Comments on: The Roots’ Rising Down: Serious Hip-hop for Serious Times http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:46:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: evie http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20789 evie Tue, 20 May 2008 00:33:26 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20789 Obama was not "required" to apologize for anything - if his apology is a lie then he's a liar, but aren't all pols? Wright is not too angry or too black for mainstream - it's just that the angry black man slot has been filled with NOI/Farrakhan. This thread reminded of the poetry performed by Eddie Murphy: Dark and lonely on a summer's night Kill my landlord Kill my landlord Watchdog barking Do he bite? Kill my landlord Kill my landlord Slip in his window Break his neck Then his house I start to wreck Got no reason What the heck Kill my Landlord Kill my landlord C-I-L-L my l a n d l o r d. Obama was not “required” to apologize for anything - if his apology is a lie then he’s a liar, but aren’t all pols? Wright is not too angry or too black for mainstream - it’s just that the angry black man slot has been filled with NOI/Farrakhan.

This thread reminded of the poetry performed by Eddie Murphy:

Dark and lonely on a summer’s night
Kill my landlord
Kill my landlord
Watchdog barking
Do he bite?
Kill my landlord
Kill my landlord
Slip in his window
Break his neck
Then his house
I start to wreck
Got no reason
What the heck
Kill my Landlord
Kill my landlord
C-I-L-L
my l a n d l o r d.

]]> By: Alexander Billet http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20745 Alexander Billet Mon, 19 May 2008 12:57:19 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20745 DR, I have to agree with the rest that your POV on rap is intensely prejudiced and really undynamic. First, being on a major label does not guarantee "cha-ching" as you put it. Most artists are lucky if they get 15% of each album sale from their label, and many are still in debt to the label even after their second album. Appearing on Letterman or a nationally televised show is normally decided by the label. What sets the Roots apart is that they actually use their time to make a statement. Ask the tens of thousands of people who turned up to protest the Sean Bell verdict (or hell, ask Bell's family) if they appreciated the statement the Roots made any less because it was on Letterman. I think you'll find your bubble unpleasantly popped. Second, just calling them semi-literate because they use a large amount of slang and such is just plain wrong. I'm not going to disagree that there is a lot of sub-par hip-hop out there, but you're determined to label them all ignorant. Exactly how much of the Roots' music have you heard? Have you even bothered to listen to anything off this album? DR, I have to agree with the rest that your POV on rap is intensely prejudiced and really undynamic. First, being on a major label does not guarantee “cha-ching” as you put it. Most artists are lucky if they get 15% of each album sale from their label, and many are still in debt to the label even after their second album. Appearing on Letterman or a nationally televised show is normally decided by the label. What sets the Roots apart is that they actually use their time to make a statement. Ask the tens of thousands of people who turned up to protest the Sean Bell verdict (or hell, ask Bell’s family) if they appreciated the statement the Roots made any less because it was on Letterman. I think you’ll find your bubble unpleasantly popped.

Second, just calling them semi-literate because they use a large amount of slang and such is just plain wrong. I’m not going to disagree that there is a lot of sub-par hip-hop out there, but you’re determined to label them all ignorant. Exactly how much of the Roots’ music have you heard? Have you even bothered to listen to anything off this album?

]]> By: Buddy Toledo http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20743 Buddy Toledo Mon, 19 May 2008 12:16:32 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20743 I don't know if I'm the only one, but "I Will Not Apologize" is powerful for me right now, with Obama being required to apologize for knowing a preacher who is too angry and too black for the mainstream. I can't think of a use for somebody who labels Black Thought as semi-illiterate. I don’t know if I’m the only one, but “I Will Not Apologize” is powerful for me right now, with Obama being required to apologize for knowing a preacher who is too angry and too black for the mainstream.

I can’t think of a use for somebody who labels Black Thought as semi-illiterate.

]]> By: D.R. Munro http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20724 D.R. Munro Mon, 19 May 2008 02:10:11 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20724 If you need a group of semi-illiterate rappers to "inform" you . . . you're beyond help (or being of use) anyways. If you need a group of semi-illiterate rappers to “inform” you . . . you’re beyond help (or being of use) anyways.

]]> By: Adu Paako http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20672 Adu Paako Sat, 17 May 2008 20:18:09 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20672 DR, what's wrong with you? Why would having a knowledge of history (i.e. Ethiopia's victory at Adowa) be a bad thing? Moreover, critiquing the world we live in today does not mean that a person should abandon all contact with it. Surely you can see that it is possible to earn a living and yet say that over consumption is causing global warming and that the African American community is marginalised, without being a hypocrite. You should address their argument rather than throwing insults. Talk is cheap, sure. But it is also necessary. One essential part of social revolution is the spread of information. Roots do that wonderfully Finally, who are you to dictate or define what "real" black culture is? DR, what’s wrong with you?

Why would having a knowledge of history (i.e. Ethiopia’s victory at Adowa) be a bad thing? Moreover, critiquing the world we live in today does not mean that a person should abandon all contact with it. Surely you can see that it is possible to earn a living and yet say that over consumption is causing global warming and that the African American community is marginalised, without being a hypocrite. You should address their argument rather than throwing insults.

Talk is cheap, sure. But it is also necessary. One essential part of social revolution is the spread of information. Roots do that wonderfully

Finally, who are you to dictate or define what “real” black culture is?

]]> By: Don Hawkins http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20647 Don Hawkins Sat, 17 May 2008 11:57:43 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20647 If Einstein could come back and see today's World the first word he might use is "Yikes". If Einstein could come back and see today’s World the first word he might use is “Yikes”.

]]> By: hp http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20638 hp Sat, 17 May 2008 03:12:35 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20638 D. R. I lived for a summer on Brookline St.. Don't ask me.. too long ago. D. R. I lived for a summer on Brookline St..
Don’t ask me.. too long ago.

]]> By: hp http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20637 hp Sat, 17 May 2008 03:10:42 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20637 Bush also said the Jews are the Chosen People of God. Right after Einstein's letter was released saying 'bullshit' to that. Gives new meaning to the phrase ''he's no Einstein." Bush also said the Jews are the Chosen People of God.
Right after Einstein’s letter was released saying ‘bullshit’ to that.
Gives new meaning to the phrase ”he’s no Einstein.”

]]> By: evie http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20634 evie Sat, 17 May 2008 03:00:47 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20634 I've an old friend who plays jazz, but I prefer music like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAnSyQA_fT4" rel="nofollow"> Barbara Lynn.</a> I’ve an old friend who plays jazz, but I prefer music like Barbara Lynn.

]]> By: D.R. Munro http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20630 D.R. Munro Sat, 17 May 2008 02:02:53 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20630 I think it is pretty simple: If you release on a major label, if you work with a major producer, and if you appear on corporate shows such as Letterman - you are nothing but a corporate shill in rebels clothes. There is nothing unique about them, there is nothing insightful in the lyrics (are we still talking about Italy and Ethiopia? Really?), and there is nothing progressive in their existence. Talk is cheap. In fact, I am doing it right now. So, Evie, I would say that it is two of the above. I've spent much time witnessing real black culture (the kind that doesn't involve a record deal), and it is very vibrant. Hell, there is even a lively black Jazz scene here in the Boston area. I think it is pretty simple:

If you release on a major label, if you work with a major producer, and if you appear on corporate shows such as Letterman - you are nothing but a corporate shill in rebels clothes.

There is nothing unique about them, there is nothing insightful in the lyrics (are we still talking about Italy and Ethiopia? Really?), and there is nothing progressive in their existence.

Talk is cheap. In fact, I am doing it right now.

So, Evie, I would say that it is two of the above. I’ve spent much time witnessing real black culture (the kind that doesn’t involve a record deal), and it is very vibrant. Hell, there is even a lively black Jazz scene here in the Boston area.

]]> By: Don Hawkins http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20628 Don Hawkins Sat, 17 May 2008 01:44:13 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20628 You know the more I think about this I see the reasoning why CNN or NBC couldn't use the word Joe Biden used to explain parts of Bush's speech. The word bullshit to say that on TV to the American people and the harm it could do probably can't even be measured. Now I have found if you use a word enough it seems to lose it's meaning so bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit there you see just bullshit. You know the more I think about this I see the reasoning why CNN or NBC couldn’t use the word Joe Biden used to explain parts of Bush’s speech. The word bullshit to say that on TV to the American people and the harm it could do probably can’t even be measured. Now I have found if you use a word enough it seems to lose it’s meaning so bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit there you see just bullshit.

]]> By: Don Hawkins http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20622 Don Hawkins Sat, 17 May 2008 00:24:35 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20622 Joe Biden said yesterday that what Bush said in Israel his speech was bullshit. On CNN Wolf said they could not say the word. On NBC Brian said he could not use the word and so the bullshit continues. No no no. Joe Biden said yesterday that what Bush said in Israel his speech was bullshit. On CNN Wolf said they could not say the word. On NBC Brian said he could not use the word and so the bullshit continues. No no no.

]]> By: evie http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20615 evie Fri, 16 May 2008 21:24:22 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20615 DR, Shhhhh, someone might think you're ignorant and even racist with that comment about English. :) Oh my, help, is this black culture or the oppressor's economics - or just bad music, all of the above? DR,
Shhhhh, someone might think you’re ignorant and even racist with that comment about English. :)

Oh my, help, is this black culture or the oppressor’s economics - or just bad music, all of the above?

]]> By: D.R. Munro http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20613 D.R. Munro Fri, 16 May 2008 20:54:18 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20613 Yeah, those lyrics look brilliant. . . I'll watch CNN for a half-hour, scribble something that slighty resembles the English language into a notebook, and speak it to you. Review me? Oh, and then I can go and pretend to be political on Letterman to sell albums. Also, the album was released by Universal Music Group imprint Def Jam. Cha Ching. Yeah, those lyrics look brilliant. . .

I’ll watch CNN for a half-hour, scribble something that slighty resembles the English language into a notebook, and speak it to you.

Review me?

Oh, and then I can go and pretend to be political on Letterman to sell albums. Also, the album was released by Universal Music Group imprint Def Jam.

Cha Ching.

]]> By: evie http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20609 evie Fri, 16 May 2008 20:12:50 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20609 hp, you made me chuckle. hp,
you made me chuckle.

]]> By: hp http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20589 hp Fri, 16 May 2008 17:20:18 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20589 The cycle continues.. The cycle continues..

]]> By: Annie http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/05/the-roots-rising-down-serious-hip-hop-for-serious-times/#comment-20570 Annie Fri, 16 May 2008 14:00:59 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2018#comment-20570 Thanks for the review, I'll definately purchase the album. Thanks for the review, I’ll definately purchase the album.

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