Hip Hop Critique #2

When KRS-One spoke about 9/11 in the Daily News last week it made me ask myself. Is this man crazy? Then I took a deep breath and read what he had to say in his own words.

After reading his response I realized that everyone in this country has freedom of speech but the volume of your voice is regulated.

Whoever says something first is the one more believed. KRS-One to the best of my knowledge has never been violent nor has he ever advocated violence. Yet the Daily News calls him out to be a terrorist for saying the following "Because when we were down at the trade center we were getting hit over the head by cops, told that we can’t come in this building, hustled down to the train station because of the way we dressed and talked, and so on, we were racially profiled. So, when the planes hit the building we were like; mmmm justice."

Is that comment irresponsible? It probably is to some, but I get it. As a black man living in America in the aftermath of the WTC tragedy I couldn't help but wonder secretly to myself "Why didn't we think of that?". The answer was simple. Black people love America and we don't believe in killing ourselves and others to make a statement. Bob Marley said it best when he sang "Build your penitentiary, we build your schools, Brainwash education to make us the fools. Hate is your reward for our love, Telling us of your God above."

KRS-One doesn't speak for me personally, but his comments are reflective of what a lot of people think but won't say at the water cooler with their friend Bob, but will probably say at the family reunion. There used to be a time when hip hop was political and culturally aware but then people stopped listening to the words and started paying more attention to the beats. A majority of today's rappers are afraid to speak out because they feel they will either go out like 2Pac or their records sales will go the way of KRS-One. Either way ya dead. The money pacifies the artists and at the same time pacifies the art form thereby limiting it to become one big commercial for diamonds, vodka, clothes and cars. No substance just bling bling. Hip Hop is a like a well furnished home with no library. It's like a beautiful woman that has no brain. Looks good but no substance.