KanYe, You's a Nigga...and I don't mean that in no Nice Way!

I was undecided on writing this post for the LONGEST time. These are two of my most favorite people...and I was positive about not adding unnecessary "fuel to this fire" by feeding into a tangential debate between The President of the United States and KanYe West. But, after reading, listening, and seeing so much commentary....I figured it was time to present an argument from a ghettoGEEK perspective.

Tough as it was to write on it, this piece is situated similar to conversation I had with HomeBoi that went a lil' sumpin' like this.....

I think it's just as important to remember that Kanye may have a bit more LIBERTY than the President (as oxymoronic as that may sound). Obama still has to play to a more powerful players than Kanye West. I like Obama because he plays it just well enough for you to forget that he is at the nexus of a BUNCH of POWER and MONEY. I don't the President's position at all, in fact, the graceful way he handles power is one of the reasons I like the Brotha...

Now, I'll say this first: In my opinion, KanYe West made a mistake when he interuppted Taylor Swift's VMA Award Acceptance Speech.

Judging from KanYe's actions AFTER the fact (namely his apology on Jay Leno), I believe that KanYe, himself, believes his actions were inappropriate, rude, and unthoughtful. Regardless of how you feel about his apology, he DID give one...and as a fairly decent scrutinezer of men, it was a SINCERE one.

FAST FORWARD

President Barack Obama calls KanYe West "a jackass" off-the-record.

First and foremost, it is of extreme significance to note the SETTING of this interview. It was "off-the-record." That has A LOT to do with how Obama's comments should be interpreted. (In academia, we call this the "rhetorical situation.")

Now, the "off-the-record" nature of the President's comments can mean a couple of things: 1.) Obama did not intend for this comment to reach the masses; 2.) these were his true feelings regarding KanYe West; and/or 3.) he was appeasing the small audience with whom he was immediately engaged. Whichever reason, or combination of reasons, everyone who is interested should remember ONE thing: members of the Hip-Hop culture/constituency were major proponents (voting bloc) of President Barack Obama.

Understanding that Hip-Hop culture (African-American youth) were and remain passionate/engaged supporters of President Barack Obama should not be lost in this current debate. There is POWER in Politics...and as Tupac Shakur reminded us, "It's all Political."

No, KanYe West, by himself, is not Hip-Hop--and his actions at the VMAs were NOT some of his best...but, that does not discount the fact the KanYe is a HUGE asset to Hip-Hop based on his contributions thus far.

...and no, being an awesome rapper-producer, does not require the same skill set as being President of The United States....especially the 1st African-American President. I do not envy Barack Obama at all. He sits at the "nexus of BIG money and power"....and that HAS to be stressful as Hell. But, if I do not argue that President Barack Obama should consider the interests of African-American youth as much as he does the interests of "power and money," then my most dedicated readers should actually start questioning my value system.

Hip-Hop culture, is the product of broken Black children who didn't lose ALL hope. This culture was born in the Belly of Beast, and has given America and the world some of the most inspirational rhetorical donations human beings have witnessed. And though A LOT of it has been mangagled due to they way it has recently been PROSTITUTED, some artists like KanYe West, have been able to still produce QUALITY music that is constitutionally consistent with the original purpose of the artform.

Education and Enlightenment are two things that his music still represents; which is why he is still true to Hip-Hop...and also why ghettoGEEKS will continue to support him.

Note: This is Ye's 2nd Presidential Beef...if he's doing nothing else, he's making sure the "Powers-that-Be" don't forget about us...



WeBeGeekin'
www.ghettogeekin.blogspot.com

Exportin' Korean Sound....

WeBeGeekin'
www.ghettogeekin.blogspot.com

Get Yo' MackGame Tight!

Go IMMEDIATELY to Tariq Elite's Mack Lessons Radio Show......

This Boi is "OFF A COUPLE CHAINZ!"

WeBeGeekin'
www.ghettogeekin.blogspot.com

Finding a Point of Reference....

Before I came to South Korea, my good friend, Dr. Kimberly Campbell, spoke to me from experiences she had while teaching a two-year stint in China.

"eRiC, it's like being in a fishbowl for your entire life...and then...one day...you leave the fishbowl, and discover you can breathe air. You venture to other parts of the room, and you realize that YOUR point of reference is just that; YOUR POINT OF REFERENCE. Doesn't make it right or wrong, but understand things are done DIFFERENTLY at other places in the room outside the fishbowl."

The day she gave me these words, I knew they would come in handy.

So, in response to responses I received on the post, "To Be Black," I offer the following:

Let's go back to FUNDAMENTAL BASIS for ghettoGEEKS. In this philosophical statement you find the following rhetoric:

"ghettoGEEKS fill a void that is actively neglected. Through courage, contempt, passion, and desire for freedom, ghettoGEEKS constructs entrances into spaces of freedom. We are about enlightenment and liberation at our core."

...and...

"Postmodern in nature and name, ghettoGEEKS takes advantage of the oxymoronic juxtaposition in order to find new ways of viewing traditional problems.

Put bluntly, we (I) don't have all the answers. This ghettoGEEK journey is all about a process of self-growth and discovery. The process is not neat and clean; it's messy. It is organic. Sometimes it will feel GOOD. Sometimes it will feel BAD. Sometimes, as a writer, I will feel comfortable. Sometimes, I will feel uncomfortable. But, at the core of my decision to occupy space in another part of the world, is to observe, evaluate, and possibly understand difference(s) without the filter/bias of a media outlet with an "agenda." So, the last thing I want to do, is propagate fear and anger for the sake of doing so.

I wrote "To Be Black" as a cathartic exercise. Yes, I was upset when I wrote it. I needed something to do...and writing "To Be Black" was the most constructive thing could think of at the time. But, I find it just as important to say, I DO NOT want this ONE negative incident to paint a distorted picture. As a ghettoGEEK, I share certain moments for a general audience...but especially, for that American child who is growing up being bombarded with TOO MANY messages and reasons for why they SHOULD NOT or CAN NOT do something. If ghettoGEEKS are at war with anyone or anything...it is with people who propogate messages of FEAR and TERRORISM as a means to control and subjugate.

We are not at war with Koreans, Nigerians, Chinese, British, Mexicans, Cameroonians, Malayasians, Filipinos, Ugandans, etc. BUT, we pick up our arms with anyone WITHIN these groups who feel the need to unjustly oppress people within these groups for the sole sake of abuse, prostitution, and/or other forms of inhumane activity. That was our focus in America. THAT has not changed.

So let me provide a more complete picture of my time in Korea thus far...

Since being here, I have received a gift every single day. Gift-giving is a HUGE part of the Korean culture. Whether large or small, I have received something from someone every single day. On average I'm receiving more than one item a day. I've just started to try and return the favors...but they give without necessarily expecting/wanting a gift in return. Now, to an American like myself, I have been constantly wondering, "What's the catch?" I have, on several occassions, unsuccessfully tried to refuse the gifts.

Let's speak on this act of gift-giving in further detail...

I have NEEDED help since I placed my body, mind, and soul in this country. For an independent-minded person like myself, this has been a HUGE lesson in Humility. (Some of my ex-girlfriends can tell you this.) I've HAD to humble myself. No other way around it. (I can not yet read simple street signs...much less go to the bank and set up an account by myself...can't ask for help in the grocery store by myself...the list goes on and on.) It's a continuous lesson in swallowing my pride...and I haven't had the opportunity to regurgitate it yet! So, if nothing else, I will suspect I will return to the United States much more humble than when I left.

My Co-teacher(s), my LandLady, and my students have been nothing but supportive through this process thus far...and I feel it my duty to state these facts as well as my moments of frustrations. It is only fair....because it is TRUTH.

So, I'm going to "ride-out" now...and continue to discover my new Points of Reference. I'm already beginning to see that my traditional binaries of Black/White, Rich/Poor, Male/Female, and the like, are beginning to be challenged...I'll share more about that later.

Thanks for rollin' with a Brotha...

Peace,

OuttaBoundz, a.k.a. EncyclopediaBrown

WeBeGeekin'
www.ghettogeekin.blogspot.com

Pssss....let me show you a PIECE of South Korea.

Streets of Daejeon. At Night, the Neon Lights will blind you!


My Seoul "TourGuide" and first Korean friend, Sun-Mi Park, checkin' the Subway routes on her cell phone in Seoul Train Station. I wasn't in Korea two hours when I met her on an airport bus to Jeonju University. She leaned over asked me, "Where are you from?"


Seoul definitely has ghettoGEEKS lurkin'...one of them left a mark on this wall, so I had to stop and compliment it.


Korean puppets at restaurant in Seoul where we ate Bulgogi and drank Soju. The Bulgogi was GOOD...and the Soju was STRONG!


Me and Sun-Mi....chillin'.


If I've learned nothing else, shoes are a BIG deal in Asian culture; shoes for the street; shoes for the house; shoes for the bathroom; shoes for school; shoes for the washroom...etc. As far as street shoes, you'll see all types, especially on women. These were the pair Sun-Mi rocked the day we met up in Seoul...


...so I bought some "HouseShoes" that day. Now I'm rockin' my {Chinese} Korean slippers...


One side of Seoul Station...


...the other side of Seoul Station...


Administration building of Seoul Train Station. Where you catch the KTX train (high-speed train) that can take you all over Korea.


Seoul...


There are a few things that are reminiscent of HOME...the Galleria in Daejeon. For all the Fashionistas back home, yes, folks do some serious shopping in this place! ...and, true to me, I am not one of 'em!

OuttaBoundz, a.k.a. Encyclopedia Brown

WeBeGeekin'
www.ghettogeekin.blogspot.com