Editor’s Note 009

What up Hip Hop? I trust that everyone had a safe and happy three-day weekend. I actually had the opportunity to head to NY and meet up with my newly found Brooklyn Bodega crew in addition to witnessing Pete Rock spinning Friday night in which every song he played you would’ve thought the actual artists were there.

To the issue, since the beginning of time all people have in this world is their name. No matter how many accolades one recieves, whether it’s the Nobel Peace Prize, an Oscar Award, or a promotion to the Executive Vice President of a multi-million dollar company all a person has in the end is their name. This issue our cover story focuses on a name, but the name even in its affiliation with the individual by no means defines this group of artists and collectively what they embody. The name may lead you in a direction but the music that comes out of the Cornel West Theory is a sound that is rarely heard and once you listen to it you almost forget about the name. Russell Simmons just came out with a book entitled ‘Do You’, but how many artitsts actually have the opportunity to do them? The artists and individuals featured in the next two weeks of this issue whether it’ Stacy Epps or Ursula Rucker or Joell Ortiz are in no way defined by their names but more their actions. The name just identifies who they are not what they are.

How far does your name take you and how much of it defines you?

Thanks to Jati Lindsay for the dope cover shot and congrats to Thurzday of U-N-I who is the new father of a proud baby girl.