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bobbydigital
Elliptical mystery / Broken apart / Hidden history / Shattered my heart.
Posts by bobbydigital
Fear & Safety
Jun 17th
Mr. J. Medeiros has a new album… it’s very different from his other work, but there are always powerful words.
I lost touch
I caused much and never meant to
Dry ink one eye blink
Heaven rescues
Worthy you could hurt me
How would you help me
I ask this may I have this
Healthy
Feelings my mind stays fixed beyond my ceiling
Trusting in the image of my first love
Healing
Chase me cus if I run away you can’t replace me
Face me
Fear and safety
Was Tupac a Revolutionary?
Apr 22nd
Tupac Shakur is a name with a lot of connotations. He’s one of the best-selling music artists in the world, and one of the most known rappers. He was shot dead in 1996.
Despite popular misconceptions, 2pac was a conscious artist and often spoke about the social issues surrounding him. There are numerous arguments about his progression and the popularisation of his music, and many see his music from different angles.
In this interview shot in prison around 1994 he says a lot of profound things. These words particularly stood out to me:
“Now if we do wana live the thugs life and the gangster life and all that, okay, so stop being cowards and let’s have a revolution. But we don’t wana do that, dudes just wana live a character, they wana be cartoons. But if they really wanted to do something, if they was that tough, alright let’s start our own country, let’s start a revolution, let’s get out of here, let’s do something. But they don’t wana do that, they wana pimp our communities and portray this image that they know we all can’t survive…”
4 The Hood
Mar 24th
Lyrics:
Look look
Yo, you expect me to vote for the lesser of two evils?
NEVER!
It’s more like the evil of two lessers.
That’s like sayin’ – M! Choose your oppressor!
Pick one! Jeffery Dahmer or Hannibal Lecter
You want Crack, Coke, Pepsi or Dr. Pepper?
THEY ALL FU**ED UP and neither one of ‘em better
Cuz Crack is like a Democrat
Cocaine – Republican
Marijuana – Independent Party
SAME GOVERNMENT!
You really think your vote counts?
Ask my folk down in Florida didn’t they straight THROW they sh*t out!
And them crackas act innocent,
KNOWING they depend on this
Benefit from HUSH money from big businesses
MONEY is the president!
Dead Prez,
Dolla dolla bill, and I bet no convention ain’t spinnin’ this
Soon they gon’ need us
BELIEVE US
When these cats pick rappers to be POLITICAL LEADERS?
Don’t be pawns, be Lolita Lebrons
Run up on them all like ‘Muthafu**a it’s ON!’
If CONGRESS can’t make PROGRESS
Let’s change the PROCESS -
NO MORE TOMS RUNNIN’ FOR OFFICE!
Talkin’ like that these crackas’ll call you crazy
What’s crazy is, ain’t no difference in ME and JAY-Z -
The SAME BOAT brought us the SAME PLACE in slavery
So we rock the same chains anyway
BABY, BABY!
I got things I wanna do in my life I aint did yet
I know I’ve been close to the edge but I aint dead yet
it’s never too late to make a change for the better
and I really mean it this time I’m bout to get myself together
I know it’s not just me I’m not the only one
everybody got something that they need to overcome
you aint gotta smoke crack to be a fiend
a fiend is just somebody who’s addicted it can be anything
too many of us addicted to the American dream
we high from the lies on the TV screen
we drunk from the poison that they teach in the schools
and we junkies from the chemicals we eat in the food
Caught in a Hustle
Mar 16th
This is one of my favourite songs of all time.
“Because even though we survived through the struggle that made us
We still look at ourselves through the eyes of the people that hate us”
Immortal Technique – Caught in a Hustle Lyrics:
Noam Chomsky has been actively addressing global issues since long before I was born. He has written hundreds of articles and books and conducted numerous interviews. In fact, today, I’ll be lucky enough to watch him speak. How does a man like that maintain such integrity and the will to constantly search for justice?
In an interview yesterday with Jeremy Paxman, he’s asked something similar.
Paxman: “Can I finish with a personal question, you’re how old now?”
Chomsky: “82″
Paxman: “Why haven’t you mellowed?”
Chomsky: “Because I look at the world. There are things happening in the world which should lead anyone to become indignant, outraged, active and simply engaged.”
If there is a single living figure to point to for inspiration, just look at Noam Chomsky.
Time – Hurricane
Mar 6th
These lyrics, on the The Roots, Common, Mos Def, Dice Raw, Flo Brown & The Jazzyfatnastees track “Hurricane” are some of the best I’ve ever heard:
“Yes, I am the inescapable, the irresistible,
The unnegotiable, the unchallenged [who dat?]
I am time
I scroll in measurements, control the elements,
I hold the evidence, I tell the story [say what?]
I am time
I know no prejudice, I bare no sentiments
For wealth or settlement, I move forward [who you?]
I am time
You can’t recover me, conceal or smuggle me,
Retreat or run from me, crawl up or under me,
You can’t do much for me besides serve
Me well and have good dividends returned to you
Or attempt to kill me off and have me murder you
Many have wasted me but now they are facing me,
Treated me unfaithfully and now endure me painfully
Plaintively, I wait to see what history will shape to be,
Who’s hearts will never die inside the sake of me
Angel’s scribe the page for me,
Keep a full account of all the names for me
And make a special mark for Hurricane who waited patiently” – Mos Def
Listen here. Hit play, it’ll start at the specified point.
Optimism
Mar 4th
There are a huge number of problems in the world today, there isn’t a shortage of causes which one can be involved with. As a person who gives attention to at least some of these issues, nearly all of which are caused by fellow human beings, I’m often questioned on human nature itself. Surely there is a problem inherent to us which has resulted in such a chaotic history, present, and questionable future?
Riz Khan asks Roger Waters, in an excellent interview, this very question. With all of the thoughts on human nature I could share, the first words he utters are exactly what give me hope.
Hit play, the video will start at the point I’ve mentioned.
Who inspires you?
Feb 28th
I remember a few years ago I attended a ‘consultation’ attempting to address the misrepresentation of young people in the media. When I was asked who I looked to for inspiration and ‘leadership’, I surprised my audience. For certainly it wasn’t them, nor their ilk. Rather my peers, I answered, are my inspiration.
This video invokes that memory for one simple reason. They are my inspiration: