Please Don’t Hate on the Salahis. Crashing Parties is Awesome.

Man, I hope that the Salahis (you know the couple that crashed that White House party last week) don’t go to jail. I mean, national security is super important, and nobody should be able to just run up on the leader of the free world. But, it’s not like this tandem was a crazed terrorist duo. They were just random party hoppers who were trying to get next to the Prez. I don’t think there is anything too wrong with that. After all, who doesn’t want to be at the most cracking party in town?

Of course, I could be a little biased, especially because I cut my teeth as a journalist in the music industry sneaking into parties and running up on celebrities. Trust me, there is no greater thrill than shoving a microphone in the face of an unsuspecting star, who just minutes earlier ignored your interview request on the red carpet. Really, nothing beats the expression of fear on a famous person’s face when you are all up in their personal space. It’s sort of like payback for all the little people who have been kept on the bottom by “the Man”. (Ok, maybe it was only that big of a deal in my head.)

On second thought, I can sort of see why the government might want to prosecute these two. I’m sure that they prolly want to deter people from thinking that they can just sneak into the White House whenever there is some sort of shindig. Especially given the fact that President Obama has a lot of detractors who would prolly love to shove something a lot more life threatening in his face than a microphone. After all, Obama got a Secret Service detail assigned to him earlier than any other Presidential candidate in history.

You know what? I have changed my mind completely. I think the Salahis should be thrown into Gitmo like Harold and Kumar. We can’t have any more socialites thinking that they can get close to the President. Where is Dick Cheney when you need him?

Posted by:

Biko Baker

Chasing Paper: Hip Hop and Immigration

I’m starting to realize that some of my favorite songs have really boring and goofy subject matter. Take, for instance, Boys of Summer by Don Henley. Catchy ass song, no real meaning. Let’s face it, it’s making me feel guilty.

As a result, I’ve been getting amped up when I hear about music that confronts the real issues in our lives today. Check out this post, which came over the lines at Wiretap:

Anyone looking for artists that express the current struggle for immigrants’ rights will find that My America, a benefit CD for the movie “Papers,” does a particularly good job. The CD was put together by Molina Soleil and Aju, a music duo from Denver, CO that specializes in their own multilingual fusion of jazz, soul and hip-hop.

Check out more over at Wiretap!

Posted by:

Steve Romain

Alicia Keys “Empire State of Mind Part 2″

Check this out! Alicia Keys flipped the song she did with Jigga and turned it into a power ballad. Fire!!! She needs to go ahead and release this on iTunes. Some times songs are so good you have to pay for them.

Posted by:

Biko Baker

Thankful for Family, Friends and Tofurkey! Top Ten Reasons to Give Thanks

Thanksgiving has always been a complicated holiday for me. And no, it’s not because I prefer not to eat meat. Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve been conflicted by the glaring contradiction that is Turkey Day. I gotta be honest, the traditional Plymouth Rock narrative starring “the Natives and the Pilgrims” just doesn’t cut it for me. The sentiment is powerful, but the truth is that our nation hasn’t always done the best job of living up to its principles.

But, word to Glen Beck, I’m not as “radical” as I once was. I mean, when I was in my early 20s I used to attend “Happy Thankstaking” parties with friends in LA that usually ended with me being in a drunken debate with one of my white roommates. Today, I am a lot more self-reflective and can sort of understand what all the fuss is about.

I’ve learned that even though the Thanksgiving story is a crock of B.S., doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t take time out to express my deep felt appreciation for my friends and family. (Truthfully, everyday should be Thanksgiving, but of course the pressures of life often prevent me from slowing down and being present and patient.) So over the years, I have learned to slow down, and enjoy the holidays. Even while stuffing down Tofurkey.

This year I am even more thankful than ever. So I decided to throw together a list of the top ten things I am thankful for. Forgive me for the mushiness, but I am thankful for a lot ish!

Check the list after the jump.
… Continue Reading

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Biko Baker

One of the Worst (Muslim) Weeks Ever

Peace peeps. If you thought my blog on my experiences observing and partaking in the November elections in Maine was provocative, my latest musings on WireTapMag.org around the Fort Hood killings, the death of DC sniper-John Allen Muhammad and the trial of alleged “mastermind” of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (“Who’s Afraid of the ‘Muslim Boogeyman?’”) is sure to raise those stakes.

Check it out over at Wiretap!

Posted by:

Joshua Fahiym Ratcliffe

The Obamas After Dark

Check out this lol-tastic video that I found over at WSHH. For some reason, I think that it goes down exactly like this.

Posted by:

Biko Baker

This Week With Jasiri X

Posted by:

Biko Baker