(ThyBlackMan.com)   Like most musicians these days, Rihanna is under scrutiny for her new music video “Man Down,” which depicts the singer gunning down her abuser. According to reports from ABC News and TMZ, the Parents Television Council has condemned Rihanna’s video for its suggestive acceptability of violence. In a statement, the ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) This morning I woke up to reading my daily online news publications. I immediately was entranced by an article with the headline, Lupe Fiasco: Obama Is a Terrorist, on TheRoot.com. I sat, thought for a minute, and decided to write about it. I have never in my life seen ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) The rapper Lupe Fiasco is not your average hip-hop artist.  He doesn’t buy into the buffoonery that has come to define the industry that makes itself into one of the hottest minstrel shows in America.  He’s thoughtful, empowered and everything that rappers and black men are taught not to ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) 1984. Year of the Prince…Prince Rogers Nelson, better known as Prince, that unpronounceable symbol, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince or simply, the most apt, The Artist. It was this year that Prince challenged the King (of Pop). Before the summer of 1984 Prince was an immensely talented but ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) Gil Scott Heron (1949-2011) was more than a legendary entertainer. He was a social and political visionary that helped to inspire generations of young gifted and talent poets, spoken word artists, rappers, and a global cadre of musical and cultural satirists that have contributed to the irreversible, progressive transformations ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) At the center of every people is something that is, for them, innately funky. And when they fail to hold on to that something, then they fail to protect their Soul. America is such a careless and cold marketplace that it is easy for anyone to lose their Soul. ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) I will never forget when I heard the political poem, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, performed at The Arlington Museum of Art, in Arlington, Texas. I was so enamored, attentive, and wanted to know if the poet on the stage was the author of the powerful words. I later ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) The MC/DJ duo is nothing new in Hip-Hop music.  The DJ has evolved from the position of skilled disc spinner to the position of producer.  The MC/DJ combo of the now is the MC/Producer.  This formula has worked to success several times over in the history of the music ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) The Obama Administration recently announced that it is standing by its decision to invite the “controversial” rapper Common to the White House for a poetry reading event.  Anyone who has heard or seen Common perform (which you can see by clicking here) understands that this brother is about as controversial as ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) First Lady Michelle Obama has planned an evening of poetry tonight, and many people are up in arms about one of her invitees, poet and  rapper Common.  His attendance and him performing are considered inappropriate to critics, including The Daily Caller and Fox News, who’s headline reads:  “Michelle Obama ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) Did you know that hip-hop is registered as a religion? It was officially recognized in NY as a religion thanks to the so-called “prophet” of hip-hop, KRS One, less than 5 years ago. He didn’t want to just “spit” (rap) lyrics, but be the example of his beliefs. These ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) AllHipHop CEO Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur recently interviewed Rev. Jesse Jackson who offered a glowing report on the status of rap.  Among other excerpts, Rev. Jackson basically seemed to endorse Hip Hop’s economically savvy moguls: “Rev. Jackson had positive thoughts to share about rappers who have risen to mogul status ...