Dead Prez Hip Hop

[Pogue]

I love this song but they say in the first line or so "ONe good with bout music when it hits you feel no pain, white folks say it controls your brain, i know better than that, i'm game' or so.

I hate comments like that, they're stupid. But they're a very progressive left wing band. The song is about revolution and is anti-sexist, pro-working class, etc. By white folks, is it like a rap slang for ruling class white bourgeoisie, basically 'the man', the oppresor, or is it just a case of racism/idiocy?

[Arise!]

I love this song but they say in the first line or so "ONe good with bout music when it hits you feel no pain, white folks say it controls your brain, i know better than that, i'm game' or so.

I hate comments like that, they're stupid. But they're a very progressive left wing band. The song is about revolution and is anti-sexist, pro-working class, etc. By white folks, is it like a rap slang for ruling class white bourgeoisie, basically 'the man', the oppresor, or is it just a case of racism/idiocy?
This.
They also say, "I'm down for runnin up on them crackers in they city hall", but I know they're not implying anything racist, just that whites are in control.
"The average black male
Live a third of his life in a jail cell
Cause the world is controlled by the white male
And the people dont never get justice
And the women dont never get respected
And the problems dont never get solved
And the jobs dont never pay enough
So the rent always be late; can you relate?
We livin in a police state" from 'Police State'.

[StalinFanboy]

Race isn't just the colour of your skin, but also your status in society. Not sure if I worded that properly, but an example would be the Irish in America. For the longest time they were the lowest people, but now they're considered White as fuck, and Celtic symbolism is used by the majority of the White Nationalist movement. There's a book called "How the Irish became White" that talks about this. In Western societies, being White is having privilege.

Anyway, I had similar thoughts on some of their songs for the longest time, until recently I was talking with a friend about White Supremacy, and race and such, and it really changed the way I looked at a lot of things.

[Shin Honyong]

Race isn't just the colour of your skin, but also your status in society.

This.

Generally when they refer to the "white folks" its a catch-all for the conservative bourgeoisie of the elite. "White" is political term for any group that is generally ruling others, and does not equate to being Caucasian.

[Pogue]

So in that context of the word, where they say 'White folks say it controls your brain' and 'Rush them crackers at city hall' it wouldn't refer to ordinary white proletarians?

[StalinFanboy]

So in that context of the word, where they say 'White folks say it controls your brain' and 'Rush them crackers at city hall' it wouldn't refer to ordinary white proletarians?
Nope. It refers to fat, White rich guys with business suits and gold watches.

[brigadista]

capitalists - what used to be known as the man -back in the day

[Pogue]

cool, i thought and hoped that was the case

[brigadista]

see Gil Scott Heron..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtBy_ppG4hY

[synthesis]

It's important to remember that Dead Prez aren't really about class consciousness. To many black people and other racial minorities, Marxism is perceived as a "white thing" and a distraction from the oppression of blacks... sort of the same way some people here perceive black nationalism.

[StalinFanboy]

It's important to remember that Dead Prez aren't really about class consciousness. To many black people and other racial minorities, Marxism is perceived as a "white thing" and a distraction from the oppression of blacks... sort of the same way some people here perceive black nationalism.
Um... what?

"Organize the wealth into a socialist economy
A way of life based off the common need
And all my comrades is ready, we just spreadin the seed"

[AvanteRedGarde]

It's a case of latent white chauvinism on your part. > Attack the oppressed for anything that rubs you the wrong way.

[Pogue]

It's a case of latent white chauvinism on your part. > Attack the oppressed for anything that rubs you the wrong way.

You're joking right?

[synthesis]

Um... what?

"Organize the wealth into a socialist economy
A way of life based off the common need
And all my comrades is ready, we just spreadin the seed"

That doesn't necessarily have anything to do with Marxism or class consciousness. Dead Prez are still primarily pro-black in terms of their political priorities.

[Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg]

Of course it has something to do with marxism! However DP do call themselves blask nationalists, but they are also socialists.

I love that Gill Scott Heron song, he is a genius

[brigadista]

GIl was pretty much a lone voice during the reagan era...an inspirational artist.. still is

[spritely]

They belong to the petty-bourgeois "African People's Socialist Party" of small business owner Omali Yeshitela (who appears on their debut album). They promote a mixture of "black nationalism and socialism." That should explain everything.