Streetwise Big Hop: Eminem

Showing posts with label Eminem. Show all posts

Monday, October 16, 2017

Eminem vs. Agent Orange: A True American Horror Story By Shelah Moody

Eminem vs. Agent Orange: A True American Horror Story
By Shelah Moody
Call it the Trumpapocalypse.
From August 25 to September 3, Hurricane Harvey ripped through Texas, Louisiana, Belize, Nicaragua, and Honduras, causing 77 deaths and leaving thousands displaced in its wake.
September 16 to October 3-Hurricane Maria became known as the worst natural disaster on record in Dominica, causing catastrophic damage and a major humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico; estimated death toll: 90.
On the night of October 1, a lone gunman opened fire from his Mandalay Bay hotel room after knocking out the windows and rained down a hail of bullets on revelers at the Route 91 Harvest music festival on the Las Vegas strip, leaving 58 people dead and 489 injured.
Last week, a series of wildfires burning across the northern California, raging throughout Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino, Butte and Solano counties, destroyed homes and property and killed 32 people; hundreds are reported missing.
Welcome to the terrordome!
With such violent endings and beginnings of summer and fall, it seems like America barely had time to recover from one large-scale tragedy when another struck. It is safe to say that we all suffered from PTSD in one form or another since Donald Trump was elected U.S. president number 45 almost a year ago.
Enough is enough, said Marshall Mathers, a.k.a., Eminem, a white rapper from Detroit. On Oct. 11, the Grammy-winning hip hop artist unleashed his fury on the right wing Donald Trump administration via a cypher which made its televised debut at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards. https://www.bet.com/video/hiphopawards/2017/cyphers/eminem-vs-Donald-Trump-hha17.html.
“It’s the calm before the storm right here,” Eminem freestyles, while strolling through an underground parking garage as a group of young black men look on. “Wait, how was I gonna start this off? I forgot. Oh yeah. That’s an awfully hot coffee pot, should I drop it on Donald Trump? Probably not, but that’s all I got, ‘til I come up with a solid (expletive).”
Dressed in a basic black hoodie and gold chain, Eminem takes a few steps and a deep breath and then delivers the second blow.
“I got a plan and now I gotta hatch it like a damn Apache with a tomahawk, Ima walk inside a mosque on Ramadan and say a prayer that every time that (expletive) talks, aggh! !! Ima stop. But we better give Obama props cause what we got in office now’s a kamikaze that will probably cause a nuclear holocaust and while the drama pops and he waits for shit to quiet down, he’ll just gas his plane up and fly around till the bombing stops...”
Eminem, who achieved mainstream popularity via the Dr. Dre and Aftermath Entertainment produced “Slim Shady” LP in 1999, is no stranger to controversy. Several years back, he came under fire for perceived homophobic and misogynistic lyrics and redeemed himself via duet with Elton John on the televised 43rd annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Currently, Eminem is rumored to have a host of Trump supporters as fans, but he and his alter ego, Slim Shady, left no strings untied during his rant and made it clear who’s side they are on.
“The fact we’re not afraid of Trump, F— walkin’ on eggshells, I came to stomp, That’s why he keeps screamin’ ‘Drain the swamp’, ‘Cause he’s in quicksand, It’s like we take a step forward, then backwards, But this is his form of distraction, plus, he gets an enormous reaction when he attacks the NFL so we focus on that instead of talking Puerto Rico or gun reform for Nevada; All these horrible tragedies and he’s bored and would rather cause a Twitter storm with the Packers; then says he wants to lower our taxes; Then who’s gonna pay for his extravagant trips back and forth with his fam to his golf resorts and his mansions? Same s— that he tormented Hillary for and he slandered, then does it more from his endorsement of Bannon, Support for the Klansmen….”
Following the BET HIP Hop Awards, the Eminem anti-Trump cypher became the number one trending video on YouTube was the subject of more than two million tweets; it was also the subject of morning talk shows on CNN, ABC and other major networks. Eminem’s contemporaries tweeted their reactions, the most vivid coming from Snoop Dogg via video: “Detroit! Stand up! Eminem! Real Muthaf_____ nigga!”
Whether you love it or you hate it, in this writer’s opinion, Eminem should be commended because at least he took a stand. Whether you thought his verse was dope or whack, at least he said something. At press time, Trump, aka Agent Orange, has not responded on his favorite platform, the Twittosphere.
Eminem is not the only pop culture artist taking shots at the Trump administration. Season 7 of Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story: Cult” (my fav. guilty pleasure) http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/american-horror-storycenters around how fear mongering and mayhem have gripped a small midwestern town, similar to the one the rapper grew up in, following the November, 2016 election.
Listen to Eminem on Big Hop Radio! www.streetwisesd.com/radio

Friday, December 20, 2013

Holiday Exclusive--Up Close and Personal Bobby Newberry—Award Winning Choreographer Lights Up the Dance Floor with His New Single “Sweat.” By Shelah Moody

Holiday Exclusive--Up Close and Personal Bobby Newberry—Award Winning Choreographer Lights Up the Dance Floor with His New Single “Sweat.”

By Shelah Moody

Bobby Newberry is gonna make you sweat in 2014.

“Sweat,” is the new single from award winning choreographer Bobby Newberry, one of the most sensual performers in the music industry. “Sweat,” which dropped Dec.10 is currently available on iTunes. “Sweat” is the first single from Newberry’s EP, which will be released in January.

Newberry studied music formally in Orange County, CA, and also learned the art of the dance by watching the movements of dance icons such as Michael Jackson on video. After making a name for himself choreographing for the likes of Missy Elliot, Eminem and the Pussycat Dolls, Newberry is pursuing his true passion—singing.

You can also catch Newberry in your city as a guest choreographer on the Jump Tour, one of the largest dance conventions in the world. www.jumptour.com.

SM: Tell me about your career as an award winning choreographer.

BN: I moved to Los Angeles when I was 18. I got scholarships to study dance. I’ve been a singer my whole life; and dance happened for me first and I just went with it. I’ve had an amazing career as a choreographer. I was fortunate enough to work with the Pussycat Dolls, Missy Elliot and Eminem. I’ve worked on TV shows like “The X Factor” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Now, I’m making the transfer to music.

Shelah Moody: On that note, tell us about your first single, “Sweat.”

Bobby Newberry: I’m excited about it. It’s a fun, high energy dance track. I see people working out to it and dancing to it in the clubs and vibing to it. It’s one of those songs that make you feel good. For me, it pumps me up and gives me energy.

SM: Tell us about your previous tracks, before “Sweat.”

BN: I had three songs out last year. One was “Dirty Up,” an electric pop song featuring Jesse and the Toy Boys. Jesse actually opened up for Britney Spears on her Femme Fatale tour, and I was her creative director/choreographer. The song was really well received and a lot of dancers loved it. I also did a cover of “Bulletproof” by La Roux; it was a duet with Melody Thorton of the Pussycat Dolls.

SM: How would you describe the Bobby Newberry style of movement?

BN: It’s very unique. I think that it’s a blend of a lot of sharp, hard choreography and smooth and sexy movements.

SM: What’s it like choreographing hip hop artists such as Lil’ Wayne and Eminem?

BN: I worked with Porcelain Black, who was featuring Lil’ Wayne. We did the choreography on the set for a video. (Lil’ Wayne) didn’t do much choreography, I had to do (movements) around him and he kind of just stood there. It was about making him look hot with the girls around him.

SM: From your Facebook page, I can see that you have the perfect body, which you are very proud of. What is the secret to getting those fabulous abs?

BN: When you work really hard to get yourself in shape like that, you want to be able to show it. I work out really hard; I work out with a trainer twice a week. I do soul cycle, which is this hard, high energy cycling class. I also do advanced yoga.

SM: Tell us about the Jump Tour that you are embarking on.

BN: Yes, I’m part of a big convention/dance tour called “Jump,” and it goes to about 30 cities. I’m actually in the car headed to the airport right now. I fly out to different cities with other amazing choreographers like Mia Michaels. We teach classes, do photos and signings.

Check out Bobby Newberry:

On Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/BobbyNewberryVEVO

https://www.youtube.com/user/theBobbyNewberry

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobby.newberry

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The "Bitter-Sweet" of EMINEM

Image via Wikipedia

An only child of English, German, Swiss, and Polish ancestory, Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born on October 17th, 1972 in St. Joseph Missouri, where his father abandoned the family after a year--leaving he and his mother to live in poverty.

At the age of 12, they moved to Warren, Michigan near Detroit, where Mathers became interested in hip hop after buying the Beastie Boys album Licenced to lll.

Two years later, Mathers was performing amateur raps under the pseudonym "M&M", while also competing in free style rap battles at East Detroit's Osborn Highschool, where he would eventually drop out at age 17.

Upon joining the group "Soul Intent" and recording an extended play track called 'Steppin Onto The Scene', Mathers broke off to compete in more freestyle rap sessions, where he won numerous awards and gained approval of underground hip hop audiences.

It was also during these early, lean years that Mathers worked minimum wage jobs as a cook and dishwasher to support both his mother and young daughter Hailie,while honing his rap style and chasing his dream of wealth.

Before finally signing with FBT Productions in 1992, he lost his maternal uncle Ronnie Nelson to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, which devistated Mathers...who was close to his uncle.

While Mathers did manage to realease his debut album Infinite a few years later, its content often described his own life struggles raising a daughter, being broke, and abusing drugs, often to fight off depression and insomnia.

Shortly after the album's release, Mathers survived his own un-successful suicide attemt, which may have been the sling shot that launched him into better times...better yet--super stardom!

In 1998,record producer Dr. Dre signed Mathers to his 'Aftermath Entertainment' label, and they both began recording tracks for Eminem's first, major label album called "The Slim Shady LP".

In 1999, 'The Slim Shady LP' won a Grammy Award for 'Best Rap Album', as Billboard Magazine called it "light years ahead of any material Eminem has written so far"!

His next album, "The Marshall Matthews LP" became the fastest selling solo album in United States history, allowing Mathers his own label Shady Records, and his own group project "D12".

The Marshall Mathers LP and his third album, "The Eminem Show" also won Grammy's , making Eminem the first rap artist ever to win best album three strait years.

He also won another 'Best Album' Grammy in 2010 for "Relapse", giving Eminem a total of 11 career Grammy Awards!

In early 2003, I was working at the Mercado shopping center in Santa Clara, California not far from the AMC theater complex, where a huge crowd of teenage movie-goers packed the entire parking lot in long lines...all to see one of the first showings of a movie called 8-Mile!

It was nothing short of a mob scene! I later found out it starred the latest rap superstar Eminem...who, I admit I knew very little about...except that his popularity was capturing the imaginations of millions!

A week later, I saw "8-Mile" and truly enjoyed Eminem's only major film role.(He's appeared in a few more...and various TV shows including 'Entourage')

Wouldn't you know it, Mathers won an Academly Award for 'Best Original Song' for "Lose Yourself", who's lyrics portrayed him as the lead man, also growing up poor in urban Detroit with a single mom, troubled romances, depression, and a desire to prove himself as a star rapper--which he achieved in the film, and, of course....in real life!

"Lose Yourself'" went on to become the longest running #1 hip hop single ever recorded, and it led Mathers to take a breather from making records for a few years.

Then, in 2009 his successful release of the album "Relapse" awarded him the 'Best Music Artist of the Decade on theUS Nielsen SoundScan which also recognized Mathers as selling more than 80-million albums worldwide!

In 2010, he released his seventh studio album called "Recovery", which became his sixth consecutive number-one album in the U.S. achieving international, commercial success in several other countries, and stayed on top of the U.S. Billboard 200 chart for five consecutive weeks.

Throughout his career, Mathers has also been in the midst of controversy and criticism, mostly regarding terse lyrical references directed at stars like 'Michael Jackson', 'Mariah Carey', 'Christina Aguilera', and even the President of the United States,('George Bush')...who had the F.B.I. ready to interrogate Eminem for song lyrics implying his preference for a dead president!

However, despite the fact Mathers has never avoided pushing the envelope to its max, he's always performed in strait-up fashion-- in his life experiences, in his clear, intense, and inspiring lyrics, and, finally...with his own distinct and entertaining style!.

It's not hard to wonder why Vibe magazine labeled 'Eminem' the greatest rapper alive in 2008, while VH-1 has him ranked 79th on their Top 100 artists of all time list---just a slim shade better than Rolling Stone magazine's ranking of 82nd all time!

Thanks so much, and make sure to catch Eminem on Streetwise Radio's BIG HOP!!

Sincerely,

PeteCam4