Open Letter: Jay Z vs. Politicians & Critics

Jamal Press

If you’re like me, while scrolling any social media outlet or blog, you ran into a link to Jay Z’s new track “Open Letter”. I normally don’t rush to listen to whatever new song is out but this one was causing so much drama I had to know what the deal was. So I listened and it made me laugh. One, because of Swizz Beatz “Y’all gone learn today” adlibs. And two, because of the ridiculousness behind what brought on the “Open Letter” from Jay Z.

Apparently, Florida Lawmakers have had some strong opinions about Jay Z and Beyonce’s trip to Cuba for their 5th wedding anniversary. They traveled under the “people to people” cultural exchange program. Now feel free to express your opinions about the 53 yr trade embargo that we imposed on Cuba because of human rights violations (it’s been going on for 53 YEARS… I don’t think it’s WORKING), but don’t Florida politicians have bigger problems to deal with? Maybe dealing with a certain *ahem* Stand Your Ground Law?

No? Ok, how about the fact that Florida leads the nation in foreclosures?

No?

Ok, then I guess if none of these issues is more important than stopping Jay Z and Beyonce from going to Cuba for their anniversary, proceed.

But don’t be mad when Jigga releases Takeover 2…

Instagram: @JamalPress

Twitter: @JamalPress

Facebook: weRtheChase

What do you think? (comment below!)

A LOOK AT WHAT HIP HOP MEANS TO ME

                                    by Paul Jones

What Up.  I am Paul Jones of the WORLD RENOWNED HIP HOP GROUP…THE CHASE.  This is my first blog post on our website.  

So my friend posted something on Facebook about Hip Hop, Christianity, and using it to make a change.  Here is what she said:

Gotta find a way to make Hip Hop still relevant to heads and youngsters but with a focus on serving God! I love Hip Hop even though I’m a follower of Christ. My dilemma is that the conscientious of it has left Hip Hop and of course the language, but as Christians we can’t be fools to believe were going to get these younguns without connecting with them on a personal level and Hip-Hop is part of our culture! Why we love Hip-Hop & Rap because these artist are speaking to our culture in some ways (Not All) and we connect to the music and situations within the lyrics. Gotta get these old and new heads that want a relationship with God but haven’t found the bridge – Got my work hat on! Peace!

Later, she tagged me in her post and asked me to respond.  Now this was right before I had to leave to go to work.  However, I got so caught up in my response that I ended up being late for work.  This is what I  said:

Wow…this an awesome post. I agree with it in a lot of ways. As a child, my favorite genre was not gospel….it was Hip Hop. It was not only entertaining but spiritual to me. Though I grew up in not only the Church, but in a conservative religion, Seventh-day Adventism, my surrounding was still very much connected to your average working class black/urban culture. Being an Adventist helped me in my overall understanding of God and it helped me to develop a moral code about life and provided discipline and structure. At the same time, I could not deny the cultural influences of drugs, women, materialism, gangs, violence, police brutality, anger and different things that also contributed to my development as a Black man. Gospel never really spoke to that side of me. It never explained why people looked at me differently or why I could not get along with my teachers or how to deal with police brutality or what to do when people robbed our house or how to protect my lil sister from the influences in our areas. It gave me an overall idea but not how to deal with the day to day struggles of being a child in the 80s and 90s. A man that was raised to be pro black but was surrounded and reminded of the negative attributes related to black people

Thats when 2 pac, Goodie MOB and Outkast came in. Thats when Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli and The Roots came in. thats where Jill Scott A Tribe Called Quest and Nas came in.

These people helped me understand who I was as a Black Man and helped me to be proud of my race culture, and my generation. They helped give me a voice. SO the poetry that I was writing as a child that was inspired by my aunt and Langston Hughes and others I could now add my own voice to it. With a Boom bap and a base. These artists helped bridge the gap in my soul. They spoke to the other dynamic of who I was that was not just an Adventist or a Christian or a church boy. It gave me creativity and art and a way to express myself. Something to be proud of that MY culture had done. I did not have to look at my white teachers or white community leaders for inspiration any more and that liberated me

Once I started listening to real hip hop…then I became more serious about reading, getting an education and not only making God and myself happy…but my ancestors and all those people who came before me.  Hip Hop helped me see myself in history and in world society. Hip Hop helped liberate me and grow me. And I was SOOO Proud of H.E.R for that

Now…that Ive grown up a lil bit I can honestly say that my life is more balanced. I like Hip Hop but I don’t “worship” it like I used to. God has helped me maintain a balance between the its positive attributes and his purpose for my life. The older I get, the more I move towards not a genre of music but a message that he has for me and I am even more liberated.  But no matter where I go and what I listen to…I will always have an appreciation for what Hip Hop is and what she did for me

*sorry this was soo long…but I got a lil passionate and over the top…LOL

Proud to be an 80′s baby and a product of the Hip Hop Culture

Paul Jones   (Duval)

The Married Life

AMurphy II

Oh the GOOD life! The Honeymoon was amazing!! Maui was beautiful! The mountains and the beaches were so breathtaking I can only imagine how wonderful Heaven will be. Two weeks in and I have to say this is 100x better than anything I could have possibly dreamed.

All right, I mean, there are some things that I have to get used to. Like for instance, the random kicks in the leg in the middle of the night, waking up with scratches I know I didn’t give myself, and just our different sleeping patterns in general that we’re still trying to iron out.  So yea, for right now the nights may be a little interesting in ways I didn’t necessarily imagine and I may wake up bloodied and sore but to be able to look over and see my beautiful best friend every morning is such a blessing from God.

Love and Marriage are two wonderful gifts from God. Marriage is even a mathematical miracle where God can take 1+1 and make it actually equal 1 (Mark 10:8).  To truly love and be married/stay married requires great effort and God must be the main fixture. God is the focus of our marriage

Even if you’re not married, sharing God’s gift of love with others can be equally rewarding. You can find your purpose in life when you stop focusing solely

on ones self and put that energy towards focusing on others and their well being.

Peace Positivity and Love

Murphy

Instagram: @amurphyii

Twitter: @amurphyii

Facebook: weRtheChase