good to see this thread finally come back on track.
i can only speak on what i saw so whatever happened after about an hr in doesnt technically exist in my opinion.
first off, not to knock either party, but knowing what ive seen from both internet personalities, this phone call was a dead end from jump. not because black men cant get along. not cuz people who live/lived a street life cant communicate with people who havent been there. not because if any of that.
Here's a bit of background on both Tommy and AP9. Both are black men who have been fortunate to live past their adolescence. Both are black men who, thru every choice they've ever made, have managed to attain a decent lifestyle for them and theirs. Both have an influence on a good number of young people who are looking for something to look up to. Both are 100% human and strive to be exactly who they are as people, down to the core. When both men post things for the internet, lots of people take heed for various reasons.
Now let's get back to the topic at hand. Tommy, who knew nothing about the Jacka prior to his death, came across this news and saw it fit to report. Based on what he saw, he saw this as a catalyst of what could still be an intelligent discussion. Are Blacks the biggest threat to black existence? From what I've seen so far, that question hasn't been touched on yet.
Yes Tommy got a few details wrong. Yes Tommy did reach when he put the Jacka's name into the destructive nature of rap culture as a whole. If you know about the Jacka as you should, you knew his overall message. But let's face it. Most people outside the Bay Area and another regions that know us well don't know shit about us and how some of us really move.
From the root of it all, Tommy was looking for Ap9 to school him on what the Jacka really is to his fans and how his closest friends are handling the situation. Not handling as in more violence,but handling as in what they can teach people about the realities of what they overcame and how not to have to live that same life or meet a similar demise. Granted the poor context of it all, AP9 did highlight some of the good that they do for different communities.
As for AP9, we know enough from his presence on different sites how he moves. Honestly, I dont know as much as i should about him but I do always know how he feels with what he says and how he says it. That is a characteristic of a great communicator. For an artist, especially a rapper, knowing how to express your true feelings is essential. Im positive that the more I get into his music, the more i can understand his overall message as well.
This interview could have gone a lot better if it happened later; at least a month from when it did. Everything is still too fresh for this particular event to really be discussed.
From the start, Tommy's energy was too upbeat. If anything, the call should have been started on a somber note, with Tommy paying respect and having AP9 give a formal introduction. AP9 didnt help much neither. From what Ive seen, his main intention was to call in and basically go bad on Tommy for not doing his homework first before saying anything. We can't blame AP9 for that being the reason but it shouldn't have been executed like that.
All we should have seen is AP9 give Tommy the game on who the Jacka really is to his fans, how the situation was unfortunate and how that could have been anyone, and whether Blacks are the biggest threats to their existence. After that, they both could have taken calls and had an honest discussion with the people regarding stuff related to the topic at hand.
But this aint Utpoia, just my 2 cents.