1750 word music class

2/25/2021 The Source Mind Squad: A Serious Critique of Hip Hop: MUS 17 - Hip-Hop - Green [WI21]

https://canvas.ucsd.edu/courses/24336/pages/the-source-mind-squad-a-serious-critique-of-hip-hop?module_item_id=701436 1/2

The Source Mind Squad: A Serious Critique of Hip Hop

(The March/April 1991 cover of the Source Magazine. )

Nelson George writes in his book Hip Hop America:

The Source: The Magazine of Hip Hop Music, Culture, and Politics was founded in 1988, by two Harvard student, Hip Hop fans/practitioners named Jonathan Shecter and David Mayes and a businessman named Ed Young, in 1988. It started as a two-page newsletter, coming out of a Cambridge dorm room, and eventually became a monthly magazine, with offices and staff located in New York. The Source became known for... it’s ongoing coverage of Hip Hop events, parties,

2/25/2021 The Source Mind Squad: A Serious Critique of Hip Hop: MUS 17 - Hip-Hop - Green [WI21]

https://canvas.ucsd.edu/courses/24336/pages/the-source-mind-squad-a-serious-critique-of-hip-hop?module_item_id=701436 2/2

upcoming talent, and cultural offshoots [Hip Hop and faith, sneaker culture, gang violence, sports] (72-73).

A huge part of the magazines' impact were in the "Record Reports," aka the album reviews. "The Mind Squad," who were a group of individuals that worked or gathered at The Source, and engaged in debate about the newest releases "dropped" (released) by producers and rappers. The outcome of these discussions resulted in record reviews featuring "mic ratings " ( 5 mics being a classic) and a description of the record. At one time, these reviews were taken extremely seriously by practitioners and aficionados alike.

Kierna Mayo, who you heard from in Week 1, started working at the publication in approximately 1991, and was one member of the " Mind Squad." She referred to the group as "cultural theorists," with Hip Hop being the platform.

These ideas, which were reflected in print, represent the grassroots, lived- experience of Hip Hop, but also how the music was growing into a viable part of the popular entertainment industry while still, seemingly, maintaining some sort of autonomy from it. These reviews expressed insider information. Readers didn't have to agree with the reviewers assessment of the songs, but it was agreed upon that their critique was steeped in emic knowledge of the music and culture of Hip Hop.

All of you will now learn how to engage in this style of critique.

Task: Before you complete your graded critique, download and read the Dr. Dre long form review.jpg (https://canvas.ucsd.edu/courses/24336/files/3118492/download?wrap=1) and one of four short form reviews..jpg (https://canvas.ucsd.edu/courses/24336/files/3117807/download?wrap=1) .

Make sure and pay attention to the mic ranking system. You will need to use it.