Tiffany B. Brown

a mish-mosh of stuff

GlobalGrind.com = A failure about to happen

Yes, I am a few days late commenting on this.

When I first wrote about GlobalGrind.com, it was in its alpha phase as a start page geared towards the hip-hop generation.

You could search pre-existing content and feeds or add your own to the GlobalGrind.com ecosystem. Think NetVibes, but with curated content that had a hip-hop perspective. Granted, the start page concept wasn’t a new idea — Yahoo! has been running a start page product for years. But I found the portal-to-the-black-blogosphere twist interesting and the ability to customize my page a compelling enough reason to return (had they worked out the kludginess of the interface).

Fast-forward 5 months and a Run’s House-debut later and GlobalGrind.com is reborn as … a Digg-wannabe?*

No really. They remade it into an ‘urban’ version of Digg — except ‘diggs’ are called ‘grinds’ and there are separate categories for “Entertainment,” “Hip-Hop Culture,” and “Gossip” (among others). And no, I don’t understand how those categories are different either.

It’s entirely possible that GlobalGrind.com could take off and be a raging success, but I am skeptical. Creating a half-a**ed rip-off an innovator rarely works.

Previously

*And they didn’t even have the good sense to run a prettied-up version of Pligg. How much of that $4.5 million investment did they burn up by redeveloping the site?

  • http://favebot.com/ Michael

    True indeed, my sista. I’m glad I’m not the only one who osn’t feeling the Digg clone thing. Rev Run should have followed his instincts and stayed out of GG.

  • http://favebot.com/ Michael

    True indeed, my sista. I’m glad I’m not the only one who osn’t feeling the Digg clone thing. Rev Run should have followed his instincts and stayed out of GG.

  • Michael Ly

    What is the company thats working with globalgrind.com? For instance, myspace was news corp, what is globalgrind with?

  • Michael Ly

    What is the company thats working with globalgrind.com? For instance, myspace was news corp, what is globalgrind with?

  • http://www.tiffanybbrown.com/ tiffany

    If I’m not mistaken, GlobalGrind.com is its own venture with investment from Russell Simmons and Accel Partners.

  • http://www.tiffanybbrown.com/ tiffany

    If I’m not mistaken, GlobalGrind.com is its own venture with investment from Russell Simmons and Accel Partners.

  • http://www.selfpreneurs.com/ Write your own paycheck

    Yes I agree globalgrind is doomed, and as techcrunch would say it’s time to start a deathwatch. Same thing with Dame Dash’s Block Savvy – I don’t think that’s doing well either and at least Dash isn’t new to this. The hip hop market is huge, but they are not capitalizing on it the right way. The old rules no longer apply. Hip hop is not enough to base a start page on, it’s only an element. If only I had Russell’s ear …

  • http://www.selfpreneurs.com Write your own paycheck

    Yes I agree globalgrind is doomed, and as techcrunch would say it’s time to start a deathwatch. Same thing with Dame Dash’s Block Savvy – I don’t think that’s doing well either and at least Dash isn’t new to this. The hip hop market is huge, but they are not capitalizing on it the right way. The old rules no longer apply. Hip hop is not enough to base a start page on, it’s only an element. If only I had Russell’s ear …

  • stan tucker

    people should stop hating.If you had russell’s ear you would make yourself look really stupid trying to kick GG’S back in! The name of the game is called “Get Down Or Lay Down” Don’t get jelly cause you couldhave done the same thing you decided to lay down so get up brush the shit off your back get someone to invest 4.5 stidacts to your ideal. Don’t give up your day job I hear haterade needs some good deliver people.

  • stan tucker

    people should stop hating.If you had russell’s ear you would make yourself look really stupid trying to kick GG’S back in! The name of the game is called “Get Down Or Lay Down” Don’t get jelly cause you couldhave done the same thing you decided to lay down so get up brush the shit off your back get someone to invest 4.5 stidacts to your ideal. Don’t give up your day job I hear haterade needs some good deliver people.

  • http://www.tiffanybbrown.com/ tiffany

    It’s not “hating” it’s called “having higher expectations” for an operation that has the money to do better than what they’ve done.

    And considering the B.S. currently on the homepage — I mean damn, hasn’t hip-hop progressed beyond photos of broads with big asses? — I think it’s a fair assessment.

    Content and community are key to this kind of site and all they’ve done is throw some money and some media influence at it.

  • http://www.tiffanybbrown.com/ tiffany

    It’s not “hating” it’s called “having higher expectations” for an operation that has the money to do better than what they’ve done.

    And considering the B.S. currently on the homepage — I mean damn, hasn’t hip-hop progressed beyond photos of broads with big asses? — I think it’s a fair assessment.

    Content and community are key to this kind of site and all they’ve done is throw some money and some media influence at it.

  • August

    I hear you. I was mad as heck last week when someone grinded some girl, RitaG and her panties. However, if you navigate the site you will find some really good grinds/stories.

    HipHop encompasses many people. I’m old school and am not feeling the current artists, 50, Enimem, etc. So, GG is for everyone. If you want hip hop sites to be more than T&A, get involved and grind stories you feel are relevant and reflect who you are. I can get mad everytime I see and hear something ignorant or I can address it directly to the source.

    One more thing, remember GG is user driven. It is a reflection of what’s out there. I’m going to continue to give GG a chance. I’m hoping for the best. There’s too much hate out there from the “Man” that I don’t need to add to it by putting down a brotha for trying. Let’s talk again.

  • August

    I hear you. I was mad as heck last week when someone grinded some girl, RitaG and her panties. However, if you navigate the site you will find some really good grinds/stories.

    HipHop encompasses many people. I’m old school and am not feeling the current artists, 50, Enimem, etc. So, GG is for everyone. If you want hip hop sites to be more than T&A, get involved and grind stories you feel are relevant and reflect who you are. I can get mad everytime I see and hear something ignorant or I can address it directly to the source.

    One more thing, remember GG is user driven. It is a reflection of what’s out there. I’m going to continue to give GG a chance. I’m hoping for the best. There’s too much hate out there from the “Man” that I don’t need to add to it by putting down a brotha for trying. Let’s talk again.

  • SexyBlindBat

    As a regular user of GG, I enjoy it. It is a quick look into popular culture from myriad vantage points. AND I have the opportunity to upload content that I think is relevant to my people and peers–politics, health issues, career development. I even get to promote my little brother who’s an aspiring music producer. I am an African-American, 34 year-old, married, mother and with a six figure salary. I’m no techno geek some of the stuff you talk about in your blog is above my head. I’m just pointing out a usere perspective. Prior to GG, I had never considered getting involved in any of these online communities or online social networking. GG has definitely opened up a portal for me to give and get a little. Also, each time I get on the site, there are new features. As a user, it is only getting better

  • SexyBlindBat

    As a regular user of GG, I enjoy it. It is a quick look into popular culture from myriad vantage points. AND I have the opportunity to upload content that I think is relevant to my people and peers–politics, health issues, career development. I even get to promote my little brother who’s an aspiring music producer. I am an African-American, 34 year-old, married, mother and with a six figure salary. I’m no techno geek some of the stuff you talk about in your blog is above my head. I’m just pointing out a usere perspective. Prior to GG, I had never considered getting involved in any of these online communities or online social networking. GG has definitely opened up a portal for me to give and get a little. Also, each time I get on the site, there are new features. As a user, it is only getting better

  • Craig

    I have become a regular user of GG since earlier this year and it has progress incredibly well since then. Whether it’s site content, how it looks and interacts, or even the amount of people who are uploading content, I have found myself impressed with many different facets of the site. I’m glad to hear it has opened up older folks to the social networking capabilities of the internet, and it can also bring about a dialogue between people of different generations and cultures because you can comment on the particular stories or features you’re watching. Big ups to Russell, Run, Facebook, and everyone who has helped to create Global Grind and continue to push it to the forefront of the internet and media industry.

  • Craig

    I have become a regular user of GG since earlier this year and it has progress incredibly well since then. Whether it’s site content, how it looks and interacts, or even the amount of people who are uploading content, I have found myself impressed with many different facets of the site. I’m glad to hear it has opened up older folks to the social networking capabilities of the internet, and it can also bring about a dialogue between people of different generations and cultures because you can comment on the particular stories or features you’re watching. Big ups to Russell, Run, Facebook, and everyone who has helped to create Global Grind and continue to push it to the forefront of the internet and media industry.

  • ontheotherboard

    Looking back Russell Simmons apparently got a lot of things right. I’m going with Mr. Simmons on this one. He’s not a self-made money-man for nothing! To the nay-sayers, haters, etc., just keep it movin’.

  • ontheotherboard

    Looking back Russell Simmons apparently got a lot of things right. I’m going with Mr. Simmons on this one. He’s not a self-made money-man for nothing! To the nay-sayers, haters, etc., just keep it movin’.

  • http://glodalgrindnews.blogspot.com/ Globalgrind News

    That is a harsh title for this article but im going with anyone thats on their grind so im always with russ on this one.

  • http://glodalgrindnews.blogspot.com Globalgrind News

    That is a harsh title for this article but im going with anyone thats on their grind so im always with russ on this one.

  • http://myspace.com/blkday Blkday

    Russell must be supported.

  • http://myspace.com/blkday Blkday

    Russell must be supported.