When Bill Cosby announced his plans to release a rap album, the widespread reaction was one of confusion. Best known for his role as lovable Dad Cliff Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” his iconic Jell-O Pudding commercials, and, most recently, impassioned speeches on the moral failings of the black community, Cosby seemed an unlikely hip-hop enthusiast. But, acting as the creative force behind the album, he brought together three rappers to create “Bill Cosby Presents The Cosnarati: State of Emergency.”
In this exclusive interview with NewsOne, Cosby and The Cosnarati reveal how “State of Emergency” will stack up against the rest of today’s hip-hop albums, the inspiration for the project, and why Cosby’s message isn’t always well-received among Black Americans.
Kato Hammond is an American musician and journalist. He is the owner and creator of Take Me Out To The Go-Go, Inc. (TMOTTGoGo), editor and publisher of Take Me Out To The Go-Go Magazine, executive producer of TMOTTGoGo DVD Magazine, and webmaster of TMOTTGoGo.com and creator of TMOTTRadio.com. Take Me Out to the Go-Go Magazine gains attention from outside media outlets for its designation as 'the official gateway to a Washington, DC music culture.' Such magazines as Vibe have made Kevin Hammond and Take Me Out to the GoGo Magazine a significant source of information about the go-go music culture. His history as a musician includes performing and recording with the go-go bands Pure Elegance, Little Benny and the Masters, and Proper Utensils, as well as serving as music director to such bands as Fatal Attraction.
