A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action

Jeff Chang, author of Can't Stop, Won't Stop, drops some knowledge in this really interesting article for MotherJones.com on hip-hop's activist roots and what's happened since. Check this passage:

For many, this is what hip-hop has become: an omnipresent grisly, übermacho soundtrack. Don Imus unleashed the latest hip-hop backlash when he noted that in calling the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos” he was using an argot popularized by rappers. The frenzy of finger-pointing that followed culminated with the spectacle of Bill O’Reilly lecturing hiphop advocates on sexism and the “n word,” while Oprah berated Russell Simmons and other industry executives. The talk show circus aside, there’s plenty of evidence that people are weary of corporate rap. Only 59 million rap albums were sold in the United States last year, down from 90 million in 2001. According to the University of Chicago’s Black Youth Project report, youths—particularly minorities—overwhelmingly believe that rap videos portray women of color in a negative light.

Once a cacophony of diverse voices, the genre now looks like a monoculture whose product, not unlike high-fructose corn
syrup, is designed not to nourish, but simply to get us hooked on other products, from McDonald’s to Courvoisier.

I couldn't have said it any better myself. The article is a bit long but a great read!

photo: taken from Chang's blog.

Download: Public Enemy - Fight The Power

More FEMA Fuckery

In a move that that is sadly reminiscent of President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" fiasco and symptomatic of this entire administration, FEMA staged a fake press conference last week in which staffers posing as reporters and lobbed softball questions to John "Pat" Philbin, Director of Public Affairs, on the California wildfires.

The lesson that FEMA apparently learned from the harsh criticism of their inept response to Hurricane Katrina is to control public perception this time around by doing away with media altogether. This is merely the latest episode in a series of political circle-jerks in which it is painfully clear that the Bush administration does not give a rat's ass about transparency and accountability in the decision-making process.

What this administration does care about is that they are right, no matter what the evidence or pesky journalists may say. By giving the outward appearance of a free press but limiting discourse and demonizing opposing views, this administration is free to spread all their propoganda freely.

*update: Philbin lost a promotion and resigned. Bush not just yet, but sign a petition here.

Download: Dilated Peoples - Proper Propaganda

N-Word Please !

Dr. James Watson, a renowned geneticist, landed himself in hot water last week for racist comments he made in British newspaper The Times. Watson gained recognition as co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, winning him the Nobel Prize in 1962.

In the interview, Watson says that he is “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa [because] all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours - whereas all the testing says not really."

The assertions of racial superiority are downright offensive - Watson's statements are creepily reminiscent of the justification for the African Slave Trade. Watson's words are especially alarming because they come from the mouth of someone so highly regarded in the intellectual community.

What's clear though is that recent controversies, such as the movements to ban the word "nigger" (including Nas' new album), entirely miss the point of racially progressive dialogue.

While we are quick to be outraged the ignorance of others, we are still reluctant to address our own prejudices. To borrow Mos Def's metaphor, racism is not a giant living in the hills coming to visit the villagers. It's a reflection of the interactions that take place between all of us. Until we learn to confront our personal discriminations on an individual basis, who are we to criticize media whipping boys like Don Imus and Michael Richards?

photo: Markus Schreiber of the AP

Download: A Tribe Called Quest - Sucka Nigga

Definition: Sellout

The Washington Post published Bill Wyman's article "How to Calculate Musical Sellouts" in this week's Sunday issue.

The article documents the relationship between music and advertising and the ever evolving standards artistic integrity and sellout status. It chronicles fan backlash towards artists who had sold songs to commercials over time. The article discusses the "Moby Quotient" and his breakthrough album Play, in which Moby boasted that he had sold every track to advertisers, film or television. Wyman warns artists that trade on "outsider status" to beware the long-term consequences of going commercial.

The article also includes this tongue-in-cheek equation "that could be used to determine just how much of a sellout is a particular artist."

Does your favorite artist pass the test?

Download: Gang Starr - Mass Appeal

Hammer > Tribe ?

I've been wrestling with my feelings about the direction of hip-hop for the past couple years. On one hand, the expansion of the music into the mainstream is great in terms presenting opportunities. The intent of the music is to uplift and to celebrate according to my boy Justin. He continues that hip-hop has reached an international scale where it has become the face of young America and an alternative to Bush's America.

But on the other hand, its important that the culture stay true to its roots. As the garbage poppy hip-hop is promoted, the positive, conscious rap is further neutered. People say that there is no market for socially conscious music are letting the record industry pull the wool over their eyes. The cream rises to the top unless outside influences (Viacom, Univesal Music, Clear Channel, Radio 1) keep pumping out ignorant shit.

Lupe Fiasco was quoted in Vibe stating:

"[Tribe] didn’t sell 10 million records, so why would people think they had a blanket on the world like that? MC Hammer was way more popular to me than Tribe Called Quest."

The quote was taken out of context to make Lupe look like an asshole, but the point still resonates. Hip-hop has become a mainstream, populous culture with a bunch of idiots in front making everybody look bad. Hotness is determined by record sales and MTV (don't even get me started on that bogus 'Best Rapper' list). What hip-hop needs now is a restoration of perspective and culture.

So kids, keep the music alive. Stop listening to trash!

Download: 2Pac - Old School

Free Radiohead !

I woke up excited as a kid on Christmas this morning. Radiohead released their 7th Album In Rainbows as a download today. In case you haven't heard, the band announced the completion of the album just 10 days ago. In Rainbows was planned to be released as a digital download and then as a special deluxe package in December. The 10 day countdown came to an end this morning when I received my email link to download the first new music from the band in more than 4 years.

In pre-ordering the download, no set or even suggested price was given, meaning that fans could download the album for free or pay whatever they chose. This idealistic approach towards selling music is revolutionary. The release of In Rainbows establishes an entirely new pricing standard for music. By allowing fans to decide the value of musical content for themselves, the band is preparing for the evolution of music beyond formats. With the digital age, formats have become outdated and worthless. Now that music is so easily transmitted and shared, assigning set values on songs and albums does not make sense. But by associating value with merit, bands and fans can create symbiotic relationships in which both can prosper without the record industry's bullshit.

Radiohead has the name recognition to be able to approach the market in this way. But what of smaller, less recognized acts? How will they take advantage of this new approach?

Download: Radiohead - 15 Step [live from Bonnaroo]