New America Media; September 7, 2011 Read on newamericamedia.org Recently the actor/comedian Katt Williams came under fire for dressing down a Mexican American heckler during a performance in Phoenix Arizona. Williams’ uber-patriotic, mean and visceral tirade against the heckler went viral and was immediately compared to Michael Richards – Kramer from Seinfeld –- and his…Read more What’s Long and Hard on a Black Man? How Katt Williams Blew It
Arts and Culture
Opulent Obscenity — Classes Clash at Belmont Classic
New America Media, Feature, Published: June 12, 2009 Belmont, New York -- It is the morning of the Belmont Stakes and young souls are preparing for a day of self-indulgence, honoring decades of tradition and rejecting American society’s recent calls for modesty and reason. The landing above Track 18 at Penn Station is a giddy,…Read more Opulent Obscenity — Classes Clash at Belmont Classic
Broken Glass, Broken American Dream: Hip Hop’s Come a Long Way From the South Bronx to Times Square
New America Media, Published December 5, 2008 Editor's Note -- The new art exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York -- Broken Glass -- gives the commentator a shocking view of the South Bronx during the time Hip Hop was making it's first infant cries in the poverty stricken borough. Russell Morse…Read more Broken Glass, Broken American Dream: Hip Hop’s Come a Long Way From the South Bronx to Times Square
We Gettin’ Ay-Rab Money!
New America Media, Published December 1, 2008 There’s really no way to prepare you for this song. Just sit back and let your brain explode. Yes, that is Busta Rhymes rapping over a hook in Arabic. And, yes, “Arab Money” is pronounced “Ay-Rab Money”. The concept seems to be that he admires the amount of money…Read more We Gettin’ Ay-Rab Money!
RUN DNC — Hip Hop Generation Comes of Age with Obama
New America Media, Commentary, Published Aug. 29, 2008 Editor’s Note: Hip Hop's involvement in the Obama campaign is not forced but the result of the awakening of a political generation that had nobody legit to rally around until now, writes NAM contributor Russell Morse. Morse is a New York based writer for New America Media. DENVER…Read more RUN DNC — Hip Hop Generation Comes of Age with Obama
Barack Rhymes With Tupac
New America Media, Commentary (Millennial View), Published Mar. 20, 2008 Editor's Note: Two of this generations most gifted orators are in the news this week. Barack Obama confronted race in a historic speech and new revelations about the origins of the beef that ended Tupac Shakur's life shook the rap world. Russell Morse is a New York…Read more Barack Rhymes With Tupac
No Country for Old White Men – or There Will Be Mud
New America Media, Commentary, Published Feb. 3, 2008 Editor’s Note: Hollywood and the primaries are vying for the front-page news. But there are parallels between movies nominated for the Oscars this year and the stories of the election, notes NAM contributing writer Russell Morse. As Hollywood vies with politics in the 24-hour news cycle, I realized…Read more No Country for Old White Men – or There Will Be Mud
Master P: The Very Image of Success
rollingstone.com, Published Jan. 31, 2007 At long last, we can close Master P’s “Where is he now?” casebook with a less than obvious answer: The No Limit Records founder and one of the world’s richest hip-hop moguls — nom de plume: P. Miller — is giving real estate seminars with the gatekeepers of personal enrichment…Read more Master P: The Very Image of Success
Lupe Fiasco
Rolling Stone Magazine, Published Sep. 7, 2006 Chicago's young MC has a hit single, Kanye in his corner, a black belt and the fall's hottest debut Lupe Fiasco is backstage in Chicago, running from security guards. A few seconds earlier, he was goofing around with his friends in a competition he calls "Feats of Strength…Read more Lupe Fiasco
Method Man Puts on a Happy Face
Rolling Stone, Published Jul. 31, 2006 Available on rollingstone.com After his worst year ever, the Wu-Tang MC vows "4:21" will do the trick "I still got a dark cloud over me," Method Man announces. "Shit is fucked up, man." The Wu-Tang MC has had a rough year. Along with the career doldrums he's been stuck in…Read more Method Man Puts on a Happy Face