Immortal Technique

[anti-authoritarian]

Has anyone heard of this guy? I brought Revolutionary Vol 1. the other day. It's pretty inspiring stuff. He talks (raps) about life in the USA and the downfall of capitalist America. See if you can find 'dance with the devil' off the net. It is so depressing but it's real truth man.

[rioters bloc]

there's been some threads about him here (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=41873) and here (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=33461&hl=immortal+technique) and here (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=36311&hl=immortal+technique) and here (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=24122&hl=immortal+technique). from discussions about him on these threads as well as other ones it seems a lot of people respect him as a leftie revolutionary [as i do] but also find his songs extremely misogynistic and homophobic [as i do]. while i think he's a talented mc, i can't listen to him for that very reason.

[violencia.Proletariat]

he has some very reactionary lyrics. most of his stuff isnt that great anyways.

[The Unholy]

I think he's dope. If you like Revolutionary Vol.1, DEFINATELY check out Vol. 2, which is his best album, imo.

He also has Still Revolutionary Vol.1 through Vol 9 and Portable Revolution, which are basically bootleg type albums full of mostly hard to find tracks, interviews, remixes and some new songs.

He should have two new albums dropping in 2006.

I would agree that he isnt the perfect revolutionary and he probably is reactionary at times, but it is definately refreshing to hear in todays "bling-bling" hip-hop scene.

[poetofrageX]

I.T. does aoccasionally saay some mysogonistic stuff, but to me, all of his leftie rhetoric outweighs it.

[donnie_middel1]

man immortal technique is amazing i heard of him through a friend and i love it

[lovebombanarchy]

i dont know... i think technique is sometimes understood. he also has lyrics that could be seen as pro-feminist, in my opinon... for instance, leaving the past talks an abused wife triumphantly leaving her abuser...

[JKP]

I know his lyrics make fun of gays, but I think he only does that for humor ( he used to do rap battles in new york, so it might be a vestige from that.)

And as for women, his lyrics are actually pro women. Not sure how you came to a different conclusion.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I like him, but I think Sun R.A. (http://www.bareregular.com/sunra.html) is better, because he's seems more authentic as a revolutionary, and of 3 albums of his that I own, I haven't heard a single sexist or homophobic lyric.

[Black Dagger]

I.T. does aoccasionally saay some mysogonistic stuff, but to me, all of his leftie rhetoric outweighs it.

Why do leftist pronouncements outweigh misogyny?


I know his lyrics make fun of gays, but I think he only does that for humor ( he used to do rap battles in new york, so it might be a vestige from that.)

Why is 'making fun of gays' acceptable in any context? Especially from a supposed 'communist revolutionary'.


but I think Sun R.A. is better, because he's seems more authentic as a revolutionary, and of 3 albums of his that I own, I haven't heard a single sexist or homophobic lyric.

Agreed, Sun R.A. is awesome (thanks for starting that thread about him btw!)- He's really good at what he does from a technical standpoint too, although a few of his songs (the ones with the United Front, Se7en Wounds etc. i think mainly) are a bit weak in this area. I.E. It sounds like he's just laying down lyrics, but not attempting to flow them with the beat/rhythm- probably some of his earlier stuff? Even in those songs though, the lyrics and music are still good, they don't gel together as well as they do on most of his songs.

[JKP]

Tech explicitly said he was not a communist or anarchist. But he does critique the capiatlist system quite a bit.

And for good socialist hip hop, I would like to reccomend Zearl:

http://zearle.com/

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 15 2005, 01:07 AM

I.T. does aoccasionally saay some mysogonistic stuff, but to me, all of his leftie rhetoric outweighs it.

Why do leftist pronouncements outweigh misogyny?


I know his lyrics make fun of gays, but I think he only does that for humor ( he used to do rap battles in new york, so it might be a vestige from that.)

Why is 'making fun of gays' acceptable in any context? Especially from a supposed 'communist revolutionary'.
totally. personally, i'd rather someone who wasn't a socialist or a leftie at all who supported feminism and queer rights over a so called 'leftie' who was sexist and homophobic.

i guess the thing is that it's not okay to dismiss reactionary views, even if you like the artist - you have to be critical of them. just cos they rap well and/or are famous doesn't exempt them from criticsm.

[Black Dagger]

Tech explicitly said he was not a communist or anarchist. But he does critique the capiatlist system quite a bit.

Seems like a good way to deflect criticism from marxists and anarchists- if he is neither- what 'is' he? A bourgeois liberal?



And for good socialist hip hop, I would like to reccomend Zearl:

Zearle is ok, he's got good lyrics- but his vocals are not that great- as compared to someone like,

Sun R.A (http://www.bareregular.com/sounds.html)


i guess the thing is that it's not okay to dismiss reactionary views, even if you like the artist - you have to be critical of them.

Exactly.

[SanPatricio'sSoul]

Immortal Technique I belive advocates Democratic Socialism in several songs. His songs translate well with frustrated suburban white youth, which is a good thing, cause kids listening to 'Cause of Death' is a much better alternative then kids listening to 'Laffy Taffy' any day, despite the mysogynist lyrics.

[lovebombanarchy]

"i'm not misogynistic, i just like it when you're girl is massagin' it" --immortal technique :ph34r:

regardless of whether he is misogynistic/homophobic... he's certainly about the best rapper in the game right now.

[Black Dagger]

regardless of whether he is misogynistic/homophobic... he's certainly about the best rapper in the game right now.

That says a lot about the hip-hop scene unfortunately :/

Sun R.A!

[The Grey Blur]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 22 2005, 03:19 PM
Sun R.A!
Sun SHUT UP!

[Black Dagger]

Calm down, i gave you a warning, get over it.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

regardless of whether he is misogynistic/homophobic... he's certainly about the best rapper in the game right now.

It's not "certain", it's your opinion -- and one that many, including myself, would disagree with.

Even if it were true, who cares? What if someone comes out who is undisputably the greatest musician ever, but he sings about "how great Hitler was"? Would you listen to him?

[bunk]

Anyone else heard of his new mixtape 'Black Cargo'?

[lovebombanarchy]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2005, 07:28 PM
Anyone else heard of his new mixtape 'Black Cargo'?
no... i'd love to hear it.

where could i find it?

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I got in online.. I had the link but I cant find it now. I know a store where you can buy it online for $5.

[lovebombanarchy]

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9NZH6V2W

try this place for black cargo..it takes a while though

[Tekun]

I like IT, not really feeling Sun RA, but Zearle is pretty tight

I guess its a matter of personal taste :D

[SanPatricio'sSoul]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2005, 07:53 PM
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9NZH6V2W

try this place for black cargo..it takes a while though
What the cover is for Black Cargo I definitally have on a t-shirt. It must have been made by someone who posts on the immortal technique forums (even though they got hacked)

[The Grey Blur]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 23 2005, 07:52 AM
Calm down, i gave you a warning, get over it.
:lol: I didn&#39;t say that because you gave me a warning point (I&#39;m not that petty... <_< ) - I said it beacuse you ALWAYS mention Sun R.A

Almost every thread in music...wait for it...wait foooor it...Black Dagger:Sun R.A, Sun R.A, Sun R.A&#33;...there we go...

[Spartacus]

Has anyone seen his MySpace?

well here it is:

Immortal Technique on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/immortaltechnique)

it&#39;s really his account. I good friend of mine knows him personally. This is proof if you still don&#39;t believe me:

http://myspace-403.vo.llnwd.net/00200/30/42/200532403_l.jpg

[BattleOfTheCowshed]

I own both Revolutionary Vol.1 and Vol.2 and have seen Immortal perform in person (along with his crew, Poison Pen, C-Ray Walz, Pumpkinhead, et. al.) I think he is amazing. I can see why people would think he is a mysoginist or a homophobe. I&#39;m not sure I completely agree, a few of his songs seem pro-women and at the concert I saw him at (in NYC) he gave a long talk in between songs about how he was against misogyny and the abuse of women. As for homophobia, the word &#39;fag&#39; and &#39;homo&#39; have a very complex place in the ghetto and working class areas (and thus in rap). Technique doesn&#39;t really strike me as the type of person who would be against gay marriage or would consider homosexuality to actually be wrong. Instead I think the word &#39;homo&#39; etc. is, as someone earlier said, a vestige from his upbrining and from his past in the rap world. Those types of slurs often are meant to indicate weakness in someone or disagreement with someone. I still totally disagree with their usage and wish he didn&#39;t, but I don&#39;t really think people should judge IT as a "reactionary" because of it. As far as his politics, he mentions Democratic Socialism various times in his songs and one of his songs is called "The Poverty of Philosophy", which is also the title of Marx&#39;s book critiquing anarchism as being a great philosophy, but not very fruitful revolution-wise. Anyway, I think he is pretty fucking awesome, I really consider "Peruvian Cocaine", "Dance With The Devil", "The 4th Branch" and "The Poverty of Philosophy" to be as revolutionary as almost anything any political groups are saying today. I dunno, maybe I can identify with him more because unlike some other political rappers he actually seems to be coming from a working class background. I haven&#39;t heard Zearle or Sun R.A. Do any of you listen to Dead Prez or Son of Nun? Also, have any of you heard this song: http://www.nosheetsleft.com/ghettoremix/ ? It&#39;s a rap song called "Ghetto (Remix)" by Akon, Koba, Miles Solay and...Bob Avakian&#33; Well, they sample from one of his speeches at least. I&#39;m not a particularly big Avakian fan but they chose a good quote of his and the song is actually pretty good.

[Spartacus]

That Ghetto remix song is really good. :)

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I dunno, maybe I can identify with him more because unlike some other political rappers he actually seems to be coming from a working class background.

I don&#39;t think so. As far as I know he was born in a military hospital (and I think his father was a military official, though I could be wrong) and after coming to the US, he went to two seperate colleges than appeared on the battle circuit.

Someone correct me if they know otherwise.


I haven&#39;t heard Zearle or Sun R.A.

Listen:
http://www.zeale.com/
http://www.bareregular.com/sunra.html


Do any of you listen to Dead Prez or Son of Nun?

Never heard of Son of Nun; who is it? And yeah I listen to Dead Prez, they are of my favorites, though the group they belong to(APSP (http://apspuhuru.org/)) is reactionary on some issues, and it has showed in some of their music.

[BattleOfTheCowshed]

Originally posted by [email protected] 1 2005, 06:32 AM
Never heard of Son of Nun; who is it?
He is a very political rapper, you can check him out here: http://sonofnun.net/ . He isn&#39;t as great at wordplay as Immortal Technique and doesn&#39;t have as good of a flow (in my opinion at least) and some of his political messages are kinda superficial/shallow, but he&#39;s still pretty cool.

[fpeppett]

Tech is my inspiration, have loved his music since I first heard it, he really spits inspiring stuff.

Was a member on I-T.com for agesss buts its down now, anyonw who has posted on there no why?

Yes the homophobia concerns me, but rappers like vinnia paz and canibus are filled with it, I&#39;ve only heard him make the odd snide comment.

He&#39;s a true inspiration a guy with brains AND a punch, check him out.

Bin Laden Remix is ill, pure power nothing else.

[lovebombanarchy]

Originally posted by BattleOfTheCowshed+Dec 1 2005, 07:24 AM--> (BattleOfTheCowshed @ Dec 1 2005, 07:24 AM)
[email protected] 1 2005, 06:32 AM
Never heard of Son of Nun; who is it?
He is a very political rapper, you can check him out here: http://sonofnun.net/ . He isn&#39;t as great at wordplay as Immortal Technique and doesn&#39;t have as good of a flow (in my opinion at least) and some of his political messages are kinda superficial/shallow, but he&#39;s still pretty cool. [/b]
son of nun = brilliant

well, the free songs anyway :lol:

[Intifada]

I love Free Palestine by Son of Nun.

Awesome.

[Edelweiss]

Check out http://gnn.tv/videos/29/This_Revolution_with_reviews

Brilliant&#33;

[BattleOfTheCowshed]

Does anyone like any other rappers? I personally think both Nas and Mobb Deep are amazing.

[Spartacus]

Originally posted by [email protected] 4 2005, 11:20 PM
Does anyone like any other rappers? I personally think both Nas and Mobb Deep are amazing.
Nas is awesome. Mobb Deep has gone commercial now. They are crap&#33;

[BattleOfTheCowshed]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2005, 04:55 AM
Mobb Deep has gone commercial now. They are crap&#33;
Word. Still, "Survival Of The Fittest", "Shook Ones Pt. II" and all of the Infamy album = pretty damn awesome.

[Spartacus]

Originally posted by BattleOfTheCowshed+Dec 5 2005, 12:50 AM--> (BattleOfTheCowshed @ Dec 5 2005, 12:50 AM)
[email protected] 5 2005, 04:55 AM
Mobb Deep has gone commercial now. They are crap&#33;
Word. Still, "Survival Of The Fittest", "Shook Ones Pt. II" and all of the Infamy album = pretty damn awesome. [/b]
Oh yeah most definitely. That album will remain classic forever.

[fpeppett]

Yeah Nas is a genius, illmatic and stillmatic being the best, yeah Mobb Deep sold out, fucking G-unit..

Listening to a lot of Jeru the Damaja right now, hes ill

[The Grey Blur]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2005, 05:37 PM
Listening to a lot of Jeru the Damaja right now, hes ill
Poor guy, I hope he gets better soon.

[fpeppett]

haha

[BitchBrew]

Im listening to him right now for the first time, ive just finished revolutionaty 1 and are listening to the vol. 2 as im writing. I really like his music alot, but like alot of you, i have some probs with some of the lyrics conserning the words "*****" and "fag/ gay". And also some of the stuffs he says, like "im gonna kill you ***** and everybody you like and everybody who looks like you"- and stuff like that. But, hes really dope&#33;

[Sense-A]

Sun Ra has Rendesten producing for him&#33;?&#33;&#33;&#33; No wonder he must be off the hook cuz Rendesten&#39;s an awesome beat maker producer.

[Sense-A]

hell yeah i just ordered that Sun Ra - Global Warning produced by Rendesten. The production is niiiice

[MexAmLeft]

Any of you guys ever listen to Psycho Realm?????Left wing chicano rap group from East LA.They have had some great political songs.I can link a few tracks if you would like.Is that allowed here?

[AfricanMilitant]

THE MODerN REvolutionary is in Hip Hop



BIO

Immortal Technique (born 31 March 1978) is a hip hop artist and political activist. He was born Felipe Coronel in Peru. In many of his songs, he references the strife of poverty in the slums of America and he points blame at politicians and social and economic injustice. He has also expressed unwavering support for Mumia Abu-Jamal and has received support from Abu-Jamal in return, featuring him and his speeches via tapes on one of his albums. His politically based rhymes deal with the wrongdoings of the government, the media, religion, and law enforcement. Although he has been offered a deal with at least one major label, he has yet to sign with any, because of disagreements they have over the political content of his songs, as well as Immortal Technique wanting to keep control over his production. He became involved in the business end of things after realizing that in the music business, it is the record companies who are making most of the money. He is currently President of Viper Records.


His Lyrics

I pledge no allegiance, fuck the President&#39;s speeches
What the industry did to &#39;Pac they did to Jesus
Rapin&#39; his vocals and destroying his message
Tryin to deport us if they can&#39;t destroy arrest us
Government front religious, but thier heart is empty
Like a televangelist preaching out of his bentley
Calling abortion murder in a medical building
But don&#39;t give a fuck about bombing Iraqi children
Talking like units in the fucking libretto
Look at thier mansions and look at your suburban ghetto
The gulag, the new hood where they send us to live
Cause they don&#39;t give a fuck about none of our kids
That&#39;s why blacks and latinos get the worst education
While devils run america like "Birth of a Nation"
Affirmative action ain&#39;t reverse discrimination
That shit is a pathetic excuse for reparations.

They say that terrorism revolves around the Qu&#39;ran
But that&#39;s stupid, I&#39;ll show you why its totally wrong
Cause if this country was invaded and crumbled
I&#39;d turn Harlem into a columbian jungle
And I wouldn&#39;t be fighting for a Christian nation
I&#39;d be fighting for survival from extermination
I wouldn&#39;t fight for Fox News, them racist niggaz
I&#39;d be fightin for the hood, for the faceless niggaz
I&#39;d be fighting for the immigrants america loves to despise
Even tho it needs them to make the economy rise
They feed us genetically modified garbage
So I repetitively reload the cartridge
Boston, New York, down to Atlanta
Guerilla war in the swamps of Louisiana
Camera panoramas of hammers couldn&#39;t rock me
East coast to West coast you can&#39;t stop me
And fuck Schwarzenegger, his pops was a nazi
And it runs in the family so run for the grammys
Run to the coon picnic and try to pick up a mammy
But half of y&#39;all are faggots tryin to pick up a tranny
Eddie Murphy ass motherfuckers goin commercial
Even Interscope is gettin pimped by Universal
{?} sounds like green tooth lantern something {?}
But the Bin Laden slush fund remix just worked you

Some Lyrics Were cut out

More On: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortal_Technique

[Aurora]

Why is this in History?

[AfricanMilitant]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2006, 10:05 PM
Why is this in History?
It’s not, I was just checking out the site, well, this guy tlks about history and the destruction of black Communities .

[Vendetta]

I think that this would be better placed in Music. But Immortal Technique is a cool guy, and a good rapper.

[rioters bloc]

i&#39;ve merged african militant&#39;s thread with one of the 7 other threads about immortal technique :)q

[Hit The North]

Originally posted by Carolina [email protected] 28 2006, 11:19 PM
I think that this would be better placed in Music. But Immortal Technique is a cool guy, and a good rapper.
He&#39;s good but I prefer Dead Prez.

Anyways, he&#39;s no Chuck D and no Gill Scott Heron (see, now we have a reason for keeping this in History :P )

[afrikaNOW]

Originally posted by Compañ[email protected] 1 2005, 04:22 AM

I dunno, maybe I can identify with him more because unlike some other political rappers he actually seems to be coming from a working class background.

I don&#39;t think so. As far as I know he was born in a military hospital (and I think his father was a military official, though I could be wrong) and after coming to the US, he went to two seperate colleges than appeared on the battle circuit.

Someone correct me if they know otherwise.


I haven&#39;t heard Zearle or Sun R.A.

Listen:
http://www.zeale.com/
http://www.bareregular.com/sunra.html


Do any of you listen to Dead Prez or Son of Nun?

Never heard of Son of Nun; who is it? And yeah I listen to Dead Prez, they are of my favorites, though the group they belong to(APSP (http://apspuhuru.org/)) is reactionary on some issues, and it has showed in some of their music.
Why is aspa reactionary?

[Jesus Christ!]

The only thing keeping me back from absoultely loving immortal is the fact that he is mysoginist and homophobic. Who ever said that "homo" and "gay" and "fag" don&#39;t mean homosexual is just ridiculous. " wh yyou trying to be hardcore you fucking homo thug? dont be sesitive and angry about this shit that I wrote because if you can take a fucking dick you can take a joke"-obnoxious by immortal technique. Also saying " I never made song to disrespect women"- in the beginning of I believe Crossing the border, does not fix all the mysogonist thigns he says through out the rest of his songs. Rev vol 2 is light years beyond rev vol 1 imo.

[R_P_A_S]

Immortal Technique is why im on this forums. Immortal Technique made my wonder about his lyrics and made me want to read up on the stuff he raps about. what can I say. I first her him when i was 23. im 24 and and he changed my views and inspired me to learn and research. just like Tupac Shakur did in 1996

[Invader Zim]

Why is this thread, about a rapper, in the history forum?