Usually I wouldn't post a rap video. Ok, that's not entirely true. Anyway, Eminem has a new video out and it & the song's lyrics are very political. Translation: If you like W, you probably won't like this. I can't recall a single reference to the last election in hip-hop culture, while in this election a voice is evident. Of course a lot has happened since then. And yes, I know its political, but at least its not string theory, and I will go back to ranting and writing about sports soon.
Posted by John at October 26, 2004 04:32 PMIs this the "Mosh" video? It's getting a lot of press, and that kind of bugs me on two levels: first, speaking out against Bush is not a new concept - white guys with pants that fit them have been spewing some really serious stuff for a very long time. Especially in the DC scene, directly calling out Bush has been de rigeur for music since Bush p0wned Florida. Second, it sucks that there is no voice for action in hip-hop. This, in turn, bothers me on two more levels.
First, as hip-hop is a predominantly black genre, it sucks that so many blacks have adopted (and this is reflected in film and literature) a "damned if we do, damned if we don't" attitude: too many feel that no matter which rich white guy beomes president, it's still a rich white guy that plans on screwing them. I blame Reagan and his trickling-down, drug-dealing, AIDS-fostering administration for finally hammering that point all the way home. Second, the lack of truly motivated voices in hip-hop proves again that the genre is basically disco redux: an entire lack of substance. "Slow Motion" is no different artistically than "Dancing Machine," and since there is a lot of potential in hip-hop, that stinks. For every Mos Def there are twenty Lil Johns. Groups with huge amounts of power and respect, like Wu-Tang, still make songs about drugs, ass, and swordfighting. Boo.
Correction: "Dancing Machine" is a galaxy away from "Slow Motion." "Dancing Machine" is a Frank Zappa satire of disco, and specifically existed to blast the genre and the people that loved it. I meant to type "Shake Your Booty," but the brain is faster than the fingers, and I got tangled. So, "Slow Motion" is no different than "Shake Your Booty."
Posted by: Chris at October 26, 2004 08:34 PMThe emancipation proclamation is my favorite hip-hop tune.
Posted by: Nate at October 27, 2004 07:56 AMSpeaking out against Bush is by no means new. However, I think that Eminem probably reaches a different demographic than talking heads. If Eminem is your social conscience you have other problems. Anyway, there don't seem that many other hip-hop artists saying much. There is no Public Enemy-type group, at least not one with the same kind of mass appeal. Jadakiss has a song out now with some political sentiment, but on the whole, not much seems to be out there. Even now and then Wu-Tang puts out a song like "I Can't Go To Sleep" but on the whole I agree, there aren't enough political voice, be they anti-Bush or not.
Posted by: John at October 27, 2004 10:06 AM