tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69346728028014668442024-03-07T21:01:25.458-07:00Rhyme of the DayLyrics Worth Thinking About (Plus Shallow Commentary)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-21886914767115659422011-10-11T12:45:00.002-07:002011-10-11T13:01:20.560-07:00Jay-Z - This Can't Be Life (2000)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">See, I was born in sewage, born to make bomb music</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Flow tight like I was born Jewish</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Used the streets as a conduit</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I kept arms --38 Longs-- inside my mom's Buick</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">At any given moment Shawn could lose it, be on the news</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Iron cuffs, arms through it -- or stuffed with embalming fluid</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Shit, I'm going through it; Mom Dukes, too</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Tears streaming down her pretty face; she got her palms to it</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">My life is gettin' too wild</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I need to bring some sort calm to it</span></i></blockquote>
Thematically, <i>The Blueprint</i> marked a turning point for Hov. Which makes sense -- at some point you have to decide: you can either continue rapping about dealing drugs or you can do <a href="http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/1011/rich-list-10-omaha-warren-buffett-jay-z-steve-forbes-summit-interview.html">stuff like this</a>. Not both... at least not with any credibility.<br />
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This song isn't from <i>The Blueprint</i>, but it's a fitting send-off to all the dark days in Jay-Z's previous life.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-43639031751195768842011-10-10T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-11T13:01:29.496-07:00Jay-Z - Where I'm From (1997)<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I'm from the place where the church is the flakiest</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And n-ggas been praying to God so long that they atheist</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Where you can't put your vest away and say you'll wear it tomorrow</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Cause the day after we'll be saying, "Damn, I was just with him yesterday"</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I'm a block away from hell, not enough shots away from stray shells</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">...</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Where we call the cops the A-Team</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Cause they hop out of vans and spray things</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And life expectancy so low we making out wills at eighteen</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Where how you get rid of guys who step out of line, your rep solidifies</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">So tell me, when I rap, you think I give a fuck who criticize?</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">If the shit is lies, God strike me</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And I got a question: are you forgiving guys who live just like me?</span></i></blockquote>
Jay's second release, <i>In My Lifetime</i>, was criticized by some critics for embracing a more commercial sound (see, e.g., <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxUoySP9zqg">Sunshine</a>), but his street sensibilities still shone through. As vivid as it is bleak, <u>Where I'm From</u> stands out as one of Hov's grimiest tracks ever.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-41830092365768244892011-10-09T23:59:00.002-07:002011-10-11T07:14:12.387-07:00Jay-Z - Regrets (1996)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">As sure as this, Earth is turning, souls burning<br />In search of higher learning<br />Turning in every direction, seeking direction<br />My mom's crying because her insides are dying<br />Her son trying her patience, keep her heart racing<br />A million beats a minute, I know I push you to your limit<br />But it's this game, love, I'm caught up all in it<br />They make it so you can't prevent it<br />Never give it, you gotta take it<br />Can't fake it, I keep it authentic<br />My hand got this pistol shaking, cause I sense danger<br />Like Camp Crystal Lake and<br />Don't wanna shoot him, but I got him trapped<br />Within this infrared dot, about to hot him and hit rock bottom<br />No answers to these trick questions, no time shit's stressing<br />My life found, I got to live for the right now<br />Time waits for no man, can't turn back the hands<br />Once it's too late, gotta learn to live with regrets</span></i></blockquote>
Jay-Z's <i>Reasonable Doubt</i> (without a doubt one of the greatest rap records of all time) is often credited for popularizing so-called Mafioso rap (wherein the artist dons --pun intended-- the persona of a mob boss). And while there are more than a few moments where Jay-Z glamorizes that lifestyle (see, e.g., <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORQOYpLaA9U">Can't Knock the Hustle</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jx3jGAlKG0">Cashmere Thoughts</a> and, to a lesser extent, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC7MJ8l73SQ">Can I Live?</a>), he doesn't shy away from meditating on the dark side, as well.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">This is the number one rule for your set<br />In order to survive got to learn to live with regrets<br />On the rise to the top many drop, don't forget<br />In order to survive got to learn to live with regrets</span></i></blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-52097667355857521172011-10-09T23:59:00.001-07:002011-10-10T06:34:49.777-07:00Rap Retrospective - Jay-Z<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the next couple of days, I'm going to go through the Jay-Z catalog and highlight some of his most lyrically impressive and meaningful tracks, while doing my best to avoid the most obvious and well-known songs. Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-25760131794840506502011-10-09T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-10T04:19:31.605-07:00Rap RetrospectivesFor the next 10-14 days (I haven't decided yet), I'm going to be posting a series of retrospectives on a few of my favorite artists. Stay tuned!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-26104356949998952602011-10-08T19:13:00.000-07:002011-10-08T19:13:48.091-07:00B.o.B. - Strange Clouds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Well if you guessin' it's me, you guessed correctly<br />I just stay with a stallion, you would swear I was an equestrian<br />And um, I'mma hit her with that pipe, call that Nancy Kerrigan<br />Stay on the greenest greens, call us vegetarians<br />You be on that minor league, but we smoke professionally<br />I do my job exceptionally, on point like a decimal is</span></i></blockquote>
Lest I be accused of catering exclusively to the backpack crowd, here's a mainstream banger from North Carolina rapper B.o.B. This is a surprisingly hard track, considering it's by the same dude that did the syrupy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PTDv_szmL0&ob=av3e">Nothin' on You</a> (not to mention the insufferable <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6-c223DUU">Airplanes</a>).<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-51119148159465711232011-10-07T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-08T01:26:48.610-07:00J-Live - No Time To Waste<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Be not just said but heard, not just heard but seen<br />Not just seen but felt, behind your "nah means"<br />Be substance, beyond your "um, like, ya knows"<br />Let's see your wise words form this constant flow<br />Be proof at the show, show proof of life<br />Captivate minds, eliminate strife<br />Decimate the trife like check but not mate<br />Real kings move with ease; we block, move and take<br />The best food for thought; we grill like the Foreman<br />Build, upon blueprints, designs endurin'</span></i></blockquote>
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While this track sounds distinctively old school, its message couldn't be more timely. These days, it apparently <i>doesn't</i> go without saying that rappers are <a href="http://thefreshxpress.com/2010/03/waka-flocka-method-man-and-the-legacy-of-lyricism/">supposed to be skilled, creative lyricists</a>. J-Live pushes back, with a track that sounds more like a religious edict than a rap song. His only commandment? Step your game up.</div>
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This isn't a requiem for hip hop; it's a call to arms. J-Live isn't calling for idle remembrance; he's calling for a renaissance.</div>
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<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Plots to destroy your culture, give orders<br />See the self hate and doubt get deported<br />Beyond your borders, belay the orders<br />Delays and setbacks get drawn and quartered<br />Teach the lambs to repel that slaughter<br />Teach the horses to drink that water<br />Teach to build or destroy like mortar<br />And like muscle tissues get torn<br />Let's grow from these lessons stronger than before</i></span></blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-84665953857480066242011-10-06T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-07T15:20:56.530-07:00Jay Rock - M.O.N.E.Y.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Motivated by money<br />Money is mesmerizing<br />Many are murdered for it<br />While mayhem is exercising<br />Mighty as Morpheus<br />And it might pay your mortgages<br />Plus the morgue got some more of it<br />That embalming fluid merges through your muscles<br />...<br />Operation for evil, it's obvious for attack<br />Obedience is a must, but it's hard to obey<br />When your optics ain't seeing no opportunities pay</span></i></blockquote>
I'll admit it: I'm not really feelin' the R&B-heavy production here. But lyrically, this song is a <i>tour de force</i>. We've all heard that money is the root of all evil; if you needed any convincing, Jay Rock'll explain it to you in uncompromisingly gritty (not to mention alliterative) detail.<br />
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Okay, you might not often find yourself in the mood to listen to a track this dark, but you have to admire Jay Rock's exemplary wordplay.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-61707563277774534302011-10-05T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-07T15:21:06.450-07:00Phonte - The Good Fight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>I know it's not sane, but yo, I'm just sayin'<br />Everybody prays for the day they see the light<br />But the light at the end of the tunnel is a train<br />Five dollar gas, and poverty rates<br />Are rising much higher than your hourly rates<br />So if you thinkin' 'bout quittin' you should probably wait<br />'Cause everybody gotta do a fuckin' job that they hate<br />"Go and live out your dreams!"<br />That's what they tellin'<br />Fam' in my ear all day and they yellin':<br />"Keep it real 'Te, and don't ever sell out!"<br />But how the fuck you sell out when ain't nobody sellin'?</i></span></blockquote>
Far from inspiring, but undeniably real.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-54628741140731825512011-10-04T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-07T15:21:18.724-07:00Lil Wayne - Mega Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Young Money, man, we got this shit by a landslide</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Boy, I send them bloods at your ass like a tampon</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Uptown shit, wet the whole party</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Weezy gon' ball, ball like Steve Harvey</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The heater I'm a tuck her, Tucker like Dolores</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">That's my word, word like thesaurus</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I don't see no future in your frontin', I be stuntin' hard</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Rap game dependent on me like a bungee cord</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Fear nobody but God almighty</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Shoot that motherfucker 'til I get arthritis</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I'm a beast, I'm a ass, I'm ahead of my class</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I'm a diamond in the rough like a baby in the trash</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I don't talk it, I live it, I paint a picture vivid</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And them pistols popping like they sitting in a skillet</span></i></blockquote>
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This ain't <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7tOAGY59uQ">6 Foot 7 Foot</a>, but it does give a taste of what makes Wayne an exhilarating listen: frenetic, free-association rhymes; bizarre, outrageous metaphors; and an extraterrestrial-frogman voice that sounds just a little unbalanced.</div>
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At the risk of overstating things, Lil Wayne might just save mainstream hip hop. It's not just that he was breath of fresh air at a time when the industry had become stagnant. If you look at the arc of his career, the more lyrical (and, let's face it, weird) he got, the more popular he became. That's something I'm sure other rappers noticed. Let's hope they act on it.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-55900907048809066182011-10-03T23:55:00.001-07:002011-10-04T02:25:42.601-07:00Evidence - You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Players don't die, we try our luck at other tables</i><br /><i>And when I lose, I learn, I'm still winning major</i><br /><i>I jump forward then back and through the missin' stages</i><br /><i>A perfect day to make a perfect entrance</i><br /><i>A perfect sentence? I can't perfect, but</i><br /><i>I just keep pushing pencils, no fake trace stencils</i><br /><i>Do it all by hand so they have respect</i></span></blockquote>
This new track from the Dilated Peoples frontman isn't groundbreaking, but it does feature some smart, well-crafted lyrics and more than a few slick turns of phrase. Overall, a solid track.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-6860961015360192942011-10-02T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-06T01:51:49.689-07:00Tyler the Creator - Yonkers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I'm clocking three past six and going postal<br />This the revenge of the dicks<br />That's nine cocks that cock nines<br />This ain't no V-Tech shit or Columbine<br />But after bowling, I went home for some damn Adventure Time<br />I slipped myself some pink Xannies<br />And danced around the house in all-over print panties<br />...<br />I'm an overachiever, so how about I start a team of leaders<br />And pick up Stevie Wonder to be the wide receiver?<br />Green paper, gold teeth and pregnant golden retrievers -- all I want<br />Fuck money, diamonds and bitches -- don't need them</span></i></blockquote>
I know that this song is a significant departure, thematically, from most of the songs I've posted here. But conscious rappers don't have a monopoly on lyricism. You can find poetry in the pure as well as the profane.<br />
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This isn't the most offensive, violent or <i>weird </i>song from Tyler the Creator and his erstwhile obscure rap collective Odd Future (it is a lot more, uh, accessible than some of the others, though). Obviously, this kind of music is not for everyone. I'm not even sure it's for me. But it is at least <i>interesting</i>... which is a lot more than I can say for most of what they play on the radio.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-47224387908767748502011-10-01T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-04T02:26:24.421-07:00Ski Beats (ft. Mos Def) - Cream of the Planet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The mind's so powerful<br />It ain't long for your dreams<br />It's surrounding you<br />Caution, caution<br />Careful, careful<br />A whole lotta fun but it ain't that simple<br />The mathmatic, Asiatic, black magic<br />Rap captains stay active, free captives<br />Baby, what's happenin?<br />Listen, life is fantastic<br />Beautiful and tragic<br />Plain, classic<br />Long as I'm alive I'mma never stop rappin'<br />It's honest work for honest bastards<br />Made in Manhattan, raised outta Brooklyn<br />It ain't shit that you can do but keep looking<br />Shook, cause they all crooks<br />My hands keep clean even off the books</span></i></blockquote>
Like sipping a martini, listening to this song instills a sense of tranquility. Something about the effortless flow and the impossibly chill beat makes me feel like I shouldn't even sing along. So I just listen; even after it's over, I sit for a moment, in silence... <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-49349637323723830442011-09-30T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-04T02:24:00.001-07:00Masta Ace - I Refuse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Y'all can hear me now; yeah, I know you could<br />And confidence rings through when you know you're good<br />And greatness is defined by the length of time<br />That one man can stand with the strength of nine<br />And smile into the face of adversity<br />And then say this ain't as bad as the worst can be<br />That's when you know you're the cream of the crop<br />Way back when you was young, you would dream of the top<br />Schemin', scopin', hopin'<br />Knowin' that a lane is open<br />'Cause when you're forced to eat your words<br />That's the same as chokin'<br />So you strive to set the bar higher<br />Intoxicatin' heat -- hotter than a car fire<br />And when the rubber meet the road<br />Like a car tire<br />You'll be on top, and sharper than barbed wire</i></span></blockquote>
Be confident. Keep your skills sharp. And <i>always </i>stay <b>hungry</b>. Platitudinous? Perhaps. But Masta Ace makes it sound so profound.<br />
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And yes, my excerpts are usually shorter, but paring down this poetry was just too tall a task. Enjoy!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-89644519735026725362011-09-29T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-04T02:23:42.053-07:00De La Soul - Oodles of Os<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Oodles and oodles of O's, you know<br />You get 'em from my sister<br />You get 'em from my bro<br />All I is is man, and once an embryo<br />Am I solid gold? I don't cast a glow<br />Yes, I guess it's reflex<br />Some have no control<br />I'd rather let a laughter<br />And tally, off I go<br />Canoeing up the river or out into the O<br />You just know we're not<br />So not play the role </i></span></blockquote>
Here's another old school track for you.<br />
<br />
I confess I have no idea what this song is about, but art needn't be understood to be enjoyed. What I do know is that the lighthearted wordplay and overall goofiness make the song fun to listen to. It reminds me of how De La Soul <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYw0NnHDRzc">later criticized gangsta rap</a> for being joyless (among other things). While I think gangsta rap has a lot of offer in its own right, suffice it to say that they don't really make rap quite like this any more.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-58564769661005239072011-09-28T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-04T02:23:22.322-07:00Xzibit - The Foundation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Realize you can only run the streets so long<br />Then the streets run you -- into the ground, then gone<br />It's kinda rough trying to teach you what's right from wrong<br />Same shit different day<br />It's the same ol' song<br />If the time ever comes that I meet my match<br />Take control of my assets<br />Fuck startin' from scratch</span></i></blockquote>
I've been posting a lot of new releases lately, so today I'm takin' it back to the old school. Xzibit has never been a particularly cerebral rapper, but good rap needn't be intellectually inaccessible. There's not much to say about this track; it's father-son advice in song-form. And although it's tinted by gangsta sensibilities, the song is, honestly, kind of touching.<br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>You are the foundation<br />Beginning of a new generation<br />I remember hospital hallway pacin'<br />I was anxious as fuck to see your face shine<br />Only to find that yours looked like mine<br />So it's like I'm livin' twice at the exact same time</i></span></blockquote>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-52795538970578760152011-09-27T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-04T02:20:09.651-07:00Talib Kweli - So Low<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>I always speak for the struggle<br />My people still hurting<br />I'm a name brand, I'm a product<br />But still a real person<br />I'm still flirting with death<br />Although I'm still certain<br />About my commitments in life<br />Although I'm still searching<br />I better find a way<br />If not, I better make a path<br />One thats seldom traveled by the masses</i></span></blockquote>
Few names are more closely associated with meaningful, intelligent hip hop than Talib Kweli's. And while he may occasionally celebrate that status by writing an self-indulgent, self-congratulatory boast track, <i>So Low</i> shows that he isn't afraid to wax introspective about his role as an artist.<br />
<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I talk it how I live it<br />Yet I'm still considered<br />A walking contradiction<br />Cause I'm breaking out<br />Of your artistic prison, listen<br />I got my own demons<br />What I'm supposed to do with yours?<br />Times like this, I gotta remind myself what I do it for<br />People I knew before celebrity swear they see the change in me<br />I tell 'em change is God, you gotta let it be</span></i></blockquote>
There is a tendency to treat our favorite artists like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXiGJBwjHOM">vending machines</a>, but it's worth considering that: (a) they are still human beings; and (b) constantly having to live up to the expectations of fans can be a burden.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-53346487370266487522011-09-26T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-04T02:22:14.422-07:00Murs - Remember 2 Forget<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>I keep forgetting to remember to forget<br />All the lies and all the bullshit<br />All the reasons that we had to call it quits<br />Pieces to our puzzle that never seemed to fit<br />Started out fast and ended so quick<br />For weeks on end I was so sick<br />So the next time I start to reminisce<br />Remind me to remember to forget</i></span></blockquote>
Noted without comment.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-91044049119799787062011-09-25T20:10:00.001-07:002011-10-04T02:18:34.508-07:00The Roots - Dear God 2.0<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>All I'm trying to do is live life to the fullest<br />They sent my daddy to you in a barrage of bullets<br />Why is the world ugly when you made it in your image?<br />And why is livin' life such a fight to the finish?</i></span></blockquote>
Since time immemorial, those who believe in a benevolent god have struggled to understand what C.S. Lewis called the "Problem of Pain." That is -- if a loving and all-powerful entity really is guiding our every move, why is our world so wracked by war? Why is life so often unjust and unfair? Why do we suffer?<br />
<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Acid rain, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Terrorists, crime sprees, assaults and robberies</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">...</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Endangered species and we runnin' out of trees</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">If I could hold the world in the palm of these hands</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I would probably do away with these anomalies</span></i></blockquote>
Why aren't things... better?<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-8546931937058311962011-09-24T13:56:00.000-07:002011-10-04T02:20:36.631-07:00Pharoahe Monch - Evolve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Extinguish the sun when I drew<br />Play pool with the planets<br />We are renegades<br />The movement outlandish<br />My shit is straight from the soul, goddammit<br />It's the one time only<br />Vernacular original miraculous spectacular flow<br />Computer digital<br />I piss upon the pitiful<br />Ridicule the minuscule<br />Pharoahe Monch need to park that ass like municipal</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I could praise his complex multisyllabic rhymes, his singsong preacher's cadence or his intelligent -- occasionally recondite-- writing. But why repeat what's been said a million times before? I'll keep it simple: there are lyrical rappers, and then there is Pharoahe Monch.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-22814811586195268942011-09-23T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-11T11:52:52.537-07:00Lupe Fiasco - Hurt Me Soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"></span></i>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Now I ain't tryna be the greatest</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>I used to hate hip hop</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Yup, because the women degraded</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>But Too $hort made me laugh</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Like a hypocrite, I played it</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>A hypocrite I stated</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Though I only recited half</i></span></blockquote>
This is one of Lupe Fiasco's older songs, but it's probably my favorite. I know plenty of progressively-minded folks that love hip hop. To those people, this song poses a difficult question: how do you reconcile your political and social views with your enjoyment of music that is so often intolerant and regressive?<br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>I had a ghetto boy bop, a Jay-Z boycott<br />'Cause he said that he never prayed to God, he prayed to Gotti<br />I'm thinkin' golly, God guard me from the ungodly<br />But by my thirtieth watchin of "Streets is Watchin'"<br />I was back to givin' props again<br />And that was botherin'<br />'Bout as uncomfortable<br />As a untouchable touchin' you<br />The theme songs that n-ggas hustle to seem wrong<br />But these songs was comin' true<br />And it was all becoming cool </i></span></blockquote>
I don't think anyone would disagree that mainstream hip hop too often celebrates misogyny, tolerates (at the very least) <a href="http://rhymeoftheday.blogspot.com/2011/09/brother-ali-tight-rope.html">homophobia</a> and glamorizes crime. Is it okay for us to enjoy music like that? I don't have an answer for you, Dear Reader -- and neither does Mr. Fiasco. You'll have to figure that out on your own. But if you feel at least uncomfortable about it, here's a song for you.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-90964806545960471962011-09-22T23:59:00.000-07:002011-10-04T02:21:09.681-07:00Surreal and the Sound Providers - Push On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>It's been a long journey, a long road<br />Filled with potholes and obstacles<br />I've fallen so many times<br />It forge character tho'<br />And growth in my rhymes<br />Now when I fall, I'm older<br />Get up, smile, brush the dirt of my shoulders<br />...<br />Right now, there's no time to waste<br />Put your best foot forward and try to keep pace</i></span></blockquote>
I not sure I have much to add to this. I'll admit, I'm not a believer in the the "power of positive thinking." <i>Hoping</i> for the best won't unstack your deck; being optimistic isn't going to tip the scales of the Universe in your favor.<br />
<br />
But.<br />
<br />
Maintaining a positive outlook, even temporarily, does <i>feel</i> good. That's reason enough to try.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-78479438117274982252011-09-21T00:35:00.000-07:002011-10-04T02:26:13.685-07:00Mos Def - Life in Marvelous Times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Ends don't meet where the arms can't reach<br />Mean streets -- even when its free, it ain't cheap<br />On-going saga: terminal diagnosis<br />Basic survival requires super heroics<br />No space in the budget for a cape<br />It's when you gotta fly by night to save the day<br />Crash-landings routinely happen<br />Some survive; others never rise from the ashes</i></span></blockquote>
Fantastic lyricism, but it's pretty bleak stuff. It begs the question: what's with the song title? Life in Marvelous Times? It's line after line about the oppressive nature of inner-city life. But then --<br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>And we are alive in amazing times<br />Delicate hearts, diabolical minds<br />Revelations, hatred, love and war<br />And more and more and more and more<br />And more of less than ever before<br />It's just too much "more" for your mind to absorb<br />It's scary like hell, but there's no doubt<br />We can't be alive in no time but now</i></span></blockquote>
Life's tough -- for some of us more than others. But <i>we</i> have to make the best of it. What other option do we have?<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-50662401155663609442011-09-20T14:48:00.000-07:002011-10-04T02:21:27.439-07:00Brother Ali - Tight Rope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Her boy terrified to let the world in</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">He has girl friends but doesn't want a girlfriend</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">He retreats inside himself</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Where he lives life itself in secret</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Daddy says people go to hell for being what he is</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And he certainly believes him</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">'Cause there ain't no flame that can blaze enough</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">To trump being hated for the way you love</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And cry yourself to sleep and hate waking up</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">It's a cold world, y'all</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Shame on us</span></i></blockquote>
One needn't look very hard to find homophobia in rap -- ranging from the casually offensive <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJnlPP7jm5s">"no homo" phenomenon</a> to the aggressively offensive shit like DMX's <u>Where Da Hood At</u>. <a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/07/so_just_how_hom.php">Though there are some signs of progress</a>, this type of ignorance is still quite pervasive. So it's noteworthy when a rapper writes a verse showing solidarity with gay folks. Brother Ali deserves praise for his efforts, but the real celebration will have to wait until the day tracks like this are no longer remarkable for their rarity.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934672802801466844.post-41612158558780762162011-09-19T14:36:00.000-07:002011-10-04T02:21:38.334-07:00Skillz - Hip Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">You get 'em wealth, that's what they attracted to</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And when they get it, it never comes back to you</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And it's sad, to watch you lose your grip so fast</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And when you on TV, all I see is tits and ass</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Shakin' it fast</span></i></blockquote>
I think what's striking about this track is how damn earnest it sounds. Maybe it's just the Cat Stevens hook. Still, when Serious Rappers talk about the state of hip hop, it's usually something like "fuck all the commercial rap; I'm the only one making Real Hip Hop!" Skillz, on the other hand, just seems sad he was left at the altar.<br />
<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Maybe it's who you hangin with</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I ain't blamin' them</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">You get 'em shit they never had</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And that changes them</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">But, see, you precious</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">More like a work of art</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">It's more to you, but the world don't get to see that part</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">...</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Used to think bein' with you, was just the thing to do</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Am I hurt cause you gone? </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Or hurt because you doin' something new?</span></i></blockquote>
In a lot of ways, Skillz' track shows a sort of emotional depth and maturity that other thematically similar songs lack. Folks like Nas are still stuck at the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OVPUGn_U_8">Anger phase </a>of the Five Stages of Grief ("Roll to every station and murder the DJ!"). In one song, Skillz makes it through Bargaining ("You ain't gotta turn back, just don't take a turn for the worse"), Depression ("I'm sorry that I got so attached / But I'm still here, if you ever wanna come back") and, finally, to Acceptance:<br />
<blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">To me, you were never just a passing fad</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I'm grateful -- some never had the chance I had</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">So before you go, take this advice</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Some of us live you, think about us when you livin' your life</span></i></blockquote>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0