Well, my party people, since we're on the topic of Culture and Hip Hop, I've decided to share with you a few pieces. These were displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.

At the risk of contradicting myself, I do want to note that our governtment is acknowledging the art that is in the heart of our culture.







To give you a little bit about the artist who did the portraits of Big Daddy Kane and Ice T and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Kehinde Wiley painted using old heirarchy as a reference. Putting these people in the poses that they are in, giving them the background etc. questions the sense of what we consider royalty. It plays a lot on the notion of association. Since a man holds a royal ceptar and sits on a throne, he is royal himself.

The bigger issue, and what a lot of Hip Hop is trying to give to the youth: you must carry yourself and think of yourself the way you want others to percieve you. Image. But also self esteem. Self respect. Giving respect to others so that you gain respect in return.

My party people, don't be fooled by the radioactivity. Do not succumb to radioactive poison. My party people, we party, but we also party because we understand and respect the fact that everyone has stresses in their life that they want to release. Keep the whole view in perspective.