hahahah great post, i feel like that's always in the back of my mind when i'm talking to somebody with a completely different view than i but could never quite think of how to express it to them, now i have a hand gesture for it! thanks!!

Politics is so dangerous to talk about these days.

MOR?E!!!

I hate my little hater, but hate yours more...

-Jaco

great vid, ur a good dude

Great stuff. When you bring clarity and humour like this to a subject, you could be talking about leaf-blowers for all I care. Follow your instincts we’ll tell you when they’re wrong :)

Now I’m just waiting for the day when Barack, Hilary and the other guys start doing the gesture on the podium.

Happy New Year to you and yourz J. Smooth.

I just wanted to pop in and tell you that your doing an amazing job with keeping it real with yourself, which trancends through your video segments great. You were saying that sometimes your little hater tells you (and I'm paraphrasing here) that this is a Hip Hop Website and that we as fans would be alienated, is so not true. See, your website offers insight to everything through a Hip Hop perspective, and that my friend is what we need as a culture to mature. I know sometimes folks come with the bullshit, but that's part of the game. It's up to some of us older Hip Hop heads to share some of our experiences in LIFE not just music, just so we can decipher the real from the fake, sometimes. that's why whenever an emcee speaks (not just raps) alot of people listen. I appreciate the diversity in the subject matters on your site, I crave for more than just your regular newsbits and rumors from our entertainers. I want to know weither or not we can make changes being who we are. Are we thinking the same thing and what position do the majority of us takes. I hope that made sense, I'm pretty new to commenting.

I'm sorry, what did you say? I was too distracted by the hand gesture, particularly the fist moving back and forth so close to your, um, face.

That thought is not who I am.

I'm with Jacob on this one. Congrats on meeting your little hater in a dark alley with a baseball bat and emerging the victor.

Political fanaticism is always a problem. Political parties are rooted in religion and religious conflict (Catholic/Protestant, Tory/Whig, James II, Glorious Revolution, etc, etc, etc...). And as with religion, these parties have their crazy fundamentalists who lash out whenever someone questions their doctrine. There's always that one bad apple.

Back in the 60s/70s 'long-hair' music [largely - not to take anything away from Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and the like] led the way to counter-culture and collective progress.. Today, it has to be Hip-Hop that will drive the collective 'us' to any progress..

When Hip-Hop does this, I believe without doubt it is going to be thanks to individuals such as yourself Jay.. despite your coating the message for the masses, your message is deep always - thats why you will be leading the way - as you have been for years on the radio via the Underground Railroad!

Peace, Love, and Solidarity in 2008 brotha Jay!

Hey, what's up? I discovered this blog via Lifehacker when you post up the "Little Hater". I think this blog is wonder, keep up the good work.

Let's make a deal... you talk about the topics that affect the community in whole, and I'll listen. :) So when you feel like talking, do that fist and hand motion... I'll respect your opinions as long as you respect mine, alright?

But keep up the good work and do us proud!

i might be the only one thinking this but it looks like you have a mustache only on your left side... might just be the lights. its okay tho you should still make more videos cus their good annnd what you look like and who you are is two different things.

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Ummm yeah that fist-hand thing looked kinda sexual but that's okay.

Thank you for saying that even if we disagree (which so far you & I don't) you respect different opinions. I think it's vital for us all to remember as you alluded, that thoughts are not the person and that's why it's so important as George Michael once said to "Listen Without Prejudice."

Keep on keeping on Mr. Smooth!
~F

my 2cents: What/how we think = who we are (unless we're hypocrites, that is). My thoughts, beliefs, ideals, who i love, and what i stand for and die for (and even how i choose to express those topics) = me (aka my character)and part of that includes political views.

i don't subscribe to the notion that opinions and beliefs exist in a realm separate from self, but are rather an extension of self (who we are). That being said, i think your conclusion is still valid. I can still respect you and your beliefs/opinions even if i disagree and appreciate them for what they are and for who you are, wierd hand gestures and all :).

The awesome thing about all this is that since folk are complex and capable of change, with this in mind, our conversations become powerful exchanges able to widen, alter or solidify one's point of view when devoid of unnecessary defensiveness and emotional reactivity.

erm why does it appear that you have half a moustache for half the vid?? haha that shit was annoyin me the entire time - good vid as always tho

Well, there's plenty going on in the world of hip hop. A couple months back Ed Lover attacked Rakim & Ghostface for going on tour together using a live 10-piece band, and having a "white boy" open for them -- that "white boy" being Rhymesayer Brother Ali, who is albino. I was at the Nokia Theatre show in NYC when they tapped on this. Not sure if you heard about it, and would like to know your thoughts. Also (unless I missed it) what I'd like to know is, how is Don Imus back on the radio? What happened to all the protesting?! Help us brother Jay. Help!

That half stache is the shit...

It takes a bold soul to pull that off while speaking on serious issues.

ay man i tried to add u on myspace just to get u on my top 8 cuz i respect what u do and how u presernt urself i unno if ull read thi sbut u mind addin me???or accept when Jason from VA adds u

Eh, whenever someone says, "don't talk about that, you'll alienate your fans," they just want you to not talk about whatever it was you were going to talk about.

They could be right about alienating fans, but that's not why they're saying it.

You're an attractive commentator. Kind of like a hip hop pundit. I really liked the hand gestures. I'll use it when I talk to my politically polarized friends. I just checked out this site today from a link on my usual hit Feministing and I'm impressed. Keep up the good work. You've definitely got a new fan.

I have book-marked your websites and I will be adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.