What happend to Neo Soul?

Why is the latest iteration of ignorant bamma rap ascendant? T-Pain? Lil' Wayne? Come on. Whatever happened to neo soul? Too bourgie for the least common denominator? Too intelligent? Not enough $$ for white label executives (too expensive to produce)? Not escapist enough? What are your thoughts? Seriously--will this change? Can Barack and Michelle set a new aesthetic?

I know it's a function of youth culture, and every older generation harrumphs and grouses about the tastes of the younger one. Yet it appears we are reaching the end of that chain...a saturation point where you really CAN say that younger African Americans truly do have their heads up their asses? No taste? Fewer mores? Even more nihilistic...or in a fog of un-reality (e.g., "yeah when I get of school I'm gonna start my own club and record label and cage fighting league"). This is their music. The trouble is that there is little or no self-reflection. No critical thought. Hard to do when you're downloading ringtones instead of the reading. Neo Soul afficianados read...

Friday Funnies

What does John McCain and Jill Scott and finding a good black man have in common? Essence. My, has the world changed. I tell my right wing friends all the time--McCain is going to break your hearts. I'm sure they know this, but hey, they'll never admit it. Why not? When Hillary's cracking about RFK and saying she's gotta hang in there b/c who knows, somebody might take Barack out...and other Democrats like Ferraro claiming a vast nigger conspiracy in the media by the NABJ--and we all know blacks are overwhelmingly represented in print, TV newsrooms (chuckle)--no one should be shocked that McCain's in Essence. Yes, we, not Jews, control the media...didn't you hear? Yet many folks are shocked McCain's in there. And he's saying nice things about about Obama and Ted Kennedy. Lawdy. Check out the interview (click the Essence link above). Not bad. Makes you even think about voting for him, huh?