Some of you may be familiar with my work in the Hip Hop space. I’ve been in the game one way or another since 1988 (I wonder if that means I’m still spending money from ‘88?).
I started out publishing a graffiti ‘zine, then I co-published a Hip Hop newspaper called Beat Down. Then a magazine called ego trip. Eventually, I would get involved with Mass Appeal. Soon I would do some books, some television. Some film. And here we are today. Some of you may have seen my latest, Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men.
But really, I’m here to talk about rock. Punk in particular. I’ve been in a few bands over the years where I started in my teens. This is back when people made fun of Black dudes who liked rock. Which is just silly seeing that Black folks had the heaviest hand in the creation of rock ‘n’ roll.
A few years back I was in a band called the White Mandingos. Legendary West Coast rhymeslayer and HipHopDX contributor Murs was on vocals. And Darryl Jenifer, bassist from the infamous Bad Brains played bass and more.
Do you know what rock ‘n’ roll means? It’s ‘hood slang for the act of lovemaking. Imagine a brother in Memphis, say around 1923. He’s 23 years old. He’s with a young lady he wants to holler at. They’re at a speakeasy—a shack behind the local laundromat. The spot can accommodate 23 people. Anyway, dude takes a sip of that White Lightning, takes a cough, then leans into his sweety. He takes a strong pause, then says “hey baby, I’m fixin’ to get me into some rock ‘n’ roll. How about that?”
Maxine responds with, “cool daddy, cool.”
That’s where the fuck the idea behind rock ‘n’ roll came from. It’s hot, it’s sexy, it’s dangerous, it’s adventurous. It has rhythm. It has swing. Word to Big Mama Thornton, Chuck Berry, Little Richard (you little rappers think y’all came up with that “Lil shit”?), Jimi Hendrix, Betty Davis, Death, Pure Hell, Bad Brains, Living Colour, Erykah Badu and a whole gang of other muthafuckas.
Go peep all of those bands. Learn about yourself if you’re Black. Learn about your fellow Americans if you’re not.
My new band is called the 1865. Why the 1865 you may ask?
Well, our band is Black — as in our members are all Black. Powerful sister behind the vocals. If Tina-Turner-got-turnt-up-and-turnt-out-by-the-Bad Brains then there you go homeboy or homegirl (or the they, them). What’s love got to do with it? You tell me after peeping it.
Seriously though, we’re the 1865. That’s the year Black folks finally caught that mighty Emancipation. During the initial years after the Emancipation, Black people were looking up: Black businesses, universities—politics. Black people were adjusting to freedom. Making strides.
Some people felt threatened by all of this. Groups like the KKK stepped out of the shadows (with their faces covered, of course). Then your man Jim — Jim Crow that is — stepped up. I’m sure you remember him from your junior high textbook.
Fast forward to your man Obama. Wow! A President of the United States who just happened to be Black. Impossible! People wept in the streets. This fellow was elected twice! Oh shit, America was turning a corner … then boo-ya-ka boo-ya-ka — them boys from way back came out of the shadows again. Not like they ever really left. They had tiki torches. Trump was their Cobra Commander. They wore corny red caps with white lettering. The foolishness shook White America’s answer to Supreme. Get it? (Pretty damn good if I say so myself. The kid still has bars!)
History is my best friend. History can give you the blueprint. History can give you hope. When you overstand there’s a good chance history will repeat itself, you’ll be prepared for both the worst and best that life will throw at your lazy ass.
Our album, Don’t Tread In We! was released by Hip Hop label Mass Appeal (wink wink, I’m the Chief Creative Officer at Mass Appeal. Keeping it a ‘hunnit for the sake of journalism. Old habits become personality traits). Some people dig it. Maybe you will too. But looky here, I’m not messing with HipHopDX strictly on a promo mission (still, there are links included here and here). I’m here because I wanna get some joints offa my chest. Because I’m vexed like a dirty cop in the projects.
Anyway, the nice folks at the label sent it around to various networks and platforms. The Fader premiered it. The response has been positive.
For the visual to the lead single “Get Out,” there are some big themes that push the album and race is at the center of it all. The video, directed by Christopher Frierson and John Tashiro, features some “blackface.”
Although, some outlets fronted. Which is to be expected. It’s just shocking to see certain “Black” outlets front on it. The following is a note one particular “Black” outlet wrote regarding why they couldn’t get behind the clip for “Get Out”:
“We all watched and talked about this one at length — we passed just because of the very high volume of blackface imagery throughout. We felt that the themes of the song didn’t come across strongly enough in the lyrics to justify having such a steady stream of these images, and out of context it could be especially jarring.”
O.K., fair enough.
Word to mother though, I can talk about some jarring stuff, too. The aforementioned network has given after-hours airtime to Peter Popoff — a white man who is a well-known skam artist and “preacher” who pimps bootleg holy water to older Black folks who don’t know no better. You’ve seen his infomercials. The one where Black people talk about being down on their luck, struggling and looking for answers. Then they write in for that miracle spring water. All of a sudden you see your auntie throwing crutches in a random bingo hall, talkin’ ‘bout I’ve been healed AND I’m RICH!!! F … O … H.
The same network spent years supporting R&B singers who beat women and/or urinated on underage girls. This scribe can go on and on re: the various infractions served up on this platform.
It’s just funny when as an artist you set out to make works that actually stimulate conversation and encourage people to think about topics that won’t go away. A white person didn’t make this video. A Black band made a video that addresses blackface. Which is the dumbest thing ever. It’s dumb that blackface is still even a thing. It’s sad that there are white folks who still fall for the okey-doke, who still think that rockin’ blackface is O.K.
But what’s even sadder is the idea that Black folks aren’t sophisticated enough to look at Black art and say, O.K., let them speak on it how they want to speak on it. A Black band made this video. We are controlling the narrative here.
That, my dear Watson, is the crucial difference.
Seriously though, go peep that video. You’re a sellout if you front on it.
Just kidding. Kind of.
Sacha Jenkins is a writer, filmmaker and musician who came of age in 1980s New York City. He’s written extensively about hip hop and graffiti culture for all of the major magazines that no longer exist. Jenkins is also the Chief Creative Officer at Mass Appeal. Keep it locked over there for more of the real.
Black Hip Hop heads never had a problem with rock. Hip Hop echoes with samples of rock from it’s earliest days to the present. I think there’s a confusion between acting and being tho. Lil Wayne for example, grabs a guitar, puts on a bunch of extra tight weirdo ass clothes, carries a guitar around with him without ever learning how to play it (or any other instrument for that matter), screams into the mic and poof! He thinks he’s a rockstar. The issue here is treating rock like it’s a fashion rather than a form of music. Those are the heads I had a problem with. Especially during the androgynous ’80’s. I think many would agree that ’80’s hair metal was some of the worst shit ever, and looking like a damn fool took center stage over the actual music itself. I try not to be a judge of anybody’s art, especially if they put their heart into it. But I can’t get with this. I’m a fan of Gary Clark Jr, CharlieRED, The Black Keys blues type rock. This “Get Out” doesn’t resonate with me and like was mentioned in the article, the music doesn’t seem to justify the imagery.
I love rock, i am black I have been in a 3 rock bands. 1 of which were signed to universal. The issue a lot of black rockers then to focus on edutainment rather than making good music (my band included) Sometimes people wanna just vibe and enjoy with constant “message” lyrics in This case , This video doesn’t match the song. The song would be better served with better images.
Totally agree with your statement about their dependence on messages oriented songs. Just make good rock music period. How about some variety too, does the funk and soul influence always have to be dominant?
Good read. I just have not been into a lot of rock n roll. There were hits that came out (in the 80’s) that we’re actually rock and they crossed over into being heavily played on r&b radio stations. This was the 80’s. But I’m not opposed to rock because of racial issues. I just don’t listen to it. But since she has brought attention to this, I’m gonna listen for this group to see if I like it. I have an ear for music and I like what I like. So I’m not controlled. Looking forward to this!
Right, the entire point of this article was to get people to listen to her band
Rap Heads like Rap! Just because a rock band has Black people in it does not change the fact that Rap Heads like Rap! Putting Black people in an orchestra will not pressure a Rap Head into liking classical music…I’m pretty sure Black people in rock music should focus on Rock Heads getting into their music and embrace the wave over there before worrying about the Rap crossover crowd…and it’s insulting to assume Black people ONLY listen to Hip Hop and infer Blacks need to expand their minds beyond that just because some rockers feel under appreciated
Because they are racists and hate all white people
wtf is a “black rap head”? GTFOH
Correction: Betty Davis not Bette Davis
Because it’s been considered white boy shit for almost 40 years now. We can’t be great in it or country but we let a white boy be a great in our genre of Hip Hop. Lil Nas X had to go get a fucking white chaperone to be considered country. What type of shit is that? I say we start doing Emenim, Cardi B, G Eazy and Bruno Mars the same way.
You are a low life
Cardi b aint white son. Shes dominican/Trini so that means shes BLACK. You must think you’re from africa too smh wake up nicca.
If you are a black rock artist, your commitment should be to make music that appeals to fans who are rock fans first, not black folks whose favorite genres are R&B and hip hop, IMO.
Salute, Sacha. My HipHop is rockandroll as fuck!
Because they hate white people. No surprise here! Lmao
Did you really laugh your ass off after typing that?
Why does him stating the obvious make you mad? You know in your hateful heart it’s true.
Your mom birthed you out here butt. You’re a butt baby.
I see you found the time to roll off your cousin to sign on the internet and make dumb statements.
Article was mad corny.
Sacha Jenkins is a very original albeit eccentric dude. I’m a fan of his body of work as a venerable cultural observer and participant. He’s in the same lane and space as Nelson George. Having paid him his homage, I feel this piece is definitely intended as both a promo and to take a – veiled – shot at the XYZ network that decided to pass on the single. Thing is… Sacha is a bit too avant garde and obscure. Best believe if someone like ‘Ye was behind a blackface-featured piece of music (remember when he used elements of the Confederate flag in tour merch?), it would’ve been published within the quickness. What it boils down to, IMHO, is Sacha Jenkins is simply not mainstream enough commodity to a point where mainstream outlets HAVE TO pick up his projects. Now, people in the culture, including thousands if not millions who read this site, know what he’s about and that his words carry significance.
Sacha is a prolific racist but talented
Artiste. Maybe he shined go back to the motherland and he will be happier
This article is fuckin pointless
Tigs
There is no problem with rock. Just make good rock music, it doesn’t need to always have a message or be angry. Just make fun black rock music.
What a terribly written article.
Shits Trash