My friend believes that due to the laws in Florida regarding obscenity, Jim wanted to taunt the establishment; as you know, a wall of police always surrounded the stage at a Doors concert. But with the law always wanting to take down a counterculture icon, they simply invented the incident--and were largely successful due to the inattentiveness of the majority of witnesses.
My friend, on the other hand, came to Jim's aid at the hearing to testify on his behalf, but with the general public's unquenchable thirst for controversy and an unfair legal system that is slanted against celebrities, no one would like to believe it didn't happen.
It is unfortunate that all Jim contributed to the evolution of modern rock music continues to be plagued by this continuing piece of tabloid trash.
Name withheld on request
Common Sense
I wish you guys, specifically Michael Roberts, would just stop doing hip-hop reviews, interviews and anything else having to do with hip-hop in your paper unless you get someone who actually knows about it.
Everything that you do makes hip-hop look ignorant, mainstream and not good enough to be in the ranks with rock. You report on terrible artists (Puff Daddy), write about horrible local representation (Fuck Yo Punk Ass and their label) and give negative reviews to hip-hop's most prominent artists (anyone from the Wu-Tang Clan).
Which leads me to Roberts's November 13 review of Common's new album. One Day It Will All Make Sense is a superb album, showing Common's maturity that he has gained in this crooked music industry, expanding on topics from abortion to religion to just simply rockin' a mic. Lyrically, he comes with intelligence, knowledge, wisdom and understanding. To get this from a rapper in the Nineties is a tough task, and Roberts is disappointed because you can't dance to it? He says, "There aren't a lot of cuts here that will get you moving, and several are stone drags."
If that's what you want, you'd better go pick up Puff Daddy and Foxy Brown's CD, because they are the ones that want to make you dance. Common writes rhymes for the mind, with wit and intellect. Peace.
Quibian Smith-Moreno
Denver
Michael Roberts's "United They Stand," in the November 6 issue, was a great story. We need more young people like these trying to make a positive impact on the community through hip-hop.
Dr. Lopez
via the Internet
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