It’s impossible to find a version on YouTube that will let you embed it.  Looks like Universal got this on lock. They don’t want this message getting out I guess.

This song and video called, 'What They Do' is from my favorite album by The Roots called Illadelph Halflife. People may disagree about whether this is their best album but who cares? When this album came out in 1996, I was 14, a freshmen in high school with my first signs of peachfuzz, an utter pubescent mess. Seeing this video on Rap City, when Rap City was actually dope, made me go out and buy it with saved up lunch money my mom broke me off with before I ever had a job. Illadelph Halflife was really a sign of the times but in hindsight the best part about this particular song (which was the first single by the way) is that The Roots had the marbles to speak on some shit that nobody in the main stream would. Furthermore this song displays an alarming degree of foresight as to what the game was on it’s way to becoming. Who is to say whether they knew Hip Hop would get to this degree of ignorance or glorification of wealth and whores? I mean let’s be honest, we all saw it coming when it was, and when it did we watched it happen before our eyes and didn’t do dick to stop it.  It’s not like we had the power to anyway.  Hip Hop is like Frankenstein in that respect.  Whether or not The Roots knew it would come to this, the message still stands over 10 years later…never do what they do.

I always liked Vice magazine 'do’s and don’ts' issues and thought to myself, why not do my own little 'do’s and don’ts' section on Definitive Jux?  These 'do’s and don’ts' are strictly Hip Hop related so ease back rude boy/girl and peep game real quick.

Do:  The fucking knowledge if you want to be a rapper.  If you don’t know who Main Source is or never heard Breaking Atoms and you are a “rapper” you are what we call “suspect.”

Don’t:  Wear a gold rope in 2008.  It’s really not a good look unless you are Ghostface or Slick Rick?

Do:  Get yourself a copy of Funcrusher + by Company Flow.  It’s like “The Big Bang” for a lot of the shit you, in particular, might listen to.

Don’t: Don’t act hard or make it a point to act hard in public.  Be cool.  No one needs to be convinced anyone is “Gangsta,” especially when there is nothing posing a threat.

Do:  Go to shows.  It seems as though going to shows is almost a pastime for Hip Hop.  Where the fuck is everyone?  Go out and support the artist.  You can still drink at the show.  It’s the least you can do if you are going to download the album.  

Don’t:  Go to a show and try selling yourself/CD in the crowd while someone is performing.  That’s just rude.

Do:  Be original.  It’s what Hip Hop was all about.  Keyword - was.  

Don’t:  Reference your chick or dude as “my boo.”  That term of endearment just sucks.

Do:  Encourage kids to do art.  It’s bad enough schools are cutting out programs, if you have kids or know kids, show’em some cool artwork like B-Boying, DJing, MCing, and Graffiti, those things make for a great start.  Just try not to let them grow up to become  a pro at any one of them in particular.

Don’t: Believe the hype. Most everything that gains instant momentum and buzz does not hold up to any of it. I find this to occur in my life mainly with movies and music aside from a few exceptions.  Make decisions based on your own observations, not other people’s opinions.

Do:  Buy CD’s!  Buy the ones by artists you love. Music and CD packaging is art which lasts forever.  Weed and alcohol isn’t and doesn’t.

Don’t:  Use the words “lyrics” or “lyrical” or “lyrically” in your verses.  It’s very ’96.

Do:  Us all a favor and stop the blood clot lyin’!  Pathological liars are see through and it’s even worse when rappers do it in their songs.  Is it me or is everyone oblivious to the fact that rap (yes even some indie rap) constitutes of just lies upon lies? 

Don’t: Put rims on a piece of shit car.

Do: Give credit where credit is due, if someone is ripping or ripped it, let’em know!

Don’t:  Be misogynistic towards women in songs.  I’ve made the mistake in the past as an ignorant kid and admittedly own up to it but never no more.  All growns up now.  We come from them.  Respect that.

Do: Visit me at myspace.com/yakballz.

Don’t: Try to promote your shit on my page.