Who said hip-hop was dead? If I remember correctly, it was Nas who felt this sentiment so deeply he titled his last album just that.
But despite the drop in album sales over the last few years, and the lackluster lyrics being given the most the most airplay these days, I would say hip-hop is still holding on — with a tight grip too.
And I bet Nas isn’t singing that morbid tune anymore, because his new Untitled album comes in at No. 8 on the Top 200 Album Sales chart for the week ending in 8/27 after reigning in at No.1 the week before.
NAS
And who knows, maybe the fiery LP “Sly Fox” has something to with it. But hey, whatever works. On this track he unleashes his frustration with the media’s slanted news coverage — especially of this historical presidential campaign.
“Watch what you watching/Fox keep feeding us toxins/Stop sleeping and start thinking outside of the box/ and unplug from the matrix doctrine/ But watch what you say cause Fox 5 is watching.”
Yesssss. Nas takes it there. Putting Fox on blast in a major way, calling it “visual cancer” and “digital satan.”
Nas starts lyrically murdering Fox from the very beginning, no bars held:
What’s a Fox characteristic?
Slick sh#t
Sensin’
Misinformation
Pimp the station
Over stimulation
Reception
Deception…
That Fox has a bushy tail
And Bush tells
Lies and Foxtrots
So I don’t know what’s real
And true he’s not saying anything that hasn’t been said before, but what makes his message so strong is the audience he’s reaching. Hip-hop, like Fox News has an impact on just about everyone, whether through the airwaves or advertising— people are tuning in. Not to mention the rousing among the young people this has caused, and that’s where it counts.
With the backing of 620,000 signatures Colorofchange.org and MoveOn.org, Nas issued a petition to Fox News demanding they but a stop to the “patterns of racist attacks” on Blacks and Barack Obama regularly spewed through the tube.
This is major for hip-hop. This puts youngsters on point, giving them a perspective from a source they respect — a green light to start being more aware of the information they consume.
“Ya’ll exploit rap culture, then ya’ll flip on us/ Ya’ll own the post, and ya’ll sh#t on us…”
Truth… I am so feeling this track, cause so many of my peers need to hear it. Too many don’t expose themselves to political commentary outside of hip-hop, so for this to make it through censorship — and not be labeled “conscious rap” or confined to the underground like the lyrics of MC greats like Mos Def, Tribe Called Quest, Little Brother and others — is big. This reaches the masses in a powerfully, intellectual way. It brings balance to the rift raft in hip-hop, holding true to hip-hop’s original mission: To be the voice of the young people.
Nas really did his thing on this. And the record sales are just the proof in the pudding. It’s amazing what artists can do when they stop moaning and groaning about everything hip-hop is not, and pick up the mic and start saying something.
Honestly though, putting out an album talking about hip-hop is dead, does no justice for the game. And personally, I couldn’t get into Nas’s last album anyway, because the content was too inconsistent with what he’s put in the past. And I understand, every artist is entitled to their BF moments. I’m just glad it’s over. Now back to the business of empowering the people and making hits.
But this here, this Untitled album — which by the way was suppose to be titled Nigger— is the knowledge kicking Nas I’m use to. It’s not another It Was Written or Illmatic, but it’ll do.
During the Rock The Bells Concert, featuring A Tribe Called Quest and Jay-Z, in New York this past Sunday, Nas basically said the Black leaders of today are ineffective and irrelevant and that’s he’s willing to step up to the plate and carry the torch for his community.
“Jesse Jackson, I love you, but his a*% is outta here. Al Sharpton, his a*& is outta here,” Nas said to a concert goers.
NAZ and Jay-Z
And I got to give props the other artists making contribution the political conversation in America like Puffy, who’s has been pushing the “Rock the Vote,” now the Barack the Vote” campaign, for the past four years. And Jay-Z, who while on tour has devoted a substantial amount of time during his sold-out shows to campaigning for Barack Obama and shining light on George Bush, “The Idiot,” and his lack of compassion for Black folk.
T.I.
And T.I., who came to D.C. in effort to increase voter registration. Now I don’t know if that was really something he wanted to do, or something he had to do because of his community service obligations and all— but hey, whatever works.
And Luda is out there campaigning too. Even though he went hard by bashing Hilary, saying: “Hilary hated on you/ so that b#%ch is irrelevant.”
In my opinion that was a rather low blow. Shame on you Luda. But that’s hip-hop for ya!
…And I’m leave it at that.
Until next time…Stay Fly
Peace, Love and Hip-Hop Forever
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, check out the lyrics to Nas’ “Sly Fox” in their entirety on http://www.metrolyrics.com/sly-fox-lyrics-nas.html.
Now I’m gone for real this time.
—AFRO FLY GIRL
Good review. If you are interested in more political commentry with lyrical flow, check out “Immortal Technique’s” album “3rd World”…he is a well known undeground artist and his album spits fire as well. As for Nas, I’m glad he dropped that album, I only wished more younger heads tuned in.