I have to take time out to big up one of my all time favourite hip-hop groups, Dead Prez. I was introduced to them through the mighty tune, 'Hip-Hop', on a mixtape I'd got hold of at Uni. That track is infectious as fire and probably their most comercial success, not that they'd give a shit about that. DP are one of my favourites for way more than just their music; their philosophies, politics and world view represent 'true' hip-hop in my eyes. Recurrent themes of Black empowerment; Veganism; Anti-government make DP an iconic 'conscious' group in the game. Citing a few lyrics is the best way to explain this:
'I wasn't born in Ghana but Africa is my momma
And I did not end up here from bad karma' (I'm An African)
'Life brings life it's valuable so I eat what comes from the ground it's natural' (Be Healthy)
'All my high school teachers can suck my dick
Tellin' me white man lies straight bullshit' ('They' Schools)
'Know what i'm sayin cause Uncle Sam got a plan
If you examine what they tellin us then you will understand
What they plantin in the seeds of the next generation
Feeding our children miseducation' (Propaganda)
Plenty of people really dislike this kind of thing. I think that DP address issues with an honesty that is too raw for America's unhealed wounds; their lyrics sting like salt to the majority mindset. This is (kind of, if I really open up my mind) understandable. Who am I kidding? People may argue that DP should 'tone down' their anti-white, anti-authority content in order to make more reasoned and sedate protest; but that would be crap! They represent a real anger and alienation amongst the so-called 'minorities' of the States, one that has been unfortunately stereotyped as 'Poor Me' syndrome, but is actually a prevalent issue that is commonly swept under the carpet.
Their lyrics are never compromised for the almighty $, which seems to be the case with MANY rap acts, in fact they openly criticise it:
'Don't think these record deals
Gonna feed your seeds and pay your bills because they not
MCs get a little bit of love and think they hot
Talkin' 'bout how much money they got
All y'all records sound the same
I'm sick of that fake thug, R & B
Rap scenario all day on the radio
Same scenes in the video
Monotonous material y'all don't here me though' (Hip Hop)
Despite being a fan, I've never really made it out to many gigs in my life. It's a regret of mine and I like to blame it on lack of £ as a student & my various locations that don't really have a HipHop cultural influence: Cheltenham, Spain, Leicester? My best excuse now is 'I'm a mother!' The bright side of this is that many of the acts I HAVE seen are my favourites: Public Enemy, The Roots, Talib Kweli & of course Dead Prez; they came to Leicester!
It's a small venue with an intimate crowd and I was right at the front, this enabled one of those nights where you really connect with the artists. I didn't drink a drop but was (ahem) rapping along, buzzing from the performance. You can see from this video how close I was, please excuse the bad singing at the end!
There were problems with the sound system, which pissed DP off, but like true pro's they went on for a great set. It was long, well over an hour, so we were able to really get into their back catalogue and new stuff. Of course, the night ended in the crowd pleasing crescendo 'Hip Hop'.
So this is my 'true' Hip-Hop; lyrical, thought-provoking, pro-active. I will contradict this in a later blog, but that's the beauty of hip-hop; it has evolved so deeply that you can choose which branch to sit on.
Dead Prez belong to the branch of music that supports the rest of my hip-hop tree - it's constant, wise, real.
