The Roots Crew….

About a year ago, I downloaded a bunch of shows from ROOTSLIVE.com. Its a compilation of live shows from 1994 until about 2003. This music has been the soundtrack to this move. I just gotta say…Black Thought? Amazing!  Musical composition? Ridiculous! Its obvious why THE ROOTS has never gotten much radio play…why their songs aren’t on main stream radio every hour on the hour. Even the ones that do make it to the station manager’s play list are never the hottest tracks on the album.
For some reason it seems that a true appreciation for ROOTS is limited to backpackers (even those thirty-something, white, middle-class back packers still living home with Ma and Pa), Professional hip-hop heads (read: junior execs, college admissions officers, professors, engineers and lawyers by day HEAD KNODDERS by night), and International aficianodos( read: Japanese kids who get their hair processed to look like black folk so that it matches their baggy jeans, timberlands, and back packs). All of which have been fans of THE ROOTS since ORGANIX. It doesn’t look like THE ROOTS acquire any NEW fans as each album is released. So, I just figured I’d do MY part. 

I say all this because THE ROOTS release “RISING DOWN” today. GO COP THAT!!!!

For those who may not be familiar with the speckled history of the LEGENDARY ROOTS CREW….wikipedia has a pretty inclusive discology, including past members, all albums, and updates. Check it out HERE.

OR you could always hit www.OKAYPLAYER.com, or www.THEROOTS.com. Either one. But get hip! The roots are one of the most groovy, thrilling, lyrically and musically challenging groups of ALL TIME!!! They’ll be on tour with one Ms. Erykah Badu this summer. I’ll be catching that show in Phoniex, AZ. And maybe Detroit too (at the expense of my gas and electris bills).Check out
LIVE NATION are the tour dates.

 That is all. Back to moving this insignificant ish from one rented hell whole to another…

 

Crys

Keys…

Crys’s got keys!

 

As previously reported, I found a place to live. In Michigan. Detroit. City Proper.

I got my keys today. I should be happy. Right?

The search is over. I can stop pouring over Craigslist ads and cold calling strangers. Thing is…I’ve run into a snag. I thought that the bulding manager told me the security deposit would be a half month’s rent. In fact, she said a MONTH AND A HALF! This crib cut into my funds….seriously. And now I have an expense to take care of …and the money is gone. I HAD to have somewhere to live though. What was I supposed to do?

ANywho…I got keys. I’m moving stuff in…small loads at a time until I get a truck tomorrow.

All’s well that ends well.
(what the hell does that mean anyway?)

 

PEACE.

Thoughts on Sean Bell Verdict…Take II

I’m packing. Transitioning. I believe I’ve found the right place for me. A loft not far from the old Tiger stadium, in the shadow of Detroit’s new Motor City Casino. I’m having some second thoughts and have an appointment to view another place in the New Center Area.

The windows are open and there’s a light breeze. I’ve got the radio on…no satelite…just regular old radio. I’m analogue that way. The sounds of the city’s Cass Corridor float in. The wretched squirrels are scampering away on the roof…and Micheal Baisden is talking about Sean Bell.

I’m so disappointed.

I’m so hurt

It’s my own fault.

With all the Obama-Rama going on, I guess I’d forgotten how afraid America is of Black Men. In light of Pastor Wright and the shedding of light on OUR (read: Black America) outrage, frustration, and impatience with the way things are going here… I guess I just KNEW that the judge would rule in favor in the memory of Sean Bell and in the best interest of his family and of the people of New York and America.

I don’t think that Judge Cooperman wanted to be the one to set a precedent.

 

If the justice system starts holding police RESPONSIBLE can you imagine the reprucussions? The city would have to add the astronomical cost of Gold Bonds Medicated Powder to the already rising cost of health care as a way to treat those itchy trigger fingers. And speaking of fingers…The city wouldn’t have to worry about four annoying fingers pointing back at themselves when they point the finger of blame at the VICTIMS of this rampant police violence. All because some maverick judge decided to do the RIGHT thing.

And they wonder why we rejoiced when OJ walked away. When WE suspected just as well as THEY did that he was guilty. It was the fact that he may have gotten away with it. After Rodney King, we were just glad to see something turn out in OUR favor.

Speaking of OUR…why is it that we are always grouped together anyway? When Tim McVeigh blew up the OKC federal building, no one started profiling young white men. When the Catholic priests were found molesting children, America didn’t hide the children from white clergy.   

*pause that was quite an unfocused Aquarian rant. We now return you to your irratically scheduled blog*

What will this verdict mean for Obama?

Will he be able to continue to loosely associate himself as a black man, or will he have to take a stance. As a lawyer and as a Black man, I believe he will have to make a choice. I’m sure his team will put together a nicely worded statement. Just as they did when the Jena 6 fiasco was in full swing. I can’t say that I’d blame him. SOMEONE has to stay focused on the bigger picture. He can’t do anyone any good if he gets knocked out of the running for attempting to proove his black manhood.

 

So yeah…I know I’m still all over the place. Thanks for bearing with me.

Tell me what YOU think about this whole Sean Bell disappointment. Got links to good sites or blogs or articles?

Share them with us.

Peace?

Sean Bell…

I don’t know if you’ve heard. The three officers charged in the Sean Bell case have been aquitted. That’s right. A JUDGE, not a jury of their peers found them innocent. I am outraged. The way I feel about law enforcement is no secret. However, I do respect the “boys in blue” for putting their lives on the line everyday to protect the citizens of this fine country (cue “America the Beautiful”). I’m not talking about the random traffic-stoppers, or the racial-profilers. I’m not referring to the dirty money collector or extorters. I’m talking about the honest, hard working officers who try to make the streets a safer place to live, work, drive and play. Problem is…I don’t believe that Michael Oliver, Marc Cooper or Gescard Isnora are those cops.

There is no justification for 50 shots.

There is no justification for 50 shots

There is no justification for 50 shots.

Especially for well trained, unmarked, UNDERCOVER officers. In every article that I read Sean Bell is becoming synonymous with Amadou Diallo. But hell, New Yorks finest out did themselves by NINE whole bullets and twelve angry men. (meaning there was no jury)

WHY IS IT ALRIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY TO SHOOT UNARMED BLACK MEN? 

ANd you can make whatever arguement you want…about the rate of black violence or the numbers of black in prison. But no other group has experienced the wrath of the police like BLACK MEN.

I’m infuriated and bouncing all over the place…so I’ll stop now.I’ll come back to this volatile subject after I’ve calmed down some…and can think critically and rationally. 

Save me Craigslist…save me…

Why do I act like Craigslist is the new savior of my universe? I’m behaving as if there are NO apartments for rent ANYWHERE (in MIchigan or Georgia) that fit my budget and meet my meagar expectations just because I haven’t been able to find one on Craigslist. I know how I got spoiled. I found the last place on that wretched website. I’d been online for all of ten minutes. Found the place, no picture, called the number, went to look at it and put down a deposit all in one afternoon.

Fast forward one year…nearly to the day. I’ve been scouring that site for months to no avail. In addition to Creative Loafing Atlanta, and Detroit Metro TImes. ANd I have yet to find a place I like (that I can afford).

PErhaps my expectations are too high. My Honey says that sometimes ya gotta go backwards to go forwards. I just wish I knew…

 

Enough of my wining.

Be blessed, my humble following.

Peace.