#LiveSesson In-depth with Hip-Hop icon Coolio

“We are headed for disaster, I’m afraid…” – Coolio

Sometimes, the legends and icons of Hip-Hop step to the forefront of current issues with such heartfelt fervor that they come off like very very pissed off parents of misbehaving children. Coolio is one such leader of Hip-Hop who, although his past is not totally pristine, has ALWAYS been a 000 G when it comes to manning up about his role in the history and pathway of the genre. Coolio chopped it up with the Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine to talk not about HIS music or current projects, but about his explosion of awareness or epiphany if you will, regarding the direction that music takes society, how it helps and how it can hurt as well. I have to say…he’s also pissed off at himself and very apologetic for his role in the path laid for Hip-Hop as it stands today.

Coolio not only takes himself to task, he gets right to the point in expressing his feelings about rappers today, the music industry today AND the chains and images of psychological slavery we are toiling under today as American citizens. “Music saved my life,” says Cooli. “It cured me and I’m going to do my best to cure some of you too” he continued.

My history with Coolio goes back to 2001 when we toured US Military Bases in South Korea, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the USO and its support of our service men and women in harms way. Coolio has returned 3 additional times to various military installations as part of the USO system and said during our interview that those were some of the best times for him. When I first met him, I was the producer for the NBA Entertainment League tour to South Korea and he asked me straight up “How did you get this man…they don’t give young Black men these types of gigs.” Very pro-advancement, Coolio today continues with his efforts to actively support forward thinking projects and programs that educate and bolster the pride and abilities of young Americans.

One of the most vivid moments from this conversation was, Coolio telling me how he cried when Obama got elected…he foresaw the damage Obama’s election would do to the country as the political powers that be, plotted to make him go down in history as the worst US President in history. Many of us jumped for joy and in our perceived moment of triumph, forgot to keep an eye out for the wolves that would come exploding onto the scene in a concerted effort to corner and tear their prey from limb to limb…he focused on what many of us could not see the ‘C.O.N. Spiracy!’

“We are headed for disaster” Coolio “I’m afraid for our future.” The time is NOW for action and those that call themselves leaders and ‘bawse,’ to get their head out of their far point of contact and listen to the words of experience and global vision…listen to the interview and let us know what you think in the comment section.

-EdNChief

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