#Also THESE ARE FICTION! Made em up. Some are based on legends or personal experiences but they aren't completely true stories

[thatoneluckybee]

Texas Gothic*

The coyotes often howl at night when the moon begins to rise. Some nights, a human voice cries out with them.

Sometimes the wind will silence and the moonlight will dim as something stands at your window. It's always gone by the time the sun starts to rise.

Every night, every clock in the house stops at exactly 12 AM and must be wound up again.

Behind the fence, a lone pair of Mary Jane shoes sits polished beneath an unused noose hanging from a tree. They have been there longer than you have.

People sing on the banks of the creek. You can sing along with them, but you must not follow.

If it snows, small footsteps might show up in the snow. They won't hurt you. They died before they saw snowfall, they just want to play.

A hen disappears from the chicken coop, leaving only scattered feathers behind. The next morning her clean skull is on the doormat.

The same couple has lived next door for at least a decade. You have never spoken to them and you don't know their names, but sometimes you can catch them watching you in your garden. You watch them, too.

*yeah it's not actually "gothic" as in the style of literature and art, just the unexplainable day-to-day you know better than to question :)

[entergamingxp]

Celebrating Blackness in Gaming’s Past, Present, and Future

June 9, 2020 2:30 PM EST

During times like this, it’s especially important to highlight and celebrate black heroes, casts, and developers themselves in video games.

With what’s been happening in the past and especially in light of current events, it’s important to reflect on the video games that have centered or been inclusive of black characters, as well as games led by black developers. Representation has been an ongoing conversation in video games (and other forms of media), and the desire for new stories told from the perspectives of diverse voices and backgrounds has only continued to grow.

In recent years, more games have been releasing that highlight black characters or have been created by black developers. A large chunk of those games are created by independent developers, who have far more creative freedom to craft the kinds of characters they would like to see in games. Even rarer are games led and published by black developers, with many of these narratives still being told by white creators.

But compared with the amount of white protagonists (and all or mostly white casts) that we often see in video games, there’s still so much work to be done. As we’ve been seeing in the past week, plenty of black creatives have been given the long-due spotlight to showcase their talents as opportunities from companies are finally opening up. I truly hope this will lead seeing more blackness reflected in both the games that we play and their internal development talent.

That said, there have been notable black characters and stories told through video games that are worth highlighting. Below, here are some of the most prominent games of the past several years that either star a black character, have a significant (as in mostly) black cast, or were made by black developers.

Telltale’s The Walking Dead

Many fans were enraptured by the first season of The Walking Dead, which introduced two lead black characters: Lee Everett and Clementine. Their relationship and overall story arc–backed by some seriously powerful writing–gave birth to one of the greatest narratives in gaming I have ever witnessed. After Lee’s death, seeing Clementine grow far too fast as she fights for survival while reconciling her perceived role in her father figure’s death is moving and harrowing. Most of all, Telltale’s The Walking Dead creates a sense of constant urgency and dread that completely sucks in the player and doesn’t let go until the very end.

Mafia III

Set in 1968 New Orleans, Mafia III follows the exploits of Lincoln Clay, a war veteran who aims to build a new criminal organization while seeking revenge on the Italian mob. The game holds an extremely uncompromising gaze at systematic racism while allowing for the black protagonist to empower himself and take back power from those who would strive to oppress him. The characters are compelling, and the setting and story of Mafia III offers a rare gaming experience that interweaves the experience of actual blackness in its narrative.

Chromatose

Chromatose is an upcoming indie title by a black lead developer going by the moniker Akabaka. A visual novel and JRPG blend influenced by Persona 3, it follows the protagonist as he awakens in a strange nightmare after a fall that should have ended his life. Amnesiac strangers are also trapped in this world for their own unique reasons. The haunting visuals filled with strong color contrast convey a tale filled with danger at every turn. Between a captivating and diverse cast, excellent monster designs, and a fast-paced battle system, Chromatose seems to be shaping up to be a gem of an indie game.

Watch Dogs 2

Watch Dogs 2 takes place in a fictionalized version of the San Francisco Bay Area and stars Marcus Holloway, a hacker who works with the hacking group DedSec to take down the city’s advanced surveillance system known as ctOS. Having the black hacker Marcus taking the lead role in this game adds a unique perspective on the plot that deals with fighting back in a system designed to strip away power and silence its citizens. Seeing him fight tirelessly and slowly gain traction against the city government is incredibly empowering and strengthens the overall narrative even more.

Murder By Numbers

For fans of the excellent Ace Attorney series comes an indie game with a similar approach to storytelling, over-the-top characters, and investigative gameplay. Murder By Numbers takes place in 1996 Los Angeles and stars Honor Mizrahi, an actress on a hit TV detective show. Unfortunately, her boss winds up dead just moments after he fires her and she finds herself forced to investigate his murder in order to secure her own innocence. Putting aside the harsh reality of black women being kicked out of their own careers, the game does well in emulating the fun and often ridiculous style of Ace Attorney while establishing its own charm. Much of that charm is attributed to Honor herself, who’s plucky, determined, and resourceful, as well as her interactions with her robot sidekick SCOUT. Murder By Numbers is a fun and lighthearted foray complimented by Picross-style puzzles that’s worth checking out.

Apex Legends

Seemingly (but officially unconfirmed) in response to the Overwatch controversy surrounding its lack of playable black women, the free-to-play Battle Royale game launched with two black women characters: Anita Williams and Ajay Che. Not only that, but these two were and still are front and center in the marketing of Apex Legends, which is very notable. While the game is light on lore (as games in this genre tend to be), both of them have very separate upbringings, personalities, and combat proficiencies. From what we know of them, they have well-fleshed-out motivations for why they fight. And I really love the touch that Ajay is a healer, an archetype you don’t tend to see associated with black women characters.

She Dreams Elsewhere

This indie title is a true rarity in that the entire party is black and stars a black woman protagonist. She Dreams Elsewhere is a surrealist adventure RPG where you traverse protagonist Thalia’s dreamscape along with her friends. She must come to grips with and confront her mental health conditions, and escape from a never-ending coma. One part Undertale, one part Persona, it’s a game made beautiful through its retro simplicity and haunting soundtrack that combines black music such as R&B, funk, and jazz. Not only do we have that level of diversity and culture, but the characters themselves–especially Thalia–are fleshed out and fully-developed. When pitted against the well-designed monsters using abilities grounded in reality, She Dreams Elsewhere truly ups the surrealism surrounding its setting and atmosphere.

EQQO

EQQO is a unique title, in terms of both its passive storytelling and gameplay, as well as the fact that it’s inspired by Ethiopian mythology. This game is the tale of a mother as she weaves a great story of her son born blind yet full of life and love. The puzzle-based exploration and gameplay is presented as a mythological legend slowly unfolding as the mother, playing as the narrator, tells it. Gorgeous orchestrated music complements the visuals in a harmony that gives even more depth to the narrative. Seeing this level of care and detail with a mythology that is rarely represented in gaming gives me hope that the future will bring more games like this one being created and given proper attention.

Cyberpunk 2077

It’s exceedingly rare to find a triple A title’s universe created by a black person, and yet the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 is just that exception. Mike Pondsmith is best known for his work for the publisher R. Talsorian Games, where he developed a majority of the company’s roleplaying game lines. His most recent project is the collaboration between himself and CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk 2077, which takes place in his own Cyberpunk RPG universe. Pondsmith’s involvement in the video game’s development mostly focuses on the game world aspect and mechanics as well as his general input, such as shooting a bulletproof backpack to test just how a bullet would react with it; for implementing in the game properly, of course.

Streets of Rage 4

The triumphant return of the wildly popular 2D side scrolling beat-em-up franchise, Streets of Rage 4 stars a cast almost entirely of black/POC fighters including newcomer Cherry Hunter. Wood Oak City falls under the control of a new crime syndicate led by Mr. X’s children, the Y Twins, who are planning on brainwashing the city with the use of hypnotic music. The plot, while simple, is a great excuse to beat up some mooks and the character designs, animation, and music are phenomenal. Also that’s not to mention that Cherry, Floyd Iraia, and Cherry’s father Adam Hunter are featured very prominently on the cover and the general advertising. It’s great to see a beat-em-up starring so many cool black characters.

Earthnight

A love letter to classic fast-paced 2D platformers (think Sonic the Hedgehog), Earthnight uses the genre to tell a tale of a bleak dragon apocalypse where humans have been exiled to space, forced to live in orbit above the planet. Protagonists Sydney and Stanley team up one day and decide to skydive back to Earth, taking out as many dragons as they can along the way. The 2D animations are breathtaking; everything from the ripples in their clothing, to the fluidity of their general movements, to the colorful and insane monsters that can take up nearly the entire screen are stunning. It’s clear there was a lot of love and effort put into this game. I also need to mention how much I love Sydney’s design and the way she’s front and center in the trailers. How can you beat a game that lets you fight dragons because a little girl and a dude had enough?

Broken Age

Broken Age released back in 2014 and 2015 as two separate acts by Double Fine and starred protagonists Vella Tartine and Shay Volta (played by Masasa Moyo and Elijah Wood, respectively). While initially their narratives are completely separate from each other, as the story unfolds you realize how intertwined they really are. What makes the storytelling so satisfying is that because the protagonists are kept separate for so long, their individual character arcs can develop in a satisfying way without interfering in the overall story. Vella, the young black girl, in particular had a very strong and compelling story worth experiencing. In Broken Age, seeing her deal with traumatic events as she fought back against a seemingly unavoidable force of destruction made for an excellent real-life comparison to black struggle.

Here are some honorable mentions of other games featuring black/POC characters that, though they didn’t make my list, are worth checking out:

Assassin’s Creed Origins

Half-Life: Alyx

Afterparty

Treachery in Beatdown City

Where the Water Tastes Like Wine

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider

Beyond Good and Evil

Remember Me

If you’re looking for more black indie talent, check out this Twitter thread as well as this one. For a huge directory of black game developers and their projects, check out the Black Game Developers website and consider supporting them.

And finally if you’re a Black, Asian, and/or Ethnic minority, Code Coven is offering scholarships for their Intro to Game Making Course, which will be open until June 10, 2020.

Are there any games or developers you know of that deserve a mention? Feel free to sound off in the comments!

June 9, 2020 2:30 PM EST

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/06/celebrating-blackness-in-gamings-past-present-and-future/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=celebrating-blackness-in-gamings-past-present-and-future

[futuristicthingkryptonite]

Elysian Gaming Gmod

Discord servers tagged with Hiring-Staff

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Steam Workshop: Garry's Mod. UPDATE Many Thanks For SligWolf for getting the models into the new format and working, he has been really helpful, I can't thank him enough to get these working again.

💦Want to join a good advertising Server? Well, I've got the right server for you!💦 ❄️🌊FrostFlame Promotion🌊❄️ - 📰Many Self Promotion Channels📰 You can advertise almost anything! We have channels dedicated to advertising! - 📰Many People to Advertise To📰 We have 1000+ Members you can Advertise to! - 📰Booster Perks📰 If you boost the server, you will be allowed to advertise in Premium Self Promotion! - 📰Unlimited Advertising📰 You can advertise your server as much as you want! There is no limit! - 📰Quick Cooldowns📰 We only have 15 minute cooldowns! You can advertise faster and more here than in every other big advertising server! ❄️Tired of seeing the same old servers? Want to join a good advertising server?❄️ 🌊Well look no farther, you’ve come to the right place!🌊

Pastebin.com is the number one paste tool since 2002. Pastebin is a website where you can store text online for a set period of time.

Blood Of The Werewolf, Castle Crashers, Dust: An Elysian Tale, Gmod, Skullgirls, and Undertale Favorite Gaming Platforms ANY.

Community 26

:spades:Welcome To Legend’s Advertising:spades: :globe_with_meridians:We’re a Growing advertising server that is focused on Growing Your Server! :bar_chart:We Offer helpful and friendly staff, Vip Members Roles and a Bunch Of Different channels you can advertise in! including gaming corners We’re Always Hiring Staff And Pms! Join Now to gain members fast!

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╔════���◥◣▼◢◤═════╗ WELCOME TO THE VILLAGE ╚═════◢◤▲◥◣═════╝ ╔ Active community with cool members. ╠ We take user suggestions and feedback. ╠ Fair and down to earth admins. ╠ Always updating the server because we can. ╠ Events such as movie nights, gaming events, and more! ╚ All gaming platforms accepted. 『Rules』 『1. Respect the mods and owners of the server. 2. Do not send NSFW in any of the channels. 3. Do not spam, If you are going to spam do it in spam. 4. Do not ping roles or everyone unnecessarily. 5. Involved in drama? Tell an admin they will do what's best.』 MORE RULES IN SERVER

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Welcome Delaware State Roleplay. We are a newly formed professional roleplay server who are wishing to grow and thrive. We currently don't have many members, and have been a server since November 30, 2020! Every great roleplay server has to start somewhere, and that's why we're here today, hoping to start daily SSU's and maintain a fun, professional atmosphere for our community! Applications are currently open for various ranks within our community, as we are in need of an extraordinary staff team to help us along our journey! We would like the help from experienced members who can open up divisions, and offer more to the wider community. What will Delaware State offer when it gains members? - Active Founders. - Private roleplay server. - Daily server start ups. - Professional roleplay with Some Leniency For Certain Rules. - Giveaways. - Well trained staff team. - Among Us game nights. - Events. - Looking for Partnerships. Divisions - yet to come! Ideas such as K9 Division, FBI, DOT, EMS, etc! Sub-divisions - yet to come! Ideas such as Cafe workers and Postal workers! If you happen to have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to DM any of the three representatives below!

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A server with an fresh community and hiring staff and Looking for partners. We are trying to grow to 100+ members!

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༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ ♛┈⛧┈┈•༶ ��𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚃𝚘 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚 ༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ ♛┈⛧┈┈•༶ 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚? ╰☆╮𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 ★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・ 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚎 ╰☆╮𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴 ╰☆╮𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 ╰☆╮𝘍𝘶𝘯 𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘴 ╰☆╮𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 ╰☆╮𝘓𝘰𝘸 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 ╰☆╮𝘚𝘬𝘺/𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤 ★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★ ＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸!˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊ ★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

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Welcome to Shadow Legends Discord or SLDS! In SLDS, we are a small discord community about chilling, chatting, having fun and advertising! What we offer and do: Giveaways Bot Game points/coins giveaways Emotes/Emoji's Advertising anything (such as youtube channels, discord servers, bots, games, etc! NOTE: There is a 30 minutes cool down!) Music Bots Memes Leveling Points Shop Hiring Staff With these cool amazing features, what are you waiting for? Join us and be our server member!

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Due to our server being inactive we did a slight purge removing all members that havent talked, if your looking for an active community check us out! Hiya, Welcome to Flower Fields, in flower fields you can 🌻~ Make new friends 🌻~ Particapate in Nitro Giveaways and other giveaways 🌻~ We offer a wide variety of reaction roles 🌻~ Active and Non-Toxic Community 🌻~ SFW Server 🌻~ Weekly Nitro Giveaways and often gifts posted in chat

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Hello!We are hiring staff and also please join it would mean alot to us!Anyways thank you for looking at this you are amazing! <3

All Games 71

StreetOutlawsDOJ StreetOutlawsDOJ is a role play server based off of San Andrea’s. Here at SODOJ we strive to preform as professional and be the best that we can possibly be for the fiveM community. We currently have three departments open which include the follow. Blaine County Sheriff’s Office Los Santos Police Department San Andreas State Police San Andreass Fire/Ems Staff team StreetOutlawsDOJ is a vMenu server with structure and discipline set in place to ensure every member of the community has the best experience that any member could ask for. All members of SODOJ are very mature and consist of adults that want to make this server strive to be the best that it can be. Some things you will find in SODOJ - Active Staff - A lot of staff positions open - CAD/MDT - EUP - Clean HUD - Clean Server - Anti Cheat - Custom Civ Cars - Custom Scripts Our discord link is below. https://discord.gg/462neN9

Elysian Gaming Gmod Skin

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We are a new dank Memer community which wants to bring every dank memer lover into a single server and have some fun, we are Oriented Dankers and we provide all of the things provided below. Enjoy your stay with us whever you join ;) Premium Perks Rob & Heist Disabled! Giveaways Other Bots Friendly Staff

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Welcome to Dreamland! Hey there! We are here to cheer you up! What we offer? • Awesome Giveaways • Safe & Fun Community And more! You could find amazing perks of boosting our server too! No! Invite your friends to share this great server!

Community 16

Hello there. This is a PokeTwo/Pokemon based server! We are now hiring moderators, we will be giving away nitro as we grow. We also offer gym battling for badges or becoming one of our gym leaders yourself :D (Elite Four if you beat us all). You can come join here to flex on us. We will be doing more nitro giveaways as we grow to do Pokemon tournaments and whoever wins gets them! You can get your own personal roles. We hope you enjoy our community! Stay safe and have fun!

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G'day, I'm here to tell you about House of Gamers What's this you might say? Well we are a Gaming/Community server where you can enjoy yourself! here's why you should join HOG Gaming Channels & VC's! Advertise your Servers & Social Media! Weekly Giveaways! A place to chillax with other users! Music VC's! [Rythm & MEE6] Friendly Staff And more! We're also looking for Staff! Interested in joining now? GREAT! Head over to House of Gamers to enjoy the listed above!

Community 21

Community 21

𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 ✮ 🎀 𝑔𝒶𝓁𝒶𝓍𝒾𝑒𝓈 🎀 ✮ ✺ ┅ ⑅ ┅ ⑅ ┅ ⑅ ┅ ⑅ ┅ ⑅ ┅ ✺ 🌻Hi! We are finding a community for our server! We are glad if you join our server! We offer: - Hiring staff - Supporting LGBTQ+ - Cute, aesthetic emojis And more! We hope you will be our great great great member soon! See you soon!🌻 ✺ ┅ ⑅ ┅ ⑅ ┅ ⑅ ┅ ⑅ ┅ ⑅ ┅ ✺ By: ୨♡୧ 𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓪𝔁𝔂 ୨♡୧

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Hello there! Are you a angry person? Or you just made a Account? Then no worries! Join my server today! We offer : 1. Giveaways 2. Cool events 3. Fun channels 4. Custom roles 5. Own bot 6. Chill people 7. Hiring staff Join today for more!

Community 16

𝐭𝐧 ; ディスコード + ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ . .˚╭┈ (+) what is 𝐭𝐧┊ ◦ project: 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐧 is a cyberpunk lore revolving around a fictional japanese city, Shin’toshi City. 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐧 discord is a fandom/community server. so, even if you aren’t interested in the lore, you can always just come to socialize! . .˚╭┈(+) about┊ │ form a community … │ ⸝⸝ a minimalistic aes ... │ ⸝⸝ lgbt+ friendly … │ ⸝⸝ fully sfw ... │ ⸝⸝ and always looking for staff (non paid) ╰───────────────────────────────

All Games 7

Just talking, playing games, and sharing our videos i guess

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▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Welcome to our server▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ what we offer as a server ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ we are a new server filled with many people if any of you want to join pls come in we have not got many things but we hope to expand the server and we need moderators and admins and people to giveaway stuff like nitro - as in giveaway manager ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ we are still a smoll server and hope you will enjoy we are giving the first people to join a vip role so pls come and enjoy your stay ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

4 days ago

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We at Game Verse provide a easy to navigate server layout wich make s your grinds easier and faster, we also apply secret multipliers from economy bots and are trying to develop a big community. We plan on doing a nitro giveaway when we reach 200 members!

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Elysian Gaming Gmod Fortnite

hello im meshi and this is a new server!! this server is for anything really, the only special thing is that you dont have to censor anything!! (homophobia, racism etc. arent allowed) jokes are fine tho!! next 5 ppl to join get a special role :))

Sandbox Games 17

Welcome to Site-19 Sandbox Roleplay! A server where you chose your outcome! Either play as a prisoner and escape to become Chaos Insurgency, or prevent breaches as Foundation! And stop the Chaos from wrecking havoc! But if you can’t control the breaches, the facility might be sacrificed to an OMEGA Warhead blast,

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[sheilacwall]

Legends: Rakim – Hip Hop Golden Age Hip Hop Golden Age

Introduction by @TrueGodImmortal – There are some rappers and MCs that transcend the culture. They become even bigger than Hip Hop in the neighborhood, they become worldwide icons. They become the greatest. They became legends.

One of the first true legends in Hip Hop, Rakim, is our topic of discussion today. Yes, you might know him for crafting classics next to Eric B., but make no mistake about it, Rakim is the premier lyricist in the history of the genre and one of the most influential artists in the entire genre of Hip Hop. Today, we wanted to continue our DAR Legends series with a look at the incomparable Rakim, talk some of his greatest verses, and his legacy as one of the true pioneers of the game.

@CherchezLaPorsh – There are a few MC’s who are frequently mentioned when talking about legends, but there is only one that is widely known and considered as the “God MC”. He’s someone who has influenced hundreds of artists and has established himself as the greatest of all time IMO. Hip Hop would be introduced to Rakim back in 1987 when he paired with friend and DJ Eric B. The two became Hip Hop powerhouses and through each album release, Rakim’s “God MC” claim became clear. Those of us who are familiar with the duo know the standard which they set. Eric B mastered scratching and DJ-ing while Rakim fascinated us with his lyricism. 1992 would give us their last album together “Don’t Sweat The Technique” and while the complications and label legalities were plentiful, Hip Hop said farewell to one of the most influential duos and the only MC that proved he really was “godly”.

So what makes Rakim such a God in Hip Hop? It’s his ease of delivery, the intricacy of his lyrics, the precision in his word choice and metaphors and of course his impressive level of creativity. His articulation and eloquence are still unmatched and while many try to uphold the purity of Hip Hop, Rakim did this naturally and consistently. 1997 would be the year Rakim resurfaced and he was better than ever (if that’s even possible). He dropped his solo debut The 18th Letter and once again fans were amazed. Apart from his early work, this would be my favorite album in his solo catalog.

Rakim has always managed to have impressive production on his albums and this one was no different. DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Father Shaheed and a few others made this flawless. Each track met the standard which he set (for himself) so many years before thus making it one of the greatest releases of the year. Every track is great to me but the one that stands out the most is “Guess Who’s Back”, as it’s got impressive tempo, incredible energy and it’s the perfect display of Rakim’s rapping prowess. In fact, the first verse shows exactly why he’s godly.

“It’s the return of the Wild Style fashionist

Smashing hits

Make it hard to adapt to this

Put pizazz and jazz in this

And cash in this

Mastered this, flash this and make em clap to this

DJ’s throw on cuts and obey the crowd

Just pump the volume up, and play it loud

Hip Hop’s embedded

Before I said I wouldn’t let it

But me and the microphone is still magnetic

Straight off the top

I knew I’d be forced to rock

Dance floors just stop, the spot’s scorching hot”

He rhymes words in the middle of each line/bar and at the end, while also changing the rhyme pattern every few lines and he manages to match it seamlessly with the increase and decrease of the beat. It’s flawlessly delivered and so effortless.

Although Rakim was never (and will never be) a big time household name in the mainstream so to speak, he established his ranks in the genre. He’s a favorite of purists and is credited for influencing almost every rapper of the “Golden Age” through his precision, confidence, eloquence and flawless skill. He referred to himself as a God MC and proved it over and over and over again.

@JADBeats – Back in 1985, Eric B. found the perfect MC to take his beats to the next level. Rakim was one of the guys back then that would be unknowingly changing the game before my official introduction to Hip Hop. He’s the guy that my pops, uncles, and older cousins regarded as the best along with the likes of BDK, MC Shan & KRS-1. I really fell in love with Hip Hop around 1993, but growing up I remember Rap City and Yo MTV Raps playing videos like “Paid In Full”, “Microphone Fiend”, “I Aint No Joke”, “Don’t Sweat The Technique”, etc. The TV was always blasting while we were glued to it in awe.

This man had a gift with words. It wasn’t exactly his message but more so how he said it with his relaxed and laid-back delivery with the ability to get aggressive at times. The way he boasts about his style with such confidence showcasing his clever, articulate, and metaphor driven flow with ease was so unique that no one could really copy. There are some rappers who just mesh perfectly over jazz and funk instrumentals, and Rakim is that. Although he has many classic songs, if I had to choose one it would be “The Punisher” of the Don’t Sweat The Technique album. He went absolutely crazy on that song. The song really embodied the title. It is one of those songs that you rewind to catch how dope the lines were. He’ll go down as the innovator of multisyllabic rhymes, internal rhyme schemes, alliteration with letters, referencing and sampling his old songs in new songs.

There are two MCs we regard as the greatest now, who like many others, have borrowed or sampled from Ra like Nas when he says “I’m the N, the A, to the S-I-R/ and if I wasn’t, I must have been Escobar/” and Eminem’s “I am whatever you say I am, if I wasn’t then why would I say I am”, which are both inspired by “It’s The R”. He’s had ups and downs in his career, but has created so much greatness that it is set in stone. It makes me happy that I see producers, rappers, commercials and movies using Rakim & Eric B. songs to carry on their legacy. Ra is my favorite rapper’s favorite rapper or at least in their top 5 lists, so respect to The God MC.

Outro By @TrueGodImmortal – Where do I begin? For a young MC myself, Rakim was a huge influence. Lyrically, his ability to showcase internal rhyme schemes, lyrical dexterity, and an abundance of wordplay is second to none. His influence on my favorite rappers like Nas, Jay-Z, and numerous others needs to be recognized. He’s paved a legacy that is majorly unmatched in the game and though as a solo artist later in his career, he didn’t experience the same success so to speak as with Eric B., I think as a lyricist, his strengths grew even more after this. Now don’t get me wrong, love Paid In Full,  Follow The Leader, Let The Rhythm Hit Em, and Don’t Sweat The Technique, but I wanted to focus on Ra when he was on his own. We hear so much of him with Eric B., and rightfully so, but aside from those 4 amazing albums as one half of one of the greatest duos ever in Hip Hop, Rakim has shown his lyrical growth through the three solo albums he’s had, most notably on The 18th Letter and The Master, his debut and sophomore solo.

This is clear on tracks like “When I B On the Mic”, the DJ Premier-produced banger from the 1999 release The Master. Lyrically, this is one of his strongest performances in the later point of his career. The third verse is the best example of his lyrical strength and growth to me. Take a look at how many rhyming words he fits into the verse. Check it out:

“To my elite peeps

With the murderous mystiques

I hit the streets with beats

And they critique for weeks

They be like, How that kid Ra reach the peak?

Pull out the heat and use my technique to speak

It’s dangerous

Sit calm and explain to kids

What part of the game this is in foreign languages

They hold Ra’s events in different continents

Put my lyrical contents in monuments

In ghetto garments, I rock a towel like a pharaoh

Mind travel, design style like apparel

My fashions last long as a lifetime

‘Cause I can see the future when the god write rhymes

They’re mad ‘cause I managed to reign so long

Like their chance to make money done came and gone

This is strictly for my listeners on the corners at night

And the sisters that be keepin’ this right, when I be on the mic

That is a masterful lyrical work IMO. Another verse that I’ve always loved came from his solo debut The 18th Letter, which has some amazing lyrical gems on it. My personal favorite song from this is the Pete Rock-produced “The Saga Begins”, and Ra kills it all three verses, but the 2nd verse has always stood out to me the most. Take a look:

“Yo, my never-ending epic

Got the world spinning hectic

I quickly spread it

Till the whole city’s infected

Suspense that I supply intensify

Then commence as my daily events go by

You get involved in thisParagraphologist

Paragraphologist

Narrating novelist

Market this, sound marvelous

I’m the star in this

Which means the author’s authentic

Most definite, every episode’s an epidemic

So when you research, check it, here go the evidence

They represent with lyrical negligence for presidents

My science existed, without the fiction

Every inscription is a special edition

So all hail the honorableMicrophone phenomenal

Microphone phenomenal

Persona is unbombable

Trust me son, I continue like a saga do

Bringing you the drama to

Allow you that the chronicle”

I think verses like those showcase why Rakim is a top 5 lyricist of all time and the original complex lyricist in the game. His ability to switch rhyme patterns, stuff line after line into one couplet, and his precise flow is quite possibly unmatched along with a very recognizable voice. While most people would point to the Eric B. & Rakim days for their favorite memories of Rakim (and I understand why), I think more credit needs to be shown to his days as a top tier MC alone. We often overlook some of the greatest legends’ best work based on nostalgia. In my humble opinion, The 18th Letter and The Master, as well as The Seventh Seal gave Ra his own true identify away from Eric B., and solidified him to me as one of the greatest to ever do it even more. There are many in Hip Hop who aspire to legends, and one name that a majority will say is their influence is Rakim. That right there says more than enough.

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Legends: Rakim – Hip Hop Golden Age Hip Hop Golden Age

Introduction by @TrueGodImmortal – There are some rappers and MCs that transcend the culture. They become even bigger than Hip Hop in the neighborhood, they become worldwide icons. They become the greatest. They became legends.

One of the first true legends in Hip Hop, Rakim, is our topic of discussion today. Yes, you might know him for crafting classics next to Eric B., but make no mistake about it, Rakim is the premier lyricist in the history of the genre and one of the most influential artists in the entire genre of Hip Hop. Today, we wanted to continue our DAR Legends series with a look at the incomparable Rakim, talk some of his greatest verses, and his legacy as one of the true pioneers of the game.

@CherchezLaPorsh – There are a few MC’s who are frequently mentioned when talking about legends, but there is only one that is widely known and considered as the “God MC”. He’s someone who has influenced hundreds of artists and has established himself as the greatest of all time IMO. Hip Hop would be introduced to Rakim back in 1987 when he paired with friend and DJ Eric B. The two became Hip Hop powerhouses and through each album release, Rakim’s “God MC” claim became clear. Those of us who are familiar with the duo know the standard which they set. Eric B mastered scratching and DJ-ing while Rakim fascinated us with his lyricism. 1992 would give us their last album together “Don’t Sweat The Technique” and while the complications and label legalities were plentiful, Hip Hop said farewell to one of the most influential duos and the only MC that proved he really was “godly”.

So what makes Rakim such a God in Hip Hop? It’s his ease of delivery, the intricacy of his lyrics, the precision in his word choice and metaphors and of course his impressive level of creativity. His articulation and eloquence are still unmatched and while many try to uphold the purity of Hip Hop, Rakim did this naturally and consistently. 1997 would be the year Rakim resurfaced and he was better than ever (if that’s even possible). He dropped his solo debut The 18th Letter and once again fans were amazed. Apart from his early work, this would be my favorite album in his solo catalog.

Rakim has always managed to have impressive production on his albums and this one was no different. DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Father Shaheed and a few others made this flawless. Each track met the standard which he set (for himself) so many years before thus making it one of the greatest releases of the year. Every track is great to me but the one that stands out the most is “Guess Who’s Back”, as it’s got impressive tempo, incredible energy and it’s the perfect display of Rakim’s rapping prowess. In fact, the first verse shows exactly why he’s godly.

“It’s the return of the Wild Style fashionist

Smashing hits

Make it hard to adapt to this

Put pizazz and jazz in this

And cash in this

Mastered this, flash this and make em clap to this

DJ’s throw on cuts and obey the crowd

Just pump the volume up, and play it loud

Hip Hop’s embedded

Before I said I wouldn’t let it

But me and the microphone is still magnetic

Straight off the top

I knew I’d be forced to rock

Dance floors just stop, the spot’s scorching hot”

He rhymes words in the middle of each line/bar and at the end, while also changing the rhyme pattern every few lines and he manages to match it seamlessly with the increase and decrease of the beat. It’s flawlessly delivered and so effortless.

Although Rakim was never (and will never be) a big time household name in the mainstream so to speak, he established his ranks in the genre. He’s a favorite of purists and is credited for influencing almost every rapper of the “Golden Age” through his precision, confidence, eloquence and flawless skill. He referred to himself as a God MC and proved it over and over and over again.

@JADBeats – Back in 1985, Eric B. found the perfect MC to take his beats to the next level. Rakim was one of the guys back then that would be unknowingly changing the game before my official introduction to Hip Hop. He’s the guy that my pops, uncles, and older cousins regarded as the best along with the likes of BDK, MC Shan & KRS-1. I really fell in love with Hip Hop around 1993, but growing up I remember Rap City and Yo MTV Raps playing videos like “Paid In Full”, “Microphone Fiend”, “I Aint No Joke”, “Don’t Sweat The Technique”, etc. The TV was always blasting while we were glued to it in awe.

This man had a gift with words. It wasn’t exactly his message but more so how he said it with his relaxed and laid-back delivery with the ability to get aggressive at times. The way he boasts about his style with such confidence showcasing his clever, articulate, and metaphor driven flow with ease was so unique that no one could really copy. There are some rappers who just mesh perfectly over jazz and funk instrumentals, and Rakim is that. Although he has many classic songs, if I had to choose one it would be “The Punisher” of the Don’t Sweat The Technique album. He went absolutely crazy on that song. The song really embodied the title. It is one of those songs that you rewind to catch how dope the lines were. He’ll go down as the innovator of multisyllabic rhymes, internal rhyme schemes, alliteration with letters, referencing and sampling his old songs in new songs.

There are two MCs we regard as the greatest now, who like many others, have borrowed or sampled from Ra like Nas when he says “I’m the N, the A, to the S-I-R/ and if I wasn’t, I must have been Escobar/” and Eminem’s “I am whatever you say I am, if I wasn’t then why would I say I am”, which are both inspired by “It’s The R”. He’s had ups and downs in his career, but has created so much greatness that it is set in stone. It makes me happy that I see producers, rappers, commercials and movies using Rakim & Eric B. songs to carry on their legacy. Ra is my favorite rapper’s favorite rapper or at least in their top 5 lists, so respect to The God MC.

Outro By @TrueGodImmortal – Where do I begin? For a young MC myself, Rakim was a huge influence. Lyrically, his ability to showcase internal rhyme schemes, lyrical dexterity, and an abundance of wordplay is second to none. His influence on my favorite rappers like Nas, Jay-Z, and numerous others needs to be recognized. He’s paved a legacy that is majorly unmatched in the game and though as a solo artist later in his career, he didn’t experience the same success so to speak as with Eric B., I think as a lyricist, his strengths grew even more after this. Now don’t get me wrong, love Paid In Full,  Follow The Leader, Let The Rhythm Hit Em, and Don’t Sweat The Technique, but I wanted to focus on Ra when he was on his own. We hear so much of him with Eric B., and rightfully so, but aside from those 4 amazing albums as one half of one of the greatest duos ever in Hip Hop, Rakim has shown his lyrical growth through the three solo albums he’s had, most notably on The 18th Letter and The Master, his debut and sophomore solo.

This is clear on tracks like “When I B On the Mic”, the DJ Premier-produced banger from the 1999 release The Master. Lyrically, this is one of his strongest performances in the later point of his career. The third verse is the best example of his lyrical strength and growth to me. Take a look at how many rhyming words he fits into the verse. Check it out:

“To my elite peeps

With the murderous mystiques

I hit the streets with beats

And they critique for weeks

They be like, How that kid Ra reach the peak?

Pull out the heat and use my technique to speak

It’s dangerous

Sit calm and explain to kids

What part of the game this is in foreign languages

They hold Ra’s events in different continents

Put my lyrical contents in monuments

In ghetto garments, I rock a towel like a pharaoh

Mind travel, design style like apparel

My fashions last long as a lifetime

‘Cause I can see the future when the god write rhymes

They’re mad ‘cause I managed to reign so long

Like their chance to make money done came and gone

This is strictly for my listeners on the corners at night

And the sisters that be keepin’ this right, when I be on the mic

That is a masterful lyrical work IMO. Another verse that I’ve always loved came from his solo debut The 18th Letter, which has some amazing lyrical gems on it. My personal favorite song from this is the Pete Rock-produced “The Saga Begins”, and Ra kills it all three verses, but the 2nd verse has always stood out to me the most. Take a look:

“Yo, my never-ending epic

Got the world spinning hectic

I quickly spread it

Till the whole city’s infected

Suspense that I supply intensify

Then commence as my daily events go by

You get involved in thisParagraphologist

Paragraphologist

Narrating novelist

Market this, sound marvelous

I’m the star in this

Which means the author’s authentic

Most definite, every episode’s an epidemic

So when you research, check it, here go the evidence

They represent with lyrical negligence for presidents

My science existed, without the fiction

Every inscription is a special edition

So all hail the honorableMicrophone phenomenal

Microphone phenomenal

Persona is unbombable

Trust me son, I continue like a saga do

Bringing you the drama to

Allow you that the chronicle”

I think verses like those showcase why Rakim is a top 5 lyricist of all time and the original complex lyricist in the game. His ability to switch rhyme patterns, stuff line after line into one couplet, and his precise flow is quite possibly unmatched along with a very recognizable voice. While most people would point to the Eric B. & Rakim days for their favorite memories of Rakim (and I understand why), I think more credit needs to be shown to his days as a top tier MC alone. We often overlook some of the greatest legends’ best work based on nostalgia. In my humble opinion, The 18th Letter and The Master, as well as The Seventh Seal gave Ra his own true identify away from Eric B., and solidified him to me as one of the greatest to ever do it even more. There are many in Hip Hop who aspire to legends, and one name that a majority will say is their influence is Rakim. That right there says more than enough.

Source link

The post Legends: Rakim – Hip Hop Golden Age Hip Hop Golden Age appeared first on Hip Hop World Music.

from Hip Hop World Music https://hiphopworldmusic.com/legends-rakim-hip-hop-golden-age-hip-hop-golden-age/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=legends-rakim-hip-hop-golden-age-hip-hop-golden-age from Hip Hop World Music https://hiphopworldmusic.tumblr.com/post/187609090283