Nicki Minaj Only Apologizes to Jews...

The title of the article that started this was - '

No Surprise here: Nicki Minaj apologizes to Jews for her most recent video'

It's just funny. This weekend it occurred to me to download the mixtapes Nicki Minaj put out before her studio album. It made me sad for her. A man with her talent may have also had to dumb down to get to her level of pop stardom. But he wouldn't have had to go through all that she has. (If you haven't listened to her early mixtapes, LISTEN before you respond.)




What the article (if you can call it that) missed was Nicki's history of being a provocateur. And we always fall for it. Or, that is, she always gets the appropriate amount of attention. [Sidenote : As long as ANYONE named Kardashian gets payed for being alive, I CERTAINLY support Nicki Minaj despite her hi-jinks] This generation has a ridiculously short attention span AND we have been seriously jaded. Add to that being a female artist fighting to be heard at even 70% the level of a male artist and you have Nicki Minaj. You have Looking Ass Nigga. You have Anaconda. And know you have 'Only'. These singles aren't the pop ballads that comprise 50% of her studio albums and 0% of her mixtapes. They are the solid hip hop tracks that wouldn't get a first listen without the surrounding controversies.

And now the serious stuff. The article that brought this song to my attention mentioned a preference for the sensitivities of Jews over African Americans. I will note that as I post this the video that is offensive to Jews is available online in its entirety and the album cover that was offensive to African Americans is only available in reference to the controversy on Wikipedia and within articles like mine. In this instance, I would consider that argument void.

In other instances however, the article brought up some valid points. The talking heads that represent the Jewish community do get a better response than other communities, especially ours. In fact, all lobbies from other communities get a better response than ours. And that is because we don't have a lobby. We don't have an ADL. We don't have a Rotary Club. We don't have a rainbow flag. All we have are separate individuals trying to be heard with no force behind our words.

Until we do, our artists will have to continue operating like Nicki Minaj and others if they want success and we have nothing to say about it.

The Power of The Media

Mark Chapter 7 (Read it ALL) This is just a high light. “14 After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 16 [[f]If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”]”

Everyone who knows this story knows it’s about food. But doesn’t Jesus use parable to go deeper than the surface? So let’s go deeper.

I have a friend whose favorite rap artist is Brotha Lynch Hung. If you don’t know who he is, he is likely the MOST vulgar rap artist out there. He makes Eminem seem like a gospel artist. This friend of mine hardly ever curses, didn’t drink until recently and still only rarely, and is one of the nicest guys in America. Isn’t that an oxymoron of American culture?  How could it be after more than twenty years of listening to vulgarity this man can lead an unvulgar life

            Simply, he is responsible to his actions. So many of us are so irresponsible for our actions.  [] Tradition is why we do it. “I just don’t know why I did it. Must have been all the Basketball Wives and Bad Girls Club.” “My friends…” “My Family…” Or the worst one ever… “These kids…”

            A picture was posted on Facebook and the question attached to it was simply, “Does this offend you”

The answer to a true believer should be ‘NO’. It is possibly offensive to the person who made it. He and he alone will have to deal with the consequences of his actions. That is, unless a person CHOOSES to internalize this picture and allow it to control their response.

            What I see and am commenting on is a tradition of being influenced and/or controlled by the outside factors. The people I read about and am descendent from in the Bible are stronger than that. The power to tread scorpions is ours. “…nothing shall by any means hurt you.” That is, you/we who believe.

            What goes in doesn't defile you. What comes out does! Be aware not of what's being given to you, the media, associates, environment, family; be aware and responsible of your response (what comes out). No matter what, you are responsible for your actions. Why is it that we know better and still give all the power over our actions to outside influences? Maybe we don’t know better. Maybe we don’t believe in what we know. Maybe… we don’t believe in what we think we believe in…

Pimpology 101

Current mood: jubilant
Category: Life


In no way do I condone or promote prostitution, pimping, panhandling, tricking, hoeing, phinaggling, the record industry, high maintenance dates or any other tom foolery referenced in this blog.

Every person who seeks wealth can learn something from Pimps. Pimping is one of the basest forms of capitalism. The Pimp represents the capitalist. The tricks represent the consumers. And the hoes represent the human [labor] aspect of capitalism.

Remember when I threw the record industry onto that list at the start of this blog. Imagine a the owner of a huge record distribution label (DISTRIBUTION not Def Jam). He doesn't sing nor does he or has he ever dropped a bead of sweat producing the music or the albums that he makes so much money off of. But he has control over the money spent producing the music and the albums as well as the human aspect of producing said music and albums. And we, the tricks (I mean consumers) buy into the whole dream that is the record industry. (Well, not me. It's all about illegal downloads and cheap/free dates over here)

Allow yourself to imagine the scenarios in various business settings all over the world. Begin to see the slickest sales men you can think up. Go as far outside of the box(stereotypes) as you can and take a walk with me. Let's respect the Pimpin and learn as much as we can.

I often listen to Suga Free. Not one of the best lyricist ever but a true Pimp. And he is definitely entertaining. But, being the eternal student that I am, I find small lessons in his Pimpin'. Which brings us to today's lesson from Pimpology 101:

"Don't nothing come to dreamers but dreams..." (Listen to Track #3 from The New Testament. The words before and after this quote are important but I want you all to find and listen to the music.[Its funner that way!])

Uncensored.

As I grow and learn, I am more easily able to distinguish dreams, goals, plans, ambition and vision. I'm sure we have all heard the quote before but true enlightenment comes in various ways to all of us.

What's amazing here is that Pimps sell dreams. They are a hard sale themselves and, most importantly, they are excellent at managing both dreams and dreamers. The most important thing is life is to find out your role. You may be a dreamer. For you, success will only come from effective management. You may be a manager. But everyone needs both to start out on the path to success. And, unlike most pimps, your dreams can come true.

So get out there. Respect the Pimpin. Play your role. I know I don't have to tell yall to Don't Fight the Pimpin. And be a success.

Tommorow's Lesson (Not really tommorow. In a few days probably) :
"Gleek Baddap Bop Shaba Da Pimp"