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resident hip-hop cynic


Well, that seems to be my official title now. Am I the cynic though?

Hypertext Webster Gateway: "cynic"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Cynic \Cyn"ic\ (s[i^]n"[i^]k), Cynical \Cyn"ic*al\ (-[i^]*kal), a. [L. cynicus of the sect of Cynics, fr. Gr. kyniko`s, prop., dog-like, fr. ky`wn, kyno`s, dog. See {Hound}.] 1. Having the qualities of a surly dog; snarling; captious; currish.

The qualities of a surly dog? I can dig it. I like growling. In fact, I think DMX bit MY style.

2. Pertaining to the Dog Star; as, the cynic, or Sothic, year; cynic cycle.

The Dog Star? Beam me up to the mothership, George!

3. Belonging to the sect of philosophers called cynics; having the qualities of a cynic; pertaining to, or resembling, the doctrines of the cynics.

OK a cynic is part of a crew rollin deep with cynics...

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Cynic \Cyn"ic\, n. (Gr. Philos) 2. One who holds views resembling those of the Cynics; a snarler; a misanthrope; particularly, a person who believes that human conduct is directed, either consciously or unconsciously, wholly >by self-interest or self-indulgence, and that appearances to the contrary are superficial and untrustworthy.

Word, now that's the definition I was looking for: a cynical person believes no human being ever does anything unless motivated by money. A person believes claims of moral integrity are invented fantasy. I guess you could say I'm a cynic -- cause I know that's how people really do be living: "I'll do this, but what's in it for me?" Life is BOUND to make you cynical about politicians if nothing else. Flip it though: I run a website for which I make LESS than nothing. Barely break even. You would think a purebred cynic would feel that HE shouldn't do something for nothing; since nobody else does. Yet I do it all the time. Ah well, the cynic breaks his own rule.

From WordNet (r) 1.6 (wn)

cynic n : someone who is critical of the motives of others [syn: {faultfinder}]

Of course I'm critical of the motives of The Source, MTV, Rolling Stone magazine. Do they really care about hip-hop or are they just making a quick buck on our music and culture? The cynic would say the latter. I think I'm right too; history prevails upon the fact that the media prey on any culture deriving from African-American roots and milk it for all it's worth -- those even more cynical than ME would suggest that's because Euro-American culture is NON-EXISTENT.

OK here's the point of this long post: would you rather be cynical in

The copyright of the article resident hip-hop cynic in Hip-Hop Music & Culture is owned by Steve Juon. Permission to republish resident hip-hop cynic in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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