Urban Unrest

19 March 2007 | Media Justice, People of Color | Ernesto Aguilar

An interesting piece featuring T-Kash, Guerrilla Funk recording artist and lead DJ on the Friday Night Vibe on KPFA.

Say It Loud: The other man’s take on VH-1’s “The White Rapper Show ”.

By: T-K.A.S.H.

I know what you’re thinking. Of course T-K.A.S.H. is going to say something. Look at what I do and what I stand for. Am I not the angriest Black man in Bay Area Hip Hop? Am I not the one to stand up against “The white rapper show?” Vh1’s new reality series is dedicated to finding and developing young Caucasian Hip Hop fans to be the next mainstream “Marshall” millionaire music mogul.

There is one thing that makes this show unique however.

First, there is a pseudo attempt to put these seemingly naive people ” in the know” about hip hop culture’s roots. At the same time, a very stripped down “Black Folk for Dummies” lesson is integrated from time to time in a manner only one word would describe, which rhymes with the word racist. That word is called…….. racist.

However, the main thing about the show that is the most disturbing is the fact that it focuses on the worst of white hop hop culture and ignores the countless socially and racially respectful contributions made by some of the best in white hip hop culture, which leads me to the bottom line of what you’re reading.

Enter Dutch, A White Northern Cali Hip Hop artist and 1/3rd of the group C.W.B. He is the total opposite of what someone would expect from a white artist, esp. if all they’ve been exposed to is the VH-1 version of what white hip-hop is. His talent, record sales and rapport with the Hip Hop community of color is one of respect and high standards.

Recently, I got a chance to build with this brother on the united beliefs we have about this program, and how he sees himself being mis-represented by what I believe is the re-birth of the modern day minstrel show…

TK: The influence that corporate media has over the ” at risk” consumer is vicious.
How does a show like this effect the consumer’s outlook towards you as a white
artist?

DUTCH: I feel that is gives a false sense of representation, due to the fact that an artist like myself has been on the underground scene working hard.
You get 10 inexperienced, and naive artists to go on the show and be presented as a
Parody/Comedy Show. And now when a consumer looks at hard working artists
like myself and Haystak, and others like us, due to the mass media mogul like VH1, the
consumers will be turned off. By the way that the show portrays us to be, like they are the FUTURE of White Rappers.

TK: Is there any gain from a show like this for the white hip-hop community? If not
why?

DUTCH: None what so ever. The reason being, its not serious, its not credible and
it does not show the ground level work it takes for a REAL White Rapper to be in
the game. Let me ask you this. Where does washing somebody’s dirty laundry or being
slapped in the face with a sex toy have anything to do with Hip Hop?

TK: Talk about the “paying dues” aspect of the white lyricist. How does it differ
from artists of color?

DUTCH: There is a mis-conception that there is no White Rappers that come from
a Urban Culture, so in turn, White Rappers are constantly scrutinized and put under
fire for their credibility and background, it matters more about where a White Boy came from, than it matters for anyone else. How good your music is, becomes almost 2nd in level of importance.

TK: You made a song addressing the issue. Talk about the key influence that green
lighted that. How is the response to it?

DUTCH: The influence is basically, the disrespect that I felt from the show, and for the umpteenth time mc serch has turned on his people. he made a career out of dissing white rappers. i.e. gas face and pop goes the weasel. Then you add on John Brown and his people reaching out to me and mine and being cocky over the internet. Hip-hop is based on competition, so I let him have it. The response has been GREAT, Over 5,000 downloads and 15,000 plays in the last 10 days. You be the judge?

TK: For the consumer who is reading this, and truly believes that this show is the
real breeding ground for the white rapper in hip-hop culture, what do you think
is the most important thing they should know?

DUTCH: Television is killing your brain. Don’t be force fed what the media
wants to feed you. You be the judge, do some research and find real White
rappers that really exist in real circles. Matter of fact, find music you like. white rapper is a term that needs to be killed. hip hop is a culture. a lifestyle. granted there are weak white rappers, but there are weak black, Latino and Asian rappers as well. find good music and if that artist happens to white then so be it. if you are looking for authenticity, then search for it. if you looking for entertainment, then search for it. But base your choice of music on quality. Not skin color.

TK: What’s next for you as an artist?

DUTCH: To continue with my C.W.B. (CRAZY WHITE BOYS) movement, a solo record
and a compilation entitled..THE “REAL” WHITE RAPPER SHOW. Which will feature
artists like (Bubba Sparxx, Haystak, T-Bo, Ec Illa) and many more REAL White Rappers from around the country. And last but not least.. C.W.B. Southwest Connection 2, with myself and Haystak.

TK: Where can people reach you and your squad?

DUTCH: www.myspace.com/dutchthegreat, www.therealcwb.com

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