Why I Don’t Mess With Bebe’s Kids

by today’s Urban Chameleon contributor

My friend and I recently joined a soccer team in NYC. We thought it would be fun way to get some physical activity going since neither of us can seem to make our way to an elliptical machine to save our lives.

Last week we had our first game, which was uptown right on the boarder where regentrification has started. We were caught off guard because when we got off the train along Broadway there were nothing but gourmet restaurants and shops but when we walked a few blocks over to our field a freestyle competition was taking place to the beats of Biggie, Mob Deep and Too Short to name a few. The other players didn’t seem to like this as they were in full concentration mode for the game. We were the only two Black girls jamming to da beats. Our team consisted of white boys who took the game way too seriously and we’re on some World Cup tip, yelling at us “Up the sides! Up the sides!” Neither of us could touch the ball with out taking some aggressive set of directions. At one point I got so nervous I accidentally kicked the ball to the other team and they scored. You know the white boys weren’t happy with this. This was not the friendly game of soccer the sign up guy had assured us.

To add another dynamic layer to the scenario, a group of Bebe’s kids were playing on the side and would every once in a while run on to the field to mess with our game. The Asian referee had constantly keep asking them to leave, which of course made them mess with us more. I tried to stay as far away from Bebe’s kids as my memories took me back to when I was growing up in Bedstuy and the horrific things I saw them kids do so I know what Bebe’s kids are capable and I don’t f*ck wit Bebe’s kids. Not to mention I wasn’t really prepared to break character in front of the white boys and get quintessential Black girl on dey ass.

One of the white boys suggested we just keep playing until a kid gets knocked down. He mentioned that the same thing happens to his friends in London and the kids learn their lesson after getting in the way. I viscerally responded that the difference here is that a kid will come back with a gun. By the look on his face he wasn’t ready for that answer.

Next thing you know, the only Black girl on the other team was in the face of one of Bebe’s girls who couldn’t have been any older than 10. Apparently one of the kids had messed with her stuff, which immediately made my friend and I go and grab our things. As we did this more and more Bebe’s kids began to pile in for the confrontation. Another white boy shouted, “Ohmigod this is like City of God with the runts!” The fact that that was his only reference for badass kids was hysterical. I began to notice that some of the kids were leaving but I didn’t trust it. My friend didn’t either. She whispered to me, "We need to raise up outta here." Just as we were creeping out we saw those same kids come back with water balloons and I thought, “Oh hell nah, for get this game I am not about to get my hair wet!’

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Hip Hop IS Officially Dead

by today's Urban Chameleon contributor

Between watching the BET awards and the downfall of Vibe Magazine it’s confirmed for me that Hip Hop is officially over but I guess naturally it would be. If you think about it Hip Hop was always a catch 22. The rhyming used to be about getting out the ‘hood and legitimately so! But once we got out the ‘hood we have not looked back. With mainstream success we now brag about how many cars, houses, gold chains, yachts, and b*tches we have with thick thighs and fat asses over variations of Kanye and Timbaland beats. Could we have ever known the detriments of being out for self would be so discombobulating for the community? I mean this game did just start out trying to put food on the table and talk to the young Black youth.

“Remember Rappin' Duke, duh-ha, duh-ha
You never thought that hip hop would take it this far”

No we di’ in’t. The irony is that the ‘hood hasn’t changed. Same shit that was going on then is still goes on now. But you would never know for as soon as Hip Hop became a business that the rest of the world bought into why wouldn’t you get that money?

I just feel badly for children whose parents have left them with today’s rap icons as their only role models- role models who just aren’t equipped to be role models. We are a society that glamorizes and glorifies nothing but wealth so I wonder what kind of leaders the young generation will grow up to be when “this” is what defines character for them. ‘Cause we all know if the wealthy tells us to stomp that ho’ we… gonna stomp that ho’.

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Review on The Hollywood Black Film Festival Panel Discussion of NOTORIOUS

by today’s Urban Chameleon contributor

This past week I attended the annual Hollywood Black Film Festival in Los Angeles and sat in on a panel discussion of the film, Notorious.

My journey began on the elevator. I rode up two flights with Puff Daddy, I mean, Derek Luke. He is a fine chocolatey man. I know chocolate is over used when describing the dark skin tone of a Black man, but really there is nothing else to compare the rich, creamy, savory browness. Is it weird that I thought to myself when he spoke, "he sounds just like he does in movies?" complete with the speech impediment where he runs his "m's" and "n's" together. OH it's so very cute.

On the ride up, Derek was asking his handlers who all was attending the panel. Apparently all of the main cast and director, George Tillman would be there!

But no, CPT must have caught the best of some of them including Mrs. Basset.

The 1:30pm panel started promptly at 2:15pm, and we attendees entered to take our seats as they put on "Mo Money Mo Problems" trying to woo away our attitudes from the delay with a beat. It worked...I even started to dance a little in my seat...and wished I had some money that caused problems.

But I digress-- It was a great turn out and was moderated by casting director, Tracy "Twinkie" Byrd. Twinkie is a character herself with her blond Afro, Brooklyn accent and vivacious personality. She wore a yellow Moshood outfit (which is an African inspired clothing designer from Fort Greene Brooklyn) and all of her assistants wore bright orange. They were like a pop group. Twinkie immediately put a lid on all random actors there trying to use the Q&A as an opportunity to make a shout out about their Youtube video or asking to get put on. I never see this at white panel discussion why is that? Twinkie in fact insisted that everyone wanting to participate in the Q& A have their answers written on cards. Someone did actually ask the question "When did you fall in love with hip hop?" Yes, just like in Brown Sugar. Why are people so deep? Thankfully, everyone kinda laughed it off and moved on.

Twinkie first talked about how she got started in the game casting music videos and when she first heard the movie about biggie was being made, begged to be casting director-- after all, she knew Biggie and cast most of his videos. Twinkie so wanted to be involved she was willing to relinquish being the lead casting person and after many meetings and many "once-overs" by 20th Century Fox she was finally appointed Head of Casting for Notorious.

Derek Luke on the other hand was pretty candid about not wanting to do the film initially. He said this a few times stating that, "It was a great era [and he] didn't want to ruin it." Apparently it was his wife who really wanted him to do the film and after several calls from Diddy. Yes, Diddy really 'can't stop won't stop' Diddy was finally able to sway the actor. George Tillman said he just loved the project and also in trying to get Derek to sign on asked Spike Lee for advice. Damn Derek you were really the Al Pacino of the film.

Most of the cast was not wooed like Mr. Luke and were found through the regular cattle call casting process. Naturi Naughton, who played Lil Kim said that she had to really fight to get the part and had to work on her rhyming and hoochie skills. Sadly, Lil Kim was not there to help her get into character. There has been a lot of speculation as to why Lil Kim was not around but this was not touched on and I was not gangster enough to ask. The actor I was really looking forward to seeing was the Biggie Smalls impersonator himself, Jamal Woolard but he must have still been in character because he was so damn late. Twinkie kept saying he was on his way but I had another screening to get to.

As I left I thought about how eerie it was having attended a panel discussion with actors playing roles of the biggest hip hop stars from the 90’s. Especially since I could remember the era like it was yesterday listening to “Juicy” for the first time… damn, how old am I?

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