So I was in a store (no names will be mentioned) that I'm in from time to time downtown TO the other day. I was telling the proprietor about the Arsonists / D-Sisive / Unknown Misery show from last week, and asked him if he was going to the Bahamadia / Mathematik show this weekend. His response, "I can't fuck with that man. I only go where the bitches are."

What the fuck? Now, I can understand wanting women to be wherever you're going, especially when you're single, but not going to what promises to be a live show because there won't be any "bitches" there? Another quote from the same conversation, "I don't even care about the music, as long as the bitches are there shaking their asses."

I'm not even going to address the neanderthal, misogynistic aspects of these comments, because their ignorance speaks for itself. What I want to address instead is the attitude that the music doesn't matter. Most of you reading this newsletter do so because you care about the music and the artform. I have trouble understanding how someone could "not care about the music." Almost everyone I know has distinct preferences in terms of music. I know I'm a little more militant about it than most, but come on. This apathy and lack of support is the entire reason hip-hop is in danger right now.

Incredible artists, in town for a single show, get no love. Relatively speaking, despite the low promotion, there was quite the crowd there, and they were loud and loved the show. However, as long as the support base remains this small, and close-minded people are not exposed to these livest of live shows, it will be very difficult for them to get the bigger venues they deserve. When are we going to see Bahamadia playing the Molson Amphitheater, or the Arsonists burning down Canada's Wonderland? The short answer is never, at least until the people who really do care about the music - us, support the artists who deserve our support and stop following the shaking asses.

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