Chingy? Really?
Chingy -- he of "Right Thurr," "Holidae In" and oddly misspelling easy words -- will be in Fresno today to talk about hip-hop and the community in a forum at Fresno State's Satellite Student Union. It's a free event starting at 4:30 p.m. There's an afterparty later in the evening at Salsa's.
When I heard the news of Chingy doing this forum, my reaction was the title of this blog post, "Chingy? Really?" Judging from this post on the blog of The Collegian, it looks like a lot of people are looking forward to Chingy coming to Fresno. Again: Chingy? Really?
I'm all for an event that looks at hip-hop's impact on society. I think it's an interesting topic -- even if Chingy's music is not what I consider good hip-hop. I applaud Dr. Julius Bailey (who teaches the Hip-Hop in America class at the university) for tackling the issue. In fact, I'm trying to make it to the event. But Chingy? Really? Maybe if it were KRS-One. Or Common. Or Talib Kweli.
Maybe I'm wrong here. Maybe Chingy the man is much different than his music. Maybe he's very intelligent and articulate, has profound things to say and is very much in touch with the roots of hip-hop as a social movement. His music isn't that. It's Nelly-ish sing-song stuff aimed at a mainstream radio audience that couldn't pick Kool Herc out of a lineup.
If Chingy's all those things I named off -- he very well might be -- and he's making mindless music, isn't that one of the problems with hip-hop in our society?
RELATED: Dr. Michael Eric Dyson will be speaking on April 25 at Fresno City College.
Comments:
Agreed, sir. I'd be interesting to see what he preaches at the forum and how it relates to his lyrics. They do need to bring back KRS-One, though....
Posted by: Brodiemash at April 17, 2008 11:23 AM
Apparently, Chingy likes to bowl. My brother works at the Student Union says Chingy was down there for a couple of hours getting pointers and whatnot. I wonder what he'd make of this.
Posted by: Famous at April 17, 2008 1:08 PM
Why?
Posted by: Justa at April 17, 2008 4:57 PM
Get over yourself Osegueda. You are not a writer for The Source, or XXL or even Blender. If I want to know opinions that matter in the state of Hip Hop or Rap or whatever any other music I would rather hear someone who actually has some qualifications or credibility/respect than hear your worthless opinions which are about as important as a bucket or rocks.
Posted by: Steve James at April 17, 2008 5:55 PM
so, wait, to have valid opinion on hip hop, you have to write for the sourse, xxl or some other industry magazine? someone tell that to most hip hop artists. because, they're constantly decrying the so-called hip hop magazines on their worthless opinions, uneven coverage, and lack of sense.
also, notify every listener of hip hop music that isn't satisfied with the mainstream sh** pushed by major magazines. tell them their not allowed to have an opinion. because, listening to hip hop, enjoying the music, and thinking critically about the artform as well as culture apparently isn't credential enough.
Posted by: ed at April 18, 2008 11:18 AM
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