Herman Cain Sings Gospel

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Underground Hip Hop Music

From the Underground Hip Hop Music Site

For the Rappers, Rockers, and Scholars

Underground Hip Hop music offers something that anybody with a good ear and appreciation for music would want: hard-hitting underground beats, differing rhyme deliveries, and controversial content that you’ll find yourself thinking about later, and saying over and over in your head. underground rappers offer an alternative to mainstream artists rapping about pussy, money, and weed. It’s more than catchy one liners, Underground Hip Hop music covers political issues and social concerns that could impress any academic mind.

However, underground hip hop is precisely that — underground. And unlike commercial rappers, underground rappers and their music are not as easy to come by. There is an emphasis on independent artists and unsigned labels, and this makes for fresh, new, and compelling sounds. Those who criticize rap music for focusing too much on violence and sex should rethink their sentiments and give some of these underground rappers a listen:

Lords of The Underground , MF Doom, People Under The Stairs, Little Brother, Necro, Murs, Aesop Rock, Blackalicious, Brother Ali, Fat Pat, Felt, Devin the Dude, J Dilla, Zion I, Brotha Lynch Hung

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P-Funk Mothership (Replica) Lands at the Smithsonian

The Smithsonian has acquired the Mothership replica used by Parliament-Funkadelic for its permanent music exhibition at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Bernie Walden was one of the Washington-based promoters who abandoned the Mothership in a Seat Pleasant junkyard in 1982. Nearly 30 years later, he helped the Smithsonian track down the replica. David George was the designer who built that replica. (Wash Post)

The landing of the Mothership was one of the greatest rock and roll props ever.  George Clinton and the P-Funk Mob had trouble topping themselves after the Mothership Connection.

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Skin Cancer and EPA's Tips to Avoid It: "Don't Fry Day"

By Susie Censativ

As the seasons change and the weather warms, Americans find themselves spending more time outdoors under the glaring rays of the sun. While African Americans have a lower risk for skin cancer caused by the
sunshine, it is significant to know that they are also at risk. Generally, people with dark skin pigmentation have greater protection against UV radiation. However, the best way for everyone, including African Americans, to reduce the risk of skin cancer is to protect your skin and eyes from the sun by using sunscreen, wearing shirts, wide- brimmed hats , and sunglasses when outdoors.  Of course, African Americans do not generally 'sun bathe' at the beach.

EPA is designating the Friday before Memorial Day is “Don’t Fry Day.” It is the perfect time for EPA to remind all Americans, at the start of summer, about the dangers of exposure to the sun and to offer safety tips to guard against harmful UV rays.

Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is on the rise in America and is the most common cancer among young adults aged 25-29. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SunWise program and the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention have partnered to provide simple tips on protecting yourself that could save lives.  One American dies from skin cancer every hour. It is the most common type of cancer in the United States, where skin cancer affects more than two million people each year, outnumbering the cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined.  One in five Americans will develop the disease in their lifetime. Over exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer.

For “Don’t Fry Day,” (May 27 this year), EPA encourages Americans to
take these few, easy precautions when they are outside:

·         “Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap.” Slip on a shirt. Slop on SPF 15+ sunscreen. Slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses to protect your body from overexposure to the sun
·         Seek shade. Find shade during the sun’s peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to reduce the risk of too much sun exposure
·         Check the UV Index. When planning outdoor activities check the UV Index to identify the times that pose the greatest risk for overexposure to the sun

EPA’s SunWise program is the nation’s largest environmental and health education program designed to encourage kids and their caregivers to practice safe sun habits.

More information on “Don’t Fry Day” and additional sun safety resources (EPA)

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Cynne Simpson & Gordon Peterson

By Susie Centsitiv

Chilly Onscreen Chemistry between the 6 p.m. cohosts of local Washington, DC ABC News

You can't create chemistry.  And watching Cynee Simpson, right, and Gordon Peterson, left, trying to deliver the news together is painful.  The body language speaks volumes.  Gordon clearly being more uncomfortable than Cynne.  Is it a generation gap?  Does Gordon resent the young upstart?  Is there personal animosity?  Whatever it is, it clearly shows up onscreen.  The news producers at the show can surely see it.  It is further contrasted by the excellent chemistry between Simpson and her 5 pm cohost, Leon Harris.  Gordon had and has great chemistry with legnedary local newscaster Maureen Bunyan.  Of course, she is closer to his age.  They also kind of came up together on the Washington, DC news scene.  Maybe he just wants Maureen sitting next to him instead of Cynne.

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