Jackson Free Press

In my ongoing return of fire to those that wish to attack hiphop, especially those who attack it with hidden motives at heart. Each week I will be identifying a hater of hiphop. No, it won't be someone who wishes to end the use of derogatory language. Instead it will shine the light on those who simply arbitrarily attack hiphop for fame, because they are seeking public office, or simply because they're old and uninformed on the good that we as hiphop artists do. If said hater has consequently caused an event that would have benfitted kids or their community to be cancelled, they get extra stars. This week's winner gets 5! Read along.

A celebrity basketball fundraiser was canceled in Stamford, Conn., after black church and community leaders protested an appearance by D-Block rapper Jadakiss, claiming violence could breakout at the event.

According to the Stamford Advocate, Jere Eaton is a former board member for the Yerwood Center and is also a potential presidential candidate for the NAACP's Stamford Branch.

She found out about the May 19 appearance by Jadakiss and emailed church and community leaders website links, lyrics and articles, because she was worried that the rapper's show would attract violence.

"Under the leadership of Dr. Robert Perry (pastor of Union Baptist Church) and other clergy in Stamford, we are demanding that the Celebrity Basketball Fundraiser is canceled or 'clean' entertainment is provided by artists with 'clean' reputations," Eaton wrote in an email.

The Yerwood Center's president and CEO Deborah Sewell said she received over 60 phone calls about Jadakiss' appearance, resulting in the cancellation.

"I'm disappointed, because I really felt this would have been a great opportunity for the community to band together and show up in force," Sewell told the Advocate. "It doesn't matter who you bring in," she said. "There's a potential for an issue of violence."

Sewell defended Jadakiss and D-Block, saying that she worked with them during other past events and noted that the rappers even attended a Stamford rally that resulted in a gang truce.

"They've always been supportive of the community and they love to play basketball," Sewell said.

"All of these artists are the worst of the worst. They're criminals, their favorite word is the N-word, and they demean women by calling them b***hes and ho's," according to Eaton.

While Eaton disagreed with Sewell, her actions have led to the event being canceled and a replacement has yet to be found, leaving hundreds of locals disappointed.

Previous Comments

ID

112724

Comment

...And the worst part(and this REALLY chaps my hide), is that now those kids don't get those funds. To cancel a fundraiser for your own community and the young folks in it is even more criminal than the "element" you're fighting to block. Its clear this woman is campaigning to head that NAACP branch there and as usual Hip-hop is the easiest, most popular taret to hit.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-05-08T09:04:08-06:00

ID

112725

Comment

You'll probably never run out of material for this one. I have the "Kiss of Death" CD...for that person to call Jadakiss the "worst of the worst" is clear evidence that this person does not know what the worst of the worst is :-). One thing is certain, she has not heard Too Short :-). What many of these types don't seem to grasp is the duality that exists in most people exists in rappers too...that you can have Too Short telling people on one song that its o.k. to be a nerd...to get an education and put down the beer and cocaine and then going XXX on the next song.

Author

FreeClif

Date

2007-05-08T13:04:55-06:00

ID

112726

Comment

Well, Kaze, sometimes we make sacrifics to make our voices be heard. Some people said that Blacks were dumb for walking to work, paying more money for cabs, and carpooling during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. What if they never boycotted, we'd still be sitting on the back of the bus. What if we continue to accept the artists who blatantly disrespect themselves, our race, and our women? We'll never move forward.

Author

Melishia

Date

2007-05-08T14:02:02-06:00

ID

112727

Comment

Futhermore, if Jadakiss (or any artist in a similar situation) is so interested in raising money for kids, they'd forget about the "apperance" and make an anonymous donation.

Author

Melishia

Date

2007-05-08T14:04:16-06:00

ID

112728

Comment

Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-08T14:07:18-06:00

ID

112729

Comment

What many of these types don't seem to grasp is the duality that exists in most people exists in rappers too...that you can have Too Short telling people on one song that its o.k. to be a nerd...to get an education and put down the beer and cocaine and then going XXX on the next song. I'm curious. Is that kind of "duality" a good thing? I grew up hearing about "dualities" (although they didn't call it that). "Aw, that old boy don't mean no harm even if went to a Klan meeting or two." Lord, how many times I've heard variations on that theme. Or, as they were pointing out at the Killen trial, many Klansmen "helped" a lot of people. I mean, Killen was a preacher, after all, as was pointed out. I guess the question is: If you gain your notoriety through actions/expression that hurt people, does it make it OK to turn around and do helpful things (or raise money) to help others? And it all rather reminds of me of people trying to get me to go to the Fairview Inn when Bill Simmons owned it (until recently). He's the former head of the Citizens Councils of America for those who may not know, which hurt many, many people through boycotts and the like. People would tell me how nice he is, and how he has black employees and black customers now, but no one could point to a real apology for his past. I simply would not give them my business because, to me, that kind of "duality" made no sense. Why make someone richer who has spent time hurting others? (Even if they do some good things, too.) (Not talking about Jadakiss specifically here; I'm responding more generally to Whit's "duality" comment. It confused me, sounding double-standard alarms.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-08T14:12:40-06:00

ID

112730

Comment

(BTW, I can't get sucked into this thread. Just back in town and too much to do. So, I offer those comments about "duality" for y'all to knock around without me. Don't even try; I've burned tires up going up and down this particular road already. )

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-08T14:17:06-06:00

ID

112731

Comment

Sho you right...don't wanna mount that horse again.. However, my point was not about jadakiss making an anonymous donation. He could easily do that. It isnt about him. Its about the kids. It was about them getting to see up close an artist that they like. they were deprived of that special performance. that's what you guys are missing. those kids suffered for Eaton's grandstanding. Jadakiss's appearance may have affected a kids life in there that day. Rarely do kids get to touch stars and Im sure they were disappointed. Jadakiss wasnt doing that for press. we probably wouldnt have even known about this incident had it not been for Eaton lobbying votes for that prez spot. THAT'S what could have been done quietly. how about calling Jada's people and expressing those concerns and asking him to keep it clean. News Flash!!!! most artists know that when they're performing for kids they are to keep it clean, that goes unsaid. Then your kids are happy, the money gets raised, and the grown-ups get a G rated show. ..BTW the money was not coming from Jada. The proceeds were coming from the ticket sales to the celeb b-ball game and Jada performance. They were doing the show and appearance for the kids for free. which regardless of what you say..is comendable!

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-05-08T15:47:33-06:00

ID

112732

Comment

Well, that sounds fine. But they were also doing it to create a future market for themselves. Nothing wrong with that, but let's not squeeze any and all marketing efforts out of this. That would be disingenuous.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-08T15:53:19-06:00

ID

112733

Comment

Well Eaton did that when she raised the issue. Obviously it was she who wanted a little press. This crusade and the ensuing press will probably catapult her right into that Prez spot of the NAACP she's running for. That's where the grandstanding comes in.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-05-08T16:11:44-06:00

ID

112734

Comment

I wonder, Kaze, have you talked to her? Interviewed her? Asked her reasons? Or, are you just relying on news reports? You're drawing a lot of conclusions based on the story linked above.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-08T16:17:54-06:00

ID

112735

Comment

I can see why they did cancel the appearance.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-05-08T18:26:38-06:00

ID

112736

Comment

She's only made a small dent by stopping this show. This isn't going to change anything. She needs to be saving her energy to go after these major record labels in which there are only about four or five big ones that own the majority of the smaller ones. They have total control over who gets a record deal and who becomes successful. Since they refuse to let musical styles change on their own, like they always have (before these huge corporations), it's time for the public to show it's dissatisfaction. A style change is long overdue and I'm not talking about a change in hip hop. I'm talking about hip hop either going out of style, going back underground, or sharing the airwaves with other forms of R&B instead of dominating the whole damn thing. These labels aren't going to let that happen though. Why? Because hip hop is much cheaper to make than something like funk.

Author

Victor

Date

2007-05-09T08:51:31-06:00

ID

112737

Comment

Hiphop is cheaper to produce than ALL other genres. Rap album budgets have notoriously been lower than their R&B and Rock Counterparts due to the technology involved. thus, the overhead is lower and chance for profit greater. You can make more money and faster from hiphop. You can produce, release, and recoup faster than any other genre. Budgets for new Rock bands newly signed almost always start at 1 million or better(thats for a complete unkown) R&B budgets 750,000 and above. While a lot rap records can be produced for as little as 50,000 on major labels. Its simple math.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-05-09T09:36:36-06:00

ID

112738

Comment

And to respond Donna C'MON of course I havent talked to her or interviewed her. But it doesnt take a private eye to surmise her motives. As soon as I read that she was up for that presidency I knew her motives. This power play generated just enough press for her to crusade her way into that position. Id heven go so far as to say she or some of her folks leaked it to the press. Simply because it made news and it didnt have to. Now it could be the media sensationalizing the rap angle after the Imus incident or a combination of both. But she could have easily made her objections known without the power play. Plus sehe's a former board member...she didnt object to any of the other celebrity fundraisers they've had in the past? Jadakiss was the last straw? doubt it. Timing is everything. And you have to admit hiphop is the whipping boy of the day right now untill something else comes up.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-05-09T09:45:58-06:00

ID

112739

Comment

But it doesnt take a private eye to surmise her motives. As soon as I read that she was up for that presidency I knew her motives. As a former journalist, Kamikaze, you know better than to try to state emphatically what people's "motives" are without even trying to talk to them. Tsk, tsk.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-09T10:11:44-06:00

ID

112740

Comment

LOL..thats ONE of the reason I didnt fit into that world. Waiting to "talk" to folks got in the way of good old common sense and street smarts.:-). I know Donna...I dont know "for sure" so Ill digress and say "in my opinion" But Id bet rent money that she's using this as a spring board for votes. She looks like the "decent crusader" ridding the town of that filthy rap junk!" she's a shoo-in now. ..People have begun to let fact that journalists need "proof" (especially to avoid getting sued) to hide their true motives and feelings. Im just too sharp for that crap! She's not fooling anybody! Eaton knows that anyone questioning her sincerity can be shot down because they have no "proof"... I can never prove it, nor will she admit to it. but...mama didnt raise no fool! IN MY OPINION, and this is unfounded...She's grandstanding!

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-05-09T10:37:53-06:00

ID

112741

Comment

Waiting to "talk" to folks got in the way of good old common sense and street smarts.:-). B.S., Kaze. No one is saying you shouldn't have an opinion. You know as well as I do that I think that he-said-she-said journalism is crap. But this is different. You don't want people telling you what your motives are without even bothering to talk to you about it—and you know that someone isn't credible when they do that. You're trying to raise standards around here. Walk the talk, yourself, to lead the way. The funny part is that you could easily call this person and have a conversation and then write a column about it. I learn stuff all the time from people I don't agree with.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-09T10:42:18-06:00

ID

112742

Comment

**But it doesnt take a private eye to surmise her motives.**<--Kamikaze Kaze, one could *surmise* your motive in opposing Ms. Eaton is that she is an older lady and not a 'youngblood'. I've noticed that your posts (most recently regarding the Alamo Theater) often have negative, stereotypical references to older people. IMO, it is equally repulsive for one to condemn all rap and hiphop artists because some use degrading lyrics as it is for one to condemn people who are older citizens. Just sayin'.

Author

Kacy

Date

2007-05-09T12:40:38-06:00

ID

112743

Comment

Right, Kacy. And I don't agree that it is that easy to "surmise" her motives. This journalist could see a number of possibilities, and there is no way I could know for sure without actually talking with her. I could sit here and speculate, but I wouldn't be any more credible than you are on this one, Kaze. You're taking cheap shots about the "motives" of someone you've never talked to.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-09T13:12:03-06:00

ID

112744

Comment

I would agree with you Kacy if that was the case. My reference to the older folks over the alamo was far from "negative" and I realize that all older folks don't fall into that category, however, it has been MY experience (let me emphasize that) thatthe majority of them are quick to condemn hiphop aqnd young folks based on sweeping generalizations far more then young folks do of them. Has Eaton heard Jadakiss' music and did she offer an opportunity for the promoterto find a substitute? Has she listened to ANY rap lyrics at length? .."All of these artists are the worst of the worst. They're criminals, their favorite word is the N-word, and they demean women by calling them b***hes and ho's," according to Eaton.".. ALL? sounds sweeping to me. Only calling her on what SHE said. So she wasnt interested in my opinion of substituting she was interested in condeming across the board NO RAP period and in turn I think she did those kids a disservice which again was my focal point of this blog. The KIDS who were deprived of their show. ...and I apologize if it appeared I was attacking the group over the Alamo because of their age. However, it is my opinion, that their age does not give them the proper forsight and creative acumen to adequately help that building become active and turn a profit. They are out of touch with whats new and what could pack that building and based on our meeting weren't very willing to listen. And even when we were close to maybe agreeing in principal they unleashed an antiquated set of provisions that would have tied the hands of me as a businessman and leader. They wanted us to compromise and they didnt. I would chalk that up to bad business sense over age in that case. but Im off topic.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-05-09T14:59:10-06:00

ID

112745

Comment

Kaze, you hate older folks? Haterism is a curable disease, and you can get help before you get old, too.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-05-09T14:59:18-06:00

ID

112746

Comment

I understand your point Donna and ideally you would probably be right. but I always operate off instinct. and its kept me alive, safe, and prosperous in business thus far. Of course I could be horribly wrong if my hunches lead me astray but thats a chance you take. But so far, i've rarely been far off. And no, you're right I havent talked to her, but based on she COULD have handled that situation as opposed to how she DID handle it...I think she was grandstanding. thats me. And anyway If I DID talk to her Donna do you honestly think she would ADMIT to showing out for the media? Do you honestly think she would say YES I did this to drum up support for me in my NAACP president's bid. C'mon! you cant be serious. Thats the same problem I have with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson sometimes.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-05-09T15:06:05-06:00

ID

112747

Comment

...and thats cute Ray, But I have nothing but the uptmost respect for my elders. I hope that Im blessed to live long myself. Its just that its a new day and age and some of the elders need to be dragged kicking and screaming into 2007. Some of their views are tried and true and still work, but some are antiquated. I get frustrated when they just condemn and simply dont try to understand young folks or the music we make. we're usually dismissed.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-05-09T15:09:12-06:00

ID

112748

Comment

I'm afraid I agree with Kamikaze to some extent on this. Why stop them from coming all together. Why not insist or demand that they do a clean show or be arrested? Why not inquire as to whether they have agreed to or are willing to be more responsible as of late. It seems Sewell presented a different picture of the group. Saying all ot theseartists are the wrost of the worst, and all are criminal says alot about her mindset. What else could Kamikaze want to know about what she thinks of rappers?

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-05-09T15:16:26-06:00

ID

112749

Comment

Also, they were coming to play basketball, not rap. Maybe she knows a rapper can't stop rapping?

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-05-09T15:25:50-06:00

ID

112750

Comment

**would agree with you Kacy if that was the case. My reference to the older folks over the alamo was far from "negative" and I realize that all older folks don't fall into that category, however, it has been MY experience (let me emphasize that) thatthe majority of them are quick to condemn hiphop aqnd young folks based on sweeping generalizations far more then young folks do of them**<--Kamikaze, May 9, 3:59 p.m. Kaze, I wasn't only referring to your Alamo post; there have been many others. Once you even wrote something to the effect that you would 'go with the youngblood every time'. It might have been related to a much earlier thread about Melvin being selected by Frank to replace Ramey Ford at Parks & Recreation. Moreover, if prefacing your remarks by saying "it has been MY experience (let me emphasize that) that the majority of them are quick to condemn hiphop aqnd young folks based on sweeping generalizations far more then young folks do of them

Author

Kacy

Date

2007-05-09T17:31:56-06:00

ID

112751

Comment

Oops...hit the submit button by mistake: What I was beginning to say, Kaze, was that prefacing your comments with the *in my experience* qualifier does not make it any less of a generalization about a group of people than what you say Ms. Eaton and your *elders* make about rap and hip hop artists. You can't have it both ways.

Author

Kacy

Date

2007-05-09T17:53:49-06:00