The late 80's & early 90's defined a very pivotal period in Hip-Hop for the black community.  The artists that rose to stardom would forever etch their mark, delivering potent and poignant material that created a self awareness felt throughout the urban and suburban black communities.  The music industry was fresh off the dominance of RUN-DMC, the Juice crew all-stars, Rakim(really introduced the knowledge of self 5% values along with Big Daddy Kane!), LL Cool J and various others artists when in 1988 a group of 3 individuals would form in NYC and announce to the world they were the Jungle Brothers...Straight out the Jungle!

    Fat gold chains, 3-4 finger rings and gold teeth were a hip-hop fashion MUST that was recognized from hood to hood, City to City, State to State.  The Jungle Brothers introduced the blackness not visited since Afrika Bambatta and the mighty Zulu Nation.  The Jungle Brothers also introduced the Hip-Hop universe to a diverse collective called the Native Tongues(De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah and Black Sheep).  In fact, their debut Warlock records album featured a young midnight marauder named Q-Tip on a track called "Black is black".

    "De La Soul, from the soul...black medallions, no gold!" were lyrics shouted from Afrika of the JB's on the classic De La Soul posse cut "Buddy" which gave a descriptive idea of the mindstate at that particular time in Hip-Hop.  Not every artist felt the need to be the same in order to be accepted by the fans.  The beads and Kinte cloth apparel were frowned upon by some, but the overall tracks that spoke of getting in touch with your roots and history was something that many could relate to in general.

    Artists such as as Public Enemy, BDP, Wu-Tang Clan, Too Poetic, YZ, Queen Latifah, Lakim Shabazz, The Jaz, King Sun, Poor Righteous teachers, Intelligent Hoodlum, Blackwatch movement, Brand Nubian, Gangstarr, De La Soul, A Tribe called Quest, The UMC's, Digable Plantes, KMD, LONS, The Coup, Ice Cube, Pete Rock & CL Smooth and various others of the same spirit established a universal feeling of pride that had us all walking with our heads high.

    Why & when did expressing your culture through music become played out?  Did the emergence of "Gangsta Rap" eclipse and outshine the militant, God degree and political messages delivered to the masses worldwide?  Was there a specific agenda to snuff out and incinerate the knowledge and education to make way for the Illuminati and forever alter the direction of hip-hop?  All could have co-existed.  This would've kept a healthy balance in hip-hop.  However, when it's all said and done, sales and revenue are the only things that matter in the boardroom to the executives that signed and exploited the music the Bronx, NY gave birth to.  Not that making a dollar is wrong either, but balance is important to move the music forward.

    So here we stand in 2010.  Crooked cops still have the green light to pop off and murder innocent youths with little or NO jail time, sex exploitation and manipulation is still entertainment's #1 vise on the radio, T.V., Internet and the balance of hip-hop music is at an all time low.  "Proud to be black, 'cause black I'm proud".....no where in sight(btw..Tragedy was underrated in what he was bringing to the table).  Thinking about posting an ad on the back of a milk carton that reads "Is it still cool to be black & proud in hip-hop?".

    My views and feelings may or may not agree with yours.  I could be dead wrong, or somewhat correct with my statements on this topic of discussion.  One thing is certain, this is my absolute opinion which is ALWAYS up for debate.  Let's build!  Peace.