or Powell's or me• • •
"Mike and Jon, Jon and Mike—I've known them both for years, and, clearly, one of them is very funny. As for the other: truly one of the great hangers-on of our time."—Steve Bodow, head writer, The Daily Show
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"Who can really judge what's funny? If humor is a subjective medium, then can there be something that is really and truly hilarious? Me. This book."—Daniel Handler, author, Adverbs, and personal representative of Lemony Snicket
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"The good news: I thought Our Kampf was consistently hilarious. The bad news: I’m the guy who wrote Monkeybone."—Sam Hamm, screenwriter, Batman, Batman Returns, and Homecoming
July 16, 2008
Hip Hop Is Dead
By: Bernard Chazelle
It's tough to start one's music career with an unsurpassable masterpiece, but that's what Nas did with Illmatic. While not reaching the amazing lyrical heights of that album, Hip Hop is Dead is a fine effort by Nas's exacting standards. In it, Nas vents his despair at the state of rap today. Dunno why but the mix of despair and irony reminded me of this blog.
The bigger the cap, the bigger the peelin', Come through, something ill, missin' the ceilin'. What influenced my raps? Stick ups and killings, Kidnappings, project buildings, drug dealings. Criticize that, why is that? Cuz Nas rap is compared to legitimized crap, Cuz we love to talk on nasty chickens. Most intellectuals will only half listen.
It's not the new "southern" rap he is dissing. It's the corporate media.
(Don't miss the fist jab in the video!)
Me, I'm off to enemy territory (Canada) for a few days.
Embedding was disabled by YouTube, so click here.
— Bernard Chazelle
Dunno why but the mix of despair and irony reminded me of this blog.
Dunno why but this article reminded me of racism, incarceration, the sorry state of rap and Mike Meyer's opt-out tax policy.
The prosecutors bolstered the conspiracy argument by noting that, unlike most Baltimore drug dealers, Mitchell and company had incorporated a legal entity for which they all worked and allegedly funneled proceeds of their drug business into: “Shake Down Entertainment, Ltd.” The group promoted rap CDs and concerts through the company, which even had its own record label, “Shystyville.” Soon, Shystyville CDs with titles like “Pure Shit” became evidence of not just the conspiracy but the crimes themselves, with prosecutors entering into the record lyrics like these:Posted by: Labiche at July 17, 2008 10:07 AMI watch ya brains fly all over on the bitch next to you
Homeboy it’s up to you I could put this pup to you
Then to pumpin’ you up like a innertube
Send shots that’ll pump up the end of you
Leave you all fat and bloated you know I keep
the Mac loaded then I like ta clack rollin’
That’s why Bo and Weez on lock now and every day on lock down
Niggas getting shot down for runnin’ they mouth clown
Tell me how it feels with a gun in ya mouth now
Oh, BTW -- Amazon's MP3 album today is Grateful Dead's American Beauty, $1.99.
Tain't no better Dead.
Posted by: Labiche at July 17, 2008 10:11 AMLabiche: EXACTLY the same things, BOTH ARE TOTALLY CONSTITUTIONAL, its just I'm not in court for murder, fraud (Freemen), AND I'm not proposing succession or the overthrow of OUR CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT. TAX PROTEST IS the very basis of OUR way of life and OUR history AND IS CONSTITUTIONAL. I pay my debts and live in peace with MY neighbors. I work and contribute to society. JUST BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN AND FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION doesn't mean I must commit murder or sell herion to make a living. I support SCOTUS and its decisions on the CONSTITUTION and am willing to, do, and enjoy the reading of such. Perhaps YOU might try that YOURSELF instead of thinking everyone who stands up for their rights is a white supremeist or a black crack dealer. In MY estimation, YOU have never even attempted so much as a phonecall in that direction (1-202-225-0100) let alone studied YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND THEIR ATTENDING SCOTUS DECISIONS.
Posted by: Mike Meyer at July 17, 2008 11:40 PM...instead of thinking everyone who stands up for their rights is a white supremeist or a black crack dealer...
Jeez Mike, chill.
I wasn't suggesting that you were racist or wanted to overthrow the government. I was just impressed with the commitment you had to the tax opt-out policy which I'm too afraid to try to follow.
Posted by: Labiche at July 18, 2008 07:21 AMLabiche: Don't take it wrong, just trying to clearify what is happening in this country where imprisioned crack dealers care to learn more about THE CONSTITUTION than a law abiding citizen would. Where radical groups use the same knowledege to somehow try to justify their crimes instead of living in peace. As far as the TAX PROTEST part, well look around, do YOU really want to buy what WE are buying?
I understand that people are afraid to call. Its a very real fear, founded in facts, so there is nothing I can say to refute those fears. I call only because somebody has to, somebody has to say no at some point.
