July 26, 2018by CheatsMovementNo CommentsRVA

#WESEEIT DAILY: JUNE 26, 2018 – MORE CRIME IN SCOTT’S ADDITION, ANOTHER TRAGIC FOOTBALL DEATH, THE BEST BBQ IN VA, THE NEW RVA MAG, & NEW LEGACY TEE ON A COVER

As the great Rakim would say, “it’s been a long time/I shouldn’t have left you/without a dope rhyme to step to”

Yes, I’ve been gone all week but I’ve been doing things man and I’m back now with a new #WESEEIT Daily for you to step to. And later today another special editorial – this one about Black on Black Criticism.

If you like this commentary, make sure you let other people know about it. The struggle to gain some traction in this game is real and your support is appreciated.

So here we go.

FIRST UP:

CBS6 has the story: Richmond Police officers are investigating a stabbing reported in Richmond’s Scott’s Addition neighborhood. This one is closer to the Urban Farm House coffee shop. Of course, this is following the quadruple shooting at Infuzion that I wrote about last week, which ultimately lead to the closing of that spot. Now, I know what you’re thinking, I rightfully could jump on this story and say something like: see, crime happens just about everywhere there are a lot of people, a growing population, a lot of beer drinkers and less police presence, but I won’t because that is exactly what the person that CBS6 interviewed for their story said: “Lewis said he was not surprised by the violence. He believed it may be symptomatic of deeper problems in the area. ‘There’s just underlying issues that haven’t been solved, even if there’s a lot of fresh layers of paint on the buildings,”‘Lewis said. He said he’s watched this part of the city grow but doesn’t think the police presence has grown with it. ‘The amount of people out drinking and wandering around is just kind of a recipe for disaster in my opinion,’ he said.”

Let that just sink in. I wonder establishments ABC will be investigating following this situation. My guess is none. I’ll wrap this part up by saying, I’m not against breweries in Scott’s – Hell, I’m MCing the 1 year anniversary of Vasen Brewery this Saturday and I hope you come out and have a great time with me; they are a great establishment and there are many in Scott’s Addition. My point is you have to take a step back and see things for what they are. There is a narrative to the RVA vs. Richmond situation and it’s not fictional. Certain elements of urban culture are not in the landscape of the future RVA and they will be pushed out if we allow them to be.

MOVING ON:

Tragic news – again reported by CBS6 (S/O Scott Wise – CBS6 is on it): Orange County High School football standout Darius Minor died July 24 after he collapsed during a preseason football workout at the University of Maine, according to a university spokesperson. Minor, 18, was a first-year student at the university and was set to play defensive back on the school’s football team.  He was named All-Central Virginia first-team wide receiver and second-team defensive back in 2017.

This happens every year at either the youth, high school, or college level. I don’t know enough about this story to assume Darius was overworked or overheated – that may not have been the case for him – especially in Maine BUT football has a problem that I don’t know if it will be able to see itself out of. The top levels are CTE and players behaving badly but underneath it is tragic deaths like this and youth kids getting paralyzed from hits. I played youth football and I love the game, but I can’t ignore that fact that football is a very dangerous game and I have a hard time understanding where this will end. Again, I don’t know anything about the tragic passing of Darius Minor but I do know that the most popular sport in America is at a crossroads.

MOVING ON:

Food & Wine Magazine has named Richmond’s ZZQ the best barbeque in the State of VA and one of the best barbeque spots in the country. I haven’t been but will be making a stop soon.

MOVING ON:

A new issue of RVA Mag has hit the stands and it features a great article from my homie Hip Hop Henry about Virginia Union’s Faith & Hip-Hop Fellow Ricky Parker (AKA Ricky Dreamer) and all he has done on campus to explore faith and hip-hop. The article features Southside’s own Radio B. It’s a great read. Also, the homie, the creator and host of Race Capitol on WRIR, Chelsea Higgins Wise wrote a piece about creatives in Manchester and that is definitely worth a read too.

Quick Hit:

BET has canceled The Rundown with Robin Thede after one season. “Despite breaking ground as the only African-American late-night host, Robin Thede’s BET show The Rundown will unfortunately not be returning for another season.” Call me a hypocrite because I don’t watch the show but BET is pretty much worthless. Robin was the only black female host of late-night TV. If BET can’t give her a longer time-period to grow her show, what good are they really?

IN CONCLUSION:

There are early covers of Richmond Magazine’s Best and Worst Issue floating around IG. And I noticed a few things awesome with the cover. The first is personal: Lucy Dacus, who if you don’t know, is one of the fastest growing stars in indie rock music (Maggie Walker grad – now signed to Matador Records) is sporting a New Legacy Tee on the cover of the magazine. Mind Blown with that alone. S/O Mecca Williams, just amazing person who is leading Style and Blackness in Richmond, and of course, Mayor Stoney. #WESEEIT

 

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Written by CheatsMovement
The intersection of hip-hop culture, politics, and community activity.