Hip-Hop Apologetic: You Don't Know What You're Missing

Last night was the opening night of Dave Chappelle's Block Party in theatres... it documents the coming together of some of the most talented acts in hip-hop (most of whom you would never hear on the radio) as they perform in the middle of Brooklyn, NY near the Bed-Stuy. The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, The Fugees (back together for the concert), Kanye West, Eryka Badu, Jill Scott, John Legend and Big Daddy Kane all perform and pour heart and soul into every word the sing and note they play. My eyes watered. I was moved.

You're not surprised reading this, because you know that I am a hip-hop enthusiast. Some of you probably have your standard line about this genre and it might be any of the following:

"I like the beats, but I can't understand what they're saying."
"Rap music is all about objectifying women."
"Rap music is all about violence."
"Rap music is not music at all."

Granted, the 50-cents, Eminems, Jay-Z's, Young Jeezys and the rest have their own things to say about life (and Iwould still suggest that there are some redemptive things to take form these guys, but that explanation would not fit here). But I would encourage some of you who might find yourself generally opposed to the genre to give it a try, a real and thoughtful try. There are those out there in the hip hop world whose songs drip with authenticity and honesty. These songs feel life. They explore the tensions. They speak truth into a culture of consumption and self-gratification.

Here's one example from "Get By" by Talib Kweli that I think is the type of truth in hip-hop worth hearing. This is not stuff that is just fun to dance to or to pop our collars to. Hip-hop is not about something cute or funny because it is different. People live this. This is life.

[Talib]
Yeah.. my Lord.. yeah
[Verse 1: Talib]
We sell, crack to our own out the back of our homes
We smell the musk at the dusk in the crack of the dawn
We go through "Epidodes II," like "Attack of the Clones"
Work 'til we break our back and you hear the crack of the bone
To get by.. just to get by
Just to get by, just to get by
We commute to computers
Spirits stay mute while you eagles spread rumors
We survivalists, turned to consumers
To get by.. just to get by
Just to get by, just to get by
Ask Him why some people got to live in a trailer, cuss like a sailor
I paint a picture with the pen like Norman Mailer
Me and Willa raised three daughters all by herself, with no help
I think about a struggle and I find the strength in myself
These words, melt in my mouth
They hot, like the jail cell in the South
Before my nigga Core bailed me out
To get by.. just to get by
Just to get by, just to get by
We do or die like Bed-Stuy through the red sky
with the window of the red eye
Let the lead fly, some G. Rap sh*t, "Livin' to Let Die"
[Chorus: Background singers]
This morning, I woke up
Feeling brand new and I jumped up
Feeling my highs, and my lows
In my soul, and my goals
Just to stop smokin, and stop drinkin
And I've been thinkin - I've got my reasons
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
[Talib and background singers]
(ba ba ba, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da badahh
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
Just to get (by by by by by by)
(ba ba ba, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da badahh
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
Just to get (by by by by by by)
[Verse 2: Talib]
We keeping it gangster say "fo shizzle", "fo sheezy" and "stayin crunk"
Its easy to pull a breezy, smoke trees, and we stay drunk
Yo, I activism - attackin the system, the blacks and latins in prison
Numbers of prison they victim black in the vision
sh*t and all they got is rappin to listen to
I let them know we missin you, the love is unconditional
Even when the condition is critical, when the livin is miserable
Your position is pivotal, I ain't bullsh*ttin you
Now, why would I lie? Just to get by?
Just to get by, we get fly
The TV got us reachin for stars
Not the ones between Venus and Mars, the ones that be readin for parts
Some people get breast enhancements and penis enlargers
Saturday sinners Sunday morning at the feet of the Father
They need somethin to rely on, we get high on all types of drug
When, all you really need is love
To get by.. just to get by
Just to get by, just to get by
Our parents sing like John Lennon, "Imagine all the people watch"
We rock like Paul McCartney from now until the last Beatle drop
[Chorus: Background singers]
This morning, I woke up
Feeling brand new and I jumped up
Feeling my high's, and my low's
In my soul, and my goals
Just to stop smoking, and stop drinking
And I've been thinking - I've got my reasons
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
[Talib: repeat 2X - with background singers]
Yoyoyo, yo
Some people cry, and some people try
Just to get by, for a piece of the pie
You love to eat and get high
We decieve when we lie, and we keepin it fly
Yoyoyo, yo
When, the people decide, to keep a disguise
Can't see they eyes, see the evil inside
But there's people you find
Strong or feeble in mind, I stay readin the signs


This is definitely going to be a recurring theme on my blog, as I am trying to redeem hip-hop and unload it from the boxes that we put it into.