After a brief hiatus, the legendary magazine of urban culture VIBE has come back to stands with Chris Brown as “The Definitive” and Drake as “Hip Hop’s New Religion.” VIBE hits newsstands everywhere December 8, 2009. Check out THE URBAN FEED’s most memorable VIBE covers here.
VIBE-CHRIS BROWN
VIBE- DRAKE
Popularity: 2% [?]
THE CULTURE: THE REBIRTH OF VIBE MAGAZINE
Within two weeks, VIBE magazine will soon be back and this time it is here to stay with the help of controversial star Chris Brown and hip hop artist Drake.
It was a sad day on June 30 for many followers of hip-hop and urban culture when Vibe magazine, after being founded in 1993 by Quincy Jones announced that the magazine would be going out of business. The magazine was not able to survive the horrible state of print publications during the recession even after cutting down on expenses and scheduling their workers down to a four-day work week. Vibe magazine can best be described as what many quoted was “the black version of Rolling Stone.”
The legendary magazine stood out amongst heavy competitors such as XXL and The Source as it had the most diverse readership of any major urban music/lifestyle magazine.
The magazine is scheduled to be back with as scheduled re-launch of December 8. The two music icons Drake and Chris Brown will each be featured inside the publication for the re-launch issue as well as separate covers.
In the mean time, while in anticipation, check out the legendary figures and present icons VIBE Magazine has featured in the past 16 years.
Ke’Andrea “Kiki” Ayers
Editor-In-Chief
The Urban Feed
Popularity: 3% [?]
Music From the Soul Lives On
Soul music is exactly what it is called; music that speaks to the soul. It speaks to the entire community and relates to every struggle. It is funny, its sad, its hopeful, its scared, its sexual. Soul music is much different than hip hop and rap; when you play soul, you feel it. It has the power to uplift any mood, it can pick you up on a bad day, or keep you down if that’s where you choose to stay. Soul music started during slavery in the black church. It was the music of the people, it was their hopes, their dreams, their struggle, put into song. After slavery and into the Civil Rights Movement, soul music continued to be the voice of the people, gaining exposure and telling the world their stories.
Although it may not seem as visible as before, with today’s society being so caught up in a hip hop lifestyle, soul music is still extremely relevant in today’s constantly changing culture. Soul music is everyday living. Today’s hip hop and rap usually stick to lyrics that express the same certain situations, however soul has no boundaries and is able to sing to every aspect and detail of life. Even though it began in the black community, soul knows no specific race or color. For example the sub-genre “Blue Eyed Soul” was created because of its openness and acceptance. I can remember being young and my parents always referring to soul as “grown folks music.” As I grew older I began to understand what they meant, every emotion that I have ever experienced has been written into a song. Soul artist have the ability to take an emotion and express it in the most passionate of ways so every person of every age and race can easily relate to the lyrics.
Anthony Hamilton – Charlene (Official Music Video) – A funny movie is a click away
The quality of song that is found in soul cannot be found in any other genre. Soul music seems to be more assertive than other genres, because it knows the power that is has over its listener. Songs such as India Arie’s “These Eyes” and Anthony Hamilton’s “Charlene”, speak of the hurt, pain, and loneliness that is felt after a breakup. Jill Scott’s “The Fact Is (I Need You)” tells the independence and strength of a woman, but also the need that every woman has for a man stronger than herself. Lauryn Hill’s “Zion” tells of her joy and nervousness of welcoming her firstborn child, and Alicia Keys’ “Slow Down” speaks of the eagerness and hesitation of taking the next step with her lover. Soul has and will continue to be a constant. Soul music has and will continue to change with the times, but no matter the age or year, it will forever remain timeless.
THE TRACKS
Anthony Hamilton – Charlene
Lauryn Hill – Zion
Ashley Hunter
Contributing Writer
The Urban Feed
Popularity: 3% [?]
THE CULTURE:
IMPORTANCE of R&B
R&B is and has always been one of the greatest genres in music. It provokes all types of emotions and states including happiness, sadness, anger, jealousy and revelation. Although it has played a significant part in world culture as a whole, the biggest role it has played is the supporter and motivator in urban culture. Figures such as Jill Scott, Ne-Yo, Lauryn Hill, Ashanti, Floetry and Jazmine Sullivan sing of heartbreak, new-found love, the realization of self-worth and self-esteem, just to name a few. Since slavery times, music has been a stress reliever for the African American community. Many people do not realize that the importance of R&B in the urban world results back to slavery days. Slave masters could take anything from the African peoples except for their song. Songs kept their society and culture afloat. They would make music with anything they could find and their voices to explain how they were feeling and what they hoped would come to past in the future. This trend has lingered on years and years after the times of slavery.
Even today, artists write and sing songs about emotions, hopes and past hurts that the African American community as a whole shares. Every woman and girl will at one point, if not already, suffer the seemingly unbearable pain of heartbreak from a man they loved deeply. Every man and boy has or will experience the feeling of falling in love with a female but maintaining a fear of committing to just that one. Songwriters and artists have put these feelings into words and ultimately into beautiful music for the urban society to relate to. Songs such as ‘Always On Time”, “My Boo”, “Me, Myself and I” and many others are all songs that people relate to and use as ways to channel their emotions and eventually overcome any obstacles that they might be confronting. I remember my roommate, Destinee Swindell stating during our intro video that, “Lauryn Hill will get me through anything that I may be going through at the moment”.
It is true that a song can change a person’s entire mood, day and perspective on a particular situation. Many times, R&B music even provokes certain actions. For example, women will break up with cheating boyfriends or husbands after listening to songs involving relationships similar to theirs. Men will realize that the girl they have been putting on the back burner is the one they need to be intimately involved with. Relationships that are not exclusive become “official” after listening to “Where I Stand” by Ashanti and Cassie’s “Official Girl”. Many R&B singers do not realize the power that they hold through their songs, however, the ones that do take full advantage in talking about self-esteem issues, domestic violence, including emotional abuse from partners, and just love and life in general.
The importance of R&B in urban culture has become evident throughout the years. Filmmakers even use certain songs as a part of the soundtrack for movies to add effect. People from across the globe buy R&B CDs and attend concerts. Some fans even cry and write letters to their favorite singers explaining how their music got them through the toughest of times. Some songs are reminders of loved ones that have passed and the strength needed to overcome the grieving stage such as Mariah Carey’s song “Hero”. R&B, again, has become the foundation of urban society. In order to understand just how important it is in the African American community just ask the question, “what would my world be like without it?”
Cheylin Parker
Contributing Writer
The Urban Feed
Popularity: 7% [?]
