Lil Wayne, Dr. Dre, and Missy Elliott received the Recording Academy’s Global Impact Award
Lil Wayne, Dr. Dre and Missy Elliott received the Recording Academy’s Global Impact Award at the 2023 Black Music Collective’s BMC Honors. We discuss it here!
SACRAMENTO, CA - AUGUST 28: Rapper Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. aka Lil Wayne performs in concert as part of America's Most Wanted Tour at Sleep Train Arena on August 28, 2013 in Sacramento, California.
Credit: Randy Miramontez via Shutterstock
By: Joshua Martin
Black Music icons took center stage at the annual Recording Academy Honors hosted by the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective in celebration of this year’s Grammy Awards at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Spearheaded by CEO Harvey Mason Jr, The Black Music Collective was formed in 2020 by prominent industry leaders to promote Black representation and inclusion.
Hip Hop legend Lil Wayne took home the Recording Academy’s Global Impact Award, which was affectionately renamed the ‘Dr. Dre Impact Global Award’ in honor of the West Coast music legend.
During his acceptance speech, Wayne reflected on his career in the music industry and the adversity he faced becoming a success hailing from Louisiana.
“I don’t get honored. Where I’m from, New Orleans, you’re not supposed to do this.”
Preceded by emotional video tributes by Drake and the new Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders, the night of celebrations continued for Wayne as his peers, 2Chainz and Tyga, performed some of Wayne’s greatest hits on a night where the past, present and future of Black music were being honored.
Followed by a lively performance by West Coast legend Snoop Dogg, Ty Dolla Sign, and Kurupt. During his speech, Dr Dre. spoke about his hip hop origins and how music changed his life.
“The birth of hip-hop completely changed the course of my life. Just imagine where a lot of Black men, including myself, would be without hip-hop. I was in junior high school when I had ever heard hip-hop for the first time. I heard mixing and scratching, I couldn’t get enough of that sound. And once I got my hands on the turntables, I knew I had found my wings and I was determined to know how to fly.”
Before being introduced by longtime manager Mona Scott-Young and Ciara, Elliott was praised by super producer Timbaland and fellow singer, rapper Lizzo with heartfelt video tributes. Emotionally herself, Missy exclaimed how important this award means to her.
“People don’t understand that this is a Global Impact Award. It’s not just neighborhood, it’s global. So it hits different when you stand up here, knowing that when you get something like this, you gotta know that you’ve been through a lot.”
She also gave a powerful tribute to fellow winner, Epic Records CEO Sylvia Rhone. Later, Swiss Beatz commanded a packed house to give “Sylvia Rhone the Great” a standing ovation before presenting her with the Global Impact award.
“It’s been a lot of years for me in hip-hop, and it’s even more special to me amongst this elite group of artists with Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott, Lil Wayne, each of whom I’ve had the privilege of working with throughout my career.”
Additional musical acts included Chloe Bailey, Busta Rhymes, and Tweet.
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Respect the WAP: Boosie, Lori Harvey, and Rap's problem with Slut-Shaming Women
Rap music has a long history of portraying women, particularly Black women, as “sluts” and sexualized objects only to turn around and demonize for engaging in said act. We discuss the double standards in Hip Hop surrounding sexuality!
By: Alexis Oatman
In a recent interview with Vlad TV, rapper Boosie Badazz offered his thoughts on Lori Harvey’s “body count” and her new relationship with actor Michael B. Jordan.
The 38-year-old Louisiana native went as far as to say, “I’d sleep with her, but never marry her,” after DJ Vlad proceeded to go down a list of Lori Harvey’s famous past suitors from Trey Songz, Future, and even Diddy.
“I think we need to stop giving the women the power with situations like this,” Boosie added. “We gotta start giving the bachelors, the men, who are running through a beautiful woman like this the credit, who not housing her, running through her.”
Boosie on Lori Harvey's Body Count: I'd Sleep with Her But Never Marry Her (Part 22)
For women, sex will always be something that happens to us, not something that we choose to engage in. The issue lies when women decide to take charge of their sexual autonomy, only to be labeled a “slut.”
Here we go again. Sadly, this is nothing new. Rap music, a long-time reflector of society, has a long history of portraying women, particularly Black women, as “sluts” and sexualized objects only to turn around and demonize for engaging in said act.
When Cardi B and Megan the Stallion released “WAP,” the world was shocked and disturbed at two women, women of color at that, talking about sex and their bodies so explicitly.
Slut-shaming is the archaic process of criticizing women and girls who perceive to violate societal expectations regarding sexuality. These degradations, often double standards, range from criticizing women for wearing “sexy” clothing or having multiple sex partners.
However, for men, whether it's Snoop Dogg’s saying “Bitches ain’t shit, but hoes and tricks” in Dr. Dre’s hit classic “Bitches Ain’t Shit” to even Three 6 Mafia winning an Oscar for “It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp,” Hip Hop not only allows the sexual exploitation of women for the male gaze but awards men in the process.
In the article, Misogyny in Rap Music: A Content Analysis of Prevalence and Meanings, Ronald Weitzer and Charis E. Kubrin suggested that “larger gender relations, the music industry, and local neighborhood conditions” are the three primary forces behind why women are portrayed so negatively throughout Rap.
The scholars note that Hegemonic masculinity is at the root.
This form of masculinity hangs on the idea that men hold the dominant position in society, leaving women at the bottom. In this context, being a “real man” means to support attitudes that perpetuate women’s sexual objectification, the practices that subordinate them, and derogating men who adopt an egalitarian approach to gender inequality issues.
The fragility of Black masculinity cannot risk being perceived as “soft” or fake.
As a result, Black male rap artists will create explicit and violent lyrics against women to assert their dominance and prove their authenticity as a “real man.”
In our community, the sexual conquests of young men are revered while it demonizes our women and girls, labeling them “fast.”
Due to society’s implications about sex, young black men will often use the graphic tells of their exploits for social status and esteem—the goal of these intended conquests to make a fool of women. Sex isn’t seen as a testament of affection, but a form of control, a way of keeping women in line.
A more in-depth look into the street male culture will show you that Black hypermasculinity is due to the historical socioeconomic disadvantages which have stripped Black men of traditional sources of dignity in a white patriarchal system.
As a woman and a rap fan, I’m tired of the patriarchy.
I was six years old in the back of my dad’s Ford Taurus when the “Bridge is Over” by KRS One came on. My dad was fan of 80s Hip Hop, he called it the “Golden Era”. The beat knocked from his stereo system, rattling around through my brain. I was in love, and I was now a fan. Today, the genre has long separated from being the voice of the people and expanded into a multi-billion-dollar industry intent on objectifying women as sexual beings.
I think more men in Rap and Hip Hop need to acknowledge their privilege and stop using women as muses to fulfill their misogynistic lyrics about objectifying women. Of course, this isn’t just a problem in the world of Rap. Patriarchy is a societal problem affecting us all.
As Feminist scholar, Bell Hooks said, “Feminism is for everybody.”
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Ray Lavender Talks Building His Music Career, Lessons and Sacrifices, and Keys To Success!
R&B singer Ray Lavender hit the music scene in 2007 with his hit single “My Girl Gotta Girlfriend”! After over a decade in the music industry, Ray discusses the building of his music career, lessons and sacrifices throughout his career, and what it takes to be a successful artist! Check out the interview here!
“When you listen to Ray Lavender, I want you to feel me through my music. I want you to know that I love the craft, I love the art and I love that I am blessed with the gift of song.”
By: Omar Cook
In 2007, R&B artist Ray Lavender hit the music scene in a major way, dropping his debut album X-Rayted which featured his hit single “My Girl Gotta Girlfriend”. Ray Lavender was the first artist to be signed to Akon’s Kon Live Records, which was a joint venture with Geffen Records. Ray made his way Atlanta by way of Monroe, Louisiana where he began to pursue a successful music career. 13 years later since making his debut, Ray is still producing music and has also dived into the world of acting and is preparing himself to be a mogul with a record company owner and movie production company.
Ray Lavender - My Girl Gotta Girlfriend (Dirty Ray, Closed Captioned)
We talked with Ray Lavender in an exclusive interview, check it out below!
How long have you been making music and how did you break into the music industry?
I’ve been making music for a long time ever since I can’t remember. I remember when I was 12 years old and one of my favorite songs was a song called “Two Occasions” that was written by Babyface. That’s when I began the songwriting process. I can remember writing my first song when I was 12 years old and I recorded it with no music on a little tape cassette. The song wasn’t really that good but it was my first song and that’s when the writing process began. I broke into the music industry professionally at the age of 18 years old. That is what I met Akon and Dallas Austin.
What was the creative process behind your hit song “My Girl Gotta Girlfriend” and how did your career shift due to its success?
When I wrote “My Girl Gotta Girlfriend”, I was in a really creative space at the time. I was already signed with Interscope records and Akon‘s record label but at the time the single that they had for me wasn’t a single that I wanted. So I chose to go back in my life and pick out one of the highlights of my life and I wrote a song about it. The world ended up loving that song and it became my first single but the inspiration came from two young ladies and I thank them for putting me through that stress because now I have a hit single from it. Lol.
What projects can we look forward to in the future?
My future projects consist of my new EP Quarantine and Chill with my first single “100”. I’m also doing a lot of acting in stage plays and in movies coming up and am also writing a Christmas movie at this current time.
What motivates you and how do you define success?
What motivates me is knowing that I am very talented at what I do. I wake up every day trying to outdo what I did the day before. What also motivates me is knowing that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ blessed me with an amazing talent and that’s the gift of song so that I can share it with the world. My definition of success is you being happy and doing what it is you love.
Ray Lavender - Stay
What do you believe is the formula to being a successful artist in today’s hip hop culture?
The formula to success is simple and that’s being creative and thinking outside of the box of whatever it is that you are seeking to do. But you have to work hard at it or else it’s not going to work. You have to understand that hard work really pays off and nothing is going to come to you. You have to do your best to make it work.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My greatest inspiration first and foremost ... is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because without him nothing will work. After that it’s my parents. They took amazing care of me and my siblings and they always told us to work hard to become great. So with that they are my inspiration. And I can’t leave out Sam Cooke for being amazing inspiration to me musically.
How do you generate new ideas for your music?
I generate new music ideas by what’s going on in my life at the time. I’m really creative, witty, and clever when it comes to writing and putting words together so when I think about my life and what I’m going through, I put them all in song because i’d rather be rapping or singing it.
What lessons have you learned over the course of your music career?
I’ve learned to make sure you read all of your contracts. I’ve also learned to make sure you know where all of your money is going at all times. I’ve learned that no one is really your friend when it comes to money and business and you have to separate the two. I’ve also learned that hard work will win every time someone tries to do you wrong.
What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?
What encourages me to make music is that I am really talented at it. I love to hear a new song by me. It excites me to hear the end of the song and all the harmonies and all the runs that I selected to go into that song. Music is not just music to me, it’s a form of art and I don’t write songs, I paint them. I make moments in time and that’s what excites me. I get discouraged when I make these amazing records and then financially I’m cheated out of the money. When you work so hard on the composition, you want to be properly compensated for it and sometimes the people that you deal with treat you unfairly.
What sacrifices have you had to make, to build your career in music?
I’ve sacrificed a lot of time away from my family. A sacrifice finishing college and playing basketball. I sacrificed watching some of my kids be born because I had a show to do. I sacrificed a lot of time and a lot of my hard earned money to become successful.
What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?
To upcoming artists trying to break into the music industry, my advice is to learn the music business. Learn your craft. If you’re trying to sing, go study the greats and figure out why they became great. Never give up no matter who tells you that you’re not good enough. Stay the course and you will win.
Where do you see yourself and your career in the next 10 years?
In the next 10 years I see myself as a big Music Mogul with the Wrecker company that has multi platinum Artists sign to it. I also see myself with a movie production company and producing my own movies.
Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or your music?
When you listen to Ray Lavender, I want you to feel me through my music. I want you to know that I love the craft, I love the art and I love that I am blessed with the gift of song. I want you to understand that I want to be great and I am going to be great. When you think of music, I should be one of the ledges that pop up in your head long after I’m gone. I need you to understand that that’s what I’m working on and that is what will happen. Just like fine wine, you have to wait for it to get the best taste from it. And I’m almost ready!!
Meet Joshua Martin, Senior Video Editor for 247 Live Culture!
Email: Joshua@247LCTV.com