Reading this article in today's Toronto Star leaves me feeling as cold as today's wind chill.

First off, the actual concept -- a low budget, low quality DVD-style "magazine" showcasing local "talent" -- isn't anything new. Check out any flea market or small record store for proof of that. Secondly, the fact that the Star's crime reporter is covering the story does little to change the mainstream perception that hip hop is all about gangsta braggadocio.

While I appreciate the grassroots hustle, statements like this:

"He suggests some of the kids, rather than uttering threats against rivals, are engaged in "natural competition," as in "yeah, we're better than those guys."

leave my eyebrow in the raised position. Some might say I'm "hating" (to use the vernacular) but while the DVDs do indeed reflect what's going on "at that present time" as the producers suggest, there are far more constructive ways to get the message across.