Guest Blogger: Doni D
Doni D, another one of the 12 competitors for the First Annual Hip Hop Karaoke Championship, guests on the blog today. Doni's topic is...
Reinvention:
I was able to get my hands on Kwame's first album and it made me think of folks who have been able to reinvent themselves. Kwame was the polka dot & blond high top fade(i thought it was the continent of africa) design in his head dude from the golden era. Now he's a producer.
A few months ago I read an article and in the pic was one of my favorite hosts from my high school years, Mayheim, formerly of the New York Live show on 89.1 and a major contributor to the late 90's hits on Penalty records.
When Jay Dee changed his name to Jay Dilla, I wasn't a fan at first. I didn't know who or what Dilla was, then I heard the Frank N Dank singles and the Welcome to Detroit album and became an even bigger fan of Mr. Yancy.
In essence this post is about reinvention. I reinvent myself daily, but i realize this is not reinvention but elements of myself that grow and morph as time goes along. I use to be an emcee 10 years ago and in a few days I'll be performing in front of my largest crowd ever in NYC (which wouldn't be if I didn't bump into Josh & Gusto at the Radio City Hall, Roots show).
Where was this going, oh yeah, the older I get the more I realize you aren't just one thing. Music has always allowed folks the opportunity to not only reinvent themselves but express areas that only they know in private (we all have been or are shower singers and emcees) If your job sucks, your stressed because your bank account is not going to afford that flat screen tv for the next year or you just want to hear some good music and an opportunity to perform it yourself, drop on by and get it out your system.(Pause)
And what did this have to do with Hip Hop. Everything.
- Doni D
Reinvention:
I was able to get my hands on Kwame's first album and it made me think of folks who have been able to reinvent themselves. Kwame was the polka dot & blond high top fade(i thought it was the continent of africa) design in his head dude from the golden era. Now he's a producer.
A few months ago I read an article and in the pic was one of my favorite hosts from my high school years, Mayheim, formerly of the New York Live show on 89.1 and a major contributor to the late 90's hits on Penalty records.
When Jay Dee changed his name to Jay Dilla, I wasn't a fan at first. I didn't know who or what Dilla was, then I heard the Frank N Dank singles and the Welcome to Detroit album and became an even bigger fan of Mr. Yancy.
In essence this post is about reinvention. I reinvent myself daily, but i realize this is not reinvention but elements of myself that grow and morph as time goes along. I use to be an emcee 10 years ago and in a few days I'll be performing in front of my largest crowd ever in NYC (which wouldn't be if I didn't bump into Josh & Gusto at the Radio City Hall, Roots show).
Where was this going, oh yeah, the older I get the more I realize you aren't just one thing. Music has always allowed folks the opportunity to not only reinvent themselves but express areas that only they know in private (we all have been or are shower singers and emcees) If your job sucks, your stressed because your bank account is not going to afford that flat screen tv for the next year or you just want to hear some good music and an opportunity to perform it yourself, drop on by and get it out your system.(Pause)
And what did this have to do with Hip Hop. Everything.
- Doni D
posted by Hip Hop Karaoke :: NYC at 11:03 AM
10 Comments:
Whatever it was u were smoking when u wrote this, I'd like some. That's that introspective shit, son.
Pac is the King of reinvention. He went from Harlem-born, Panther family kid with a theater/performing arts bent to Digital Underground side man to west coast thug life representer. Then he reinvented death. Some heads still ain’t sure he’s dead. (I think he's living on the farm in Ohio with Dave Chappelle.)
On the other end of the spectrum is Robert Van Winkle. He went from suburban Dallas breakdancer to metrosexual “hard-core” rapper Vanilla Ice (who me, sample?) to dreadlocked gangsta rap wannabe to heavy metal rap wannabe to reality TV chair-thrower. Hollywood is crazy, y’all.
And speaking of so-called reality TV, need I even mention Flava Flav???!! I see why Diggs wants to bring the '90's back.
The most famous one of all: How about when MC Hammer, aka the Funky Headhunter, went gangster?
"We like the girls with the pumps and a bump!"
When I think of reinventing I think of the skit from OutKast's Return of the G:
"First they was some pimps, man. . . then they was some aliens, or some genies, or some shit. . . then they be talkin' bout that black righteous space. . . "
I always liked how OutKast reinvented themselves on almost every album they released. Now. . . Snoop doing the T-Pain thang on that new joint. . . not so much. . .
I was on that damn the Knicks lost another game, well at least the Giants are in the superbowl juice.
I was actually ready to ax this blog. Guess it worked. Happy you enjoyed.
That Scott Storch produced track by MC Hammer, Hammertime, is mad underrated.
Nah Pacdidn't reinvent, he was just always himself.
knicks played it close until the last 2 minutes of the first half. then steady decline from there on out. highlight of the second half was various spotlights on giants sitting at courtside.
reinvention - mark whalberg
reinvention - will smith
reinvention - ice t
Charlie I agree
No WTF is Doni doing on a horse comments? OK
reinvention = De La Soul, Michael Franti, and for a little CanCon (Canadian content), Alanis Morrissette.
House of Pain's Everlast rapper turned acoustic rock rapper.
Queen Latifah from Native Tongue to Flava Unit to Living Single to the Big Screen to Broadway to Jazz Singer and a Cover Girl model somewhere in between.
and...
Murder Mase to Ma$e to Preacher Mase back to Murder Mase
intreseting!!!!
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