Fans of 80s and 90s hip hop were shocked today to hear that rapper Heavy D passed away of unknown causes. Known throughout his career as a “positive” rapper, Heav was one of few such rappers to earn and maintain respect amongst more “hard-core” emcees because of his cool street wise, yet intelligent demeanor.

Heavy D was also known for his dance skills, which defied most people’s thoughts about how big boys could get down and incorporated live dance in his stage shows with his group Heavy D & the Boyz.

A dancer in the group who is also deceased, Trouble T Roy, was the inspiration for the Pete Rock and CL Smooth Song, “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y)” after his untimely demise from falling off a stage.

Heavy D, born Dwight Arrington Myers was also known for incorporating a ragga chanting style into his raps, which was a reflection of his Jamaican background. Later in his career he had several acting stints including roles in Tower Heist and The Cider House Rules.

He was also loved by many, many fans (including me!) for his music and will be missed by them all. Heavy Mentalist salutes Heavy D, and would like to extend condolences to his family, friends and all who loved him.

Below are some of my favorite Heavy D songs. As I look back over these old videos…wow, I realize that Heavy’s passing is not only sad because he is gone, but also because what he represented in his time is slowly fading away. What a sad day for everyone who remembers this era in hip hop! RIP Heavy D!

Overweight Lover’s in the House

Nuttin’ But Love (this video features RHOA’s Cynthia and some other famous models)

You Can’t See What I Can See (Live on In Living Colour)

The In Living Color Theme

Dem No Worry We (with Super Cat)

Did Nicki Minaj lie about her sexuality to sell CDs?

In songs like “Go Hard” from her Beam Me Up Scotty mixtape, Minaj claims she “only stops for pedestrians, or a real real bad lesbian.” In a 2009 interview with Vlad TV, Minaj is asked how men should approach her to which she replies, “I like girls to approach me…” because they have “fun parts I can squeeze.”

With homophobia heavy in hip hop, hearing Minaj openly proclaim her appreciation for same sex sex is a breath of fresh air for many gay rap fans who’ve always listened to popular rappers only discussing male/female relationships, and sometimes openly promoting violence against them.

Despite what some describe as thin lyrical ability, Minaj quickly shot to fame on a Pepto Bismol pink wave of girl power and gay pride, becoming the first mainstream rapper to appear on the cover of the gay publication Out Magazine.

Sometime in mid 2010 however, Nicki began revealing in several interviews that she in fact was not gay or bisexual.

She tells Vibe in their June/July of 2010 issue, “I don’t date women and I don’t have sex with women.”

Then we find out Nicki–who told Hot 107.9′s DJ Drama in September of 2010 that she’s “single” and doesn’t “date boys” because they’re “yucky”–has a boyfriend. A boyfriend she’s rumored to be engaged or married to.

Well…OK. This must mean she’s straight…er…bisexual…right? So is she? Or ain’t she? And if she ain’t, then why’d she say she was?

There are several possibilities why Nicki may be changing her sexual tune. The first may simply be a matter of  Minaj cleaning up her lyrics because she feels she’s becoming a role model.

Two, if Minaj was engaged at the beginning of her career, saying she preferred women makes perfect sense. What better way to oblige the rap industry’s need for sexually charged lyrics  without  making her man jealous?  She admits in Out Magazine to tarting up her image for her first mix tape, 2007’s Playtime Is Over after her manager suggested she change her name to Minaj (she was born Onika Maraj). Later in the interview she also admits attempting to fend off male stalkers by playing to female fans

The other possibly behind this sexual switcharoo is a more nefarious one: Minaj was simply using her “bisexuality” to sell CDs, a form of gay black-face or fauxmosexuality some websites like After Ellen are calling an entertainment industry trend.

The marketing involved in promoting fauxmosexual acts is genius. Naturally, the larger the market you cultivate by appealing to all sexual orientations, the more people there are to potentially buy your product. And as touchy as “gayness” remains in American society, many young people have different attitudes than their parents do about homosexuality. Some even think bi-sexuality is “cool.” Since Nicki’s target market is a younger demographic, I can see why her handlers would want her to appear gay or bi.

Still, a smart a marketing move doesn’t equal an ethically correct one.

The visibility of fauxmosexual women who flirt with, kiss and feel up other women in public while always having a male partner helps perpetuate the idea that bi women are “freaky” and like to engage in threesomes. You can see part of this “bisexual girls are hot” phenomena being played out in porn films heavy with “girl on girl action” and in shows like “Girls Gone Wild” where half naked teenagers are seen engaging in various semi-pornographic acts.

When Minaj tells the public she is moving in with Rihanna or raps about wanting to take Cassie from Diddy, it’s hard to tell if it’s genuine or another publicity stunt meant to drum up sales by teasing the male imagination.

Does that look like the tongue of an experienced lip lapper?

This stigma attached to male sexual fluidity not only makes it nearly impossible for an out gay rapper to make it in the music business, it also makes it much more difficult for gay or bi men in general to be honest with their sexual partners, which has the effect of making this stigma much more dangerous to public health than being gay or bisexual.

It’s this type of dangerous double standard that makes women who display masculine traits like Angelina Jolie “sexy” while men like Adam Lambert are “freaks” who might give you AIDS.

Yet, it’s in this same prejudicial space framed around hetero structured “norms” that Minaj is allowed to rise to fame while simultaneously perpetuating the misogyny inherent in it, often using similar language to describe women as her male counterparts.

If Nicki is feigning her bisexuality, she is playing–and playing with–emotions and perceptions about self image and self worth that for many are dangerous indeed. How many kids have taken their own lives because of the pressures around them to “straighten up” or who just feel like there’s no one around who understands? How many people have been killed for being what Nicki might be pretending to be?

Minaj gave many fans hope that that hip hop is becoming more accepting of gays and bisexuals. I just hope it’s not a false one, because the last thing youth need in this country is one more fake ass person lying to them. They have enough of those  people around already.

Various parts of this song’s lyrics and its chorus have been sampled in other hip hop songs over the years. This track is from her first album, 1989′s All Hail the Queen. Currently, Queen Latifah is no longer making rap music, she is a Covergirl spokeswoman, model, actress, producer behind the VH1 show Single Ladies, etc., etc., etc…I’m happy for her success, still part of me misses Queen Latifah, the rapper!

DJ Memory -- Wu-Tang Vs. D.I.T.C.

Like Wu-Tang Clan? Cool! Like D.I.T.C? Great! Then you’ll looooooooooovvvve this Mixtape Monday pick.

This is one of the best mixtapes I’ve heard in a minute, because it puts hip hop back where it’s supposed to be–in the space between your head and your shoulders. Snap your neck to this!

Tracklist

01. Da Mystery Of Soul Clappin’
02. C’mon, Fall Back Or Protect Ya Next Level
03. Breaker, Breaker, Fuck What U Heard
04. Can I Take It Back To Daytona 500, Yes You May
05. Step To Criminology
06. You Know I’m A Bad Mutha, I Spend It On Pain
07. More Than One Way To Shimmy (Feat. ODB)
08. Thick Guillotine
09. NYC Hold Ya Head
10. Time Ain’t Nuttin’ Ta Fuck Wit
11. Release Yo Secret
12. Capicu Bellz Work Is Neva Bad
13. Strictly For The Uzi
14. Size Up The 4th Chamber
15. Flow PLO
16. Success In Hand
17. Add On Day
18. Return Of The Buck 50
19. Mighty One
20. Shadow Water
21. You Can’t Front On The Bizarre
22. Put It On Incarcerated Scarfaces
23. Brooklyn Score

Heavy Mentalist give this mixtape a definite “R” rating for language.

Memory Man put in work on this mix. Remember the name!

Download Memory Man — Wu-Tang Vs. D.I.T.C.

Sometimes when life gets me down, all I want to do is dance. Know that sounds like a Just Dance commercial or something but tis true. When I get the blues mah bootay gets the boogie!

This mixtape is one that I’ll put on sometimes when I’m in this mood. It features Kenny Dope and Louie Vega on the wheels, collectively known as Masters at Work.

I shouldn’t have to explain who these two are if you’re a serious fan of house music–or a house DJ. But if you’re unfamiliar, then it’s time to get familiar!

This mix was recorded live at the Winter Music Conference in 2003 at a Masters at Work party called “Soul Heaven” and broadcast live on BBC 1XTRA, and features classic house, R&B and soul music, all mixed together for over three hours of songs to get your life to!

Material on this mix ranges from the 70′s to the 90s, and features artists like Stevie Wonder, Gil Scott-Heron, Evelyn Champagne King, Diana Ross and classic house tunes like “Deep Inside,” First Choice’s “(It’s A) Love Thang” (sampled on Chubb Rock’s “Treat Em Right“) and many, many more songs. Like three hours more, lol.

The best part of this mix to me is that it’s recorded live at a party, and you can hear the crowd’s reaction to some of the songs. You can tell this party was live as hell!

This mix is super dope and Heavy Mentalist gives this a G rating, unusual for many mixes I own, especially house mixes cause you never know when you’ll be vogueing in your mind to a mixtape with people around when a tune like “I Wanna Fuck You In the Ass” comes on out of nowhere! Quite embarrassing in the wrong crowd.

Download Masters at Work Live in Miami

This Monday’s mixtape is not really a mixtape, but is. Sort of.

Big K.R.I.T.’s ReturnOf4Eva is the Mississippi spitter’s follow up to his 2010 mixtape K.R.I.T. Wuz Here.

This CD shows that K.R.I.T. is more than just another nonsense rapper, he also has a lot on his mind and is unafraid to share his struggles of being a different kind of Southern rap artist trying to get on in the rap game.

His music combines the best of the UGK and OutKast sound, but with a twist to make it all uniquely K.R.I.T. Those looking to devour more substantive sounds from rap’s new breed will feast on this.

If there are any bones to pick with this album for me, it would have to be that, although many of the lyrics are positive and inspiring on this CD and the beats heavy, K.R.I.T. falls into the patriarchal trap of calling women “hos” on a couple of tracks. And no, I’m not a “ho”, so I’m not personally offended by it, but that doesn’t and shouldn’t matter. The fact is, I’m tired of male rappers who are all about knowledge and progress except for when it comes to women.

It reminds me of the Wu-Tang Clan who, in rapping about the black man being “god” still made references to women as if we were second class citizens.

I’m tired of there not being more rappers who can simultaneously uplift men and women, without it sounding corny. There are a couple out there right now, but not enough.

But anyway…that’s all I have to say about this for now. Heavy Mentalist gives this CD an R rating for occasional language.

Download Big K.R.I.T – ReturnOf4Eva

Video shoot for this track will be in Madison, WI on Thursday, April 7, on the streets! If you want to get involved, email TheWisconsinSong[at]gmail.com.

Mr. President (The Wisconsin Song) ft. Y-Love (prod. The White Shadow) by AWKWORD

Since I blogged about Angie Stone getting arrested yesterday I thought I’d blog about one of her songs today. This track, “No More Rain (In this Cloud)” is from Angie Stone’s 1999 debut solo album Black Diamond, and samples another heavy, heavy love song, Gladys Knight and the Pips’ “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)”, a live performance video for which is below.

I think both of these songs are beautiful and Angie really fills her song with emotion, but damn, that Gladys Knight. Woo! *shivers*

I’ve often wondered if something about my ears is…just different from the ears of young people today. A lot of new music today sounds like crap to me, especially when I compare it to, not just music I grew up with, but music my parents and their parents grew up with!

TMZ and Hello Beautiful are reporting that the singer was arrested for driving with a suspended license. One, in Angie’s defense, maybe for whatever reason she didn’t know she had a suspended license. It happens.

Angie Stone's mugshot in her 'just runnin to the corner sto' wig

Two, is she so broke she can’t hire a driver? What about her child support payments from D’Angelo, the father of her son Michael Jr?

Well…if he’s paying $40 for a prostitute he probably can’t afford child support! Remember when women used to throw it on him for free? Wow, he’s fallen on hard times!

D'Angelo Fa'Tangelo.

But Stone should be paid, cuz the girl stays busy! She probably has enough dough to support herself and D’Angelo (so he can get a trainer on that pudge, stat!) and former husband Lil Rodney Cee of the Funky Four + 1 More (and hip hop duo Double Trouble), with whom she had daughter Diamond in 1984.

Since I’ve been a fan of Angie’s music since day one, I thought it would be fun to flash back to Angie’s early days when she was part of groundbreaking all female rap and funk group, The Sequence. She of course, is “Angie B”.

Keep ya head up Angie! And keep ya ass outta handcuffs!

The Sequence – Funk You Up
If for some reason this embed isn’t working, you can hear the song and watch this clip here.

Mr. Supreme, formerly of the Conmen

Today on HM I have an extra special treat for you! The selection for this week is by a deadly duo of diggers from Berlin, Jake One and Mr. Supreme who together were known as the Conmen.

I saw “were” because today the Conmen have gone their separate ways, but fortunately for us they’ve left behind a trove of aural goodies, one of which I’ve unearthed for you today.

So far there isn’t a lot known about these guys, but trust, their mixes will impress the shit out of you if you are a fan of breaks, breaks and more breaks!

The Con Men do not list the tracks they are playing, which keeps it fun for those of you who like to guess what breaks are being played, and in what songs they were played. And for extra hilarity, see if you can guess each song’s label too! Show off.

Plus, together Jake One and Mr. Supreme have more years of record collecting experience than your momma has gray hairs. Unless your momma is one of MTV’s Teen Moms.

This set of break mixes is on of my very favorite things in the world to listen to, and if you love hip hop and good music like I do it will become one of yours too. It’s got teeny golden nuggets of everything from jazz to rock to soul to house music and more. Prepare to be frustrated though if you want to hear more of certain songs. Each clip only last for between 10-30 seconds, but that’s what break CDs are all about–giving you just enough to go research the damn records yourself so you can buy them! Support vinyl culture! Shit, just support music and music education. Period.

I hope you enjoy this mix. Why these guys aren’t more famous? I don’t know. They’re truly an underground treasure. If you’re in a readin’ mood, check out this interview with the Conmen’s Mr. Supreme here on the awesome Mass Corporation blog.

Heavy Mentalist gives Conmen’s Jealous Toys Die an “R” rating for occasional foul language.

Prepare to be amazed and dazzled by the Conmen! Download Jealous Toys Die!