The dollar just ain’t what it used to be since Bush has been in office and if you’re saying what I’m saying about gasoline prices….”this is the highest price I’ve ever paid to fill up my car”…then you are right on the money as gasoline prices rose again to a record high of $3.32 per gallon according to AAA.

Lets put somethings in perspective:

• Gasoline prices are at an all-time high
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• The housing market is in a downward slump with no relief in sight
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• In March over 80,000 jobs were cut in the US…highest amount in 5 years
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• Food prices increased 4% in 2007 and is expect to increase another 4% this year…highest increases since 1990
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• Oyea….did I mention that we are still at war!
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Our President may not want to admit it…but it sounds like we’re in a recession to me!

Tunette from Texas asked:

What’s up with the rap game? Sales are at a record low. No one’s buying albums anymore… a lot of rappers aren’t even doing albums anymore… all I see are a couple of hot singles, a lot of ring tones and too many mix tapes… what do you think the problem is? Is it just bootlegging music from the internet or is there something more to it? I remember a time where people bought two copies of a Tupac CD, one to listen to in the car or in the house and one to keep sealed and stored away… are those memories that are meant to just remain in our past or what?

JohnJohnSaid:

I think you speak for at least 90% of hip-hop fans around the world. So many are asking what happened and how can we fix it. There are probably 10 major issues I can point out in regards to rap but, for the sake of time, I’m going to focus on one issue in particular. Record sales are down across all music genres, but I believe rap is struggling more than other genres because of talent or the lack thereof. Let’s be honest, rap today is probably the one art form where you can have little or no talent and still have your music played all over the world thru television, internet and radio.

A lot of artists speak about being on “the grind” and how their hustle has created their success. I’m all for hard work and sacrifice but there is something to be said about having talent. For instance you could be the hardest working person in the world but without talent you couldn’t be a top selling country singer, you couldn’t be an elite professional athlete, you couldn’t be an award winning author or dancer. But in hip-hop, not only could you make it in the industry with little or no talent; you can win awards and be considered among the best at what you do.

Think about this, we watch our favorite sporting events because professional athletes have gifts and talents that we respect and admire. We pay to see our favorite actor or actress on the big screen because he or she has gifts or talents that we enjoy and appreciate. How can I respect and admire a rapper when my nephew can rap just as well or better than the artist on the radio. There is a fundamental flaw in the hip-hop system that rewards mediocrity. There are many artists that can release a hit single with a “tight beat”, but you can’t expect people to continue to love and support an artist based on one song. An artist should be measured by his or her complete body of work.

So to answer your question, things will get worse before they get better. The good news is, just like all bad things, this cycle in hip-hop will pass. I believe that the day will come when hip-hop listeners will no longer tolerate mediocre artists, and rappers won’t be able to hide behind a “tight beat”. Only then will we see a change. But don’t worry; the storm of change is coming and you can tell everybody that JohnJohnSaidIt.

If you have a question you would like to ask me, please feel free to send it to and I will pick at least one question per week to answer.

The rumor mill in Hollywood is saying that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will co-star in the new G.I. Joe movie set to release in the summer of 2009….I like the Rock….he’s the best non-acting actor in Hollywood….but, whats up with that cow-skin vest?

Word around the internet world is that a new celebrity sex-tape involving Shakira has been leaked….hmmmmmmm…..I guess its only a coincidence that this supposed sex-tape was leaked just as her new album is about to be released…..so much for the naked truth.

April 4, 1968….Its been 40 years since Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis….Its amazing how the power of spoken word accompanied with action can change a nation for generations to come….I wonder what Dr. King would think of some of the civil rights issues we face today….illegal aliens coming from Mexico….gay couples marriage….reverse racism against Whites…and last but certainly not least; the state of Black America.

Is Dr. King rolling-over in his grave…..Let me know what ya think.

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Bobby Brown had the nerve to claim, in his new book, that he never used cocaine before he married Whitney Houston and she is responsible for some of his previous bouts with drugs…thats the same thing as saying…”I became a crack addict…but she was a crack addict first”….so sad.

Bobby…I don’t want to read your book for a number of reasons but primarily because I know you didn’t write it…you’ve lost too many brain cells…..my advice is that you just let it go….but thats your prerogative.

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Sources are saying that Jay-Z will join the likes of Madonna and U2 by signing a multi-million dollar contract with Live Nation that will allow him to create his own record label. The deal is estimated to expand over 10 years….Won’t Jay-Z be like 72 years old by the time this contract expires

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Mimi….the artist formerly known as Mariah Carey, has broken one of the long held records by Elvis as her new single “Touch My Body” reached No.1 on the charts….this achievement marks her record breaking 18th No.1 single in a career that has been “interesting” to say the least.

Mariah may have her issues…but to break Elvis’s record is an impressive feat…..much props to that crazy girl!

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Ya’ll know I have love for Janet….but something about that waist-line just ain’t right.

Who says reality shows are worthless…..Day 26 ,of “Making the Band” fame, topped the Billboard charts with the No. 1 album this week….I must admit that I love watchin’ that show….I really look forward to seeing who will have the next breakout of “B*tchAssness”.

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