High-Minded Hip-Hop Any Progressive Can Enjoy

Posted by Adam Howard at 2:15 PM on August 14, 2007.

Cornel West teams up with artists like Prince and Talib Kweli to release a rap album that paints a powerful portrait of life in Dubya's America.

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When it comes to hip-hop I often feel like Chris Rock who once said, "I love rap, but I'm tired of defending it." So much of it just sounds the same or worse, it's degrading and beneath everyone involved. For those of you who the same or wouldn't normally even get near a hip-hop section of your record store, you need to give an upcoming album featuring Cornel West deserves a listen.

It's technically the second album headlined by the acclaimed best-selling author and activist, but this one, called, Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations, boasts a heavier presence of stars like Prince, Talib Kweli, KRS-One and Andre 3000 of Outkast. While West is by no means a seasoned rapper, he isn't a slouch either. Even though a middle aged Princeton professor, he delivers vocals with authority and panache. In a recent Baltimore Sun article West says:

"This is a whole new different level to connecting the spiritual with the political," West says of the album. "I'm bringing to hip-hop that old-school sensibility. Let me try to bring a sense of history. Let's give our younger people a knowledge of their rich history."

The album touches on "Bushonomics" on the first track, September 11th, the environment, the Iraq War, our dependence on foreign oil and a host of other issues and events that at best would only get a passing reference in your typical rap record, or rock record these days for that matter. West recognizes, what so many pundits and writers fail to, that hip-hop, for better or for worse, is the music that is most influential on the current generation of young people today, particularly in communities of color, and to deny its positive qualities or question its influence is not the best way to utilize its power. Here's more from West on this project:

"Black music, my brother, is a reflection and refraction of the soul of black America," says West, 54, calling from a New York hotel on a recent weekday morning. "The music reveals a lot about who we are and where are right now. My calling is as an educator. The text is readable education. The CD is danceable education."

"Hip-hop is a powerful cultural force that can be used as a link to freedom," West says. "We've always had a group of prophetic musicians that fused the social, political and historical. Hip-hop as a force of change that may not speak directly to the Curtis Mayfield generation, but it speaks to young people and their children. And, my brother, we can't give up on our young people."

Couldn't have said it any better than that. The album hits stores on August 21st.

Tagged as: race, music, african-americans, west, hop-hop

Adam Howard is the editor of PEEK.

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Now? [Report this comment] Posted by: Markson on Aug 14, 2007 6:55 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] It never ceases to amaze me the audacity rappers have to present themselves as "hard" while they universally refused to criticize Bush or the invasion in Iraq prior to 2003. Talib Kweli and Mos Def may have taken on Bush before but there are not mainstream--at all. The power rests with the leaders of hip-hop and they failed horribly to question the situation when it could have mattered. What is the point of coming off as self-righteous now? And West is right: hip-hop is the most influential force on global youth culture, however, apologists need to stop crying foul when the public rightly holds it accountable for glorifying bigotry (racism, misogyny, homophobia) and aggressive violence. This is especially true as, although, hip-hop is performed by blacks it is overwhelmingly the voice of white males, whether they be corporate CEOs or the core fan base. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Now? Posted by: Asses of Evil good point [Report this comment] Posted by: ggg on Aug 14, 2007 7:52 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Hip hop luminaries like dead prez, paris, wyclef and others have come out strong since the beginning, but many of the more mainstream stars with a much bigger audience and a much greater ability to influence the popular culture were content to stay in the shadows. Whatever brilliant and scathing lyrics they might have conjured up, they kept to themselves. It's a sad commentary when the dixie chix have been throwin' down harder than most hardcore rappers!!! Even now, it takes an academic from the ivory tower to drag these Big Names into the light. What gives? In any case, blessings to the professor for schooling us all, once again. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] ....groan [Report this comment] Posted by: El Hombre Malo on Aug 15, 2007 5:11 AM Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Good piece of...advertisement. There has allways been good hip hop to listen if you knew where to look at, so to highlight some record or other just because it happens to bash bush goes beyond pursuing a musical interest and straight into ideological masturbation. I enjoy political art but I enjoy it even when it's message diverts from my oppinion. And I think its pharisaic to minusvalorate artist who dont touch the subjects youd like to hear. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: ....groan Posted by: Asses of Evil » RE: ....groan Posted by: sinfony78 » RE: ....groan Posted by: Adam Howard » RE: ....groan Posted by: El Hombre Malo » RE: ....groan Posted by: soulrebeljc The Art and War of Misanthropic Philanthropy [Report this comment] Posted by: taureandevi on Aug 15, 2007 3:15 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] There are many independent hard working, intelligent and socially active and aware members of the hip hop community that have worked hard to put the facts out there regarding the state of the world under the Bush administration that do not enjoy the backing of big music. One such example is Lotus Tribe featuring S.E.L.F.. Just as much as we need to gather our news from non mainstream sources it is equally true of creative expressions. Their album, Misanthropic Philanthropy, is the ultimate protest album geared toward an enlightened perspective toward change and away from war. For more of my Modern Musings [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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