at all. I mean I can't sit here and completly "hate" him b/c I did fall into his trap of the infamous superman dance and up until she got a donk...buuut the bird walk and kiss me threw the phone ish...yeaaaa i'm tired of him now I feel that that whole phase he created is getting old & needs to end to be honest, but with the industry now he's still gonna be around {sadly} Anyway we got into a huge disscussion about him in class with people saying how he's not an authentic rapper b/c you can't see him next to Nas or Jay-Z all he does is rap about nonsense blah blah blah. I did agree with that until I believe it was Kashi who said that isnt' what he's doing the definition of Hip Hop aka reinventing and so on and so forth. So what I mean my views of Soulja Boy doesn't change b/c I still think he's whack as a rapper, but according to what he's putting out there for people to hear he's not trying to be the next Nas or Jay-Z because he knows he can't. So that level isn't even a consideration for him {at least I hope not}. He's sticking to what he knows which so happens to be a 3 phrase verse repeated over and over a party beat. He's successful in it so he's gonna continue doing it. I mean if you're going to be making money off it and you love it then why stop. Also if you don't like him don't bump him on your Itunes...I'm just sayin

Then we have Bow Wow...whoooooo I think he's a poser trying to be something he's not. I was in love with him when I was younger, but I was naive not knowing any better lol. I mean he was living the good life since he was 4 and made it a point that he doesn't need to cuss or be vulgar in his lyrics....buuut now that he's older he has parental advisory stickers on his album...hmmm someone is trying to fit in....I'm just sayin

The word BITCH!

Man do I wish I was able to talk lol....So someone said that women like to be called Bitches, hoes, skeezers, ect.....really? If any woman thinks that being called a four legged ANIMAL that is trained to OBEY their master as a good thing then you obviously have some SERIOUS issues...like you need to see someone....and then there's the issue with "o if a girl calls another girl a bitch then why can't a guy" blah blah blah....look we all know that when a girl calls another girl a bitch it's cause they did something wrong like betrayal or something...but a guy means it as in you're my friend/girl...naaah just call me Charrell and leave it at that.....I'm just sayin..... thank you..
I mean we can get into a loooooong discussion about the word, buuut I said my piece about it for now....

The degrading of women in music videos. Has it changed? I do believe it has changed from the past. The industry is taking action on the way women are portrayed on the screen. From the video Tip Drill...I'd post the video but I'm good everyone has seen it and if you haven't youtube it.....and then you have 50 cent's I like the way she do it video http://youtube.com/watch?v=g6Xiy5EXXgY&feature=related and the women aren't half naked or showin goodies and shit {when they lyrics say differently}...it's actually toned down a lot to me personally...and if the song was released during Tip Drill {2004) the video would be completely different. I do remember when 50 premiered the video he said that there are rules now to what can be shown in a music video and that they can't have women exploited in the ways they were....So I do believe actions are being taken, but again it won't fully disappear in my opinoin because as we all know "Sex sells".....

I'm just sayin...

What if there was no Hip Hop?

Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Hop

Hip Hop is everywhere! It's in schools, movies, radio, books, clothes, magazines, ect... But what if Hip Hop never existed.

What would you do? How would you act? How would you dress? The influence Hip Hop has on the world we live in is enormous. It has impacted my life in so many ways more so as a way to release stress and to find comfort. Everytime I draw I listen to sounds of Lupe, Jay-z and others, it helps me focus and keeps me relaxed. So without it I doubt I'd be drawing like I do now because I'll get distracted to do other things like watch TV, which melts my brain cells enough {lol}. It also helps me focus when I do school work because I hate silence.

So tell me your thoughts on what Life would be like for you without Hip Hop.