So why do people think what some rapper has to say about world events is enlightening?
Everywhere site I go, I read comments saying stuff like, "He speaks the truth!" "Its sooo revolutionary"
To me at least in this song, Lupe is just trying so hard to be controversial by cramming controversial topics like 9/11 and Palestenian conflict.
Here's some lyrics from there
I really think the war on terror is a bunch of bullshit ... 9/11 building seven did they really pull it ... If you turn on TV, all you see's a bunch of what the fucks ... Limbaugh was a racist, Glen Beck is a racist Ghaza strip was gettin bombed but Obama didn't say shit That's why I didn't vote for him, next one either
Stuff like 9/11 being a set up and War of Terrorism being useless are trite and almost a decade old. There's nothing insightful or interesting about media and the news being misinforming
You have to remember that rappers understand the political issues just as well as most people (which isn't very well, generally speaking). I'm not expecting anything illuminating when listening to politicized rap, just a rehash of hot button topics and two minute sound bites. That being said, some songs are pretty good.
Edit: fucking damn, embedding disabled... song is here.
Political Rap doesn't suck. I think you need to reconsider the role music plays. He's a rapper he's just speaking his mind, or trying to make some money... Why the hate? He's not explaining the world events... As far as i can see he is just expressing himself artistically? So he was influenced by -real events- this puts him ahead of most of rap's artists imo :D
As such I feel like "trite" and "useless" are words that could be used to describe just about any form of art :D
edit: Also what's already been said in this thread :D most people are undereducated and haven't had these thoughts yet and ect. I mean you might as well just be complaining about any youtube video's comments :D
Preamble: I'm a diehard Lupe Fiasco fan so I'm going to defend him to death.
When I heard this song, I didn't really know what to say. It is super controversial, I think he meant it to be that way. But at least he's speaking his mind about stuff that is important and relevant to the world. I mean, do you want to listen to the same old "pimp hoes, drink hypnotik, smoke weed, bang bitches" stuff? It gets boring and it seems to be every song.
As far as I know, Lupe Fiasco is a practicing Muslim. So you have to at least understand his viewpoint. A lot of the controversial verses regarding Gaza, 9/11, War on Terror are pretty touchy topics to discuss with Muslims. He's entitled to his opinion in this country.
Regarding the other stuff? He does speak the truth. In my state, tons of schools got shut down due to budget cuts, and the first ones to go were the crappy ones. It was sad to see. Crooked banks? I don't know how you could argue that those banks aren't crooked. They gave loans to practically anyone, didn't care about the risk, shit hit the fan, and now American taxpayers are bailing out banks because they were being too greedy. Foreclosure rates are ridiculous, and banks are just sitting on homes because no one is willing to pay the banks what it cost the banks.
On a side note, we all know the economy is down, but when Wayne did that song with Jay Sean, "Down", he says, "I'm down like the economy." I thought that was trite, but it was clever, funny, and applicable at the time. And I mean, Wayne at least has a lot of my respect due to that song about New Orleans on Tha Carter 3. Seriously, I can't relate to a flood destroying my home, but I've been in tough times and I can relate to that and I'm glad Wayne can too.
The economy is in bad shape right now, and thus it makes other aspects of life pretty crappy too. Rappers rapping about this isn't bad as it allows us to connect with them. I can't associate with most mainstream rappers' lives, or at least what they portray in their songs, because I don't go clubbing, I don't drink alcohol, I don't have sex with random women, and I don't drive cars with 22" rims. I'm not saying I don't like that sort of music, its just sometimes I want to listen to music about what I'm facing.
To be quite honest though, I don't know how old you are, but my guess is you don't have to worry about the stuff lupe talks about. This stuff does seriously effect us and its good that he at least tries to bring it up to us. Though you do sound educated about 9/11 conspiracy theories and media misinformation, you have to realize a large percent of the population isn't as intelligent as you.
On February 06 2011 03:48 dani_caliKorea wrote: ....They suck. [...] So why do people think what some rapper has to say about world events is enlightening? [...]
Well, most mainstream rappers are pretty clumsy, because this is what the masses want to hear, controverse topics flavoured with bad words, damn sad.
But there are actually some pretty good artists who tend to use political content here and there.
Here's something recent, a pre-released song for an upcoming album by Myka 9.
EPT
