2002-12-08 | NO COMPARISONS

I've always loved the little spots they show on MTV 2.

Not the commercials.

Just those little "spots" they show that look like commercials, except for the fact that they're not selling anything.

It's always been one of my favorite thigns about the channel.

The car wash spot is a classic.

So Peaceful.

Just some guys working at a car wash circa 1982...

My favorite spots that I've scene recently are the ones that apparently take place in an independent record store somewhere in New York, (I'm assuming Brooklyn) and just showing people who know their music talking about hip-hop.

There's one where a big cuddly black guy is talking about the last Nas album "Stillmatic", and how he likes every track on it. There's a white (possibly Jewish) guy in there, and he slightly disagrees.

Although he agrees that the album is dope, he does think there are one or two tracks that the album could do without.

The white guy doesn't look like a hip-hop fan per se.

Because he's not trying to look like one. But he obviously knows his shit.

The black guy respects his point of view, but still thinks the track that the white guy points out is quite alright.

The black guy then asks the white guy how many "mics" he gives it. (For those of you who don't know, the hip hop magazine "The Source" reviews records on a "mic" basis, instead of stars, points, etc. 1 mic being the worst, and 5 mics being the best)

W: "4 mics"

B: "4?...that's good coming from you."

It's a beautiful moment for me at least.

I've had the experience of people who look more like "hip-hop heads" then me, assuming I don't know shit about rap music, or the culture or anything, just because I don't dress that way, or speak ebonics.

But I'll take the pepsi challenge with my hip-hop knowledge over anybodies, any day of the week. I don't know more then everybody, but I know more then most who think they know it all. I find that the ones who don't talk about it all the time are usually more educated about the subject then others.

Because we're listening, while all of you are trying to talk over each other.

I want to find out where that record store is. I'd love to visit it and just talk about music with some nice laid back people. Maybe do a little freestyling.

I could just as easily be in the punk rock record store chatting it up about underground rock music.

I'm not bragging.

Music is the only thing that I have confident knowledge in.

I know a little of everything else, but music means a lot to me, so I try and embrace it all....even some of the bad stuff...because it makes for such sweet conversation.

There's another one where they talk about Biggie, and how nobody reps Brooklyn ever since he's been gone.

I miss the old spots where they would show Japanese bands and their influences.

I love things that bridge the gap.

Even when it's only in snippets.

It has to start somewhere right?

It shows how closely connected everyone can be, regardless of our beliefs, economic backgrounds, tastes, or surroundings.

It's not our fault that people try and keep everything separated.

But we have the say when it comes to rising above.

Even if it's just for 5 minutes a day.

Try and listen to someones point of view, who you wouldn't usually listen to.

You might just learn something.

Or they might be so whacked that you will leave feeling much better about yourself!!

- premature ejaculation | tantra +