Speaking truth to power

Nice to see another Los Angeles Times article; this one doing justice to the notion that hip-hop play a pivotal role of influence in cultivating activist minds. Definitely a noble read, albeit a bit sparse, but some quality research accompanied by a wide-reaching scope and tangible results and anecdotes.

Then, I end up reading this Newsweek article about my man Saigon. Yes, that Newsweek. Yup, that Saigon. A little skimpy and suspect though becuase as much as I do enjoy his works, I know damn well he ain't super polished and without his share of dumbed-down rhymes to appeal to the masses. Whether it is that true street shT or some catchy buck-bucking in the background, he shares his culpability in making the music that doesn't necessarily contribute to the common good. But damn...there's something about him that just has me amped beyond conception for his album. I recall earlier this year in one interview when he said something skin to "you have to come to the people as they are and meet them halfway." I hope son gets his chance to let the world hear his voice because the shT he has to say is realer than real.

But if you wanna get realer than real, look up the name Ken Saro-Wiwa. I came across two recent articles and it took back to a place a time where I wish I could briefly relive for the simple joy oif being able to piece together the names and locales of those whom I've since forgotten. But seriously, the Boston Globe had this article , entitled, "Burdens of oil weigh on Nigerians," while the Observer has this memoir by Ken Wiwa entitled, "In the name of my father." Deeply moving. So as you can see, the world moves a fast and hectic pace, but there's always room to affect change one-by-one. I can recall being in high school and ending up in Atlanta protesting in front of a Shell corporate office with picket signs and TV cameras and really getting into the activist spirit to shed light on the imporper business practices of a multinational corporation whose policies were adevrsely people my peoples on the other side on the Atlantic. Nearly ten years later, we see how the more things change, the more they staty the same. Speak truth to power, my peoples. It's the only you you're gonna be able to make that spiritual come-up.