Rapstrology | Nipsey Hussle, Young Thug and learning from the Leo’s heart of gold

Much like the name suggests, 'Rapstrology' celebrates the beautiful (and curiously slept-on) intersection between hip-hop and astrology. Whether exploring the Zodiac is a guilty pleasure hobby, something to roll one's eyes at, or a swear-by daily guide to WTF is going on, this column aims to explore the roadmap that is astrology, through the context of hip hop, lyrics and current events.

With the highly anticipated, star-studded remake of "The Lion King" finally in theaters nationwide and hot girl summer in full swing, the arrival of Leo season feels a bit amplified this year. Or maybe that's just every year, as this is Leo we are talking about.

As those born under the Leo sun can attest, the period that falls between July 23rd and August 22nd is a time for taking action, channeling passionand celebrating one's grandeur. Symbolized by the lion, this fire sign embodies the characteristics of the beloved king of the jungle; representing strength, courage, authority, boldness, wisdom, and leadership.

Furthermore, this sign is creative, fiercely independent, confident, loyal and generous. While one's own symbolic relationship with the lion can be personal, Leos are also the life of the party, serving as a reminder that while they may lead and take control, they traditionally do so with a loving heart. In contrary, Leos must also be mindful of their astronomical egos, as temptation (when it comes to things like overstepping a boundary, gambling, etc.) and arrogance can force them to learn life lessons the hard way.

Fittingly, on the Zodiac side, it doesn't come as a surprise that Barack Obama is a Leo. Known for his dignified and intellectual approach to politics (a stark contrast from the current administration who is out here giving Geminis a bad rep), Obama made history as the country's first Black president and continues to inspire the masses in a way that is as necessary as it is appreciated. Obama's self-confidence, paired with his kind-hearted nature and strong-willed determination, helps him to not only shine brightly, but also encourage others to pursue their dreams through determination, commitment and good old-fashioned hard work. There's a reason he found success with his iconic "Hope" campaignposters; he embodies it and inspires others to believe, too.

On the entertainment side, Jennifer Lopez is often praised as the quintessential Leo, with her allure as a multifaceted woman; an integral part of her legacy. Others, such as Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, Guapdad4000, Soulja Boy and Lil Pump, also give off Big Leo Energy through their eccentricities, winning over others with bravado and boldness. Another strong Leo was the great Nipsey Hussle who was someone that was extremely generous and committed to sharing what he learned through his own experiences; particularly when it came to down to expanding his business model beyond the vocal booth. As exemplified by the aforementioned Leos, this sign thrives both on their own and in the community, and proud, enthusiastic and occasionally set in their ways.

With a penchant for creation and pridefully moving forward, the fiery energy that Leo season brings is almost always universally welcomed. Now that we have covered some of the basic groundwork surrounding All Things Leo™, let's take a look at some lyrical takeaways to keep in mind, and when the mood strikes, on repeat.

Song: "Hussle & Motivate" - Nipsey Hussle

Lyrical Mantra: Pull up in motorcades, I got a show today / This all I'm tryna do, hustle and motivate / Choppers and throwaways, hustle the Hova way / That's why they follow me, huh? They think I know the way / Cause I took control of things, ballin' the solo way / And if you pattern my trend, I make you my protege

Leo'ism: A bonafide Leo in a multitude of ways, Nipsey Hussle sprinkled gem after gem into his releases and made sure to truly practice what he preached on wax. His magnetic personality, paired with his natural born leadership and ability to connect with others from all walks of life, helped Nipsey establish himself as a legend and local hero alike. Nip filled his days fully and with intention; he is both deeply missed and fondly remembered.

Song: "All the Way Up" - Fat Joe and Remy Ma featuring French Montana, Infared

Lyrical Mantra: Champion sound, yeah I got a few rings / And I'm all the way up And you can stay up / And if you ask anybody where I live / They'll point to the hills and say / Go all the way up

Leo'ism: As loyal and exuberant as they come, Fat Joe has built his reputation as a respected rap veteran by way of keeping an ear to the ground and an eye on the streets. From forming his own Terror Squadlabel to topping the Billboard charts with his solo music, Fat Joe's ambition is as big as his heart. With his 11th studio album having been in the pipeline and now being speculated for a 2019 release, his comebackis one conducted in true Leo fashion: calm, cool and collected; never rushed.

Song: "Too Cocky" - Guapdad 4000

Lyrical Mantra: Damn my b---h a whole five-star meal and dessert (five-star) / I'm the freeband phoenix, go broke, then rebirth (phoenix) / I'm a hood n---a, scam artist and a nerd / But I still know what I'm worth (it's a check)

Leo'ism: Recently, Guapdad 4000 was a standout featured guest on Dreamville's compilation album, Revenge of the Dreamers III, nestling right into his ascent to fame with lighthearted humor and undeniable raw talent. In his solo work, whether through his music, v-log or social media, his over-the-top charisma is often the first thing people notice. However, as far as Guapdad is concerned, it won't be long until people also come to terms with the fact he has as much star power as he does staying power. Regardless, he'll have a smile on his face and an eye on your wallet.

Song: "Super Saiyan Trunks" - Lil Uzi Vert

Lyrical Mantra: Ayy, one, two, three, four, five, I pint it (ooh) / Ayy, f--k with that chasers, dirt bike it (ooh) / Ayy, readin' her mind like I'm psychic (ooh) / Ayy, I am a Leo like lion (ooh) / Ayy, better than me then he lyin' (yeah) / Ayy, money older than Joe Biden (ooh)

Leo'ism: Lil Uzi Vert's warmhearted nature, notable taste-making tendencies and aptitude for expressing himself through fashion and music alike all point to his being a tried and true Leo. In this song, he shouts out his star sign, following up the mention with a signal boost to his ego. While he has a healthy sense of humor, this fire sign is fearless, sincere and energetic].

Song: "Daddy's Birthday" - Young Thug

Lyrical Mantra: Dropped out of school and bought myself a chain / I must've taught myself a million things / I'm out the trap, I can sell anything / I wish I would allow myself to hear this old dream

Leo'ism: Young Thug is known for his eccentricities, controversies and innovations. He is insanely talented and popular, with some heralding him as a legend while others fixate on his potential to get to such a revered status. Regardless of where the pendulum swings, Young Thug is a dynamic artist, with his braggadocio often more prevalent than his introspection. This song, however, reminds fans that even someone as quirky, carefree and unconventional as Thugger is, he can still humbly find solace in recognizing and celebrating how far he's come.

As seen on Revolt.tv.

Each One, Teach One I An ode to the marketing genius of Megan Thee Stallion's "Hot Girl Summer"

As KRS-One articulated throughout his catalog and in his many teachings, "Rap is something you do, hip hop is something you live." As the culture continues to evolve today, many feel it's not only important, but vital to preserve and honor the fundamental elements: Graffiti, emceeing, breakdancing, deejaying and knowledge. This column called "Each One, Teach One" aims to do exactly that. It will highlight various lessons that can be passed between new and old generations alike.

When Twitter user @oddiebabi96 pointed out that Megan Thee Stallion must be tired from having to give out a new meaning to explain what a "hot girl" is every single day, the fast-rising rapper felt that.

At this point and since its conception, the magical phrase, "Hot Girl Summer" has been blessed by the algorithm in terms of visibility and popularity and has also found its way embedded into the fabric of our mainstream pop culture. It almost doesn't even make sense to tailor these next couple of paragraphs to inform the uninitiated or unaware; but for the sake of being thorough and providing context, here goes.

Megan Thee Stallion is an emerging 24-year-old rapper from Houston, Texas who is not only very talented and deserving of all the successes coming her way but is also an undeniable breath of fresh air when it comes to representing women in hip hop. She released her first full-length album Fever back in May, where she authoritatively declares herself as "thee hot girl" right on the project's artwork itself. The fitting descriptor stems from her nicknames, "H-Town Hottie and "Hot Girl Meg," which also have served as a springboard inspiration for knighting her burgeoning fanbase as the "hotties." The concept continued to have legs as one of the album's standout cuts, "Cash Shit," included the opening mood-setting disclaimer: "real hot girl shit."

From there, the buzz-worthy energy behind the "hot girl" key words made its way onto social media and went on to experience viral acclaim. Twitter user @sweetliketeaaa helped catapult the phrase's transition into a ripening meme, posting a series of photos of herself with the caption, "I heard it's a hot girl summer." Like wildfire, the internet caught on instantly and began posting similar sentiments, until eventually it even appeared on social media accounts for large corporations such as Wendy's, Forever 21, Maybelline and even Duolingo.

In other words, the staying power of those three words is what a marketing professional's dreams are made of. "Hot Girl Summer" is simple but still ambiguous enough to get people talking, and in this case, even arguing on Twitter about what it even means in the first place, therefore fueling the movement even further. It makes an impact on a multitude of levels, from empowering those on an individual scale who find it to be a necessary confidence boost in something as straightforward as an Instagram caption to helping mainstream brands feel connected to a critical cultural moment, one that is rooted in rap and individuality no less. As pointed out by NPR's Sidney Madden, "Hot Girl Summer" has since gone on to evolve into more of a lifestyle and a manifesto than it is solely a meme. And above all, when utilized correctly, it introduces a new audience to its creator, helping propel Megan Thee Stallion's career and notoriety to new heights.

Judging from a rudimentary Twitter search, Megan herself first used the phrase in April 2018, an early indication of how she's been taking ownership of her artistry and career since before the spotlight was shining on her like it is now. However, now that it is undeniably a "Hot Girl Summer" and brands have begun capitalizing off the cultural trend, Megan is also taking action to both protect and monetize the catchphrase. As reported by Billboard, she is currently in the process of working to trademark "Hot Girl Summer," a similar motion that Cardi Battempted with "Okurrr." If approved, the trademark filing will cover merchandise specifically for products such as hoodies, T-shirts and sportswear.

Unfortunately, as Cardi learned firsthand, it is ultimately up to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), who ended up denying her recent motion to trademark the lucrative phrase; the phrase that has become synonymous with her personal brand and was featured in her monumental Pepsi commercial that aired during the Super Bowl. The USPTO refused the Bronx rapper and entertainer's application back in May, citing that the word "okurrr" is "a commonplace term, message, or expression widely used by a variety of sources that merely conveys an ordinary, familiar, well-recognized concept or sentiment," while also noting that the expression is "commonly used in the drag community and by celebrities" and therefore consumers would not "perceive it as a mark identifying the source of applicant's goods and/or services but rather as only conveying an informational message."

Although the two trademark applications are not identical by any means and a verdict has not yet been determined in Megan's trademark filing, both showcase how women of color indisputably drive culture forward and exert a powerful influence on marketing as a result. To say the least, these women deserve not only to be credited but also deserve to be properly compensated for their cultural contributions. Like many cultural trends that originate with Black women, many brands and companies capitalize off the marketing and advertorial momentum behind these movements, profiting in ways that the original creators are unable to themselves.

As brands like Spotify aim to positively highlight "Hot Girl Summer" in an authentic way such as by giving Megan (and Future, because ugh but sure) her own official branded playlist, others such as Forever 21 have faced backlash for lazily and haphazardly appropriating the phrase. An email blast sent in mid-July utilized "Hot Girl Summa" in its subject line, prompting fans to urge Megan on Twitter to file a trademark as soon as possible in response.

While truly taking ownership can prove to be more difficult in practice than in theory, Megan Thee Stallion is pushing forward and handling her business accordingly, even planning to release a "Hot Girl Summer" anthem before the summer is out because "it's only right." As the catchphrase continues to trickle into every facet of culture and, in the words of Lil Nas X, "ride 'til it can't no more," Megan continues to embody the uplifting mantra, explaining how it is an inclusive, gender-neutral term that can be enjoyed by all, even those who are choosing to use it ironically or subversively.

In bonafide hot girl fashion, Meg excitedly gave her own interpretation during an interview with The Root, saying, "It's just basically about women — and men — just being unapologetically them, just having a good-ass time, hyping up your friends, doing you, not giving a damn about what nobody got to say about it. You definitely have to be a person that can be the life of the party, and, y'know, a bad bitch."

After all, liberation comes in unapologetically speaking truth to power, and when it comes to "Hot Girl Summer," that mindset is all that's needed. The rest doesn't matter. Thank you, Megan Thee Stallion, I'm still not sure we deserve you.

Published on REVOLT TV here.

#repost: Each One, Teach One I How Vic Mensa is raising awareness through activism-driven art

Vic Mensa's artistry, much like how he divides his time on a daily basis, is very intentional. While he's no stranger to working late nights and getting up early mornings, this past Thursday (June 20) wasn't because of a late night in the studio or an early flight to catch for a tour stop. He instead, found himself meeting a production crew outside of his home in Los Angeles. Mensa may have technically been running on four hours of sleep or up late from an acting class running into the night before. But he was focused, calm and curiously animate when I first shook his hand at that ungodly hour.

The itinerary for the day ahead, full of activations coinciding with World Refugee Day, was one that further reinforced why such a demanding schedule is more than worth it to him. At this point in his career, Mensa has found his voice, his mission and, his purpose; three invaluable cornerstones that are shaping his legacy one dedicated creative act at a time. While we all have the same 24 hours, Mensa is making sure none of his go to waste. Even if that means catching up on sleep in hourlong pockets, while riding in a minivan on his way to Mexico, all before 7 AM hit.

Having celebrated his birthday weeks prior to his hometown of Chicago, the freshly minted 26-year-old's first trip across the border wasn't able to make his way to the beach or to wander the streets as a bright-eyed tourist on vacation. Such thoughts didn't even cross his mind, with his dedication to his activism a sentiment that was further enforced when a fan recognized him at the border and asked him what he was doing in Mexico in the first place.

Mensa was kind, explaining the initiative and his intention for the day to the fan, whose demeanor flipped in reaction to hearing a response he wasn't anticipating from a celebrity figure he ran into randomly in public. However, as Mensa learned firsthand, the gravity of the magnitude of the situation is hard to escape in Tijuana once you open your eyes to it, even as the plethora of advertisements for inexpensive prescription drugs and specialty tequila do their best to push the humanitarian crisis back into the shadows in which it operates.

On World Refugee Day, Mensa partnered with Revolve Impact, an award-winning movement building creative agency, to meet with various nonprofits working tirelessly in Tijuana and learn more about what is happening at the southern U.S. border. In addition to learning more about the work of community nonprofits, Al Otro Lado, Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), Haitian Bridge Alliance, [Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans - San Diego (PANASD)] (https://www.panasd.org/) and Pillars of the Community, Mensa gave a guerrilla-style performance of his latest song, "Camp America;" a political anthem that doubles as the introduction of his alternative rock/rap band, 93 Punx.

In the provocative music video, Mensa condemns Donald Trump's immigration policy. Specifically calling out ICE director Matthew Albence for his comments likening ICE detention centers to "summer camps." During the accompanying visual, Mensa casts white children, as opposed to minority children, and places them in cages as they outwardly celebrate while they are subjected to torture and forced to drink out of toilets.

"Sometimes people will ask me, 'Why are you talking about all of this?'" he remarked. "With something like 'Camp America,' I really try to play a line (between the serious subject matter and listenability of the song). It's something that makes me dance every time I listen to it, but it takes a very heavy turn when you understand it and when you see the visual. It's like, man, the reason I talk about the things I do in my music is because those are the things that I talk about in my life. Those are the things I care about."

The political satire is a tongue-and-cheek interpretation of actual occurrences reported from the detention centers. This makes a statement about how disproportionate the treatment of migrants would be if those directly being impacted by the immigration crisis at the border weren't children of color, showing how absurd the claim is that these centers are less like prisons and more like summer camp.

"Breitbart and a bunch of other right-wing outlets wrote about (Camp America), they were mad I put the white kids in cages," Mensa reflected. "I think when Breitbart starts hating on you--my dad told me this too--that means that you've made it."

What separates Mensa from others is his dedication to elevating his advocacy through his art by following up his creative expression with action, something he refers to as a "necessary" part of the process. Throughout his burgeoning career, Mensa has helped spearhead several campaigns in his hometown of Chicago, including raising money to aid homeless people through his SaveMoneySaveLife foundation, as well as has protested against police brutality and racial inequality.

"When you look at the inner workings or the behind-the-scenes of organizations such as CoreCivic or GEO Group, the ones who operate these immigrant detention centers, you see they also operate private state prisons full of Black men," Mensa explained. "They operate prisons in Palestine to illegally detain political prisoners. It's all related. It's all connected. Just follow the paper trail and you find out that it's the same people. So, that's why I feel like… action is necessary."

After spending hours with representatives from the nonprofit groups and discussing the complicated issues at hand, the Roc Nation artist and his team traveled back to San Diego, making a strategic pitstop in front of the Otay Mesa Immigrant Prison. Mensa jumped on the back of a flatbed truck with members from his band--fully aware that while the street was public property, the police could be called at any moment. He then erupted into a powerful performance of "Camp America" and another track off the upcoming 93 Punx album.

With security vans from the controversial CoreCivic-owned private prison circling the parking lot as Mensa's potent lyrics poured out of the portable speakers, it was hard not to imagine how the politically charged songs pierced through the presumably tense silence and fear found on the other side of the concrete walls housing thousands of adults and their children, hopefully bringing a message of hope and reassurance that their experiences won't go unnoticed for much longer.

"It can be discouraging. It can be overwhelming," Mensa says, touching on his decision to continue placing activism at the forefront of his artistry. "But that's where courage comes in. Courage and resilience."

In addition to raising awareness through his art, Vic Mensa is also currently raising money to help ensure the safety and freedom of unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children in the United States through his Camp America t-shirt, with proceeds going to Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). See more information here.

published on revolt.tv here.