This is it! I have survived! I have completed the Spring 2013 semester at UH-Manoa.
This was my 1st semester as a graduate student in the Library and Information Science (LIS) program!
I have so many experiences and insights that I want to share
1) First, a little background
My previous time at UH-Manoa was as a under-graduate student from Fall 1999 to Fall 2004. At the time, I entered UH-Manoa just a few months out of high school (McKinley High School).
During that time I did work as a student helper at several libraries, including the McCully-Mo'ili'ili Public Library, UH's Hamilton Library, and the Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (LBPH). I also spent my last semester as an undergrad as a student librarian for the Marine Option Program.
In December 2004, I earned my bachelor's degree in sociology.
At the time, I was tired of being a school student after so many years. I felt it was time for me to experience being in the real world. I mean, you can only learn so much from a classroom, you can only learn so much from books.
So, starting from 2005, I was working mostly as a substitute teacher. It was fine for a while until what I called the dark ages (2009-2011) in which the recession, budget cuts, and furloughs took their toll. I ended taking a few side jobs (ie. tutoring, retail, sign-waving, elections work) to fill in my budget gaps.
At some point within that time frame, I really thought I should just become a full-time teacher and enrolled in the University of Phoenix's master's program in elementary education. I ended up quitting last year, which I described in more detail at http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2012/06/change-in-direction.html
And you know what? I have NO REGRETS about my change in direction!
2) My new-found appreciation for the UH campus life
I did plan on attending UH-Manoa since I was a little kid. But when I first entered UH-Manoa coming out of high school, I didn't fully appreciate that opportunity like I do now.
For one thing, I wanted another year in high school. No, I wasn't going to flunk any classes just to do that. I'm not that crazy!
But at the time, I felt that I didn't take full advantage of my extra-curricular opportunities in high school and I wanted more time to explore them. Part of it was my crazy living situation in which I moved around several homes between my parent's home (out of district) and my grandma's home (in school's district) that made doing some extra-curricular harder than it might be for some other teens with more residential stability.
Don't get me wrong, I did do some extra-curriculars in my senior year (just ask anyone who saw me at the pep rallies, talent shows and senior parties). But I left high school wanting more.
So yeah, I spent my first few years at UH-Manoa "looking in the rear-view mirror" instead of "looking forward"
And of course, I was going through the usual 18-year old insecurities. You know, the former classmates drifting away, but not fitting in with the new people coming in. Not wanting to be asked "why you by yourself" if I go to a public event by myself.
But you know what? By the time I was 65% with my undergrad years, I began to feel "Screw all that worrying about insecurities, I'm too old for that crap!"
Years of adulthood can do a lot to wash your adolescent insecurities away. (well, most of them, LOL!)
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So now that I'm 32-years old, and I'm back at UH-Manoa as a graduate student, I no longer let old insecurities, nor regrets about missed opportunities hold me back!
And you know what? Even with all the controversies over UH mis-management, UH-Manoa is a great place to be!
Big campus!
Lots of open space, green grass and beautiful scenery!
Lots of campus eateries!
Big libraries with computer labs!
Places to chill!
New buildings being built and old buildings getting modernized (finally)
There's always something going on there, ranging from guest speakers, art displays, parties, sports, and so much more!
There's none of that at the University of Phoenix, that's for sure!
Even more reason I'm glad I left UPhx and went back to UH-Manoa :)
Learn more about the campus at http://blogs.newzealand.usembassy.gov/ambassador/2012/10/welcome-to-the-university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/ (Lots of nice photos and great info there)
3) The academic program itself
As I mentioned earlier, I'm in the Library and Information Science (LIS) program.
Being that I did some student helper work in the libraries, I do have some familiarity with the library environment.
Now, I want to become a full-time librarian. Ideally, I want to be a public librarian, but I'm willing to check other opportunities too!
And this semester confirmed my career path towards librarianship!
I took 2 classes!
One was LIS 601: Introduction to Reference Services. That class focused on learning about reference sources, ranging from the traditional (ie. print indexes, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs) to the digital (websites, databases, online bibliographies).
We also had some focus on becoming a professional librarian, with lessons on ethics, dealing with crazy patrons, and of course, how to use the many resources available.
The other course was LIS 605 : Introduction to Cataloging and Classification! We learned how sources (ie books, other print materials, video and audio materials) are cataloged.
We learned the formulas to come up with call numbers for the Library of Congress Classification (used at academic libraries) and the Dewey Decimal system.(used at public libraries)
Yeah, most of you are familiar with the Dewey Decimal system at the public library.
You think they put random numbers after the decimals? Think again! There's a whole formula that goes into making sure we have the right numbers before AND after the decimal. The manual itself for that has 4 volumes!
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Of courses, there are more classes to take!
There are classes focusing on library materials for children and young adults. There are classes on library collection management. There are classes on library management itself. There are classes on archives, preservations, Hawaii-Pacific materials, and databases. There are classes on intellectual freedom. There are more classes on the library profession.
And towards the end of the program (for me, it is most likely to be Spring 2015), there is the internship program.
Lots to look forward too.
I'm really in a phase of my life where I'm more about "looking forward" instead of "looking at the rearview mirror"
4) Comparisons of generations
Usually, in a room full of graduate students, you will find people of various age groups.
Some are young adults who didn't want to stop school after receiving their bachelor's degree.
Others have been out of school for decades and are now coming back.
That means you will have classmates with different life experiences and different frames of reference
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First, I want to talk about the older group.
One student got her bachelor's degree two decades ago! Obviously, a lot has changed within that time.
When she graduated, it was a few years before the Internet became popular with the general public. Computers were just used for typing and playing games (no 3D games in those days). In fact, she mentioned that many students still used typewriters to type their papers. Students stood in line to register for class instead of the online system we use today.
After her undergrad years, she had a job and had kids.
But she never got a chance to keep up with the latest technology. She admitted that she rarely goes online. She didn't try the popular online social networks.
And this is a program in which you are expected to know at least the basic online technologies, especially since you will be introduced to some of the more advanced educational technologies in class.
Yep, it was like she was waking up after 2 decades of hibernation. She felt so overwhelmed and lost that she quit after 2 weeks.
To make things worse, she registered for class last minute (as in the actual 1st day of class). She just walked into the LIS office to ask questions, and they were like "you can sign up for this class that starts today".
Whereas when I applied, I decided to do so months before my 1st class. This gave me time to mentally adjust before starting. Plus, I had months to think about tech knowledge requirements. I already knew the basic (ie. extensive use of Microsoft Word, Yahoo, Google, Blogger and facebook) as well as stuff I learned in my short time at UPhx (ie. power-points, databases), so learning additional stuff in the LIS program (ie Jing, uhunix html program) wasn't as overwhelming.
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Anyways, on the other side of things, the younger generation tend to be digital natives.
One of my younger classmate expects EVERYTHING to be in a digital format! In fact, he didn't even bring his textbook to class, because he scanned the book's pages into a PDF file (must've took hours) just so he can look at it on a computer screen.
Well, I don't want to talk too much trash about that guy, since he's a nice person.
However, there was this other younger classmate who I consider to be poison for any class/work environment. (Her name is Candice Tuosto.)
Even though she is a Library and Information Science major, she was offended when I (gasp, omg ......................... noooooooooooooo) suggested that she visit the main public library in downtown Honolulu.
She wants to do every assignment hiding behind a computer instead of actually visiting a library. And did I mention she was a LIBRARY and Information Science major?
And in a class group discussion, she was also offended when I mention that librarians should (gasp) walk with their patrons to show where the items they want are. She thinks librarians should hide behind the desk and stare at the computer!
Oh, she says, why walk with a patron to show them where items are, when librarians have to deal with many customers?
Well, any Macy's employee (who deal with WAY MORE CUSTOMERS in an hour than a librarian deals with in a day) who thinks they shouldn't stop what they're doing when a customer wants to be shown where an items is .....................................................is an employee asking for trouble from the bosses!
After all, at Macy's (and libraries) CUSTOMERS COME FIRST!
When I mention that same point again in the next class, and the professor agreed, guess what Candice Tuosto did afterwards?
She quit that class! She also quit her other class! She quit the program and went back to California.
As you can see Candice Tuosto is someone who is offended when asked to do more than the bare minimum.
Plus, she was always last to arrive, first to leave at every class!
This is the type of library service you would get from someone with Candice T's attitude
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Niac-sIGd8g&list=PL160723BDF8BD51AB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XvAakX__cQ&list=PL160723BDF8BD51AB
Well, Good Riddance to someone like that!
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5) Special Activities
Being in the LIS programs, I was able to take part in some special activities. I wasn't able to do all that was offered, but I did a few including
a) Guest speakers .
One was a university librarian from French Polynesia. Their only library is a university library in Tahiti. That's it! No public library system there! (If France wants to consider itself "enlightened", they could do a lot more for their territories than that)
Another was a local archivist who graduated a few years ago. She talked about the job market.
b) field trips
The only I could make it to was this trip to a library on the Schofield Army base in Wahiawa. The ride itself was amazing, since you're going from the city to a small town in Central Oahu. But once you get on base, you'll find they have their own library for the soldiers and their families. It's almost like any public library.
c) volunteering for the book fair
There was a book fair for children's literature on the UH campus last month. While it might seem strange to have children's books being sold on a college campus, let's remember that professors and students are parents too. Plus, the younger college students have younger siblings they can buy books for. Plus, going through the children's books collection can give you memories of your childhood.
I only volunteered for a few hours and I wish I had more time. But it was a very fun experience. I get to meet new people and talk about stuff I'm interested in. Also, it was fun re-organizing the book collection after the shoppers made it un-organized. For some reason, I consider that kind of work fun. (just ask any Macy's staff who saw me folding shirts and organizing messy piles there)
I hope I have time to do more of such volunteering soon.
d) Banquets
I love going to banquets.
We had one retirement party for a semi-retired professor Dr Violet Harada on February. She happened to be the first person I talked to when I was considering applying for the LIS program. This semester, she's mostly mentoring a new professor teaching his first class.
When I went to her retirement party, I was surprised how many people showed up. There were librarians from all over the island. There were past students and past colleagues there. And off course, a potluck too :)
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And earlier this week, there was a banquet for the latest group of students graduating from the LIS program this summer.
Good thing we get assigned tables, since it allowed me to meet students I only seen around but didn't have a previous change to socialize with.
It was a fun night, with good food, good feelings and good photos taken.
The graduates get to eat for free, whereas everyone has to pay $35.
I can't wait to be one of the graduates and eat for free :)
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The UH graduation ceremony for graduate students is a few hours away as I'm typing this.
Congratulations and good luck to all of them!
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Jason Collins and Tom Apple
1) Jason Collins
At the end of last month, NBA player Jason Collins came out of the closet.
Associated Press/ Micheal Dwyer
Jason Collins
Some have said that Jason Collins was the first NBA player to do so.
But then again, we already had Dennis Rodman who wore women's clothing, publicly fantasized about sleeping with men, but admitted that he has only had sex with women. All this while he was still playing the NBA!
Yahoo
Dennis Rodman
But dont you dare call them soft or "sissy" as many NBA rivals have learned the hard way!
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Because it is rare for a male athlete to openly admit to being gay, some have said Jason Collins is a "hero".
And of course, people get offended of the idea of Jason Collins being a "hero".
Conservative pundit Ben Shapiro was known as saying
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/ben-shapiro-jason-collins-hero_n_3178701.html
"So Jason Collins is a hero because he's gay? Our standard for heroism has dropped quite a bit since Normandy."
Well, nobody said "Jason Collins is a hero because he's gay"
Actually, Jason Collin's bravery is coming out of the closet in a world where homophobic bullying is common!
From MidWeek's sports pundit Steve Murray
http://www.midweek.com/collins-not-a-gay-man-just-a-man/
Phillip Parker was 14 a year old when he hung himself in the bathroom of his foster parents’ home. After years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his classmates, the high-schooler killed himself rather than face the continued torment that comes with being an openly gay male. His final cry for help was found in a nearby wastebasket, “Please help me, mom.”
This is why NBA veteran Jason Collins came out – not because he wanted attention or to flaunt the “gay lifestyle” in front of wholesome Americans and impressionable youths, but because he, like Parker, wants to live his life without prejudice or scorn.
We all do. It’s just much harder when you’re gay.
Ironically, it's the conservative correctness warriors like Ben Shapiro who make Jason Collins look brave.
In fact, when the conservative correctness preachers promote homophobia, that inspires many teenagers (even the ones who could care less about conservative values) to bully students who are (or seem to be) homosexual.
That bullying inspires the victims into self-hatred and even suicide.
I mean, if both the conservative preachers and the your neighborhood thugs are against you, who do you turn for help?
In many communities, the answer is nobody.
And then we're surprised something like this happens
Eric James Borges, a film-maker, speaker and counselor, says in a online video for the “It Gets Better” project that his name wasn’t Eric, but faggot. He was spit on, assaulted, ostracized and thrown out of his family’s home. Months after the video was recorded, Borges, then 19, committed suicide, leaving a note thanking his friends, while noting, “My pain is not caused because I am gay. My pain was caused by how I was treated because I am gay.”(above quote from Steve Murray's article at http://www.midweek.com/collins-not-a-gay-man-just-a-man/)
And more quote from the above article
Homosexuality is not about living one’s life as the outrageous center float in a gay pride parade. Collins came out because he wants to live a normal, open life without the threat of ridicule or judgement.
By going public with his sexuality, Collins further helps disprove the myth of inferiority. Bigotry grows in the silence of fear and ignorance.
Now, I have to admit some guilt in all this! I have said some things I am not proud of! I have occasionally made some homophobic comments when I was younger. Back then, I didn't know anyone who was out of the closet. I was unaware of the internal struggles that many LGBT youth had to deal with!
But now that I know better, I will stand up against homophobia!
Just like the famous quote from Rodney King "cant we all just get along?"
2) Tom Apple
Tom Apple is the chancellor (fancy word for principal) for the UH-Manoa campus
Star Advertiser
Tom Apple
Earlier this week, Tom Apple said this
http://www.kaleo.org/sports/could-uh-athletics-leave-division-i/article_930fd484-b5f6-11e2-9ff7-001a4bcf6878.html
“If we’re not breaking even in three years, I really have to look at whether we will continue Division 1A athletics,” Chancellor Thomas Apple said.
Excuse me?
Your telling us that the flagship university of our state shall be demoted to Division 2?
That's like asking Hawaii's people to accept 2nd class citizenship!We refuse to be treated like 2nd class citizens dammit!
By telling us (and the world) that it's possible that UH athletics could drop out of Division 1 is an early Christmas present to all rival college recruiters!
That's right, all the folks at Fresno State, Stanford, Oregon, Southern Cal, UCLA, Boise State, Nevada, UNLV, BYU, Utah ....................... and on and on ..................... now have a new weapon to use against us when they go out for recruiting!
In other words, Tom Apple's words can have serious ramifications for the UH sports programs. Therefore, Tom Apple shall be fired!
Monday, May 06, 2013
Recent deaths
I want to take the opportunity to comment on the lives of 4 people who have recently passed away.
2 were people that I have known in my personal life.
The other 2 were musicians that came to prominence in my younger years
I'll talk about the 2 people I know personally first, then I'll go over the celebrities
1) Francis Akana
This guy used to be one my supervisors when I was working for the summer program at Palama Settlement back in 2005 and 2006.
I did have a previous volunteer experience with elementary students back in 1998 (a summer program for "Future Teachers" when I was in high school) and I did start being a sub teacher in May 2005.
But in June 2005, it was my first full-on, everyday experience working as a full-fledged staff member in charge of the younger ones. Yeah, it can be (no, it is) an overwhelming experience. But there was some fun times too, with field trips, the dance classes, and the game room.
Vince DeBina was the Recreation Director (and the king) but Francis Akana was more in charge of the day-to-day operations of the summer program.
He was a cool laid back kind of guy with a crazy sense of humor. But if things go wrong, he can get really, really grumpy. But you didn't have to worry about him yelling at you. In fact, he was the main guy telling me to not yell at the kids.
Even after I stopped working at the summer programs, I still visited Palama Settlement to talk with Vince and Francis, as well as Leila (Francis wife).
Sadly, Francis got cancer and was unable to work.
This was going on for years.
Last Saturday, I found out on facebook that Francis Akana had passed away.
I dont know the details and I didn't want to ask for details. I'm sure cancer took a toll, but I'm not sure if there was more to it.
Here's the Star Advertiser's obituary for Francis Akana
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20130430_Obituaries.html?id=205345671
Francis Akana will be missed by the many people at Palama Settlement.
2) Glenn Cannon
Glenn Cannon was known in Hawaii as an actor and a director.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20130423__Actor_brought_passion_integrity_to_stage.html?id=204243181
He was also a UH-Manoa professor in the school's theater program.
Back in my undergrad years, one of my core requirements included an arts requirement. I took 2 theater courses. (No, I wasn't in any of the school plays, I wasn't at that level)
Cannon taught the second course.
While Cannon can be a nice person in regular settings, I don't care for his teaching style.
All he does is give you a script from a play, tell you to practice it, and then make you act it in a final group performance.
He doesn't coach you in between getting the script and your final performance. He expects you to get up there and take his grilling, nevermind that he never coached us much (if at all) in the time between.
That may be fine for experienced actors, but as beginners, I'd prefer to have a more individualized coaching while we practice instead of being grilled in front of the whole group in our final performance.
I guess it goes to show some people are better matched to teach experienced professionals instead of coaching beginning amatuers.
But you know what? I'd rather rap and sing on stage than to be a stage/film actor anyways. No disrespect to the actors. I just got a difference preference, that's all!
And again, I don't mean to be much of a disrespect to Mr Cannon. I just got to be honest, that's all!
His ways worked for many performers out there, he had a passion, and he will be missed by in the film/stage industry.
3) Chris Kelly
Chris Kelly was one-half of the hip-hop duo Kris Kross.
Kris Kross rose to fame as a kiddie-rap group who started making hits in 1992
Ever since then, Atlanta overshadowed Motown and Harlem as the center of African-American pop culture. This is not meant as a disrespect to Motown and Harlem, but to show how much impact the city of Atlanta has on African-American pop-culture within the last 2 decades. I mean, just listen to any hip-hop/R&B radio station, the Atlanta stars now outnumber everyone else.
---- I mentioned Jermaine Dupri a few paragraphs earlier. Today we know Jermaine Dupri as this mega-star producer who created tons of stars (ie. Da Brat, X-scape, Bow Wow, Jagged Edge, Monica, Usher, Lil Jon and tons, tons, tons, tons more) and collaborated with many other stars (ie Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Ludacris, Jay-Z, Nas, Mary J Blige, etc.)
But Jermaine Dupri's 1st claim to fame? Working with Kris Kross. He was their producer.
When Jermaine Dupri appeared in Kris Kross "Warm it Up" video, most of us didn't know who that was. He was just another guy in the background to most of us.
But the hits from Kris Kross empowered Jermaine Dupri to became a mega-producer and star-maker that he is today.
4) Jeff Hanneman
On May 2, 2013 , Jeff Hanneman passed away in a hospital after two years of recovering from a fatal spider bite
Jeff Hanneman was the guitar player for the influential heavy metal band Slayer
Slayer shocked the world in late 1980s and early 1990s with their extremely fast, extremely heavy guitar sounds, and their shocking themes on religion, death, societal disorder and war.
Their most controversial song was "Angel of Death" which described the torture of Nazi death camps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6_zsJ8KPP0
Jeff Hanneman (who wrote the lyrics) defended the song with this
http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=3153
From Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_Death_(song)
That article entry also forgot to mention that Slayer also did a song with gangsta-rap legend Ice-T "Disorder" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBYfSw2yLsw
So much for racism accusations against Slayer
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Decades after Slayer shocked the world with "Angel of Death", they tried to shock the world with "Jihad", which was sung from the Islamic terrorist perspective.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZUGa1R5LSs
But you can only shock for so long before people just tune you out, as Slayer discovered
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_Death_(song)
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As for other Slayer songs
Seasons in the Abyss (one of Slayer's "slower" songs) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvuO2EvCTAE
Dittohead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qd12Hgx43g
Raining Blood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKILvAggpYw
Mandatory Suicide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI4e4RDhUwo
The previous 2 songs got sampled by Lil Jon for one of the crazies rap-metal songs ever!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnnxffxTTwc
Those were the main ones I remember. If you really want to talk more about Slayer, you'd have to talk to my brother. He's the one who introduced me to Slayer, and he's the one who has copies of their albums.
I did listen to a lot of heavy metal (again, thanks to my brother) back in the 1990's, though most of my peers (mostly hip-hop fans) didn't know it back then. I did listen to a lot of Metallica, Pantera, Biohazard and Sepultura. I also got into the nu-metal (Disturbed, Evanescence) and off course my favorite metal genre ...... rap-metal (Limp Bizkit #1) I did listen to some Slayer, but not as much as my brother.
2 were people that I have known in my personal life.
The other 2 were musicians that came to prominence in my younger years
I'll talk about the 2 people I know personally first, then I'll go over the celebrities
1) Francis Akana
This guy used to be one my supervisors when I was working for the summer program at Palama Settlement back in 2005 and 2006.
facebook
Palama Settlement
I did have a previous volunteer experience with elementary students back in 1998 (a summer program for "Future Teachers" when I was in high school) and I did start being a sub teacher in May 2005.
But in June 2005, it was my first full-on, everyday experience working as a full-fledged staff member in charge of the younger ones. Yeah, it can be (no, it is) an overwhelming experience. But there was some fun times too, with field trips, the dance classes, and the game room.
Vince DeBina was the Recreation Director (and the king) but Francis Akana was more in charge of the day-to-day operations of the summer program.
He was a cool laid back kind of guy with a crazy sense of humor. But if things go wrong, he can get really, really grumpy. But you didn't have to worry about him yelling at you. In fact, he was the main guy telling me to not yell at the kids.
Even after I stopped working at the summer programs, I still visited Palama Settlement to talk with Vince and Francis, as well as Leila (Francis wife).
Sadly, Francis got cancer and was unable to work.
This was going on for years.
Last Saturday, I found out on facebook that Francis Akana had passed away.
I dont know the details and I didn't want to ask for details. I'm sure cancer took a toll, but I'm not sure if there was more to it.
Here's the Star Advertiser's obituary for Francis Akana
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20130430_Obituaries.html?id=205345671
Francis K. Akana
March 30, 2013
Francis K. Akana, 66, of Honolulu, a retired Palama Settlement gym supervisor, died in Honolulu. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Leila; sons Shawn K. and Shane; daughter Shonna Vaovasa; brothers Chester, Micey and Suki; and three grandchildren. Visitation: 10 a.m. Saturday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Services: 11 a.m. Aloha attire. Flowers welcome.
Francis Akana will be missed by the many people at Palama Settlement.
2) Glenn Cannon
Glenn Cannon was known in Hawaii as an actor and a director.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20130423__Actor_brought_passion_integrity_to_stage.html?id=204243181
Star Advertiser photo
He was also a UH-Manoa professor in the school's theater program.
Back in my undergrad years, one of my core requirements included an arts requirement. I took 2 theater courses. (No, I wasn't in any of the school plays, I wasn't at that level)
Cannon taught the second course.
While Cannon can be a nice person in regular settings, I don't care for his teaching style.
All he does is give you a script from a play, tell you to practice it, and then make you act it in a final group performance.
He doesn't coach you in between getting the script and your final performance. He expects you to get up there and take his grilling, nevermind that he never coached us much (if at all) in the time between.
That may be fine for experienced actors, but as beginners, I'd prefer to have a more individualized coaching while we practice instead of being grilled in front of the whole group in our final performance.
I guess it goes to show some people are better matched to teach experienced professionals instead of coaching beginning amatuers.
But you know what? I'd rather rap and sing on stage than to be a stage/film actor anyways. No disrespect to the actors. I just got a difference preference, that's all!
And again, I don't mean to be much of a disrespect to Mr Cannon. I just got to be honest, that's all!
His ways worked for many performers out there, he had a passion, and he will be missed by in the film/stage industry.
3) Chris Kelly
On May 1, 2013, Chris Kelly was found dead in his own home. There has been speculation of death from a drug over-dose.
Chris Kelly was one-half of the hip-hop duo Kris Kross.
Kris Kross rose to fame as a kiddie-rap group who started making hits in 1992
Catherine McGann/Getty Images
Chris 'Daddy Mac' Smith and Chris 'Mac Daddy' Kelly of Kriss Kross.
which was followed up with "Warm it Up" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAhp17Mp7Xs
They had a few minor hits afterwards.
A few years later, as Kriss Kross went into late adolesence, they had an image makeover as being "Young, Rich, and Dangerous"
Wikipedia
With the biggest hit from that era "Tonight's the Night" (my favorite song from them)
Their song "Live and Die for Hip-Hop" featuring Da Brat, Mr. Black, Jermaine Dupri, and Aaliyah
(It's funny to see former kid rappers running from the cops in this one)
Afterwards, Kriss Kross faded into obscurity as both members moved on to adulthood, and pursued other interests
But earlier this year, Kris Kross came back for a legendary performance at So-So Def Records 20th Anniversary.
Their performance of "Warm it Up" was their strongest performance in that video, and plus, the bassline in that performance is perfect for any car stereo!
That would be the last major performance for the duo!
That would be the last major performance for the duo!
Credit: CNN
Chris Kelly and Chris Smith
(aka Kris Kross : the adult edition)
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As for the impact of Kris Kross, it was much bigger than we expected when they first came out.
Back then, they were mostly known for wearing their pants backward.
But they weren't even the first kid rap group to go mainstream. Another Bad Creation (ABC) did that a year before Kris Kross.
But here are some other major impacts of Kris Kross
------ one of the earliest rap stars from Atlanta. It's hard to believe now, but there was a time when Atlanta didn't dominate the hip-hop scene. Back in the 80's, it was all New York, in the early 90's the West Coast took over. Miami had 2 Live Crew, but the rest of the South didn't get much attention in the hip-hop scene.
But with Kris Kross and TLC both coming out in 1992 (and ABC the year before), it forced the hip-hop world to pay more attention to the Atlanta scene.
Jermaine Dupri discuss how Kris Kross popularity brought hip-hop's attention to Atlanta.
Ever since then, Atlanta overshadowed Motown and Harlem as the center of African-American pop culture. This is not meant as a disrespect to Motown and Harlem, but to show how much impact the city of Atlanta has on African-American pop-culture within the last 2 decades. I mean, just listen to any hip-hop/R&B radio station, the Atlanta stars now outnumber everyone else.
---- I mentioned Jermaine Dupri a few paragraphs earlier. Today we know Jermaine Dupri as this mega-star producer who created tons of stars (ie. Da Brat, X-scape, Bow Wow, Jagged Edge, Monica, Usher, Lil Jon and tons, tons, tons, tons more) and collaborated with many other stars (ie Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Ludacris, Jay-Z, Nas, Mary J Blige, etc.)
But Jermaine Dupri's 1st claim to fame? Working with Kris Kross. He was their producer.
When Jermaine Dupri appeared in Kris Kross "Warm it Up" video, most of us didn't know who that was. He was just another guy in the background to most of us.
But the hits from Kris Kross empowered Jermaine Dupri to became a mega-producer and star-maker that he is today.
Jermaine Dupri paying tribute to Chris Kelly here
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/chris-kellys-mentor-jermaine-dupri-i-wish-i-could-have-saved-him-201335
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/chris-kellys-mentor-jermaine-dupri-i-wish-i-could-have-saved-him-201335
4) Jeff Hanneman
On May 2, 2013 , Jeff Hanneman passed away in a hospital after two years of recovering from a fatal spider bite
Jeff Hanneman was the guitar player for the influential heavy metal band Slayer
Wikipedia
Slayer shocked the world in late 1980s and early 1990s with their extremely fast, extremely heavy guitar sounds, and their shocking themes on religion, death, societal disorder and war.
Their most controversial song was "Angel of Death" which described the torture of Nazi death camps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6_zsJ8KPP0
Jeff Hanneman (who wrote the lyrics) defended the song with this
http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=3153
KNAC.COM: And that influences your writing today still, obviously.
HANNEMAN: Oh yeah. Right before I wrote “Angel Of Death,” I read a bunch of books about [Nazi Doctor Josef] Mengele because he was pretty sick. That was how “Angel Of Death” came about.
KNAC.COM: And that’s a HUGE misinterpretation --people misconceive Slayer as being Satanic, Nazis, and Racists, etc. and that’s one of the main songs where people go, “Oh my God! Angel Of Death -- that’s so pro-Nazi!”
HANNEMAN:"I know why people misinterpret it – it's because they get this knee–jerk reaction to it. When they read the lyrics, there's nothing I put in the lyrics that says necessarily he was a bad man, because to me – well, isn't that obvious? I shouldn't have to tell you that."
From Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_Death_(song)
The song drew accusations of racism, although the band denied these claims.[2] In addition, the band's producer and close friend Rick Rubin has Jewish ancestry, their vocalist/bassist Tom Araya is Chilean, their drummer Dave Lombardo is Cuban, and King had a guest appearance on the Jewish hip hop group Beastie Boys' song "No Sleep till Brooklyn".[2] The band members are often asked about the accusations in interviews, and have stated numerous times that they do not condone racism and are merely interested in the subject.[13]
That article entry also forgot to mention that Slayer also did a song with gangsta-rap legend Ice-T "Disorder" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBYfSw2yLsw
So much for racism accusations against Slayer
---------------
Decades after Slayer shocked the world with "Angel of Death", they tried to shock the world with "Jihad", which was sung from the Islamic terrorist perspective.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZUGa1R5LSs
But you can only shock for so long before people just tune you out, as Slayer discovered
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_Death_(song)
In 2006, the song "Jihad" from Slayer's 2006 album Christ Illusion drew comparison to "Angel of Death".[14] "Jihad" deals with the September 11, 2001 attacks, and tells the story from a terrorist's perspective. Vocalist Araya was expecting the subject matter to create a similar backlash to that of "Angel of Death", although it did not materialise,[15] in part, he believes, due to peoples' view that the song is "just Slayer being Slayer"
------------------
As for other Slayer songs
Seasons in the Abyss (one of Slayer's "slower" songs) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvuO2EvCTAE
Dittohead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qd12Hgx43g
Raining Blood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKILvAggpYw
Mandatory Suicide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI4e4RDhUwo
The previous 2 songs got sampled by Lil Jon for one of the crazies rap-metal songs ever!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnnxffxTTwc
Those were the main ones I remember. If you really want to talk more about Slayer, you'd have to talk to my brother. He's the one who introduced me to Slayer, and he's the one who has copies of their albums.
I did listen to a lot of heavy metal (again, thanks to my brother) back in the 1990's, though most of my peers (mostly hip-hop fans) didn't know it back then. I did listen to a lot of Metallica, Pantera, Biohazard and Sepultura. I also got into the nu-metal (Disturbed, Evanescence) and off course my favorite metal genre ...... rap-metal (Limp Bizkit #1) I did listen to some Slayer, but not as much as my brother.
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