^^^

 

don't disagree with what you say here, but I find it a load of baloney when a people hide behind their music, and then say it is a lack of understanding of a culture. Maybe other cultures have slaves or beat women, but we (collectively) don't find that acceptable either. That culture, and more importantly, the lack of understanding of such, is an attempted excuse to get away with things that are way out of bounds.

 

I don't know what you mean by saying people hide behind their music, but I think it's fair to say unless one has an understanding of the background and significance of an artist or genre that their interpretation might miss the mark, so to speak, which I think the Daily Caller's interpretation does.

 

The Daily Caller's real beef is with the criticism of Laura Bush's poetry reading by leftists and they are trying to go tit-for-tat by making this one out to be something that it isn't. An eye for an eye, I guess. But, it explains their contrived criticism of one of the more intelligent artists out there as a "cop killing gangsta rapper." I think it's petty, and as someone who is not familiar with the protest over Laura Bush's poetry reading they gave me little reason to join their side and it makes them look foolish. Perhaps if they elucidated what exactly happened with that protest rather than doing the same thing they are complaining about I would have been more sympathetic to their criticism.

Common is big buddies with Oprah, right?

Common is big buddies with Oprah, right?

 

That's likely. He is from Chicago and before Kanye West exploded Common was the most well known rapper from Chicago.

Is the Daily Caller going to speak on when George Bush Sr had Eazy E over to the White House. That is way way more questionable considering Eazy E amassed a fortune off of an album whose most known song was a song dedicated to the police in very unflattering terms. I mean, the Daily Caller should really keep it real, IMO if Common is questionable.

PurplePride92, I appreciate your explanation of Common's lyrics. As someone that admittedly doesn't totally understand the culture or style of music, it's good to have it explained to me. I've talked to a guy I work with (mid 20s African-American) about this song and the artist and he conveyed pretty much the same things to me, so I have no reason to argue or disagree with you. Cultural differences can be as wide as a canyon so it does make it a bit easier when someone helps to bridge the gap. Thanks.

I have already stated that if you aren't familiar with Common I could see where the confusion comes in. I also said I don't expect any of you to understand or buy my explanation either.

 

Is he not allowed to write a poem describing the climate of the inner city? Should he sugar coat his lyrics when describing the mindset of a young black youth that feels oppressed by the police? What exactly should he say when he is trying to express this through the written/spoken word?

 

Like I said, 'my Uzi weighs a ton' is a line from an old song. When old hip hop heads hear those words I go back to the days of that song and a smile comes across my face as I can hear the line which is from the song Public Enemy #1 by Public Enemy.

 

For the record, I don't care who she invites to the whitehouse.

 

As for the "Uzi weighs a ton" lyric...it might be from an old song, but when you put "tell the law" in front of it it's a different lyric. And it's obviously directed at "the law".

 

No one said he isn't allowed to write lyrics for inner city youth, but these lyrics make it appear like these are his words, and his beliefs. I've yet to see anything that makes me believe Otherwise.

PurplePride92, I appreciate your explanation of Common's lyrics. As someone that admittedly doesn't totally understand the culture or style of music, it's good to have it explained to me. I've talked to a guy I work with (mid 20s African-American) about this song and the artist and he conveyed pretty much the same things to me, so I have no reason to argue or disagree with you. Cultural differences can be as wide as a canyon so it does make it a bit easier when someone helps to bridge the gap. Thanks.

 

No problem. I figured I'd at least try. If it was someone like 50 Cent or someone considered a gangsta rapper I would not be so quick to defend them. Not a lot to defend about someone glamorizing violence or killing cops. Being that it is Common I have to defend him. He is extremely harmless and his words should be taken in a metaphorical sense and his audience is very aware of that.

Edited May 10, 201115 yr by PurplePride92

When you try to practice gotcha politics, sometimes you get gotchad yourself ...

Thank goodness Mrs. Obama has such good guest over, hope the police who try to protect our great nation dont get offended to much.

 

 

 

 

http://dailycaller.com/2011/05/09/burn-a-bush-michelle-obama-invites-rapper-common-to-a-poetry-reading/

 

Maybe Toby Keith was already booked.

For the record, I don't care who she invites to the whitehouse.

 

As for the "Uzi weighs a ton" lyric...it might be from an old song, but when you put "tell the law" in front of it it's a different lyric. And it's obviously directed at "the law".

 

No one said he isn't allowed to write lyrics for inner city youth, but these lyrics make it appear like these are his words, and his beliefs. I've yet to see anything that makes me believe Otherwise.

 

I hear you and I understand completely. Like I just told RTS if it was someone other than Common(I used 50 Cent, gangsta rappers as an example) then I wouldn't be so quick to defend him. His words should be taken in a metaphorical sense and his audience knows that. Unless you are as familiar with Common as I am then it would be easy to read these lyrics and think he is advocating killing the cops and burning George Bush and whether you believe me or not is your choice but I can assure you that is not the case.

 

FWIW, these words have neve been published or sold anywhere. It was simply a recited poem on a poetry show which for me is equivalent to a rapper doing a freestyle rap. Meaningless in other words. I hope none of you look too deeply into his poem as violence is not what he is about but if you see otherwise I do understand.

 

 

I am grateful we could have a mature discussion about it. I do appreciate it.

I hear you and I understand completely. Like I just told RTS if it was someone other than Common(I used 50 Cent, gangsta rappers as an example) then I wouldn't be so quick to defend him. His words should be taken in a metaphorical sense and his audience knows that. Unless you are as familiar with Common as I am then it would be easy to read these lyrics and think he is advocating killing the cops and burning George Bush and whether you believe me or not is your choice but I can assure you that is not the case.

 

FWIW, these words have neve been published or sold anywhere. It was simply a recited poem on a poetry show which for me is equivalent to a rapper doing a freestyle rap. Meaningless in other words. I hope none of you look too deeply into his poem as violence is not what he is about but if you see otherwise I do understand.

 

 

I am grateful we could have a mature discussion about it. I do appreciate it.

:thumb: :thumb:

I enjoy reading your insight PP92. I feel like there is a lot of interesting storylines in the "rap game" from the 1990's that quite frankily I don't really know anything about and yet would find interesting. I know that isn't what this thread is exactly about, but thought I'd mention it.

I enjoy reading your insight PP92. I feel like there is a lot of interesting storylines in the "rap game" from the 1990's that quite frankily I don't really know anything about and yet would find interesting. I know that isn't what this thread is exactly about, but thought I'd mention it.

 

Thanks.

 

I could go on and on about the rap game. That is one subject that I probably know more about than anything else. The 90's was the Golden Era of rap. It will never go back to the quality of what it was then and I blame Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Diddy aka Sean Combs. It is all his fault. After Biggie was murdered the rap game changed and not for the better. I still love rap/hip hop though.

Thanks.

 

I could go on and on about the rap game. That is one subject that I probably know more about than anything else. The 90's was the Golden Era of rap. It will never go back to the quality of what it was then and I blame Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Diddy aka Sean Combs. It is all his fault. After Biggie was murdered the rap game changed and not for the better. I still love rap/hip hop though.

 

It's pretty rare I listen to our like any current rap, except for Eminem, but there are a few songs from time to time that I like these days. But I agree, rap was awesome in the 90's.

Okay, I'll try. But here is your warning. When it comes to rap/hip hop, black people and the interpretation of the lyrics of rap/hip hop things can get very very sensitive. A lot of people who admittedly don't know anything about rap/hip hop are quick to bash the lyrics and the music due to lack of understanding of the culture and the message being sent to the culture. I truly don't expect most of you to understand any of it but I guess we'll see.

 

Common is what is known as a conscious rapper. That means that most of his lyrics are lyrics that are wrote with keeping those who live in the streets aware of what is going on in the world. Thus the label 'conscious rapper'. He is conscious to the ways of the world. I have listened to Common since he released his first album 'Can I Borrow a Dollar'. Common has always been one of my favorites as he displays a skill in lyricism that is lacking in today's for of rap/hip hop. He is about 37-38 years old and his most violent lyrics ever were in diss song directed at Ice Cube and The Westside Connection and by rap/hip hop standards his violent lyrics were extremely tame and clever at the same time. No violence ever occured and both sides made up shortly after the song was released. Common is nowhere near what would be considered a hardcore or gangsta rapper. Conscious rappers sit on the opposite side of the rapper spectrum. That is why Hip Hop Box and I find his thread so funny. Common a cop killer????? I laugh out loud reading that sentence.

 

 

Now....in this poem he wrote Common is doing what is known as 'street reporting'. He is actually letting cops know that there are kids walking around with guns in their backpacks and telling the cops why they are packing guns. His reference to Cincinnati is telling as this poem was wrote in 2007 I believe which is in the same time frame of the deaths to people from the hands of the police if I am not mistaken. I can see how one would believe he saying kill the cops but in rap/hip hop you just say 'kill the cops'. You don't wrote a poem about it. (See Ice T and NWA). Common most definitely is not saying to kill the police nor is he advocating it. He is reporting on the climate and emotions that are prevalent in the inner city though.

 

The 'burn a bush' is simply symbolism. Burn a bush is a clever play on words as well as a peaceful way to voice your displeasure at what Common believes was a corrupt president. Those who listen to Common understand this and aren't stupid enough to go find Bush and set him on fire.

 

 

That is my opening salvo. If you need more clarification let me know.

 

Well done. Good explanation.