Hip-Hop Double Feature: Check 1,2....
Hip-Hop Double Feature: Check 1,2....
By: JR / Illasever, Bakotopia.com contributor
Description: It wasn't easy being a b-boy in Bako back in the day...the double dip.
Topics: public enemy, Bakotopia, Bakersfield, csub, November 22, 1992, pharcyde, Rage Against The Machinem Black Student Union, b-boy, B-Girl, Rap, hip-hop, Hysteria, Culture, Police
Posted by jr Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:00:31 PST
Viewed 380 times
0 responses 1 comment Location: 9001 Stockdale Hwy., Bakersfield, CA 93311
DOUBLE FEATURE:
Hip-hop testimony / Public Enemy at CSUB '92
It wasn't easy being a b-boy in Bako back in the day...the double dip.
By JR, Bakotopia.com contributor
I - Testimony
I’m the guy who calls himself “illasever” and I’ve been “licensed to ill” since ‘86 when I bought my first Beastie Boys tape of the same name at the swap meet for $5.
The Beasties and the whole hip-hop way of life has been a major influence on my way of living - stylistically and of course, fashionably. I always rocked the hat to the back and kept the pants saggin’ just a little.
I love everything about the culture - graffiti, breakdancing, MCs, rhymes, the boasting, DJs, b-boys and fly girls. I’m down with the second and third wave of hip-hop that came from the east coast - the Beasties, Run DMC, Boogie Down Productions and Jungle Brothers -”Queens is in the house represent - represent!”
These were the early days of rap when it was all about bragging about you and your crew, just trying to get girlies on the dance floor to “shake dat ass.” It was nice, but the music eventually evolved and changed. Rap had moved to the west coast, along the way venturing into the dirty south, the midwest and then, of course, landing in the city of Compton!
Did I like when rap went it relocated to the west? I didn’t hate it. I enjoyed the upbeat house party vibe both sides of the coast were giving us listeners. I mean, yeah, I like Dre, Snoop and, of course, Cypress Hill - but that’s another story. Although rap holds a prominent place in my music collection, its hip-hop from the east that I prefer to the gangsta rap of the west. ‘Nuff said - I don't wanna start any beef ... lol!
Is hip-hop alive in Bakersfield? Is hip hop alive in America? Unfortunately, the beats and rhymes have become all too commercialized, and true hip-hop culture is dying slowly. I’m sure there are a few purists and down ass hip-hop heads right here in Bako, right? Maybe I just haven’t found them?
II - Fear of a Rap Planet
I remember when Public Enemy came to CSUB in ‘92. I want to say it was about November because I don’t remember it being too hot at the show. What I do remember about the show was how much damn security was around and all the fuss the media made about the show in the weeks leading up to it.
(Public Enemy)
You gotta remember this was ‘92 and the west coast gangsta rap had all of America in a panic. Our local media, not knowing a thing about the positive message Public Enemy preached, immediately assumed there would be naked girls on stage and guys with ski masks toting AKs running around. NO! This was PE and Chuck D - not 2 Live Crew!
Yes, the gangsta rap phenom to some extent was really crazy for the times, as it pushed the envelope - but in the middle of all this gun toting, stood a group from Long Island, New York, who although were radical thinkers themselves, brought a positive message challenging their listeners to take control and be accountable for themselves. The media should have welcomed PE with open arms, maybe even invited Chuck D to speak with students, community leaders and youth groups at CSUB. Instead, the media wrote them off as just rappers, portraying them as if they didn’t have a positive message.
The local TV and print news were out in force reporting news along the lines of, “Will Public Enemy be an enemy to the public, and attract gangs to the show?”
Ridiculous... When the shows announcement was initially made, I thought it would surely be cancelled. But afterwards I heard the show might get canceled because tickets weren’t selling - I made sure to grab one. The whole time I was thinking, “Man, I hope the cops and the press don't ruin this night.”
But believe me, they did everything to try and make sure they did.
My buddies and I arrived to the show early. There were so many police and security present, I was positive something had already gone wrong. The lines to get in took forever. They even had security frisking us all, and dogs sniffing us over.
I was told I couldn't wear my Stussy brand baseball cap into the show. When I protested they threatened to kick me out, so I had to trek it back to my and drop off my hat before they would let me in.
The outcome of the night was a double-edged sword. On the down side, all the bad publicity leading up the show resulted in a poor turnout. A good turnout could have meant more shows like this in the future. On the bright side, the show rocked. Public Enemy took the stage and Chuck D had a lot to say about the media and the bad publicity his crew had received. He thanked the crowd for having the guts to show up - then PE tore it up!
There were so few people in attendance I was able to stand right up front with my buddies, just inches away from Chuck D and Flavor Flav without fear of being trampled by a crazy crowd. But PE wasn’t the only treat that night.
The show's opening band had a lead singer who gave the finger to a media helicopter as it hovered over the crowd, and who 10 minutes into the set had a couple hundred people who had never scene or even heard of this band before screaming at the top of their lungs “F**k you, I won’t do what’cha tell me!” The singer’s name was Zack De La Rocha, and the name of the band was Rage Against the Machine.
(Rage Against The Machine)
By Christmas of that same year their self-titled debut would be all over the charts and the rest is history.
So, I curse the media for trying to ruin our good time that night at Cal State back in ‘92, but then again I thank them for scaring so many people away and making our first encounter with Rage Against The Machine an intimate and special occasion.
I’m JR, and I’m out…
(Pharcyde also performed that evening..true dat!)
Originally printed in Bakotopia Magazine, Issue 17, 12-13-07
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |
Wed Dec 12, 2007 16:56:43 PST
PE... crazy PE!!!
Bakotopia helps people in Bakersfield, California find cool events, meet up, buy and sell stuff, find jobs and more. Learn more about us.
| Peeps to Meet | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meet More People
|
||
|
|
||
|
Who Knows Who?
Dizzyfingers
- 1469 friends
captainmorgan
- 990 friends
firebrats
- 921 friends
thenovelist
- 887 friends
matt
- 867 friends
>> Invite friends
to move up!
|
||
|
|
||
|
Meet People Who Like ...
Bakotopia, painting, I love music in general. I range from outlaw country to Hip-hop , Tattoos, Shopping, comedy, shoes, Computers, Classic Rock, sex, local bands, laughing, cooking, the beach, reading, local music, bakersfieldbands, cars, Football, traveling, Guitar, art, music, camping, mento buru, singing, mexican food, good food, talking, Photography, walking, Poetry, sleeping, live music, Wine, beaches, writing, piercings, Dancing, Travel, concerts, family, chewing gum, friends, hiking, Fishlips, funk, movies, Beer, The Beatles.
|
||
| View Them All | Add Yours! | ||
Local time is currently Tue Dec 2, 2008 2:41:20 am PST
Bakotopia is 100% local to Bakersfield, CA, USA
