Jennifer Parker
Jennifer Parker
Recent Stories
Columbia prof talks Mideast peace
American public discourse on the Palestinian-Israeli crisis has been stifled by a combination of strong beliefs and a lack of knowledge, said Rashid Khalidi ’70, the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University at a Davenport College Master’s Tea Thursday.
Singles Throwback: "Getto Jam" by Domino
This is my jam! Domino and Snoop were the early pioneers of a melodious style of rapping that sounds more like singing: Domino's slippery-smooth flow is what makes this song really chill — "Here we go, here we go as the tune starts to bloom/with a phat phat phat choree-us." It's too bad that he was only a two-hit wonder. Domino's explosion onto the music scene was almost as extreme as his disappearance. The only good part of discovering "Getto Jam" late in life (yes, 10th grade was too late) is that there must be other songs like this, hidden in the depths of "YO! MTV Raps!"
Sheikh talks jihad
The concept of jihad is often misinterpreted, with both cable-news pundits and terrorists using it to further their political and spiritual goals, said Omer Bajwa, coordinator of Muslim life for the Chaplain’s Office.
Singles Throwback: “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)“ by Digable Planets
In the '94 Grammys, Digable Planets' “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)“ beat out Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre's massive hit “Nuthin but a G Thang“ for best rap performance by a duo or group. Stylistically and sonically, Digable Planets were radically different from An article in Rolling Stone by Keith Powell raved that DP's music “is everything hip-hop should be: artistically sound, unabashedly conscious and downright cool. And Digable Planets is the kind of rap act every fan should cram to understand.“ So get up and turn up “Cool Like Dat.”
Singles Throwback: “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)“ by Digable Planets
In the '94 Grammys, Digable Planets' “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)“ beat out Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre's massive hit “Nuthin but a G Thang“ for best rap performance by a duo or group. Stylistically and sonically, Digable Planets were radically different from The Chronic's West-Coast gangsta rap. Digable Planets —comprised of Butterfly, Ladybug and Doodle Bug — were dreaded-up, bohemian blippies (black + hippies), rapping over jazz and funk beats. And, they were effortlessly cool. This sense of “cool“ may be a little outdated, I concede. But confidence, which Digable Planets clearly had in their laid-back attitude, mellow delivery, positive lyrics and swag, never gets old. An article in Rolling Stone by Keith Powell raved that DP's music “is everything hip-hop should be: artistically sound, unabashedly conscious and downright cool. And Digable Planets is the kind of rap act every fan should cram to understand.“ So get up and turn up “Cool Like Dat.”
Singles Throwback: "Can't You See," by Total feat. Notorious B.I.G.
Back in the day — before making a band became “Making the Band“ and Diddy was still Puffy — the coming-together of musical talent under the aegis of Sean Combs used to be a good thing. Total, an all-female R&B trio signed with Bad Boy Records shortly after singing the hook on “Juicy“ and “One More Chance,“ two of the Notorious B.I.G.'s greatest hits. (And by greatest, I mean that 88.7% of Black people in America probably know all the words to “Juicy.”) Total also sang the chorus on Ma$e's “What You Want“ and “Hypnotize“ by Biggie — the ultimate (white) party starter. Given their, ahem, track record, it comes as a surprise that “Can't You See,” the hottest song from Total's first album, is not more popular. Don't sleep on it!
Goldstone discusses war crimes in Gaza
Justice Richard J. Goldstone, head of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, received both warm support and vocal criticism during his speech Wednesday.
Yalies head to Copenhagen
Eighty members of the Yale community will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, which started Monday and will end Dec. 18.
Prof pushes public option
When the leading democratic candidates in the 2008 presidential race adopted Stanley B. Resor Professor of Political Science Jacob S. Hacker’s GRD ’00 proposal for a government-sponsored health care program, the idea gained national prominence. Nearly two years later, President Barack Obama and many congressional Democrats are currently promoting a version of the proposal.
Profs blog books, politics
Two Yale professors’ writing is bypassing traditional print media and going straight to the blogosphere.