Attempting to Capitalize on Popularity of Second Life, DMC Creates "World"

Already considered a pioneer in music, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels has decided to explore uncharted territory once again. The legendary member of Run DMC announced that he will try his hand at alternate reality by launching DMC World, a virtual program that aims to provide fans a more direct means of communication with the artist.

DMC World (pictured at left), which can be accessed by downloading software from its website, is hosted by Worlds.com. That website competes with the more popular Second Life to attract virtual “residents”, who use avatars to mask their true identities while establishing entirely new lives in these virtual realms. Although the virtual constructs in which the residents operate are fake, their interactions are very real. For instance, Second Life residents wishing to acquire virtual property must use currency in the form of the Linden Dollar, which is currently worth 1/266th of a U.S. dollar. Residents with private property can then invite other users to their homes to create sellable goods, party, or even engage in sexual intercourse.

Virtual worlds such as Second Life give ordinary people the chance to completely recreate their personas, which is very difficult to do in our physical world. However, they also provide opportunities for crime that are not so different from those seen in reality.

For instance, copyright infringement is an ongoing problem, as virtual vendors frequently find that the design of their virtual goods has been copied and sold for profit in both the virtual and real world. One example involved the products of Kevin Alderman, who created the first virtual sex bed allowing for avatar intercourse through the use of built-in animations. When Alderman noticed exact copies of his product being sold in Second Life by Thomas Simon (operating under the virtual sobriquet Rase Kenzo), Alderman sued for copyright infringement in New York Federal District Court. Simon ultimately agreed to pay Alderman $525 as restitution for the profits he made from the copying and distribution of Alderman’s product and destroy all remaining unauthorized copies of the product in his possession. Simon also agreed to inform Alderman of any alternative accounts he used or plans to use on Second Life and show Alderman his transactional records on PayPal.

There is also growing concern over other “real life” crimes that have been repeatedly documented in the virtual worlds. Aside from copyright infringement, sexual harassment is perhaps the most prevalent offense perpetrated by users. However, money laundering by criminals and terrorists is also a concern, as is identity theft, tax evasion, and illegal gambling. Furthermore, jurisdiction is a particularly sticky issue when parties to an action emanating from the virtual world are actually residents of different countries. And while virtual residents are usually required to consent to the Terms of Service and Community Standards establishing by their respective hosts, these end user licensing agreements often fail to sufficiently regulate the actions of residents and lack the deterrent quality of real life laws and penalties.

A seasoned veteran of the rap game, DMC overcame numerous obstacles to earn his place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He may need to draw on every bit of his experience to guide him through the potential legal minefield that is virtual reality.

Who Would Be Your First Five Selections for a Hip Hop Hall of Fame?

With its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this week, Run DMC joined Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five as the only hip hop groups to earn the distinction. The honor led many to call for the creation of a Hip Hop Hall of Fame to better recognize leading contributors to the genre. It also led us to ask ourselves: If a Hip Hop Hall of Fame were created today, who would be our first five inductees? HipHopLaw.com contributors andré douglas pond cummings, Nick J. Sciullo and Brian Welch list their nominees.

andré douglas pond cummings: The true pioneers in hip hop that should be recognized as the original creators of the movement are DJs Afrika Bambaatta and DJ Kool Herc. While I recognize the important contributions of Run DMC in taking hip hop nationwide and mainstream, if I were to select a top five that deserved induction into a Hall of Fame for making an influential and continuing contribution to the genre, I would have to select:

1) Chuck D and Public Enemy: In my view, Public Enemy seized the microphone in the late 1980s and blindsided America with political messages that resonated with urban youth and penetrated suburbia. "Fight the Power," "Don't Believe the Hype," "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" and "911 is a Joke" served up a genuine critique of U.S. politics that caused fear in the hearts of the traditional majority.

2) Tupac Shakur: Lyrically brilliant, confoundingly contradictory and ultimately fearless, Tupac Shakur became the first hip hop magnate. Movie star, hip hop artist and superstar. Mere mention of "Dear Mama," "All Eyes on Me" and California Love" amongst dozens of others immediately sets heads to nodding. He famously said "I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world."

3) KRS One and Boogie Down Productions: KRS One foresaw and believed that he could be a teacher to the masses. His messages following the death of Scott LaRock were ones designed to uplift the hip hop nation. "Edutainment" released in 1991 was a tour de force, including the unforgettable "Love's Gonna Getcha."

4) Ice Cube, Eazy E, Dr. Dre and N.W.A: When N.W.A. burst upon the scene in the late 1980s, the group was furiously criticized for promoting the "gangsta" lifestyle and image. While much of what N.W.A. rapped about was violent and misogynistic, the counter culture messages that described life in American ghettos was real and stark. "F**k the Police," "100 Miles and Runnin'," "Gangsta Gangsta" and "Straight Outta Compton" stunned America and caused the FBI and Tipper Gore to take
notice.

5) Ice-T: Perhaps the originator of "gangsta rap," Ice-T continued the tradition of narrative storytelling through his rhymes. "6 in the Morning" served notice and "Cop Killer" drew national outrage. Today, Ice-T playing a police officer on "Law and Order: SVU" raises the interesting question as to whether commodification of the genre impacts the counter culture messages that seemed so revolutionary twenty years ago.


Nick J. Sciullo: My list focuses on the underdogs as opposed to the obvious (Biggie, Common, KRS-One, Tupac, etc.) In no particular order and with some explanation:

1) Black Thought – The Roots front man has been a loud socially conscious presence for years. The fact that he does all this over a full musical ensemble is all that much more impressive.

2) Kool G Rap – Although often forgotten in discussions of 80’s hip hop and largely ignored in the gangsta rap discourse, Kool G Rap has been spittin’ fire for years. He put hardcore hip-hop on the map. For a more modern look at this artist, check out The Giancana Story.

3) Immortal Technique – If you didn’t think hard hip-hop and socially conscious, message-centered hip hop could coexist, then you haven’t listened to Immortal Technique. His delivery and lyrics combine to form a compelling political action.

4) Lord Have Mercy – This former member of Busta Rhymes' Flipmode squad has a delivery that is nothing but unique. He combines the power of DMX with the freestyle feel of Wu-Tang Clan. He’s made memorable appearances on Busta Rhymes tracks, especially on Busta’s first album The Coming, on Flipmode Squad’s The Imperial, and also on MOP’s Warriorz. If you haven’t listened, you should.

5) Wyclef Jean – I’m a Wyclef fan, but I don’t choose him because I’m a fan. Wyclef revolutionized hip-hop by including international rhythms in his music. He’s worked with international artists like Muzion, Celia Cruz, and Aadesh Shrivastava. He brought attention to the plight of Haiti and Haitian-Americans and delivered memorable songs like Gone ‘Til November, Slow Down, President, and Next Generation.


Brian Welch: In the interest of geographic diversity, and with a disclaimer of my relative youth (I wasn’t alive when Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five released “The Message”), I present my five nominees:

1) Run DMC: Okay, so their spot in the Hall is a given. But who brought hip hop to the fore more fully than DJ Run, DMC, and the late JamMaster Jay? I challenge you to find someone, anyone, who hasn’t heard of the trio from Hollis, Queens.

2) Ice Cube: In a toss up between Cube and Dre, I choose O’Shea. Sure, no album was more eye-opening than The Chronic, but the former N.W.A. catalyst turned breakout star wins on longevity. Mr. Jackson owned the 1990s with legendary albums (The Predator, Lethal Injection) and hit movies (Boyz n the Hood, Friday).

3) Jay-Z: Quick, name your favorite Jay-Z tracks. If you’re still counting five minutes from now, you’re not alone. His catalog is ridiculous. His business acumen is unsurpassed in the music industry. What other rapper could announce a joint partnership with perfume manufacturer Elizabeth Arden and not lose a drop of credibility?

4) The Roots: Can I offer an opinion? Black Thought is the best rapper alive. Listen to his angst and paranoia on the Bush-era magnum opus “Game Theory”. Listen to him combine seething criticism and unbridled optimism on the lost-on-some “Rising Down”. And is there a better drummer than ?uestlove? No group puts together more complete albums, from the first track to the last.

5) OutKast: I’ll admit, their last two albums were awful. But damn, were their first four albums not the sickest syntheses of sounds you’ve ever heard? They put Atlanta, and the entire South, on the hip hop map.

Who would be your first five?