What’s Going On?
October 29, 2007 by Marenda
Filed under Blast from the Past
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In the words of Marvin Gaye: “What’s Going On?” Do you care?
I saw this video on BlackHandSide of an all star remix of Marvin Gaye’s timeless classic and was moved. Enjoy 
What’s Going On (Dupri Original Mix)
Co-producer - Wyclef Jean
Featuring - NSYNC , Aaron Lewis , Alicia Keys , Backstreet Boys , Bono , Britney Spears , Christina Aguilera , Darren Hayes , Destiny’s Child , Eve, Fred Durst , Gwen Stefani , Ja Rule, Jennifer Lopez , Jermaine Dupri , Mary J. Blige , Michael Stipe , Nas , Nelly , Nelly Furtado , Nona Gaye , and P. Diddy
What’s Going On All Star Re-Mix Lyrics:
Popularity: 3% [?]
When Hip Hop Had a Message
October 15, 2007 by Marenda
Filed under Blast from the Past
Remember when Hip Hop songs meant something? remember when there was a relevant message? Today I take you way back with an important blast from the past.
This song burned deep in my mind this morning as I ran a few errands throughout my neighborHOOD. The last verse of the song struck a nerve deep down with an intensity that I’m hard pressed to explain…
If your neighborHOOD is like mine perhaps you’ll feel me…
The last verse of The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five:
A child is born, wih no state of mind
Blind to the ways of mankind
God is smiling but he is frowning too
Cause only god knows what you go through
You grow in the ghetto, living second rate
And your eyes will sing a song of deep hate
The places you play and where you stay
Looks like one great big alley way
You’ll admire all the numberbook takers;
thugs, pimps, pushers and the big money makers
Driving big cars, spending twenties and tens
And you wanna grow up to be just like them
Smugglers, scrambles, burglars, gamblers
Pickpocketers, peddlers and even pan-handlers
You say I’m cool, I’m no fool
But then you wind up dropping out of highschool
Now you’re unemployed, all null ‘n’ void
Walking around like you’re pretty boy Floyd
Turned stickup kid, look what you done did
Got send up for a eight year bid
Now your man hood is took and you’re a Maytag
Spend the next two years as an undercover fag
Being used and abused, and served like hell
Till one day you was find hung dead in a cell
It was plain to see that your life was lost
You was cold and your body swung back and forth
But now your eyes sing the sad sad song
Of how you lived so fast and died so young
Don’t push me, cause I’m close to the edge
I’m trying not to loose my head
It’s like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder
How I keep from going under
Popularity: 2% [?]
Blast From the Past: It’s Like That
September 18, 2007 by Marenda
Filed under Blast from the Past
Blast From the Past is a Reflection on Old School Classic Songs that are Timeless as they are still relevant to what’s going on in the world today.
Our blast from the past classic for today is RUN DMC’s “It’s Like That.” Here’s the video and lyrics below. Reflect & Enjoy.
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RUN DMC LYRICS
“It’s Like That”
[Run]
Unemployment at a record highs
People coming, people going, people born to die
Don’t ask me, because I don’t know why
But it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
[D.M.C.]
People in the world tryin to make ends meet
You try to ride car, train, bus, or feet
I said you got to work hard, you want to compete
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Huh!
[Run & D.M.C. alternate lines for the remainder of the song]
Money is the key to end all your woes
Your ups, your downs, your highs and your lows
Won’t you tell me the last time that love bought you clothes?
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Bills rise higher every day
We receive much lower pay
I’d rather stay young, go out and play
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Huh!
Wars going on across the sea
Street soldiers killing the elderly
Whatever happened to unity?
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Disillusion is the word
That’s used by me when I’m not heard
I just go through life with my glasses blurred
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Huh!
You can see a lot in this lifespan
Like a bum eating out of a garbage can
You noticed one time he was your man
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
You should have gone to school, you could’ve learned a trade
But you laid in the bed where the bums have laid
Now all the time you’re crying that you’re underpaid
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
Huh!
One thing I know is that life is short
So listen up homeboy, give this a thought
The next time someone’s teaching why don’t you get taught?
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
If you really think about it times aren’t that bad
The one that flexes with successes will make you glad
Stop playing start praying, you won’t be sad
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
Huh!
When you feel you fail sometimes it hurts
For a meaning in life is why you search
Take the bus or the train, drive to school or the church
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Here’s another point in life you should not miss
Do not be a fool who’s prejudiced
Because we’re all written down on the same list
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
Huh!
You know it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Because it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Popularity: 1% [?]
Schools Should Bring Back Home Economics
July 22, 2007 by Living Life Abundantly
Filed under Blast from the Past
Back in the day schools had Home Economics and classes like Autoshop as part of the required curriculum. When I was in school those classes were long gone. In looking back I wish those classes were required then and I believe that schools should certainly bring them back now…of course with a modern day twist.
Its fair to say we are taught to be consumers. Instead of using our hands to create unique styles and fashions we go to the mall, instead of hemming our own clothes or sewing on buttons we go to the dry cleaners…time is always the excuse for buying fast food rather than preparing a home cooked meal…I have heard many people say that they eat out because they can’t cook. That’s insane, they can’t cook because they don’t want to cook. How hard is it to pick up a cookbook or turn on Rachel Ray’s 30 minute meals?
Men and women should know how to prepare a decent meal, balance a checkbook, clean a house properly, replace a missing button, take care of a family, spend money wisely, and so forth. I know that not everyone wants children or a family for that matter, but the fact remains that Everyone should know how to run a home and how to do basic maintenance on a car.
Home Economics courses are a great way to prepare young adults for leaving the nest. While the expectation is that parents will prepare their children…the reality is that some kids have poor examples, others spend little to know time with their parents, and some parents cripple their children by doing everything for them. Teaching the fundamentals of maintaining a household should be a no brainer.
The ideal Home Economics class would touch on matters such as:
- Food Preparation & Nutrition
- Recycling
- Consumer Science
- Family Relations
- Basic Tailoring/Sewing
- Parenting
- Child Development
- First Aid
- Household Expense Budgeting
- Credit Management
- Money Management
- Time Management
- Home Buying/Ownership
- Home Design & Interior Decorating
- Safety/Emergency Preparation
The AutoShop classes would cut down on people getting ripped off by mechanics and places like EZ Lube. When my 1st car broke down on me a shady mechanic got over on me. since then I’ve been leary of mechanics they can just tell you anything and charge whatever…its not like you can look under the hood and say nope thats wrong. It sucks!
Back in the day it was customary that dads taught their sons to change tires and the oil etc…Now with absentee fathers and fathers that didn’t have the benefit of autoshop or a dad to teach them young men have no choice but to take their cars to an autoshop. Women are on the road driving just as much as men if not more. Ladies, what happens if you’re driving through an area the tire blows out, your cellphone is out of range, no onstar, and no gas station in sight? You’re stuck if you don’t know how to change a tire lol.
Why has Home Economics and Autoshop disappeared from schools? I can think of more Pro’s than I can Cons of why these classes should be required. What do you think?
Popularity: 1% [?]
