The New Urban Echelon

Kanye and Culture: Time is the only luxury

                                 

Kanye West has been the center of attention in all circles over since his hit single, Through the Wire. From comments about George W. Bush not liking black people to the recent outburst and stage crashing involving Beck and Taylor Swift, Kanye has not been afraid to say what he wanted. This outlook along with the recent changes in status have pushed Kanye to be a man that many love to hate. I have even personally lost interest in him since the song Devil in a New Dress. This song made me label Kanye in my mind as crazy. I truly wasn’t feeling the demonic representations. Maybe you enjoyed it. In my eyes, Kanye had seemed to stray from the conscience rap filled with messages and inspiration. He kind of lost the music. Just a year ago many were talking about him and his rants on shows like Sway in the Morning and Breakfast Club. Today, we see a new Kanye. He seemed to have turned the corner, giving a very insightful interview with DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlemagne tha God on the Breakfast Club.

 In this interview, he address various issues that many of us have had on our minds such as a naked Kim, Amber Rose, sticking up for Beyoncé, new projects and fashion. He did this while dropping nuggets of wisdom like bread crumbs all the way to the end of this hour long interview. Kanye explained how he has finally past the Gucci Store and has started becoming a good man and father. As I am embarking on my own full time parenting journey, finally, I can completely understand the changes that that brings. He says that he wants to continue to be innovative and embrace the music for the service of music. He went on to say that the Yeezus album was really a “take my ball and go home moment” and at the moment he was suffocating. He claims that the new album will go back to the music and lyrics. On the subject of a naked Kim Kardashian, he had some very insightful words. He explained that Kim’s body and beauty is asset in itself. Since she has the opportunity to work with the best photographers, that’s what she does and clearly it works in her favor. Kim Kardashian has done things in the reality TV business that I couldn’t see anyone else do and she has made all of her friends famous in their own right. That show was on before the Kim K sextape and people such as Terrence J and Erica Mena were on the Kardashian show before they had fame. He did also say that the marriage between the two caused him to lose many friends. Friends that feels that he has proved wrong due to the success of their relationship.

As for the new projects, he addressed the vast majority of it. He is reported to currently be working with Damon Dash with movie production. He even went on to admit to being disloyal during the split of Rocafella Records when he went on to join Jay-Z. He stated that he did this because Jay-Z was his idol and the reason for coming to the label in the first place even though Dame was the one who gave him the deal. Kanye spoke upon his relationship with Minister Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam (NOI) and how he is currently working with the minister on a documentary. Minister Farrakhan is idolized by some and hated by others due to his views on race. This documentary is meant to highlight Minister Farrakhan’s life and his love for playing the violin, which he was forced to stop playing to fully focus on the NOI. Along with this he addressed more political topics such as race and class. Kanye went on to explain how fashion has been used to promote class separation and how he did not want the new shoes from Adidas to be limited or so high. Kanye said that he has plans to have more control over his fashion exploits and to make a brand of high quality apparel of a cheaper price. He has even gained designers and other employees from his experiences in Europe’s high level fashion companies. He claims that he will flip the apparel industry on its head. Even Teyana Taylor was brought up and he admitted even though she had a great album, he needs to give her more attention and she really has not been his priority. It will be interesting to see if his deal with Adidas can get her shoes released. I know plenty of women personally that were looking forward to them.

This interview showed a Kanye that looked happy and calm. Someone focused and that knows exactly what moves need to be made. He touched on the ability for the rich and wealthy to neglect the responsibility to help the less fortunate. He went to explain that he is creating a regiment to juggle fatherhood, music and other ventures. A task that is not always easy. I know this as I am trying to do the same with finishing graduate school. He touched on the fact that when you are in love, you can sometimes lose focus on the things that should be held close. He even said that he is watching the amount of things that he gives North West to make sure that she isn’t too spoiled and he wants to make sure she has some aspect of street smarts. He even admitted to purposely say out of the Mike Brown situation due to his father’s wishes. In a nutshell, Kanye West is being to fulfill the role in the black community that some may feel that he was neglecting. Admitting mistakes left and right. I have personally taking an inspiration as he tries to juggle career, family and personal growth. As he has a talent to bridge the gaps and bring different kinds of people to the lunch table, Kanye’s unique insight may very well be a small piece of inspiration that people have been looking for. Kanye along with many other African American public figures such as Jay-Z, P.Diddy and other have a responsibility especially in a social media age. A responsibility that sometimes isn’t easily fulfilled due to our ability to see their everyday actions. These type figures may not be the change and are susceptible to mistakes but their stories may spark the mind that changes it all. Salute to you, Kanye. Salute.

Quinn Young

Urban Echelon Magazine & Blogspot

You’re Not Mixed?!

 

Over Christmas break I went back home to visit my family, this was nothing new to me. Usually when I go home I stay low-key, spend time with my family and RELAX. Well since I needed to do some Christmas shopping I decided to head to the local mall and get some shopping done. I seriously do not like shopping for others, but in the mist of getting in the Christmas spirit I figured my efforts were well worth it. After hours of shopping I decided to go to the food court to eat. As I sit by myself I am approached by this brown-skinned guy with a low cut, beautiful smile, and abs that can be seen through his winter coat. I was not in the mood for chitter chatter, but I could not let this beautiful specimen get away. We ended up exchanging numbers and continued to talk here and there even after I returned back to school for the new semester. One day out of the blue he asked me, “You know, I have always wondered what you were mixed with, I love your curly hair”. I proceeded to then tell him that I’m not mixed with anything, I just happen to have naturally curly hair. He said in so many words that was not possible, and I haven’t heard from him since. Not that I was worried about hearing from him again, especially since I’m married to Graduate school (sigh). But I found it incredibly weird that you would stop talking to someone for the mere fact that they aren’t mixed. This incident had me thinking about do guys really see mixed girls as being superior or was this guy just a douche bag. I tended to side with the latter in saying he was a complete douche bag, and many of my male friends agreed with my thinking. Well one of my male friends stated that having an “exotic” female give the possible relationship or friendship a better vibe (whatever that means). So I have to ask, what is the issue with guys and women with curly hair, do we have to be mixed or does our natural beauty in general trump everything?

B.

Urban Echelon Magazine
Twitter/Instagram: @thisisbritbrat

PHOTO CREDIT: Google Images

 

 

#LoveThySister

 

On Sunday I logged into Instagram only to see an alarming post, well, for some it really was not that big of an issue, but for me it was almost as bad as not having any wine in the house to watch Scandal. My new favorite show Love Thy Sister last episode airs this Thursday (February 12^th on WeTV @ 10pm). The reason I was so distraught (YES DISTRAUGHT!) was because they had not yet picked it up for the second season. Now this is problematic for two reasons, 1) the season was just getting good and 2) if it doesn’t get picked up, how am I supposed to get my life every Thursday?! But I digress, let me give you the rundown of the Rucker sisters for those who may not have caught the previous episodes.

The show is executive produced by the creators of Keeping up with the Kardashians. It follows the lives of three sisters with a lot of Southern charm, Ruby, Ellen and Ione Rucker. They are from Lancaster, SC but now reside in Charlotte, NC. They are not only educated, philanthropist, but incredible business women in their own right (Be sure to check out their hair care line Rucker Roots). Ruby is an attorney at law, married to an orthodontist named Ford and together they have three children, one of which is Miss Riley. Miss Riley is full of life and her commentary is always hilarious (Hey Riley!). Ellen is a chiropractor and the mother to a beautiful daughter, but has spent the last couple of years in a relationship with Bakari whom she wants to marry soon. I wonder how this proposal will go in the final episode (Don’t do it Ruby!). Last but not least Ione, who is recently divorced and the question of whether she is ready to move on and start dating again comes up throughout the season. Ione is also a mother of three, the baby of the family and is focused on expanding The Rucker Education Scholarship Fund.

Now that I have your attention, let’s get to the bigger issue as why WeTV needs to renew Love Thy Sister for a Second season:

 

 1) Not all African-American women fight on realty TV. This goes without saying, but nothing like seeing a positive representation of African-American women on TV.

2) It is always good to see women like me on TV. The reason I love this show is because I can relate to the Rucker sisters in some way. Whether it's from their educational background or their issues within their relationship we all see a little of ourselves in them.

3) I do not feel like my IQ is dropping. Although this may be debatable, I always feel as if my IQ drops just a bit when I watch the ultra-ratchet shows, even though it is one of my guilty pleasures. Love Thy Sister is one of those shows that makes me want to call my sister and sit on the phone and chat about nothing while sipping wine.

In a nutshell as an African-American woman in her mid to late twenties I enjoy watching a positive representation of someone who looks like myself on reality TV. The Rucker Sisters are funny, intelligent, full of southern charm, and most important REAL. We have to support good reality TV! Let’s make sure that WeTV knows how much we need a season 2, Tweet or Instagram and be sure to tag @WeTV.

 

Catch the final episode of #LoveThySister on Thursday at 10pm on WETV.

 

B.
@thisisbritbrat
Urban Echelon Magazine

Photo Cred: Google Images

Amess - "No Favors" Mixtape

A-Mess is back again with more heat! Be sure to check out and download his latest mixtape.




Follow Amess on IG: @imchasingdreamz
Bookings & Features: LDTheBrand@gmail.com

B.
@thisisbritbrat
Urban Echelon Magazine

We Just Wanted You To Know....

I know it seems as if Urban Echelon has disappeared, but we have not. We are having that last semester of Graduate school blues and more work than one could imagine. Let’s just say the research is getting real! We definitely thank each and every one of you who supports us. We promise that we have bigger and better things in the works for Urban Echelon. For now just bear with us and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@UrbanEchelonMag) for weekly updates. Stay tuned for more articles!

B. & Q

Urban Echelon Magazine