It's OVER?!

Ludicrous!!!!! It can't be over I don't believe it.


I refuse.

THE RELEASE is over!!!! It was hot, the shit...etc. Deadass.
Shout out to everyone in the class. I rock with all of yall deadass.
Shout outs to Tara and Charles for putting up with us this semester and just holding it down as our fly TAs.
Most importantly shout out to Kashi for continuously motivating, teaching and uplifting us, (me) lol to do what she knew we could do. Big Ups!!!

It ain't over. definitely not. In fact,

WE JUST GETTING STARTED!!!!!! I am a least. I won't speak for the masses, but I'm gettin all up in this!!!

I'm here.


At the conclusion of Hip Hop Theatre Generation 3.0 Act Like You Know, I can say that I have grown, a lot. I owe it all to everyone around me for continous support. I've learned about hip-hop and thorougly enjoyed myself the whole time. Never once have I had a class that I made special efforts to get to under all circumstances and paid attention every minute of every class session, willingly, stayed late to cyph, ready and willingly went to extra help sessions or anything like that, except this one. I loved EVERY minute of of. It opened my eyes to this whole new realm of performance and now I might be in love.

Again, big ups to EVERYONE. All 16 of you guys in my class! The show was TOUGH!!!! OD. Big ups to the other performers as well, nothing but truth in all forms. That's what it is.

Keep it locked on my other blog for the summer. Find out what I'm up to and shit like that.

YA DIGGGGGGGGGGGGG?!

Allow me to reintroduce myself....

My name is....MszEdukated!!!!

Psyched ya mind!! lol.

But uhm check it, behind the scenes again for a little. Still preppin for THE RELEASE!!!!! 4/26. Inquire for details. Be there if you are somebody. If you not there, then consider yourself a nobody.

I wish I could get healthy again. Anybody selling immune systems?

What else??

Semesters coming to a close? YAYYYY Hip-Hop Theatre over? BOOOO.


Uhm, that's it lol.

Laterrrrr

We keep it on and poppinnnnnnn

Lmao. Reference to chris breezy.That album was poppin. You can't even front on it.
Anywho so bet, we now have our partner projects right and I'm working with my homie Charrell and we trying to figure out what we gonna do. I'm not going to blast it right now but we are on it. Shout out to her though. Feel better!!

Class is going well. I'm still writing sporadic notes in my notebook and cell ALL the time, but that's the life right?. I want this semester to be over like yesterday. That'd be great. Except this class. I could do this ALL day anyday. Too bad everything ain't like this, college would be THE shit then.

Final show is coming. Ohhh the anticipation. It's going to be SO live. Get hype or Get lost. True.

Spec Spec, April 18th. To be in it or not to be in it. That is the question of the week. Actually it's on a list of questions for the week. Hmm.........TBD.

-outtahereeee

Make sure you keepin up...

.........withhhhh my other blog too. lol I'm for real for real addicted, slightly. lol Peep it.

Women in Hip-Hop be killin this....

So all of the ladies in class are all in a group and we've been working diligently on our group project and it's really good if I don't say so myself. We all come together really well, and are extra creative. I love our piece, I feel like it's an actual hip-hop theatre piece, encompassing all the features and most importantly we are having OD fun!

Shout outs to all the ladies in the class, it's fun kickin it with them in the meetings low-key vibing and watching Ray J lol. I'm a fan of Unique, personally. Haha.

Uhm that's it. It's Saturday, I'm loungin doing a little of this and that. Why not blog? Blogging is where it's at lol

The Road not taken....

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth;Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wear;Though as for that the passing thereHad worn them really about the same,And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden black.Oh, I kept the first for another day!Yet knowing how way leads on to way,I doubted if I should ever come back.I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.
-
-Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken"

So, I read this poem like freshman year in high school and since then it has been one of my favorite poems. Almost like my life guidelines, because it just embodies my ambition. It's been on my mind heavy this week.

Just wanted to share.

Rock 4 Haiti

Shout out to everyone that did their thing for Rock 4 Haiti. Blitz the Ambassador held it down as the main act and shout out to all in between, i.e. Truth B Told. I was apart of that. I must say was a very, very good performance in my eyes. Everyone's pieces were on point. I've heard nothing but good things from people about our set.

On to the next thing....oh yea these group projects. Ours is coming along pretty well. Trying to get the format all set and then we can start putting the pieces together and having a cohesive project. I think it's going to be really good, everyone's really creative and into it.


Anything else?

Nah I don't think so. Oh still need to go see a show. Thinking about checking out Angela's Mixtape up in Soho. But Kashi said something about a show of a friend of hers so I might see that instead. Stay tuned.

-outtahereee

Lately

Lately, I've been EXTRA busy with every other class, and like hip-hop is my reward, and I feel like I've been on punishment lol. I'm currently in the works of my Rock 4 Haiti piece on Friday while trying to prepare for 2 exams this week too. Such is the life of school, I'm not complaining. I've been doing a lot of soul searching too as far as my direction for life too. Freestyle game is getting tougher.

Class is going well, I'm loving this performance section. I feel like i'm progressing, as far as the eradication of this shell, I still have work of course, but I'm eager to keep going. The more I write or perform, actually the happier and more content I seem to be getting, which is great. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my FAVORITE days of the week, no bullshit. I'm not kissing ass whatsoever, that's for real.

Alright...Here we Go...for real this time

As most of you know, I'm relatively laid back and soft-spoken as I have been in pretty much all of my performances, but I came into the class to break-out of that, which isn't what I have really been working to do. Not that I've been half-assing my work at all, but I have been half-assing performing it, and not "owning" it as mine and as Kashi said, "Spitting it in a way that is indisputable". I haven't been doing that and I need to, so I do need to start memorizing MY stuff since I wrote it anyway, makes no sense why I can't memorize it. I did it for Love Jones. I realize that I do have talent and I need to express it in a way that other people will recieve it the way that I recieved it, feel it like I felt it..etc.(not tooting my own horn at all, seriously)..so HERE WE GO...I'm on a mission.

Midterm...

Differentiating herself is something Chelsea G aka MszEdukated is fond of, since her younger years. She comes from Danbury, CT now a sophmore at Lehigh and continues to press the limits with her eclectic style and personality. Her upbringing has a lot to do with her love for hip hop, her parents enstilled the art of music in her at a young age, mainly R&B and old school as she grew older she proceeded to listen to these and the music of her time. Coming from CT, one would think that her take on urban lifestyle would be much different than it is, it is often said that she was a metropolitan child misplaced. It is clear she has something to say as a young black woman in America, but she speaks for everyone.

MszEdukated started really writing as a form of expression around the age of 10. It first started as a means to express her anger and frustrations from issues with siblings and disagreements with the parents, short stories, and a little poetry here and there. Literature was always one of her fond pastimes, she read authors such as Maya Angelou and Alice Walker at a young age for pure recreation. Over the years, she has stuck with this and really divulged into this poetry realm and is running with it. The urban venacular as has always been an interest and she continues to explore the art and intriguing persona of the metaphor and similes with thought provoking phrases. She refers to poetry as, "It's the lyrics, words, speech whatever you call it, of my heart, which doesn't have a mouth, so it's relayed through my mind and pen." She was always more of a timid writer, wasn't fond of openly sharing pieces, but upon arrival to Lehigh has decided to step out of her shell and speak up, sharing her work at different events and collaborating with classmates with their works as well. She has even begun to explore the art of freestyling and rapping.

This piece reflects the division between a salary versus a reality as relates to hip-hop and MszEdukated's take on it. It's relaying her beliefs on the negative influence she thinks capitalism takes on the true essence of hip-hop sometimes and how it has seemingly divulged from a true art form into a money-making arena full of gimmicks. A salary, represents the a skewed version of hip-hop, and has just become a venue for craziness that sells, these artists are merely here for a quick buck. Reality, is real hip hop, a real story to tell, a real lifestyle, R-E-A-L-ity. Her emphasis placed on certain words really conveys the message and let's us know as listeners and observers that this is something she's quite passionate about. However, she's soft spoken and might be often hard to hear her, but has been working greatly on trying to be heard. She has to work on commanding the stage and really capturing and engaging her audience, and should probably start with memorizing her pieces, to allow for some mellow, yet influential theatrics during her performances. Failing to due, makes her seem to lack confidence and we believe it's in there, so she needs to let it out and go.

MszEdukated is continuously working on different pieces and is truly a fan of hip-hop and lives it everyday. She yearns to grow and continue growing as an up and coming artist in '09. With some hard work and consistent motivation there's no doubt in our minds that she could potentially go far and make a name for herself.

Wintertime....

So I went to see WinterTime opening night....GREAT PLAY! Hilarious. Shout out to Ben, Millie and Dave for being on point the whole show and last but not least Kashi of course for directing such a stellar performance, I was really impressed. Go see it if you haven't! It's definitely an experience you've never had before.

Nore..back to Rap and just in case you aren't sick of Mr. Browz yet...

Got Money and you know it..take it out ya pocket and show it??

Uhm first things first,hout out to Dom, Vic, Millie and Ricky for you all's presentation. I liked it a lot and it sparked good discussion.

I think the influence of capitalism on hip-hop is definitely a worthwhile discussion to have, because it started as a thing for "under-privileged" young people(kids who didn't have money) to have something fun to do, to express themselves. Now it has evolved into this money-making captilatistic arena full of cash, cars, drugs, and sex. Not everybody, but the vast majority of what people see are definitely those things. I just think it's crazy how times have changed.

I guess the flossy stage appeared with the gold rope chains and whatnot and has progressively grown since then, alright fine. But now, I feel like the money binge has gone overboard compoletely. I understand it's a business, well to most people. I do still honestly believe that some people aren't in it for the money, the people less heard from mainly, but that's another story. Anyway, I just feel like now some people take it too far, "gettin money" tests the extremes. I understand the business aspect but I just think things like 50 cent entering the "sex toy" industry is ludicrous. As I think Chuck put it in class paraphrased, "I think you become a sell-out when what you're doing becomes a mockery. People start laughing and shaking their head at you, because you're doing something they don't respect." I completely agree with that.

It's a grey area clearly. I just feel that it's not pure if you're out for nothing but money anyway, then you're not a real artist. I feel like a real artist just wants their message to be heard, they just want to say what they want to say, not be flashy or whatever. If the money comes it comes if not then they're cool with that. That's just me talkin though. How do yall feel?

Real vs Fake..The Authenticity Argument...

So the other day in class we had a great discussion on what it means to be authentic, essentially what it means to be a Real N***a vs what it means to be a Fake N****a, relative to the Hip-Hop movement. I think this topic is such a good one, because it's so controversial and peoples opinions vary by such different criteria.

Me personally, I feel this way about it I think that you're authentic if what's coming out of your mouth is real, meaning that it's something relevant to you, I think that makes you authentic. SO like if you're talking about your life and your trials and tribulations or even your fame and fortunes, like I feel that's REAL, that's you, that's how YOU feel I also think it's your thoughts on certain things, whereas we have politically and socially concious rhymes as well. If it just happens that people may relate and be able to vibe with you, then that's an added bonus, but authenticity to me, the real essence of hip hop, is a person's everyday way of expressing themselves and whatever they're going through. So like when we had the Tupac and Will Smith comparison, I think they're both authentic. I mean Tupacs was going through what he was going through with gangs, drugs and violence, and Will was going through what he was going through with his parents, just because he didn't talk about slangin and banging doesnt make him any less official.

And then there's Soulja Boy...hmmm IS he Hip-Hop? I really don't care for the guy, true I've fallen victim to the "Superman" syndrome at its earliest emergence, come on who didn't? But after a while of hearing him release songs with essentially the same beat with a new 5-6 word hook and a new stupid dance move and being a featured artist on some tracks uttering bull****pretty much, I got sick of the cat real quick. I mean I give him his props for taking over the YouTube nation, that was smart, hell I wish I came up with the idea. He's getting his money, because people are buying into it. But Hip-Hop wise, nah chill, I have yet to come to terms with calming him "Hip-Hop", like for real what is he talking about? No relevance to anything whatsoever.

Since I have nothing else to do

Seeing as though I have NOTHING else to do. I'm blogging. I might be obsessed with this class just a little lol. Oh well, it's definitely how i get through the week sanely.

Here's something I wrote this week, uhm I find myself buried in my notebook for hours on end sometimes now, neglecting other homework, it's somewhat of a problem. Or walking to class bopping to my own beat in the street..here i go rhyming..but with "The Message" lyrics in my head or my MC Lyte verse from "Lyte as A Rock" or some random line from any other artist or just plain random phrases that I think of like this..false hopes, dreams and tattoos...shit like that...and I'm rambling at 2:30 am..lol

Here it is..it doesn't have a title I seldomly title anything lol, if you have an idea drop one, I'll consider it. I should probably memorize this, it's meant to be spoken, I'll get around to it eventually. lol

A real writer doesn't write for your pleasure
A real artist presents material for usage as mental treasure
True, I'm subject to your critique
But in reality I'm not, this is just my sanity technique

It so happens that you use it for recreation
but to me, it's just a mind and paper collaboration
To express my views on academics to pop culture
then from music to what I think of unnecessary torture

A true writer's work reflects how they maintain composure
contrary to common belief it's not to gain commercialized exposure

A real writers work is a coping mechanism
the mimics and all the "Get rich quick gimmicks" are just victims of capitalism,
just atttempting to expedite the eradication of classism, but solely for themselves.

Real artists do this shit to free ourselves
we'd be perfectly content keeping these books on the shelves

One might say, well you should talk to a friend
but that's not always so easy, the situation depends
but my hand and notebook paper can talk forever.
Whatever i go through, me my notebook and pencil, endure it together.

See, to a real artist this is how we might express our pain,
otherwise, some might be liable to go insane
these words aren't in vain,
I'm alleviating pain.

I use my words to illustrate what i feel that would otherwise be presented by tears
these feelings are authentic
voiceless emotions decoded
my life story, I wrote it, my heart spoke and I quoted.
my life is not a mixtape, it does't need to be promoted.

I don't do this for popularity
Solely for mental clarity
I'm not rich from this, nor am I trying to be
Life gets foggy sometimes, I'm just trying to see
I hurt inside, but I'm not allowed to flee
I write these words so that my soul is free

I'm a REAL kind of writer....THIS IS LIFE TO ME.

-yours truly
Mszedukated..over and out.

A little knowledge never hurt nobody

So today I learned about Hip Hop Theatre the art form. Very interesting. When asked to define it prior to the lesson, I had NO idea what to say or any names big in it or anything like that.

But today like it was cool, uhm we watched some stuff by some big names in the business. Was definitely cool, everyone had their own little unique presentation style. Some were spoken word, some freestyle, some theatrical stuff too. I think the most interesting was Danny Hoch, check him out yo, on youtube. He's different, but that's what it's about, being different, expressing yourself in a unique fashion. See the cool thing about hip-hop is that you can present yourself anyway you want to, hip-hop gives you that abilit; that kind of just set in for real today.

Anyway, so where have I been? It's been 4 days right lol. Well besides trying not to bust my ass walking to class on the ice, and being unsuccessful at it. I've been writing some stuff, trying to up my game a little. Trying some freestyles, and some written freestyles covering for familiar instrumentals. Check facebook for now for 2 songs I got out, one featuring my dude FlyBoy Bryce. uhmmmm I'm going to see if I can get them up here soon, to be honest I don't know how to really work this blog shit. I'm learning as I go. uhm I'm trying to figure out some shit for this like valentines talent show type thing, not quite sure yet what I'm going to do but i got a few days to get it together.

oh but wait, back to what I was saying about the being "different" component peep this dude Charles Hamilton if you havent already. He's MC Lyte's cousin if I'm not mistaken, originally from Ohio now reppin Harlem and BK. Cat's really kind of nice, uhm calls himself Sonic the Hedgehog, yes from Sega Genesis (Seeeeggaaaaaa), showing my age lol but uhm do some research and find out why he calls himself that, it is a rather meaningful metaphor, I'll say.
So here's him freestyling for DJ Green Latern. Youtube him for more.

Mutya Buena...B-Boys?

Well with our recent discussions of breaking in class, I thought maybe it was appropriate to post this song. It kind of reflects how breaking has transcended American borders. Mutya Buena is a British singer, a former member of the British pop group, Sugababes and it features one of my favorite artists right now, Amy Whinehouse. Check it out.

Lyte's On!

MC Lyte that is...

Must I say it again, I've said it before, move out my way when im comin through the door...("Lyte as A Rock", 1988)

Lana Michele Moorer better known as, "MC Lyte" stepped on the scene when she was 12 and got signed when she was 17. The Brooklyn native was signed to her father Nat Robinson's, First Priority Music recording label. Her first single, "I Cram to Understand U", a song about her trying to vie for time from a boyfriend struggling with a crack addiction.

Lyte pioneered the Grammy scene for the women in the rap game with "Ruffneck", it became the first gold single ever made by a solo female rap artist.

In the mid '90s, Lyte went to a new record label; she signed to Elektra/Asylum and in '03 she made her own label, "SGI/CMM". Lyte's rap career alone is crazy, spanning near 2 decades, with more than 10 albums. She's receieved a number of awards including Billboard Artist of the Year Award, Soul Train's video of the year award, and being honored on VH1's Hip Hop Honors.

BUT, Lyte is so much more than just music. She's even kicked in the Hollywood game. She's been on a number of sitcoms as herself, or another character. Shows such as, New York Undercover, My Wife and Kids, Moesha, In the House, and Half & Half. She's also had a role in a few movies, "Fly by night, Train Ride, and Playa's Ball" to name a few.

Lyte has done a lot for humanity, promoting safe sex and being a political activist as well as other things. She was fully supportive of Barack Obama and was quoted saying, I'm not voting for him (Obama) because he's a black man, I am voting for Obama because of his message and I identify with his words and his passion."

Lyte's many works and illustrious career has earned her an honorary membership to Sigma Ghamma Rho Sorority Inc as well as a place in many peoples hearts and a role model to many young black women across America.

One of my favorite tracks from the mid 90s with some old school flavor.

Speak your Truth....

Alright so bet, we had a free write today, and Kashi said alright go write and we were all like, well...write what..and THEN she said speak your truth..so I took that and ran with it...

Truth is I'm insubordinate to politics
Truth is I couldn't give less of a damn about sideline critics
Really.
Truth is my lyrical disposition disregards your position and leaves your opinion hurt; in critical condition
Truth is I see the unseen, predict what's yet to come and what you're trying to do, I've already done
Truth is that my mind bleeds profusely unique knowledge, not the shit that's taught in textbooks in college
Really.
Truth is I'm a quiet rebel
Truth is I have a rambunctious alter ego
Truth is that my reality is only your biggest hope
Truth is I lose myself within myself
And your truth is you criticize myself, because I'm not like thyself,
haha.Damn. I'm buggin
getting beside myself, really
But let me come back; find myself
reposition my presence; ultimately redefine myself.....

Hip Hop is......

HIP HOP IS emotion.
Hip Hop is devotion.
Hip Hop is a way of life.
Hip Hop is a struggle
Hip Hop is success
Hip Hop represents our freedom to express.
Hip Hop is dead.
Hip Hop is alive.
Hip Hop will probably forever continue to thrive.
Hip Hop is collective.
Hip Hop is individual,
Hip Hop plays a position in my life that's critical.
Hip Hop is me,
Hip Hop's you too,
HIP HOP IS WHAT WE DO.

It's how we talk,
It's how we walk,
It's even in the hopscotch games on the block with chalk.
Hip Hop sings,
Hip Hop Dances,
Hip Hop even catches romances.
Hip Hop spits,
Hip Hop beatboxes,
Hip Hop will never be limited to social boxes.
You mold it how you want to,
whatevers applicable to you,
you live your own interpretation,
It's definition is up to your own perception,
your personal translation,
To each's own unique creation.

Hip Hop is these words,
simply because I CAN.

Hip Hop is.....(insert thoughts here)

Recognize what this is..

Tomorrow represents the dream. I represent the dream. You represent the dream. Recognize that and KEEP the dream alive.

Happy Martin Luther King Day to all, but lets remember that service and good deeds should not be constricted to just this very day. Everyday should be approached like a Martin Luther King day. Everyday you should wake up and LIVE the dream, that in essence is the dream afterall.

It's bigger than Hip Hop

See, me I think more critically, way more analytically, y'all think one-dimensionally, merely politically....Pause. Now that I've hopefully caught your attention...Allow me..Because I was just wondering...



Why are we as people so 2-dimenisonally minded? Why is that what our eyes have the inablity to see our minds have the inability to conceptualize? It's bigger than what we see, it's bigger than what we think. It's bigger than me, bigger than you.

Dead Prez reiterated it perfectly for us Hip-Hop heads...

First Day

So yesterday was the first day of Act Like You Know at LU. This is the 3rd generation of the class. It was pretty excting and I love my classmates and I think this journey that we've all decided to embark on will be fun and equally enlightening to us all. I'm known as "Cool Chelsea" by way of the name game lol.

Free Write today was "Hip-hop is...", so that was cool, maybe that will be exposed at a later date.

Now on to trying to master the last 3 verses of Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Fives "The Message" for tomorrow. Old school hip-hop, the good stuff.