Ah what could have been... Revisionist History paints the picture of the "Thug Life" version of Tupac Shakur running wild as the definition of manhood for the next generation. What is so conveniently left out is the part of him that wanted to UNITE the intellectuals with the street cats to initiate positive changes to the world. Another piece of information carefully written out of history is the project that he was working on at the time of his death. For those that don't know, it was an album collaboration with many of the finest from the same East Coast that he was alleged to have been beefing with. Several tracks, including today's feature, were recorded & based on a recently unearthed letter Pac wrote to Chuck D, it can be safe to say that a little P.E. Flavor was gonna be in the mix too. What happened to those tracks??? They were remixed & new vocals were added from some of today's rapper dudes-many of which Pac would have NEVER rhymed with! Buckshot, Tek & Steele's vocals were stripped from the tracks & never used. Fortunately some of the material leaked out before the great corporate heist took place. Enjoy!
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PUBLIC ENEMY - "SHUT EM DOWN"The visuals and lyrics ring out as relevant as ever, and would serve well as a topic of discussion many of today's homes & classrooms. How much has really changed since 1991? Still dealing with extreme cases of police brutality, and the cops somehow getting off in the rare cases that they were charged for their crimes. Still be indoctrinated with foolishness via the Television & Radio Stations, and were still marching/thinking some politician or Jesus is gonna swoop in and save the day. Soak It Up & Be Inspired Family. Teach the youth, so that we can fix our FUTURE... "Who count the money in the neighborhood - But we spending money to no end, looking for a friend - In a war to the core, ripping up the poor in the stores - Until they get a brother kicking down doors - Then I figure I can get bigger - Look 'em dead in the eye and they wince, defense is pressurized They don't really want it to be another racial attack - In disguise so give some money back - I like Nike but wait a minute - The neighborhood supports, so put some money in it - All corporations owe, they gotta give up the dough To my town or else we gotta shut 'em down" In America's early days, much was placed into ensuring that the majority of images of Black People portrayed the narrative that we were somehow less intelligent and/or less than human. There's the Happy Slave, the Over the Top Entertainer/Coon, the Docile & Subservient Aide that would sacrifice ANYTHING for the greater good, the Overly-Religious sufferer-waiting for White Jesus to Make a Way, and when necessary-the Savage. Consistently fed to the masses, these images formed the identity of Black People to those that did not interact with Black People enough to know any better. As time passes, and not enough evidence to the contrary breaks through the filters, the lie becomes truth in the eyes of the masses... "If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed." -Adolf Hitler This cycle has been repeating over & over again for centuries now. for every example of Black excellence, soon came to counter-punch. Before the advent of Radio, TV & Movies, so-called scholars lined up in droves to profess that the Negro inherently possessed every deficiency imaginable. As time passed, and any restrictive type of legislation needed to be passed, the "Black Boogeyman" would be sure to get the job done. From the criminalizing of marijuana & Cocaine-to Jim Crow, America's fear of The Angry and/or Sexually Deviant Black Man could always be counted on. Want to justify the many lynchings, judges handing down Life sentences to hard Labor Prison Camps, or the forced sterilization of Black Women-refer to the image painted that it was somehow for our own good. Somehow that person was being prevented from committing some crime later. Sound familiar? Ever notice that the early Black Exploitation era films almost always featured a Strong brother or Sister fighting against Dirty Cops & Crime Lords that CAME IN to EXPLOIT The Black Community; but suddenly it changed to being mostly about Pimps & Petty Hustlers INSIDE The Black Community? Sound Familiar? Hip Hop once had HEROES, that told us to take care of our families & stay away from the street life-now it's just one big orgy of Sex, Drugs, Violence, Materialism, & everything Chuck D told us Not to do. And several generations in, the majority have forgotten or manufactured new definitions for Everything that life is all about. So it's easy for a cop, or private citizen, to gun one of Our's down & claim "I feared for my life!" Any random day of watching television validates that notion in no time at all. Why was it so easy for the public to believe that Mike Brown stuck his hand into a patrol car and almost take away a cop's gun? How was something as simple as the alleged theft of a $4 box of cigars able to turn a soon to be college student into a terror to the community. From Nixon to Reagan to Bush Sr., painting the picture of Urban Lawlessness always precipitated the coming of a War against Black People. And today it's the same. the only difference is that our enemy has so many more tools with which to spread their propaganda. Black People we are at War. Please understand that radical changes are needed IMMEDIATELY. We have drank the poison Kool Aid for far too long. Wake up, stop making excuses, and think about the future. Why do you think they keep segregating the Black & Brown populations into neighborhoods & schools that Those In Power don't care about??? Why do you think stories keep popping up about alleged "No Go Zones" in other countries? Everything is a test. If you can get away with one thing, in one place, then it will surely work in others. Stop listening to & watching to the foolishness they feed us daily-especially with Our Children sitting right there with Us. Just because there are few movies 7 television shows about Black People, doesn't mean we should just be happy that there is one. Look at the underlying messages coming from these shows. Olivia Pope is as strong as it gets for everyone else-but weak and submissive to NOT ONE, BUT TWO CAUCASIAN MEN. What does that say about the value of a Good Black Man. remember there was one; but he wasn't good enough. On most other shows we are insanely insecure and/or irresponsible. What are we teaching our children? Think about how we are portrayed in the media, and start working to counter that. Let's hold Our Politicians, Preachers, Celebrities, and others accountable for their role in this mess. Boycott the radio stations that only "Program" songs about Sex, Drugs & Violence. Small steps can go a long way. add in a few documentaries and other learning opportunities to that lazy weekend afternoon. Just because your parent didn't do it is not an excuse for you to continue the trend. One Day at a Time & One Step at a Time. let's Learn, Grow & Elevate. Together... P.ROPER E.DUCATION A.LWAYS C.ORRECTS E.RRORS SHOWBIZ & A.G. - "RUNAWAY SLAVE"Nowadays many rapper dudes claim to be just speaking on the reality of what's going on their communities; and while there may be some truth to that, the REALITY is that their version is propaganda for someone else's purpose. Hip Hop never shunned the REALITY of The inner City; but back then it still included the CONSEQUENCE of Drug Dealing 7 other Crimes. These days they make it seem like some cool party everyone wants to be invited to. I could easily provide examples from Ice Cube, NWA, Ice-T, Scarface and so many others-but this morning I woke up with this song in my head. Enjoy. "Chapter two, of every black man's diary/Drugs and diseases, put in our society/Kill another brother and it's bravery/Come on that's one step backwards into mental slavery/Yeah you best believe that's reality/You got black on black then there's police brutality/Yeah it's bad but what makes it sad/Is that I'm being harassed by a black man with a badge/He's sellin out because he's two-faced/But you only got one race, you only got a nigga's face/He's sellin out because times is hard/And old ladies are gettin robbed cause I can't find a job/Fight to the top, and the other man'll drop/And gettin treated like savages will stop/You got the right plan, but goin about it the wrong way/Divided is the long way united is the strong way/Too many died for us to take a pause/So let's all get ours, and stop tryin to get yours/Walk a straight path, but it's so easy to stumble/So weak minds crumble in the concrete jungle/Get your chance to sell drugs, you don't pass up/But a fast buck will wind up to be your last buck It's a damn shame, you're deaf dumb and blind/Did it ever cross your mind, you're killin off your own kind/And pretty soon even you will be a goner/Easy access to guns, liquor stores on every corner/Street knowledge is a must, you never learn enough You're physically rough, but mentally you gotta be tough We shall overcome with no doubt/The runaway slave is sayin peace and I'm out" CHERRELLE & ALEXANDER O'NEAL - "SATURDAY LOVE"As much as I love other genres of music, none can set the course of the day like a good soulful love song. Soak it up & have a Great Day! "When I look at you Memories of love Like no one before You stay on my mind (Special feelings, special times) Feeling so special (I was yours and you were mine) Made for each other, girl (All the good I won't forget) Staying on my mind, girl (Saturday, the day we met) Girl, you know I can't leave you behind There's never any question You will be my Saturday love" |
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