Rappers rappin' Politics...Yay or Nay?

downtownrobbrown

Just listened to this Killer Mike track called "Reagan" and I think I'm dumber for it. I don't get involved in politics but if I did the Rap world would be the last place I'd want it to show up.

BallzDeep

downtownrobbrown said:

Just listened to this Killer Mike track called "Reagan" and I think I'm dumber for it. I don't get involved in politics but if I did the Rap world would be the last place I'd want it to show up.

yeah, not good.

HarveyCanal

I've got no problem with Killer Mike doing that song. I think it's wack of y'all to act like you are somehow above it. Would you prefer that he only rap about rims and fried chicken?

ketan

HarveyCanal said:

I've got no problem with Killer Mike doing that song. I think it's wack of y'all to act like you are somehow above it.

this.

batmon

Ya'll lucky that I ain't the president
Cause I'll push the fuckin' button and get it over wit
Fuck all that waitin' and procrastinatin'
And all that goddamn negotiatin'
Flyin' back and fourth overseas
And havin' lunch and brunch with the motherfuckin' enemy
I'll aim one missle at Iraq
And blow that little piece off shit off the map
Yeah, I wouldn't give a fuck who it ices
Cause I'm tired of payin' these high ass gas prices
Only the rich benefit, it'll be a cold day in hell before I enlist
To eat shit out a can like a worm
And everyday wear the same fuckin' uniform
Sores breakin' on my funky ass feet
Skin crawlin' cause I ain't took baths in weeks
Not knowin' if I'm comin' home or not
And if I do, I'll probably be shell shocked
I couldn't get a job just a free burial
You know how Uncle Sam treat it's veterans
Absolutely no respect
Get a plate in your head, lose a leg, you might get a check
Or a gaddamn star, you can have that shit
Mother-Fuck a war!

DJ_Enki

HarveyCanal said:

I've got no problem with Killer Mike doing that song. I think it's wack of y'all to act like you are somehow above it. Would you prefer that he only rap about rims and fried chicken?

Not all political rap is good, just like not all rap about rims and fried chicken is good.

batmon

DJ_Enki said:

HarveyCanal said:

I've got no problem with Killer Mike doing that song. I think it's wack of y'all to act like you are somehow above it. Would you prefer that he only rap about rims and fried chicken?

Not all political rap is good, just like not all rap about rims and fried chicken is good.

That's not the real question.

LaserWolf

The Message was more or less the second rap I heard after Rappers Delight.

I think the Message is political, ground breaking and good.

I say yay

But what do I know?

asstro

In general I think a small dash of politics in music goes a very long way. Artists who base their careers mostly on politics are not well represented in my collection.

That said, there's a good interview with Killer Mike about this song here:

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/19/155308252/killer-mike-on-ronald-reagan-and-raising-daughters

HarveyCanal

I just wanted to give people my most sincere and honest thoughts

Yay or nay when an artist does such a crazy thing?

hogginthefogg

I'll say this: I think it's utter bullshit that certain people expect rappers to be political when no other musical genre is held to the same standard.

But I like Killer Mike, and i'm glad this thread exists if only for this gem from the interview posted upthread:

On raising daughters
"I have four children, and I was a terror. My daughters made me believe in a thing called karma. I'll never forget saying to my older daughter, 'Why do you want to go to a Halloween party as Marilyn Monroe? You couldn't think of another woman to be?'

"I gave her the litany of why you should want to be Zora Neale Hurston and Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. I gave it to her, and she turned and looked at me and she said, 'But Dad, Pony Boy is Freddy Krueger. He's Freddy Krueger. You didn't tell him to be Malcolm or Martin or Frederick.' And I just looked at her and said, 'I like the wig.'

TheKindCromang

hogginthefogg said:

I'll say this: I think it's utter bullshit that certain people expect rappers to be political when no other musical genre is held to the same standard.

I expect certain rappers to be political, just the same way I expect Fugazi and NOFX to be political.

Some of these rap guys who are STRICTLY POLITICAL get real boring, real fast. The best is when you can mix the personal and the political. Pharaohe Monch for example, perfect balance IMO

DocMcCoy

ketan said:

HarveyCanal said:

I've got no problem with Killer Mike doing that song. I think it's wack of y'all to act like you are somehow above it.

this.

+1

Mike is about the only "political" rapper out there whose lyrics aren't just a collection of InfoWars buzzwords all strung together.

BeatChemist

Immortal Technique = political raps you can't understand unless you are a conspiracy theorist.

Killer Mike = just enough politics to make things interesting.

I enjoy music that is trying to say something, but "saying something" shouldn't get in the way of good music.

jdeez

my jamz

phatmoneysack

Shamless self promo right here.

I just completed an early 80s rap mix related to this very topic. Its not all politics, but a lot of it is hip hop with a message.

On the question though, I think a healthy mix is fine. Rap is just a conversation. You chat about politics with your friends, so why can't rappers chat about it to their audience? Its only when it becomes all you chat about that it becomes annoying.

http://soundcloud.com/thereturn/message-from-the-80s

1. T.S.G ??? You Should Know To Say No [Jump Back 198?]
2. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five ??? New York New York [Sugarhill 1983]
3. Mr. Magic - Magic's Message (There Has To Be A Better Way) [Posse 1984]
4. Shahid ??? 1984 (Future Shock) [Clockwork 1984]
5. CD III ??? Get Tough [Prelude 1984]
6. Malcolm X ??? No Sell Out [Tommy Boy 1983]
7. Abiodun Oyewole ??? There Was A Man [OBA 1985]
8. Tranquilizing 3 ??? A Fact of Life [Apexton 1983]
9. Carver High ??? Boogie With A Book (Let's Read) [Challenger 1985]
10. Kool Kyle (The Original Star Child)* ??? Getting Over [Frills 1982]
11. The Last Poets ??? Long Enough [Kee Wee 1984]
12. Brothers Unique ??? School Daze [Sutra 1981]
13. The Unknown Rapper ??? Election 80 Rapp [ALA 1980]
14. Abdul Tariq ??? Education [Sutra 1986]
15. Chill Fac-Torr ??? Cen???er City Rock [B Leaf 1984]
16. I.R.T. (Interboro Rhythm Team) ??? Watch The Closing Doors! [RCA 1983]
17. Cholly Rock And The Avenue B. Boogie Band ??? Cash Money [General Music 1981]
18. Community People ??? Education Wrap [Max Music 1980]

LaserWolf

Chatters should chat about politics. But not all the time.
Not all political chatting is good, but some chatters can pull it off, others should leave it alone.

bogart45

There are some really good political songs that I like (KRS, Immortal Technique) then others that are craps so I really think it just comes down to the execution of the song, just like any other type of song.

Electrode

Conspiracy theory rap is funny, though.

DocMcCoy

Electrode said:

Conspiracy theory rap is funny, though.

You say that now, but just wait until you get into an argument with someone who thinks conspiracy theory rap is the only kind that's any good.

Rockadelic

LaserWolf said:

Chatters should chat about politics. But not all the time.
Not all political chatting is good, but some chatters can pull it off, others should leave it alone.

You put the "I" in irony.