The world loves to see America cry

I remember when I first saw this video. I was in the 5th grade and 9/11 had recently happened. Surprisingly I remember the sentiment that I had and what I was thinking at the time. I was able to process the political significance of this and what Outkast was saying. America was seen as THE Superpower, the kid on the playground that everyone was jealous of but respected because he was the biggest, coolest, and strongest.

The title, "The Whole World" is claim to the hatred that America has accumulated over the years of it's birth as a Superpower nation. We have been a neo-imperialist and neo-colonialist country, I admit, and so should you. So there is little reason to why the rest of the world would not hate us, we are occupying their land through our military bases, and our influence on the world is quite ubiquitous and undeniable.

At the time I saw this video I was filled with some sense of patriotism, I was in affirmation that the rest of the world did hate us and that is why 9/11 happened (of course later on I found out the truth thanks to my own research and videos like Zeitgeist). But, what was to be said then, is true now. With America intervening in several nations affairs and always being the "police of the world" it can be understood why America is still the number one target across the world. The kid on the playground just can't learn to play with his own damn toys, or better yet, the kid wants to fix and tinker with everyone else's toys even though his own toys are broken and missing legs and arms.

But hey, this is America! We are a nation of freedom and equality for all, right? So let's spread that and "democracy" to others, if they hate us, so be it!



Word-Life, Word is Bond. Ipsa Scientias Protestas Est...

Black Gold. Live instruments, beautiful black women, the presence of the black father to his sons, and of course shot in my hometown of New York City.

This video is not only inspirational but affirms that there are positive images of Black people out there, we just have to not only find, but create them. In a time where the image of the black population is under attack from the corporate media, and at times miseducated and misguided black folk, something like this is REVOLUTIONARY. It is indeed revolutionary but in contrast to the negative images out there, this becomes revolutionary because of the dire need for these types of images.

Black is Beautiful. Black Gold. I didn't ask to be born black, but I am glad that I was.

Word-Life, Word is Bond. Ipsa scientia protesta est...

Open your ears to the sounds of revolution

In these times I often find that most of the music that is popular and listened to by our youth, hold little social meaning and coerces the mind into a state of submission, consumption, and acquiescence. Turn on the radio station and you will find this to particularly true in the case of Hip-Hop music, the music is saturated with messages devoid of value to the larger society. Songs are often about the glorification of money, the commodification of women, promiscuity,  violence, and just downright ignorance. I admit, not all of these songs and artists do not reflect the entirety of music, but they are the most popular and has led to an imbalance within the music world.

Long gone are the days where radio was a way spreading revolutionary sounds, and I am speaking particularly to Hip-Hop, instead today we are submerged in music devoid of progressiveness, change, positivity, and revolution. At a time like now, where there are 'occupations' occurring world wide and there is a scent of revolution in the air, our music should reflect that, if it is truthful.

Here I will provide my readers with revolutionary sounds from Hip-Hop, R&B, and any other genre I come across. Criticism of the world we live in will be exhibited here through the musical lens and analysis of such will follow. Our youth are being brainwashed with sounds that stultify the mind and soul.

With that said...I give you The Last Poets.