Monday, August 30, 2010
Music Video: Jasiri X - Dr. King's Nightmare: Dr. King Responds to Glenn Beck
Via Jasiri X:
"This was part of a song Me and Paradise the Arkitech had intended to do as coverage of Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally, as well as Al Sharpton's "Reclaim the Dream" rally. The plan was to spit a rhyme from both perspectives then end with a verse from Dr. King himself. We eventually decided to scrap the idea and concentrate on our next video. However, this article by Legendary Hip-Hop Journalist Davey D inspired me to record my Dr. King verse to Kayne West's "Power" and create a video around it.
Written from the perspective of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jasiri X responds to Glenn Beck's rally and the growing racial and economic divide in America. From the police's brutal beating of Jordan Miles in Pittsburgh and murder of Oscar Grant in Oakland, the increasing poverty and joblessness, to the ever expanding racial division lead by the rhetoric of those like Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin... Dr. King's dream has turned into a nightmare."
LYRICS
I can't believe 47 years after our march
Instead of more enlightened y'all going back to the dark
I thought this was the generation that would capture the spark
To see it even more divided is like a stab to the heart
So ashamed that they want to evoke my name
To try a stoke the flame and make folks deranged
Trying to find scape goats to blame
That lynch mob mentality was the reason from ropes we hanged
So why try to provoke the pain is ya hope and aim
To see the flag blood soaked and stained
These wicked special interests try to coach the game
Cause the wider the divide they have the most to gain
See my dream was far deeper than racial equality
Tried to rid America of the disgrace of poverty
And challenge the government to create the policies that would make equality not a fake democracy
That spend billions on war with such great hypocrisy
And that's the reason that I met fate on that balcony
That's the reason that I met my fate on the balcony
That's the real reason that I met my fate on that balcony
No fool like Beck should have all that power
Buying into all that fear makes you a coward
Whose gonna stand up for the poor in this hour.
Jasiri X - twitter | facebook | youtube
More:
A brief set of links on the Restore Honor rally:
Inside Glenn Beck's 'Restoring Honor' rally. [Washington Post]
Inside Al Sharpton's 'Reclaim the Dream' march. [Washington Post]
Glenn Beck: People don't recognize 'Obama's version of Christianity' - WTF??! [Washington Post]
Beck claims Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy through God - really??! :/ [Politico]
Labels: Al Sharpton, Glenn Beck, Jasiri X, Martin Luther King Jr., Religious Right, Right Wing Nutjobs, Sarah Palin, WTF
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Music Video: DayOneRap - MLK (BMF Remix)
"I think I'm Malcolm X, Martin Luther..." - I LOVE this!
I never got around to posting Rick Ross' "BMF" track which is currently running the streets (and even more amazingly, the airwaves) this summer. Might still do it but then again, I have an issue with a song extolling the lives of notorious drug lords and gang leaders like the BMF founder, Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory and Gangster Disciples leader, Larry Hoover of Chicago, especially one by a proven congenital liar (and former corrections officer) like Ross, no matter how good he may be in purely artistic terms.
On the other hand this track, from the upcoming The Declaration of Independence EP by new DC rapper, DayOneRap, I can ride with without any qualms whatsoever - political rap is back?
Labels: Martin Luther King Jr.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Video: Building a Memorial In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Join Build the Dream. Read more HERE.
Via Ivan - who, and not to get off on a tangent but I gotta comment, is inexplicably catching flack from Eskay of Nah Right and his minions for calling him out on his weak-sauce acceptance of Shyne's BS justification for all these wack records he's been dropping since coming out of jail and singing an alleged multi-million dollar deal with Def Jam. As the leading hip hop blog in the game, Eskay's in a privileged position to speak out on f-ckery when he sees it. Shyne's explanation makes no f-kcing sense and if I was big enough for him to bother calling me, I would have told him that respectfully but honestly. I called it like I saw it from my little platform but people ain't reading me like they do Nah Right. Anyway, there's a good debate around all this over at Ivan's but like I said, not to digress from the more serious topic that is the primary focus of this post.
So while we're on the topic of Civil Rights remembrance, here's what happened in Canada last week on that front...
Labels: Martin Luther King Jr., US race relations
Monday, January 18, 2010
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
The video above: Ten OTHER Things Martin Luther King Said.
President Obama invokes health-care 'progress' in speech honoring MLK. [Washington Post]
MLK Day: A Day of Service. [Beats and Rants]
Previously on The Kitchen:
Watch the Shaun Boothe presents The Unauthorized Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. & Barack Obama video HERE.
MLK, Jr. Posts: 2005 | 2006
Click HERE and HERE for other posts.
[video via Ill Doctrine]
Labels: Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Kobie Chronicles: "An American Dream"
Regular readers know I'm not much for writing extensive pieces on this site with a few exceptions. The inauguration of our first Black president would probably be inspiration enough to become the next exception, but time is not on my side right now plus my dude Kobie blasted out the following piece earlier today that pretty much captured much of what I might have come up with myself. So rather than just end up repeating many of his sentiments and points, let me share his thoughts on Barack's inauguration as we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday today:
"I couldn't help but notice the drizzle that fell as I stood in my yard processing what had just happened. I'm actually experiencing this!!! It was Tuesday, November 4, 2008 and America's 44th President-elect, Barack Obama, had just delivered his victory speech. Always one to ponder the symbolism of any moment, I wondered, "could these be tears from heaven?" If so, they likely belonged to throngs of forefathers, men and women, who watched as a nation defied all conventional socio-political wisdom; electing its first African-American president. Next stop, January 20, 2009. The location: Washington, D.C.
The other day, I spoke with a friend that teaches at the same middle school I attended as a child. He explained how some of the teachers at the school started a petition protesting the screening of Tuesday's Inauguration. This prompted me to remove my music industry hat and share with him a bit of history that is often overlooked.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was America's first Capitol, but a major outbreak of yellow fever and political pressure from the nation's southern states were key factors in the Capitol's relocation. Most Southerners took issue with Northern Quakers who proposed the abolition of the slave trade and eventual end of American slavery. Southern leaders were disturbed because America's power seat existed in a slavery-free state. Pennsylvania allowed Blacks to assemble, attend church, and become educated on their own. All of these activities were prohibited in the South, where slavery built Southern cities, culture and most of America's commerce.
George Washington, our nation's father, spearheaded the southward journey from Philadelphia to D.C. In a move that predates and upstages most of the allegations lodged against Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, the President and Thomas Jefferson formed the Patowmack Navigation Company. It shouldn't come as a surprise that the American government then contracted Patowmack – the President and Secretary of State's company- to handle the mountainous task of turning acres of land and swamp into what is now the nation's capital. They didn't do the work alone. Patowmack purchased and "leased" crews of black people to dig up tree stumps, haul lumber, chisel stone, clear land and stir mortar that was then used to bond bricks. Ruthless overseers, as well as the black's strange appearance averted any flight risks. This is because Patowmack made sure to remove all of the slaves' hair and eyebrows, making it easy to identify and recapture those "employees" seeking a day off, let alone freedom. Their stolen labor built the Washington, the Capitol Building and yes... even the White House. Did these men and women every dream that people who looked like them would ever be free, let alone lead this nation? I'd imagine that theirs were among the eyes that shed tears from heaven on that early November night; shocked by a dramatic change in America's social paradigm. From Martin to Malcolm, Harriet, Coretta and Rosa, American history is full of men and women whose efforts, sacrifice and blood, not only built America, but also made this day possible.
Barack Obama's election doesn't mark the end of racism, but its brilliance shakes prejudice at its core. His election subverts the prevailing image of black men as pimps, hustlers and hypersexual beasts. It presents the image of an incisively intelligent and supportive black woman, mother and wife, in place of the many modern day plantation bed wenches paraded on TV. It validates the efforts of countless - famous and not so famous - men and women who sacrificed everything with the hope that generations of people they'd never meet would eventually experience a much better life. This moment signifies our nation's spiritual and intellectual growth; reminding us that education and preparation are powerful tools. Most of all, this moment proves that anything is possible through God's will and our determination. I'm not sure if the teachers at my old middle school understand this, but I hope that the kids do.
I consider myself and everyone that I know beyond blessed to be a part of this moment, and I look forward to being a part of those that will follow. Even greater is the fact that I am here in Washington, D.C. In the event that Tuesday, January 20, 2009 is not filled with tears from heaven, I can assure you that mine will be among those that fall on earth.
-K"
© 2009 Kobie Brown. All rights reserved
Read more from The Kobie Chronicles here.
The Kitchen previously on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s holiday: 2006 | 2005
Labels: Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, The Kobie Chronicles
Shaun Boothe presents The Unauthorized Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. & Barack Obama
Part 4 of 12. Click the Shaun Boothe tag below for previous editions.
Related:
A King and The Illest: Remembering Dr. King and The Notorious B.I.G. [Real Talk NY]
Labels: Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, Shaun Boothe
Thursday, August 28, 2008
45 Years Later: the Dream Comes Full Circle?
Amazing. It's gonna be history tonight. Bummed I couldn't stay in Denver for it.
Bonus:
The Game feat. Nas - "Letter to the King" [mediafire mp3 D/L link via 2 Dope Boyz]
Labels: '08 Election, Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., US race relations
Friday, April 04, 2008
If King Had Lived, What Now?
40 years after his assassination, the question remains: what if King had lived? [AP article by Allen Breed via ABC News]
Labels: Martin Luther King Jr.
