MayFR -E 2007E! TAKE ONE 65-9 May Edition 2007 CONGRATULATIONS TO TEXABAMA FOR GETTIN’ THOSE SPINS 2 ON LOCAL RADIO FOR “LIKE A PLAYA!” May - 2007 DROP THE BEAT TV: THE LOW DOWN. THE BEAT GOES ON along with his partner Miki Jam, created and By Venancio “Gonzo” Gonzalez began to promote the institution that is Drop the Beat. “An enterprise, when fairly once begun, should not be left till all that ought is won”. Once off and running, Drop the Beat sought to Shakespeare believed in perseverance enough STAFF get the low down with some of Hip Hop’s to write these words and with good reason. It biggest names such as A Tribe called Quest, Publisher: is an attribute that has gotten Hip Hop well N.W.A., Mack 10, Scarface, DJ Quik, Naughty Scorpion Media of Texas past its prophesized death of the late eighties. by Nature, Cypress Hill, and the late rappers The way of Disco many said it would go and Editor In Chief: Easy E & Notorious B.I.G. Week after week many a head has gotten a chuckle from that Chuck Jones Drop the Beat would keep the hottest and notion. And on its rise to worldwide admira- freshest interviews going alongside a wide ar- tion and acknowledgement Hip Hop has Web Coordinator: ray of equally classic videos weeks before brought up with it an entire crop of dedicated Scorpion Media of Texas their M.T.V. and B.E.T. releases. storm riders. Since 1991 Mr. Ron “Rock- Staff Writers: etron” Hernandez has been a staple of the San By 2003 Drop the Beat had been nominated Venancio “Gonzo” Gonzalez Antonio rap scene. for several prestigious awards, including being Contributing Writers: nominated for Billboard Music Awards “Best At a time when most of us were simply soak- Cruz Gatica, Sherril Metal, Local/Regional Show” three years in a row. In ing in the classics to be of the genre, Rock- J.P. Oates, Scotty Ward, 2005 Drop the Beat went silent when a media etron was looking for ways to bring the real- Chuck Jones blackout, caused by contract disputes between ness to the hungry ears here in San Antonio. Time Warner cable and the City, forced all Other Contributors: It was in that year that an eager film student, Mary Jane da Dame, Jesus community voices off the air. Cosme, Lady Hustle, Ife Atkins, Never one to be thwarted, Rocketron has reemerged from this hiatus and is back to pick Retail/Classified Advertising: up the banner and bring more Hip Hop to San Scorpion Media of Texas Antonio. Drop the Beat is once again on the airwaves with a brand new format, an “aggres- Circulation: “White Diamonds” (San Antonio) sive style and segments that will be sure to hit Philip “K-Oz” Hernandez (Seguin, home”. Rocketron has retained his position New Braunfels & San Marcos), of executive producer but has turned the reigns Rodney Douglas (Houston, Dallas & of hosting over to local San Antonio rapper Shreveport), SA Urban Staff (San Doc GonZo. Antonio streets) continued on page 5 Layout/Design: Scorpion Media of Texas the sa-ttown urban street pulse Send all correspondence to: [email protected] or call (210) 568-3816 IT’S YA GIRL NAY NAY or via our website: “I’m now 20 years old, I’ve been in the biz for a minute now.” www.sa-urban.com www.myspace.com/saurban I started when I was in high school just free-styling and what they call cuttin’ on folks. Policy: Publishing an article is the sole discretion of the publish- I believe I have a major talent and I’m just waiting to be er. The views and opinions ex- discovered. I produce my own music as well as music for pressed by writers are not neces- sarily those of the publishers. other artists. I’m also working on my solo album. The publisher will not be responsi- I perform everywhere. I don’t care where it’s at, even if ble for more than one incorrect in- it’s in a li’l pool hall, I just consider them practice. I sertion and then only to the extent do my music with my people which are J.G. “the of make-good insertion for not young pimp” & Big Gen “the muscles”. These more than one time. Advertisers two are truly talented. are advised to read their adver- tisement the first day after publi- My mom, “White Diamonds” which is also my cation for possible errors. manager, has helped me to stay on top of my SA Urban News game. Now it’s time for everyone to see my face assumes no responsibility for and hear my words. unsolicited material. I want to give thanks to the haters & snakes, you Any use or reproduction in part all build my criteria. I also want to thank SA Ur- or whole is forbidden without the ban because they have showed love for me since expressed written permission of day one. the publisher. SA Urban, ©2005-2007. Much thanks to the home of the Lone Star ‘cus SA Urban News is a that’s what I represent. Last, but certainly not Scorpion Media of Texas least, thanks to my father above for keeping me Pulication. on this earth to show his true talented child ‘cause tomorrow is not promised. ~Ya girl Nay IF YOU AIN’T PREPARED TO FACE THE S.A. STREETS... 3 May - 2007 KEEP YO MOUTH SHUT AND HANDLE YO BIZ! HIP-HOP OWES WOMEN AN APOLOGY HIP-HOP OWES WOMEN AN APOLOGY I view the music we consume in a similar by Unkown Writer way. If you listen to music that is always violent, persistently misogynist, you could I believe it's high time that Hip Hop offered assume the negativity as your own and over an apology to its women, in particular the time, it could become a shaper of your per- females of color. spective. Here we are in the year 2007, a pivotal year These images are conditioning the way for our culture. Music sales are down while boys see women and the way girls see what criticism of Hip-Hop is up. The culture is they will become. under attack, at a creative crossroads and it appears people are acting crazier every step It's a self-fulfilling prophecy that writes of the way. We have outright, bold misogy- and re-writes itself in a vicious cycle. The ny and rampant sexism in our Hip-Hop cul- blatantly, degenerate music is the food we ture as if it were indigenous to our people. masses feed our minds in every medium We have our music, which can barely find that means anything - online, television, a commercially vi- musically and print. able female rapper. Meanwhile, a host of I understand that talented female em- there will be people cees cannot get a fair that will inevitably shake even in the un- disagree with my derground. We've thoughts and even watched the culture blast the mere transform from one thought of an apolo- that was inclusive of gy. Hip-Hop is un- WOMEN to one that apologetic by nature. resembles a gang ini- Hip-Hop is a victim tiation just to attend itself in many ways, the party. if you know of its origins in the Bronx of the 80's. It was considered Hell on Earth. Now consider the parallels in society; be- cause Hip-Hop is nothing but a microcosm So, in theory, one's environment could be of a bigger picture. Congress, one of the the "fast food" and harsh urban terrain nev- sa-urban.com U.S. Government's celestial bodies, seeks er apologizes. But, playing victim is played to apologize for slavery (not without oppo- out. At some point, mentally we have to sition). After 140 years after the Civil War, raise up and move forward. Who can dis- the government body is considering offer- agree with that? ing a national apology to African Ameri- cans for the racial catastrophe that enslaved An apology is also an admission of guilt, millions of Africans and institutionalized wrongdoing, regret and if properly execut- racism into our societal fabric. Now, slav- ed, suggests strongly that the apology ery not only oppressed a class of people, marks a imminent change in behavior. but it economically raised another's class and their businesses, aspirations and Remember the forced apology when you dreams. were a child? You didn't want to do it and furthermore you probably didn't know why With rap, you have the men who are using you were saying sorry. You just did it and it this art for economic gain and then you really didn't mark any sustained change in have the women - typically African Ameri- habit. From that point of view, it's probably can women or women of color who are rel- too soon to expect an apology from Hip- egated to the most base role in the culture. Hop, much less a change in behavior. The change is the key... I think it's for men this collective apology could mark the beginning of a healing with Over the past 20 or so years, Hip-Hop has women and as importantly, themselves. For devolved from a revolutionary form of art women, this collective apology could mark that saw the rise of street intellectuals, rap- the beginning of the mending relations with pers erasing racism and others proactive its men and, most importantly, themselves. behavior to one that caters to the very base Lets be frank.