POLITICS AS USUAL

In My Father’s House


Common and Che Smith with Oscar

Correspondent: Sista Afrika Porter

From blue collar worker, activist, radio show host on WVON, Chicago Southside aldermanic candidate to Kenneth Cole model; Grammy Award winning artist and writer, Che “Rhymefest Smith is back and more enterprising then ever. His new film is a must see, entitled, “In My Father’s House”.

It was released less than a month ago, and is already getting rave reviews in festivals around the country, including the Tribeca Film Festival, and has already received awards like Best Documentary at the Bentonville Film Festival and Southwest Airlines’ Audience Award winner at the Nashville Film Festival.

It's an in depth and up close, yet touching film shadowing the rapper’s life and his reconnecting with his father after having no communication or contact with him for decades. While learning of his dad's issues, dealing with them and loving him, and managing his own family - Che “Rhymefest” Smith’s beautiful children and wife, Donnie Smith, Executive Director of Donda’s House in the film, are doing perfectly fine.


Che with his wife Donnie Smith and his father Brian Tillman

I attended the standing room only, red carpet premiere with my son, filled with many emotions. Firstly, I was very proud of Chicago’s own Rhymefest for telling his story, because he did not have to. The story line and captivating scenarios had me excited, in tears, happy and sad, all within the hour and a half of watching the film. Che took us on a long ride to learn what love, duty and sacrifice actually mean.

I could not get out of my seat for a second. Che Smith provided three things for the viewer: 1) recognize an issue, 2) Seek out his father, and 3) work towards solving the issue. Often times I believe people discredit rappers, and artist for being just that. One has to recognize the gifts instilled in such creative beings who fall in love with music, become artist, song writers and lyrics to create the art form many appreciate. There is so much genius in artistry. This is why many artist do tons of creative things beyond their music. Please go to www.inmyfathershousefilm.com for more information and to see and support this wonderful film.

KEEP YA HEAD UP

Mr. West, Mr. Fresh

"There are certain things you can't teach. I've found you can't you teach someone to have a hustler's spirit.  I was a hustler. When odds were against me, I found a way. I never took no for an answer." -  CDW

Contributing Correspondent: LaVonne R. Harris


The office building is a centerpiece of one of many prestigious Bronzeville blocks. At the pinnacle of this building is it's crown jewel, MG Media's Carl West. As I enter his office, he is working with a young intern, who has recently been promoted. The intern is seated at the computer, working under West's watchful eye.

Carl West posted up at recent event

West breaks from the work to acknowledge my arrival. As he moves toward me, a tall, lean man, dressed in dark jeans and a sky blue shirt, covered by an oxblood sweater - he maintains eye contact as his spotlessly shined shoes make it across the large room. He smiles as he shakes my hand.  

Like most successful men, he is happy with what he's built through hard work and has little patience for excuses. He's blunt, and at times, this can be mistaken for arrogance. But when he's mentoring students, his committed, caring, paternalistic side is evident. He is passionate about service.  

“My life could have easily gone in a different direction. But I had an extended family, and three cats from the hood who pulled me aside. They were a little older, but they took the time to holla at me. Not in a preachy way, just as concerned young brothers. That is a basic principle of mentoring. Each successful black man needs to stop and holla at the brothers on the corner. Not driving by in their slick rides and yelling - “Pull your pants up!” 

We laughed about the fact that the people who do this intend to help - and then his tone becomes serious again. “We really need to stop and talk with brothers on the corner like we would talk to our friends about sports, cars or whatever. We have to build relationships. They see successful men driving by or leaving their houses, but they don't know what those guy do; but if we build a relationship, they'll ask us. This is how we can change our communities and this is how we will change lives.” 

There is a point in every interview that a reporter tries to reach. It is either the essential question or the essential truth of a person. I realize that I have reached this point. This is Carl West. So I ask him if he realizes he's building men.

“We need strong men. A man has two primary duties (1) to provide for and protect his family. This can mean monetary or non-monetary means; and (2) to support his community. So if I can play a role in building the character of black men … It's what we need and I'll do it.”

His blackberry rings. A politician is calling - something about a project their working on and an upcoming gala. Another call, this one about his radio programs. Then a couple texts. Next, the intern needs help with the layout. It's interesting to watch, and there is plenty of reading material nearby.... Jay-Z's Empire States of Mind and Jim Collins' Good to Great. When he returns to sit near me, he continues our conversation as if there was no pause. 

“I do this for myself, my daughter, and my loved ones. I also embrace my responsibility to give back through mentoring and charitable contributions to black entrepreneurs and artists alike. I have a mentoring program through several local high schools. Then almost as an unspoken apology for the interruptions, he answers my next question before I can interject, giving two comments back to back. “My two basic fundamental principles are economic wealth and mentoring. It's simple. If you want power, you must have economic wealth. If you want to decrease violence, you must create jobs.”  

By now it's late into the evening - Johnnie Taylor soulful blues tracks waft through the air, mixing with the faint scent of jasmine incense from somewhere in his office. We are free styling. West loves being a father. Photos of his daughter adorn his office and grace the cover of his some old magazines. At some point, maybe while he was grabbing his gear to leave, he shares that we are in the midst of a renaissance - like the Harlem Renaissance. This a Hip Hop Renaissance. it's about creating our own cultural and professional milieu so that it sustains us spiritually and monetarily. 

This infuses West's energy, as he heads off toward another meeting, a business venture, a gala, a partnership, and a new frontier. Think Boondocks, Shonda Rhimes, Russell Simmons. Think publishing, media, hip hop, Chicago and Carl West.  

MO MONEY, MO PROBLEMS

The Business of Hip Hop
Contributing Correspondent: Sista Afrika Porter




Diddy, Nelly and Jigga has made hundreds of millions from the business of hip hop

"When did you first fall in LOVE with Hip Hop?" I know you all remember this classic line from the award winning film starring Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Mos Def, Nicole Arie Parker, Boris Kojoe and Queen Latifah. For me, it was a Black cassette tape my older brother Joe brought home. The artist---L.L.Cool J, the song, "Candy!" I wrote Candy on all of myth folders, notebooks, pencils, you name it. That beat, the break, the drop---"I Feel Good.... about Candy!" That hook was everything to me. Soon after Candy, he brought another tape cassette home, the artist---Eric B. and Rahim, the song, "Paid In Full." I learned the whole rap instantly. That beat was so crucial to me. I was in elementary School, 11 years old, growing up in Hyde Park in Chicago. The 70's! My how things have changed from the 70's to now.

Grown out of the crime ridden neighborhood of the South Bronx NYC, very gifted teenagers creatively formed this musical genre composed of the M.C. (EMCEE) (Mistress of Ceremonies), the DJ, the break dancers, the graffiti artist and the fifth element, "KNOWLEDGE" taught to us all to well by the "Teacha" himself, KRS 1 (Chris Parker).

One of the most beautiful yet fascinating attributes of Hip Hop is it attracts all different kinds of people. Just look up a Public Enemy concert. Wu Tang Klan. Even Outlast as well as Chicago's own Common and Kanye. What was your first Hip Hop concert? What did the attendees reflect? Exactly. I remember seeing KRS 1 at the Grand Ball Room. This was in the 80's. Fans and Hip Hop heads came from all over the Midwest. It was mind blowing to see a Black man helming from the East Coast spitting straight Conscious Rap Lyrics for a multiethnic crowd all of whom knew the words and were rapping along. Hip Hop has come a very long way, from artistry to Business....

So it's no surprise in Dan Charnas book, "The Big Payback" The History of the Business of Hip Hop, that took readers from the first $15 made by a rapping Hip Hop DJ in the 1970's, to the multi-million dollars in sales made off of Russell Simmons' Phat Farm, and Jay Z's Roc-A-Wear clothing lines. Today, Hip Hop is a Billion Dollar Industry. Yes. The game is to Be SOLD. Naturally so, Hip Hop artist have an innate entrepreneurial gift and spirit. So many artist including Jay Z and Kane have taken their artistry to another level. A serious BUSINESS level. They have pushed through, pushing music out of the trunks of their cars to making multi millions off platinum records, to building successful brands and businesses. Enterprising you say? From clothing lines to VIP only clubs, we all bared witness to the film "Straight Outta Compton" - produced by Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, which earned $60 Million at the box office during its opening weekend. Recorded as America's #1 movie for three consecutive weekends, making it one of the biggest ever August releases to date.

There are more and more rappers turned business men and women creating what we know as the Business of Hip Hop. It's been some years since Dr. Dre and Ice Cube have added blockbuster movie producers to their names. There once was a time when one looked up the richest people of the world and it was names like Ralph Lauren and Oprah Winfrey. Now, Hip Hop artist Rihanna, Outlast, Eminem, P. Diddy, Parnell Williams and Nelly, to name a few are making serious waves towards that list with their fashion lines, automobile and electronic companies; television shows, restaurants, liquor and water beverage brands.

I'm listening to Biggie Smalls song "Juicy" and he has a classic line where he says, "Eemember Rapping' Duke? Duh-ha, duh-ha, You never thought that Hip Hop would take it this far." Many would not have guessed all the businesses that have developed from young creative teenagers in the 1970's. At first glance, one might have found it odd that so many rappers have become entrepreneurs. I believe if one really examines it, Hip Hop artist have certain qualities often overlooked. They are extremely creative. They create words, style, fashion, swagger, and images to SELL themselves to the masses. They're experts in their fields, and experts at making SOMETHING out of absolutely NOTHING. I recall watching Hip Hop artist, actor, producer, entrepreneur Ludacris interviewed on Jimmy Kimmel Live. He told Jimmy his story and how he came up. He mentioned how he was into recycling before it was a word. He said "The Chicken grease was always reused and reused." "Milk cartons, they were used for rubber band collections, pens etch.."

We all know Chicago's very own, Kanye West, like him or love him, he's a business man. This Gemini started out as a producer turned Hip Hop artist and is now a household name owning his own record label (G.O.O.D. Music), a fashion label. He's collaborated with A.P.C., Adidas, Louis Vuitton, he's launched a women's clothing label, (D W Kanye) - he's sold over 21 Million albums and has won 21 Grammys and he is part owner of Jay Z's streaming service, Tidal, and has a 130 Million Dollar Fortune.

So, yes, there is a corporate take over of Hip Hop. It has been for decades. Hip Hop has come a long way. The infusion of the internet revolution, iTunes and social networking... constant downloads? Artist are no longer pigeon held to labels, they do business on their own terms and have investors and endorsements waiting for them to sign on the dotted line. The days of artist receiving an advancement, getting paid for concerts and merchandise are far gone. Artists are communicating with their public, fans, other artist via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and many other social means, furthering their brand all the way to the bank.

From the Sugar Hill Gang, "Rappers Delight" of the 1970's, the first Big Hip Hop Song, to the top Hip Hop artist of today, I'll ask you again, "When did you first fall in love with Hip Hop?'

Www.afrikaenterprises.com