The Gender Politics of Aaliyah via Clutch Magazine

Back when VH1 released the Behind the Music for Missy Elliot, Beyond the Lyrics honored the walls Missy broke down, how she pushed pass the limits people set on her and created a different image for the African American women in media. On August 25th it hit ten years since Aaliyah passed away and we celebrated with quotes from her songs, specials on various channels and our words to a highly influential young woman in the game. But, Clutch Magazine so eloquently celebrated her by breaking down the politics of gender and how Aaliyah did not fit in the mold of the image of Black singers at the time. Just like Missy successfully did, Aaliyah too defied conformity and created her own. Read the article that has Beyond the Lyrics sending three thumbs up to Clutch Magazine.

[Clutch Magazine Article by James B. Golden]
The Gender Politics of Aaliyah

[Beyond the Lyrics Article on Missy Elliot]
Missy Elliot: The Misdemeanor That Changed The Game

The Miseducation

 [Reebook Classics Interview]
"I think we understood it was going to be a landmark, but I don't think I understood to what degree other people would really be deeply impacted by what was done." 

Tomorrow, August 25, will mark thirteen years since the release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the highly acclaimed debut solo album by Lauryn Hill. Lauryn Hill forever stands as a phenomenon within hip hop music and story telling. Hill stated in this interview that the album was really a play on low and high culture coming together to embody rules and lessons for the masses. At the moment, you realized how she took her craft, developed an album through this dichotomy and delivered a message that still stands years after.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a combination of Hip Hop, R&B, soul and reggae; eclectic sounds that produced a masterpiece. Lauryn Hill states that The Miseducation was to tell a story while building a bridge between old and new. Throughout the album, in between songs, you heard the voice of Ras Baraka [a politician, educator and poet] speaking to a group of children about the concepts Hill brought forth in her song. These interludes were symbolic of the gap that Hill was bridging, because as the children learned from Ras Baraka, he too became educated by the youth.

Beyond the Lyrics celebrates Hill's prodigious way of delivering her message of love and spiritual guidance through the music she utilized and the spaces she entered [recording in New York and Jamaica]. Beyond the Lyrics celebrates her transformation of concepts that may have been deemed unimportant to now, life lessons.

"Hill was always an outstanding rapper, but Miseducation showed her to be a more than a competent singer... By turns socially engaged, personally revelatory, and, in the hip-hop tradition, a bit arrogant, Miseducation managed to filter hip hop through a womanist lens, resulting in an album that appealed to an improbably wide spectrum of listeners. Miseducation made Hill a superstar of epic proportions: She earned five Grammys and found herself at the focal point at Hip Hop's crossover into mainstream"
- Rolling Stone Album Guide, 2004

Murder to Excellence

Throughout yesterday and today, 'Watch the Throne' has been trending worldwide and they have said that the pre-sale orders for the album has already reached platinum status. But I've also seen throughout the days people say "what is all the hype about"? What makes this album so different than any other album that has been released this year? 'Watch the Throne' is an exemplary example of the duos murder to excellence; excellence in reviving the game; excellence in production and sales; excellence in music and real Hip Hop fans are celebrating this. Beyond the Lyrics is celebrating this.

Two rap kings morphed into one throne and created this crime scene in Hip Hop that some may just be overlooking by all the talk and sick beats. Look beyond the lyrics and at what Jay Z and Kanye is beginning to stir up. In "Murder to Excellence" Jay Z dedicates part of it to Danroy Henry. But who is Danroy Henry? In October 2010 this Pace University football player was shot by a police officer who was later honored 'Officer of the Year'. Coming at the right time, this dedication can even relate to the London riots happening at this moment. "Murder to Excellence" touches on police brutality, often a taboo subject in our community. In "New Day", both Jay and Ye consciously speak of their upbringing providing a deeper conversation of the father/son relationship within our community.

At some point Hip Hop moved from its revolutionary stage into a commercialized form and with this album, believe it or not, these two rappers are stirring a little revolution within the game. "Sweet King Martin, we made it in America..." Yes, we've made it and we still have a long way to go but Jay and Kanye are definitely lifting us off. "The scales were lopsided, I'm just restoring order". They are connecting listeners to what's going on, so as some of you sit in disbelief as millions of fans marvel at their craft, sit back and recognize their murder to excellence. Like Bey said, how many people you know can take us this far?

Enjoy this historic moment in Hip Hop.

More on the story of Danroy Henry: http://gothamist.com/2011/04/14/cop_who_shot_pace_student_given_off.php

Photos of London riots:  http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/08/london_riots.html

Watch the Throne Listening Party

Two nights ago, Jay Z, Kanye West, top journalists and other artists gathered in the planetarium in the Museum of Natural History to preview the 'Watch the Throne' album. According to media outlets like Global Grind, this album surpasses all other albums removing the glorification of money and status and really connecting to the consumers. Addressing the politics of space and how the listening party was set to be in a place that commemorates history and our environment, it is safe to say that 'Watch the Throne' is not just any regular album. It may just be an album that understands the analytical depths of Hip Hop bringing them to the forefront.

Originally, the album was to be in stores August 5th but it will now be in stores August 12th. Giving Beyond the Lyrics more days to celebrate two of the phenomenons of Hip Hop and what may be a beginning to a revolution in the game.

Check out more:

Is 'The Throne' A Little Shaky?

'The Throne' Interview