Bryce's Radio Experiments

Permanent Link Thursday, October 31, 2002

Jam Master Jay, RIP

I'm blacking out for the rest of the day in remembrance of Jason Mizell, aka Jam Master Jay.

Jam Master Jay, the D.J. who provided beats and scratches to the rap group Run-DMC's groundbreaking records, was shot and killed in a recording studio in Queens on Wednesday night. [...]

For most of its history, rap has been criticized for promoting violence, and several rappers who sang the praises of the gangster life, including Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., were murdered. But Run-DMC and Jam Master Jay, all middle-class natives of Hollis, Queens, a mile or so from where Mr. Mizell was shot, created rap with a social conscience, urging listeners (between boasts) to stay in school, fight prejudice and respect one another. [NYTimes via Adam Curry]

I saw Run D.M.C. in '93, part of the 19-Naughty-3 tour. One act cancelled at the last second and both of the headline acts stank, with Naughty by Nature practically boo'd off the stage. Run D.M.C. took up the slack, coming back for a second high-energy performance. They "rocked the house" for over two hours.

Run D.M.C. turned an otherwise miserable concert into one that I've always remembered fondly.

3:14:26 PM | Comments:

Airport security leads to topless checkpoint

A French tourist got so fed up with having her chest wanded by airport security in the USA that she took off her shirt and bra to demonstrate her bomb-and-boxcutter-free chestular region. The airport was closed for 10 minutes. Under the USAPATRIOT Act, she faces up to three years in jail. Link (German-English translation here: Link) [via Boing Boing Blog]

This would be funny if it weren't so friggin' sad. America has become such a fearful place that even a half-naked woman threatens us.

When I lived in Europe, I made a concious effort not to blend in. I was a proud American and rarely wanted to conceal that fact.

These days I dream of blending in somewhere and never looking back.

2:36:05 PM | Comments:


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