pop, poetry, politics, and everything in-between.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis released a new song on Friday called “White Privilege II” along with a new album. It’s less pop radio friendly that his hits, and is a 9 minute reflection by Macklemore on white privilege, white supremacy, the way he benefits from it and how he is somewhat complicit in it. I …
Continue reading “Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ White Privilege”
Don’t Cash Crop On My Cornrows – YouTube16-year old actress Amandla Stenberg* together with a classmate, produced a great video making a concise argument about (pop) cultural appropriation, hip hop, and Black culture. She ends with the important question: “What would America be like if we loved Black people as much as Black culture?”(*Rue in …
While Pierre Bourdieu is talking about bourgeois (art/serious) music, this argument the French sociologist makes in an interview with Cyril Huvé could be applied to discussions (and fights) in current pop music genres and subcultures, like metal, hardcore, punk, hip hop, techno, indie, folk, etc.: “What is intolerable for thise who have a certain taste, that’s …
Rap music is so diverse in its themes, its style, its content but when it becomes a vehicle to be talked about in mainstream news, the rap that gets in national news is always the rap music that perpetuates misogyny that is most obscene in its lyrics and then this comes to stand for what …
A word on “bitch.” I initially felt that the album was a beautifully produced work of misogyny. That mostly came from me giving a quick, inattentive listen. Good Kid deserves a lot better. It is that rare rap record that actually abandons triumphalism, invulnerability, and wears the mask. Rappers like to claim to be broadcasters, …
Favorite Songs of the Year: Watsky- Wounded Healer (Deer Tick Sample) The Roots, Jasiri X, Speech Debelle, Watsky: I think I listened to more ~ hip-hop this year than in the last 5 combined. I discovered Watsky through his verse as Shakespeare in the hilarious Shakespeare vs. Dr. Seuss Epic Rap Battle of History (also a …
https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js The Roots’ undun. Impressive short film – The Wire mixed with Gil Scott-Heron’s I’m New Here and, well, The Roots.(Source: https://player.vimeo.com/)
“Film the Police” by B. Dolan feat. Toki Wright, Jasiri X, Buddy Peace, Sage Francis is sort of a Strange Famous Records all-star re-working of N.W.A.’s “Fuck the Police” in response to the perceived increase of police brutality surrounding the Occupy protests. I’m still not claiming A.C.A.B., but maybe one of the results of these protests …
How the hell did I miss this? Let Em Come, great aggressive track by Scroobius Pip feat. Sage Francis & P.O.S. There is also a stunning REDUX version with Cecil Otter (the guy responsible for Wugazi) over at the Strange Famous soundcloud. Let ‘em come.(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
Sage Francis feat. Saul Williams & Will Oldham Where has this song been all my life?
CLARITY AND CHAOS 