Rock and Soul?

Greetings and welcome to my blog. I have another one of life's internal questions that desperately needs an answer. In the world of rock music there is a certain culture that follows it. Many people believe that it is a more, white suburban one that is in the forefront. Though there are other people who listen to rock music, rock in this nation has been classified as white. My question is, what of the other kinds of people who listen to the heavy guitars and deep screaming? What of the people who find comfort in the abstract expressions of depression that some rock music portrays? Well what of them? The people I am referring to are generally black and are expected to listen to rap, r&b, jazz, or blues. Other people are included in this demographic, but today I want to speak of the black experience. We are considered to be "sell outs" if you will, or that we have been "white washed". This unfortunately is the stigma that we have been given all because we enjoy the hardcore thrashing of metal or the artistic tones of indie rock. Just because we enjoy this type of music we are not less black, asian, indian or whatever race that we are. Now how did this even start? Black people were the original people who started rock and roll. People like chuck berry, little richard, and muddy waters were the first to create this phenomena of music that swept the world. So if this is the case, then why are black people considered to be the pariahs of this music in today's world? I don't really have an answer for this one. For the first time I'm stumped. I being one of these so called outcasts, do not understand why this is. I will go to concerts, shows at bars, and even buy my favorite metal CDs at stores, and still I get odd looks. I have even heard someone mutter "OMG what is that black guy doing here ." I would love to go into a rant in front of everyone about how stupid the comment was, but that would only give me negative attention. The lead singer of my favorite metal band is black so why do people who fit the stereotype for today's metal head still look at me and others like me as "the black guy who listens to rock", instead of being a metal head like everyone else. What is all boils down to is white people claiming something for themselves that was never theirs the first place, again. I normally don't make statements like this because I am a strong believer in equality, but to simply put it, it is what it is. Not all people are like this but there is a large population that is, especially when it comes to rock music. The really sad thing is that this does not just come from whites. It also comes from many blacks who have this diluted idea of what "black music" is supposed to be. I laugh at these people who say we are uncle toms or wannabe white. The reason being is that we started the music, so truly who is "keeping it real" with their roots? My point is that music should be enjoyed by everyone. Just because someone is not associated with a certain type of music, does not mean that they do not love it or feel it in their souls any less than someone that fits a stereotype. I love rock and all types of music. Just don't label me or anyone else as trying to be something that we are not,when in our hearts, this is who we are. If you are like myself. respond. If you are not, please respond. I would also like to see the response of people who feel that people of a certain race should listen to a certain type of music. Once again discussion begins you the people... Let us begin.

The Rap Man's Burden

I sit and think sometimes why do people complain about some things. For instance, telling a young black youth you can be anything you want to become successful. "You don't have to become a rapper or an athlete to make it in this world." is a familiar phrase in the black community. Then the complaint that, " Man, hip hop is dead and there doesn't seem to be any good music anymore." I am starting to believe that this is due to the lack support for a child who wants to become an artist or athlete. Kids listen to their parents more than what you think. My friend for example was rather dead set on getting a job after college. She dreamed of doing other things like singing, acting, and writing comedy, but her mother drilled into her head that getting a job after school was the only way. Now she has an ok career that she hates, but is semi successful. The sad thing was she had a lot of talent. I used to laugh at all her jokes because she was funny and she would always win talent shows at school because of her singing ability. The fact is, I belive that this is the reason why music is doing so horribly. The hindrance of the truly talented is whats causing the downfall. I'm not one to hold back so I will call them out. Acts Like Solider Boy Tell'um, New Boys, Asher Roth, Jeramih, GS Boys, Drake/ Wheel Chair Jimmy from Degrassi, and many other skinny jeans wearing acts would not even have deals if the quality had not gone down. They are the best of whats left and that what we are dealing with. Rapping about nothing? ( hey it worked for Sienfeld) Love songs that are about sex only? We are old enough to distinguish what real love is and just sex. Sorry, but you can't tell me that they would have survived in the 1995-2003 era of rap and hip hop. Also, has the conscious rap game been knocked unconscious? Mos def and talib haven't dropped anything new or significant in awhile, neither has common. Whats most disturbing that they have not passed the torch for that level of rhyming. I think its due to there not being anyone to pass the torch to. So people the point of my ramblings is that we cannot complain about there not being any good music or rappers or R&B singers, when we don't even push our best to be the best at what they can do. I know times were different back when only certain people had oppertunites to succeed, but we cannot tell our youth to take advantage of an opportunity that we wanted to take but could not. So please, if your child is a great singer at age 4 or can run faster than someone twice his or her age, encourage them to follow the dream and become it. Encouraging a child to become a rapper, singer, artist, or athlete will not only help them achieve what they love in life, but might make your car radio, NFL Sunday, or love song appreciation one less thing to complain about. I would like to kno what you thing is it true music evolution? Or just quality decomposition? Intelligent discussion begins with you my people...Let us begin.

Battle of the Buldge

Thank you Dara, you had the most insightful view point of the post, congrats! In recent times, I have been trying to loose weight like many other Americans. Oh don't get me wrong. I was once a college football player who was in great shape. I have seemed to keep the arms, back, shoulders, legs, and backside but I have also gained a gut with matching love handles. Marc Jacobs could have not made a better set. I look at myself in the mirror and am disgusted and long for the days of glory when I was built like a mythical beast as opposed to the Pillsbury dough boy. I know that I am not alone in this feeling because of the vast market for weight loss in our country. Looking like an Adonis may be well and good but my girlfriend and love of my life has a different opinion. She feels that my stomach and handles are sexy. Sexy? Did we hear that correctly? Apparently she loves the fact that I have a little more to love. She lays her head on my stomach and goes to sleep like a baby. I first thought she was weird because that's expected for someone who dates me. Then again she may share a common thought amongst most women. I asked a few other women what there take on this phenomenon. I was taken aback at the responses I received. "A man has to have something on him" stated one woman. "I like a big guy with huge arms and legs, something I can hug and feel safe and warm." Another had quoted. As confusing as this seems given society's view on male attractiveness, there a lot of women who like big guys. Or at least that's what I have discovered. Although the slender, artificial frame that is most accepted in the world is what is shown in the forefront. If this is not what women truly want then why are these guys getting modeling jobs and not a 230+ man. The same goes with women too. I can attest that most guys I know, including myself are not fawning over the girls from America's next top model, but the voluptuous women of rap videos and the wild women from VH1's rock of love who are not exactly paper thin. So then why do we continue to accept this altered view on what beauty is in our day and age. Are we just so used to following that we deny our own true desires? Do we really like the images we see on a daily basis? Or are we just that accepting of conformity? It could be that I just ran into people with a thick fetish. Who knows? You do. Intelligent discussion begins with you... Let us begin.

The greatest???

Ok, ok so nobody cares about the world's hungry. I guess that's my bleeding heart cause to whine about. At any rate, the lack of responses to my blog made me unhappy and so I decided to entertain my mind with a vh1 countdown show. The show was about the one hit wonders of the 80's. All was well and good until I saw EU's "Doin the Butt". I saw the cameo apperance from spike lee and the love of my life commented on how he was one of the great directors of our time. This lead to the first stimulating thought I had had all day. Was Spike really that good, or was he just available? I took a look at some of his earlier works and found that the editing and skill of the actors was not all that great, neither were the camera shots and angles. I came to the discovery that from a cinematographic view point the movies were not good at all. However the stories that were created by Mr. Lee were amazing. We all know and love the classics like School Daze and She's Gotta Have it, but was it what we were viewing, or what we were taking in from the story? It seems to me that Spike was not a great director at all, but a positive black man who knew how to run a camera setup. Since he was one of the first and really the only black director at the time, he is considered one of the greatest. Personally I don't buy the greatness of the man, but will admit that he became a good director later on in his career under the guidance of others who showed him how to truly do the job. Below is a clip of a typical "Spike Lee Joint". Look at it from a quality standpoint and judge for yourself. So what say you smart people of the world? Movie making genius, or available negro that took a few radio/tv classes. Discussion begins you intellectuals... let us begin.

(I don't know how to load this clip on the page but here is the link)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg8Oq_Sd3Bw

America's Homeless vs The Third World

Welcome fellow intellectuals to The Mind of Leon Rantz. I must first congratulate you on making the choice to broaden your horizons by viewing this blog. Well, its no secret that there is homelessness in America. Most of us see them as we commute to work and or other places that we frequent. Upon returning home we more than likely turn on our televisions and after the mindless reality show or sitcom see an image that goes something like this...



The above image is is normally accompanied by overweight Sally Struthers begging for us to save the children, even though she is living well and might be the reason that there is a lack of food. Or possibly even a missionary that that seems to have little to no contact with the people who are starving but more so reading lines with the poverty stricken on a green screen behind them. At any rate our hearts and minds go out to these people and we feel inclined to help. That is why our government has dedicated millions of dollars to help these places in our world. The military even plays pizza delivery with thier supply drops over these desolate areas. Our country's celebs even get in to the act with millions of dollars in donation to the problems of third world countries. This is all well and good in the global scheme of things, but what about the people that we just passed on the streets? What happened to the man that will work for food according to his sign? Or the mother that you passed holding her baby close to her because her child is hungry? I myself have not known where my next meal was going to come from, for I have lived on the brink. I thought to myself, why has this happened? I live in America and face the some of the same problems as a citizen of Somalia. It seems that there is an underlying problem that is destroying lives in out own country. According to bread for the world.com there are at least 35 million Americans who are on the brink of starvation.

This brings me to my question for the week. Why do we give so much to third world countries and give our own people so little? One argument is that we have been given a chance to live while these people have not. I would believe that, however in a system that is perpetually flawed I don't accept that theory. Then again I will admit that we do have more access to health care and other resources. I still feel that this is a cop out due to the fact that many fast food chains on average waste collectively 17,000lbs of food daily and do nothing to aid America in our fight against hunger. This occurrence also poses the question of why our leaders have not addressed the issue. I hear a PSA every 2 minutes about cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol, and teen pregnancy and how they kill and maim our society but hunger and nutrition related deaths kill more people in this country than any of those other causes that our politicians latch on too. Now comes the hard part, you the people of intellect have to decide if we are doing wrong or right. Are we doing whats right in this world by continuing in the efforts to cure the problems of a dying globe? Or allow the 35 million of our own poor to suffer in the world's "greatest" country in the same manner that Ethiopians suffer daily.


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The discussion begins with you my intellectuals... Let us begin.

Your source for all things intellectual

Greetings and welcome to The Mind Of Leon Rantz. I am Leon, a spoken word poet that has many thoughts on what has been given to us by media, religion, politics, parents, and any other hub of worthless information. I have been through the ringer in life and have found it due to following the truths that have been told to me all my life. I serve the intellectual community to the fullest, so sorry to the celeb gossip crowd, this blog is for the ones who think freely. I will be adding statements on diffrent subjects, some will be serious, some will be funny. I then will feature the response of the week and comment on it. This blog is a way for people to express views and mabey learn a new insight on a particular subject. At any rate whether my views are valid are not are completely up to you the reader. Matters of the mind can cause complex discussions... let us begin.