For as long as I can remember, dark skinned girls seemed to have always received shade from the light skinned girls. They were classified as the pretty ones while we were classified as well “The Dark Ones”. They got the good grades, the good guys and the free passes into bliss, while it seemed like the dark skinned girl was left out in the cold to fend for herself. No passes were given, no free rides and dark skinned girls had to work two times harder than her counterpart – the light skinned girl. A glimpse of this can be seen in the 1988 Spike Lee classic School Dayz where the light skinned girls squared off with the dark skinned girls and even though it’s not that serious today, people still have a way of making “skin tone” an issue. Chika Okoro is a dark-skinned girl whom according to praisedc.hellobeautiful was always told: “You’re so pretty for a dark skinned girl” but still failed to meet the expectations of her rival, the light skinned girl. Okoro whom is a 2^nd year MBA student at Stanford Graduate School of Business recently gave a speech titled Confessions of a D Girl: Colorism and Global Standards of Beauty.

Okoro began her talk discussing a casting call for the  Oscar nominated movie Straight Outta Compton in which she details how the casting call ranked for women by the alphabets A-D. Medium to darker skinned ladies were ranked as D and if a lady was of a lighter tone she was ranked under A in which stood for the Beyoncé types. Okoro stated that when she read the information, she felt betrayed.

I felt betrayed that when even in these small circles where I’m allowed to feel beautiful, I’m still shoved aside for those with more “Favorable” features: Light skin, light eyes, long soft real hair. Chika Okoro

In past years there have only been a handful of movies that represent women of color in general and if you’re like me, those are the movies that I pay to go see; just so I can support our women of color and hopefully raise the standards of us being in more quality, decent films than ones that call for us to be crazy, angry or a prostitute. I mean after all, there are some talented and well gifted women of color whom can grace the screen just like Cate Blanchett or Meryl Streep, whom are talented in their own right. But the opportunities for a black woman are still slim to none. Okoro stressed the fact that it’s OK for us to stand up against what society tells us is acceptable or beautiful according to their standards.

Check out Chika Okoro’s video as see hits the hammer on the nail regarding “colorism” in our society. Have you felt neglected, pushed aside or withdrawn because you’re dark skinned? Or maybe you’re light skinned and have felt some shade from dark skinned women or society, sound off in the comments and let’s talk about it.

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The post Does the Color of My Skin Offend You? appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

As the 88th Academy Awards were announced on Thursday morning, Twitter couldn’t help but get more than just the #Oscars2016 hashtag trending. After the excitement of seeing Straight Outta Compton, the N.W.A. biopic, actually nominated for an Oscar, reality set in: It was only one Oscar. The Straight Outta Compton writers are white, by the way. Let’s be real. Even one nomination is something to celebrate. The thing is, should we actually celebrate it?

While Straight Outta Compton received a Best Original Screenplay nomination, it, along with other “black movie” favorites, failed to be nominated in any of the top categories.  Use of the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, thus so, came as a response. Actors of color, along with movies featuring a diverse cast, have officially been absent from the top Oscar categories for the second year in a row.

“It’s only two years. That’s not much.”

So is it just a coincidence?

Well, maybe. If you choose to overlook the facts.

The Academy of Motion Arts and Pictures presented the first Academy Awards in 1929. The first black producer to win an Oscar didn’t come till 2013 (Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave). The second win from an African American in the Best Adapted Screenplay category didn’t come till 2013 (John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave) after the first one had only been awarded in 2009 (Geoffrey Fletcher , Precious). T.J. Martin, an African American film maker, didn’t become the first African American to win in the Best Documentary category until 2012 (Undefeated).  In 2002, Denzel Washington became the only African American to have two Oscars win. After 87 years, only 15 African American actors have won an Oscar.

So should the opinion of a group of about 6,000 individuals matter to you? Should the fact that, on average, about 80% of its members are white be relevant?

If you’re in the film industry, yes.  If you’re not in the film industry, yes.

How are we supposed to get children of color interested in the arts when history shows that their success in it isn’t promising? It’s not a smart decision to encourage children (or yourself, quite frankly) to go into the film industry if they’re African American.

If you’re convinced that its not an issue of race, let me rephrase it for you: African American actors and film industry members have ‘coincidently’ struggled in the Hollywood Film Industry when compared to other races.

According to the Motion Picture of Association of America, about 150 million African American individuals went to the movies in 2012.  The number rose for the first time since 2009 in 2013 when more African American movies were appearing in our cinemas (Fruitvale Station, 12 Years of Slave).

So from a business standpoint, Hollywood makes more money when it offers a bit of diversity. If you’re African American, numbers show that you tend to spend more money at the box office when people who look like you are on the screen.

If 2015 proves anything it is that Hollywood took that into consideration. Apart from Straight Outta Compton, films like Creed, Dope, and Beasts of No Nation, which highlighted African American actors and film makers, were all Oscar favorites but received limited nominations. Well, only one other nomination for Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of Rocky in the Best Supporting Actor category for his work against an African American lead (Michael B. Jordan), and an African American writer and director (Ryan Coogler).

But then again, it probably was just another coincidence that the only African American film recognition in the 88th Academy Awards was only awarded to the white involvement in them, right?

An award is a great recognition to receive. So fans of N.W.A and Straight Outta Compton should celebrate their Oscar nomination, but not, by any reason, be content.

The Oscars are a small but prevalent example of how, even if indirectly, discrimination  still exists.

The post Why “Straight Outta Compton” and the Oscars Matter appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Spitting rhymes that precursor the #BlackLivesMatter Movement, N.W.A. was not afraid to unleash the ugly truth on police brutality. Their music was the voice of the people, giving fans a glimpse of America’s worst nightmare.

With the events in Ferguson and Baltimore acting as mirror images to L.A.’s tumultuous past, artists like Janelle Monae and Kendrick Lamar have stepped up to the plate and used their artistry to voice the pain of individuals that have been burdened by injustice.

Although the amount activism in hip-hop has unified both fans and artists, the culture has not seen a “keep it real” group since N.W.A.

While the shadow that the Compton-based group cast is prominent, people need that voice more than ever – a martyr who isn’t afraid to keep it real and unfiltered while maintaining mainstream success.

Coining their music as “reality rap,” N.W.A. invited hip-hop heads to see life beyond New York City’s five boroughs. Their willingness to share their encounters with police brutality made it easier for the group to connect with those who experienced the struggles of growing up in an area that was feared by most and respected by few. Songs like “Straight Outta Compton,” “F**k Tha Police,” “100 Miles,” and “Runnin’” allowed N.W.A. to encourage entire community remain strong while educating those unaware of the abuse.

The honesty and power behind the group’s lyrics marks the group as one-of-a-kind. Their contribution to music continues to be the voice against police brutality, and an inspiration for those who are speaking out against it.

With conscious hip-hop on the rise, the quest to fill the void left by N.W.A. has encouraged the culture to find someone voice the reality of the current generation, and solidified their spot as the originators of “reality rap.”

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Hip-hop veteran, Warren G stopped by Power 106’s The Cruz Show to chop it up a bit on everything from wanting to go to USC to learn how to write music to his thoughts on his stepbrother, Dr. Dre’s biopic, Straight Outta Compton During the short interview Warren also got into his fear of putting out wack music and how his 1994 classic “Regulate” was recorded in an apartment building in Long Beach, that  held only his studio, dog and bed. Before leaving, Warren left a piece of advice for all upcoming artists: “keep working hard.” Peep game below and be sure to check out Warren G’s latest EP, Regulate…G Funk Era Part II HERE.

The post Warren G Talks ‘Straight Outta Compton’ And Gives Advice to Upcoming Artists on The Cruz Show appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

As if the release of the N.W.A. biopic, Straight Outta Compton wasn’t enough to make it an epic weekend, the BX’s Chris Rivers teams up with his right hand, Whispers to pay homage to the group with, “Straight ‘G’ Check”. Borrowing beats from N.W.A.’s “Chin Check” and Dr. Dre‘s “Nuthin But A ‘G’ Thang”, Chris and Whispers do both tracks justice with nimble lyricism and ultra G vocals that would make Dr. Dre proud. Get into the groove below.

The post Chris Rivers and Whispers Honor “Straight Outta Compton” Release with “Straight G Check” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

After 11 years of drawn-out hype, legendary rapper and producer Dr. Dre has finally addressed the fate of Detox and announced the release date to his last album during his Beats 1 radio show, “The Pharmacy” on August 1.

Not pleased with the direction Detox was going in, Dre finally laid the anticipation for the project to rest by admitting that it, “wasn’t good enough.” Though the long awaited album will never be, the Compton producer did shed some light on his final project, Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre, which drops August 7.

Inspired by the upcoming movie “Straight Outta Compton,” the 16-track LP will feature lyrical content from such artists as Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and more.

Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre is now available for pre-order on iTunes and Apple Music. Check out the artwork and tracklist below:

01) Intro
02) Talk About It [ft. King Mez & Justus]
03) Genocide [ft. Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius & Candice Pillay]
04) It’s All on Me [ft. Justus & BJ the Chicago Kid]
05) All in a Day’s Work [ft. Anderson Paak & Marsha Ambrosius]
06) Darkside/Gone [ft. King Mez, Marsha Ambrosius & Kendrick Lamar]
07) Loose Cannons [ft. Xzibit & COLD 187um]
08) Issues [ft. Ice Cube & Anderson Paak]
09) Deep Water [ft. Kendrick Lamar & Justus]
10) One Shot One Kill [ft. Snoop Dogg]
11) Just Another Day [ft. Asia Bryant]
12) For the Love of Money [ft. Jill Scott & Jon Connor]
13) Satisfaction [ft. Snoop Dogg, Marsha Ambrosius & King Mez]
14) Animals [ft. Anderson Paak]
15) Medicine Mane [ft. Eminem, Candice Pillay & Anderson Paak]
16) Talking to My Diary

The post Dr. Dre Admits, ‘Detox’ is Nonexistent, Scheduled to Drop Final Album This Week appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

BE GREAT

“I believe greatness is an evolutionary process that changes and evolves era to era.” – Michael Jordan

20 years ago Outkast stood on a stage at Madison Square Garden, and got booed after receiving the Source Award for Best New Rap Group. Being the birthplace of hip-hop, a vast majority of New York City natives were quite territorial back then, and not as open to receiving other areas representing the culture artistically. Plus, the amped-up east coast/west coast feud being elevated throughout the evening’s ceremony didn’t help. But little did we know at the time, that awkward experience ultimately turned into a milestone moment in hip-hop, after ‘Kast member Andre ‘Dre’ Benjamin stepped up to the mic and made it clear that “The South got something to say.” Not only did that rejection fuel the Atlanta duo to work harder to get better at their craft, but it also ignited a movement for every other aspiring rap act outside of New York to not only be themselves but to also be okay with not trying to sound like, be like or be accepted by anyone resistant to the change that was coming.

The cool thing about hip-hop in that era was the fact that it wasn’t cool to sound like someone else. Although it’s natural to be influenced and inspired by heroes and peers, what makes artists great is the ability to master the existing skills that best fit one’s personality, and to creatively make it their own. LBJ started off wanting to be like Mike, but now LeBron James has a great legacy of his own. Somehow we’ve arrived at a place, musically, where a lot of what’s being played on the radio and in the clubs is sounding the same. Based on those existing playlists, it’ll be hard not to credit Future and Mike WiLL Made-It for initiating the current trend. For only the second time ever, the two brilliant minds sat down for an interview together to share their perspective on why they continue to win, and how they’re continuing move the culture forward, which is the centerpiece for this issue’s theme on inspiring greatness.

Within the last 20 years, a lot of the great music that has helped reshape the way that the culture has been received has made it’s way through Patchwerk Recording Studios in Atlanta. From T.I. to Young Jeezy, Missy Elliott to Beyoncé, Nas to Kendrick Lamar, a lot of history has happened inside those walls. Across town, K Camp has quietly been kicking down doors and making a name for himself by being himself. Ice Cube has been relevant since 1987, when his controversial, sociopolitical organization disguised itself as the gangsta rap group N.W.A. The west coast legend’s new biopic Straight Outta Compton exposes a lot of new information regarding the methods behind their madness.

Years ago I had a talent and production deal with Starz, so it’s great to see my former team doing big TV numbers with Power and Survivor’s Remorse. We wish continued success to 50 Cent, Naturi Naughton, LeBron and RonReaco Lee. Not enough can be said to express our appreciation for our outstanding POV line up, Kyle Christy and Todd Spoth. Dig deeper, learn more and please join us at respect-mag.com for more digital coverage on this issue’s participants. Much love goes out to Greg Street, Jason Jeter, A3C, Courtney Lowery, Yvette Gayle, B. Write, Tony Draper, Robert Redd, Talitha Watkins, Joy Phillips, Curtis Daniel, April Love, Zaytoven, and Tony Gervino, our super-dope RESPECT. editor whom I missed in my last letter. Until next time…

#FocusOrFold

Adell Henderson

Editor-In-Chief
Issue Inspiration: Eric Thomas, “The Combat Jack Show,” 1 Goal 1 Passion, and the victims, families and friends of the Charleston shooting for inspiring the #RespectPlanDemand initiative. Stay tuned—more to come.

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