Cyrus Langhorne
The Roots' Questlove recently offered his take on the lack of more musicians releasing protest records and demanding justice amid publicized violent crimes in recent years.
In Quest’s opinion, hip-hop artists are scared of music biz politics ultimately costing them their careers.
“I think a lot of it is just due to fear of being blackballed and not making a living,” Questlove of The Roots told Billboard, referring to the backlash the Dixie Chicks faced in 2003, when Natalie Maines told an audience that the band was “ashamed” that President Bush was from Texas. “We were like, ‘Man, if a white woman can lose her career in the United States for speaking up for what’s right, then sh*t, we’ll get the electric chair.’ I think that was the bottom line. And that just really rendered America silent.” (Billboard)
Check out what rap stars have joined in public protest right here…
G.O.O.D. Music’s Pusha T recently talked about what sacrifice he made in light of the controversial Michael Brown not guilty police officer verdict.
“When the [Mike Brown] verdict came out, we were supposed to start the rollout for [my Adidas] shoe and I was like no, we just can’t start today,” Pusha T said. “Artists definitely should be speaking out about it.” (Forbes)
Last week, rap veteran Nas talked about the importance of educating youth face-to-face amid the widespread protests.
“That’s just embarrassing. I’m one of the guys that’s out there saying, ‘Listen. It has to stop.’ It’s important that every time I see a black child I look him or her in the eyes and say, ‘This is your world. You’re a king or a queen.’ Everything else was telling them they were slaves. It’s important for them to know the history of black children doesn’t start in this great country.” (TIME)
Nas publicly showed his support and involvement last week.
THEY SHOOTING!! Shout out to @NYjusticeleague & @MillionsMarch!! #JusticeLeagueNYC #MillionMarchNYC http://t.co/99PomaoXos
— Nasir Jones (@Nas) December 14, 2014
Rap star Kendrick Lamar recently connected his powerful self-loving “i” song to the need for change in the United States.
“It’s something that I’ve been around since the beginning of time. I remember coming up in the city of Compton and [seeing] these same types of ordeals. So when I make a record like “i”, this is not just about me. It’s about what’s going on in real life, actual [facts].” (MTV)
pull yo nutz up!
This is exactly what I’m talking about in other posts. A lot of us are scared. The 1960s era bred the strongest of Black men.
Digging your avi
No doubt brother. ‘Preciate it. You know about the man? Not many do.
I’m from Baltimore. Yea I know about him
I know that the BGF has degenerated into an apolitical, counterrevolutionary prison gang in Baltimore. They made the news recently. Is he well known out in Baltimore?
Hell yea. He like a icon out here. Some ppl using his name for the wrong reason but he’s well known
on a side note because of the way you think …if you get a chance check out hidden colors 2 its a 3 part collection of information about blacks time line some of it is real yeah yeah but some other parts are inspiring….im not gonna say i believe it all….cause its very hard for man be it any race to do away with ego in form of patriotism…jI would love to hear your input on it…..
I have to check those out. A few people have told me about it so I should get my hands on it.
You are right too about a person’s inability to depart or divorce themselves from personal bias when conducting studies where a part of their identity is an important factor in the case or study. WEB DuBois spoke of this in his research and it does ring true.
Agree but a lot those brothers started to dabble into drugs in the 70’s and we all how that turned out.
Not just that but they all saw what happened to Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, George Jackson, Fred Hampton, Mark Clark, Jonathan Jackson, Bobby Hutton and others who were assassinated and it intimidated the hell out of the successive generations of Black men. COINTELPRO led a massive campaign to disrupt and destroy Black organizations and it was effective in scaring the men who grew up around that era. The men who were teenagers that were supposed to pick up the torch and carry it on after the men from the 60s were martyred, let the torch burn out. Like most of us today, they were frightened.
Sad but true…
a lot of things were introduced to them in a attempt to promote and allow self destruction…
On a sidenote if you ever have a chance check out a doc…called hidden colors
Yeah I’ve seen them…incredible series.
great great what did you think …???? I have done research on my own just for… and found some of their info to be true before i saw the movie…but its tricky cause every race tells its story of self with self being the victim and hero…im puzzled and perplexed…whats scary is how they misunderstood ghadafi’ intentions they speak way to kindly of him…then theres the concept of religion they all pretty much say some of the same things but yet every culture has their version…who is one to really believe…After that add in the fact that if theres good there must be evil ….? are they equal and how do we tell divine guidance from the evil…I say that in reference to christians and muslims both had times in which they were lied to…the snake for eve and the angel in the cave for muslims…I question all of this to give a answer as to why cant black be better….and my thought is we have no idea where we come from and whats right…very hard to give up on a forced thought god that has been embedded since birth….
I agree with you on the religious angle.
There’s no reason to be afraid. In today’s world it’s very easy to expose bs. Also, I know people are iffy on Whites but right now they are putting in the mostr work when it comes to exposing Hoaxes. Like the 2 NYPD cops getting “assassinated”. Where are the rappers who will call them on that? These protest have gone on for weeks and it’s not just us out there. If someone with a name were to go really hard on this the people will know. What they want is a race war. What “We The People” should give these b*tches is Anarchy. To be honest I can’t even trust that Rappers aren’t in on all of this. 50 hasn’t said sh*t about any of the shooting victims. 2 cops get killed not long after he signs his multi-million dollar Underwear deal and he has something to say, suddenly? Interesting…
So the 2 cops that got shot was a false flag?
I thought it was pretty obvious. I’m sorry are there no cops to shoot in B’more? No blood at all on the car. He was blood as fuck downstair but crisp and clean on his way to the ambulance. It had to be done in NY because when it’s NY the world pays attention. Go look at these cops wives press conference. I couldn’t help laughing. When you see it you won’t be able to help it either. the little lady next to her tries to sell it so hard. Wiping invisible tears and shit. Anyway, people need to stop thinking people that claim Hoaxes are crazy. There’s really something going on. They are trying to break America and everyone is in on it. That’s why Obama gave Illegals immunity.
My moms came up in the US State Dept. So I I’ll never believe anything the Government will say try to sell the public…til this day she laughs at folks that read the newspaper.
Someone educated me a long time ago. Long before 9/11. I was young. I didn’t take it to heart until 9/11 That’s when things like symbolism started popping up again. I was like “Wait a minute I remember this stuff”. An old head told me about the military and another taught me about symbolism. Because of that I started to really pay attention. You see how Obama made some deals with Cuba? They wanna get your Aunt(ha) out of there. Especially after the chants from the protesters. That’s what that deal is all about.
I guess that’s why Black Thought changed his name huh Quest.