Dear folks at Guitar Hero,

First of all I want to say that me and my wife really dig your game. All the artistry, craft and fun that went into it shine through. I appreciated the behind the scenes extras… I really felt like I got a feel for the staff making it all happen. We actually bought a second controller which is a bit of a big deal for us as we are not “gamers” in the conventional sense.

As a generally happy customer I just wanted to inquire about what I felt was a lack of black characters and songs with black folks behind the strings. On GH2 you have Slash on “Sweet Child of Mine,” and then there is only one black character and he’s an unlockable - not even available to use as a character until you’ve progressed to a certain point in the game.

I think it’s pretty common knowledge that Rock and Roll started out as black folks’ music. But perhaps i’m wrong… perhaps you might not have been exposed to those black artists and musicians that helped innovate the craft and continue to do so. Much like I was introduced to some newer white artists by playing GH1&2.

In the interest of sharing, here is a list of some of my personal Guitar Heros:

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An Uptown Cultural Landmark Explores New Dimensions in Sound

It would seem that a sensory environment drenched in sampled blackness is once again rewiring the aesthetic sensibilities of the general populace. Even the spin-talk of government officials makes use of rhythm, rhyme and meter in ways directly borrowed from black vernacular as filtered through commercialized hip-hop music (small ‘h’ intentional). Catch phrases like ‘24/7’ now grace tv spots for Citibank. Diagonal lines mimic spray-can scrawl in animated advertisements for cartoons and clothing. If the Smithsonian Institution’s recent inauguration of its Hip-Hop collection and the past decade’s experience of Hip-Hop as a growth industry within academia offer any indication, perhaps it is this: the time has come to recognize Hip-Hop as a culture whose apex during our era has transformed nearly every arena of public discourse, just as black cultural developments have done in every epoch of our history. (more…)

From disturbing observations to oven mitt eulogies, here are the ramblings and ruminations of a writer of color as she examines the social nuances of everyday life within - and without - big city limits.

Now Playing: Lemme Ghetta
By Hamida Kinge
5-23-06

“Won Ton Phooeyyyyy” the young man says in a barely-audible tone, with an accent lifted straight out a vintage Kung-Fu flick. It’s the kind of thing he might say louder if in the presence of his friends, but right now he seems to be no more than thinking aloud, as if subconsciously singing a familiar jingle.

As he enters the Chinese take-out joint, the man — 20-something with red-brown skin and a long, sandy-colored beard — is dressed de rigeur for the
part: army fatigue jacket, white tee and shin-length, wide-legged jeans accented by construction Tims.

He heads for the foggy, plexiglass window and upon reaching it, says wryly to the cashier, “Lemme  Ghetta Philly Blunt.” (more…)

One of the saddest things in the news now (and believe me it’s hard to pick with all the chaos going on in this Babylon) would have to be the ripple affect of the Danish ignorance in publishing offense Islamic cartoons. Now, I like Spongebob as much as the next kid but this is getting to be too much.

Recently, while listening to NPR, I heard some UC Irvine New Republican Group members defending their decision to republish the offensive Islamic cartoons by saying “we need to talk about the issue and have discourse about it.” Hold up, homey. What is with this desire in America for us to have “discourse” over everything? One time, when I was home alone as a latch key kid, I was curious and put my tongue in the freezer to see what would happen. You probably know the rest of the story—that shit hurt and I was so happy I was alone so that I could spend the rest of my embarrassed day watching “Green Acres” nursing a sore tongue without some “you dummy” comments from anyone other than myself. Yes, I was the fool in “A Christmas Story” who accepts the double dog dare and puts my tongue on a freezing surface. Had I read a book about the affects of tongues on freezing cold surfaces, I wouldn’t have done it. Somewhere, there existed evidence that I didn’t need to accept my own double dog dare and be in pain for a few days. Do the Danish have Google? Is there a Masjid there? How about a Quran? (more…)

HOW TO BE A POET
BY MIKE BELIEVE

Mike Believe brings you a tongue-in-cheek guide to getting your “slam” on

BEFORE YOU START:

1. Change your name
Sorry to tell you this, but the name ya mama gave you ain’t gonna cut it. The names of gods of lesser known religions always work. Prefixes like king, queen, sista or mother will do.

Here are some ideas to get you started: Chewbakah, Allah-zilla, tofu-pork, olos nah, albino jones, kizer SEW SAY, bob Marley jr jr, omega supreme, optimus prime, black Africa, Unspoken word, the brown hornet, SO SO BLACK, NICK SAINT, almighty dreadlock head wrap king Solomon, Jesus Jackson.

2. Look the part
It’s not what you say, but how you look when you say it. Here are some fashion tips for the aspiring slam star:

- DO NOT comb your hair. EVER. Grow locks if you can - might be a good prop later on. Also, facial hair works for both male and females.
- Head wraps & wool hats… appropriate in any season. Looking hot and uncomfortable will subconsciously bend the audience in your favor.
- Wear red black and green wrist-bands. If you’re not black, red gold and green works just as well.
- Approach the mic with a well-chewed chew-stick in your mouth.
- Rock t- shirts of slain political leaders. When Che or Malcolm X are not available, Bob Marley makes a good stand in.

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