1 of the best rap duos dead prez real hip hop activist

real talk….

much respect to Cynthia McKinney

Mr. Barrow, my hats off. Being that this is one of my 2 favorite Hip Hop groups of all time, I was nervous about reading this interview but you made it work and delivered the best piece of writing I have read on this site to date. And please emphasize Stic’s comments on the last couple of paragraphs here. Nobody is attacking President Obama, but he still represents the government so, as the saying goes, sleep with the enemy and get treated as such. One love.

THE BEST ARTICLE I HAVE READ ON BLACK PLANET SINCE I JOINED, KEEP THEM COMING!!!!!!

As long as their is underground, political rap will never die. I won’t ever be able to understand why you dont’ hear more Cise Star, People Under the Stairs, Cyne, Cunninglynguists, etc on the radio. Just… Soulja Boy *shudder*

Its going to take awhile to get back. But hip hop will go back to its true roots. You just have to hang tight right now.

political minded people are almost wiped out. there once was a time when our young adults where revolutionary visionaries now ppl 25 listenting a to an 18 year old about his swagga..when did it be come the thing to be 30 acting 15..how can a thought provoking group like “dead prez” survive when there are no minds to provoke thoughts from.

Cosign Proverb3128!!!

Political rap is some of the best music. Sadly it’s taking a back seat to music that doesn’t make sense. Rap used to b about expression and the punch-lines. Now it’s about money, sex, guns, swagga etc. which in a club/party setting is fine. But not for everyday listening. Rap music is the same right now. Yeah I said it all the same. Most rappers preach the same message they just use different beats and change, add, or take away words. The majority of them say I got money, swagga, drugs, guns, drank, and women(who r ok with the word b***h when they call themselves that but wanna fight when someone calls them the word), and if you get in my way I’ll pop you. Real original guys. That’s y i listen to ol skool and other music. B/c rap for the most part just isn’t original anymore. Hopefully this phase of music we’re in now will die out. At least there’s plenty of music out there I can use to ride this storm out.

I stay up on my Dead Prez stuff and try to support their varied works; from albums to the online magazine. They’ve stayed busy too, though they seemed pretty separate. I’m happy to hear they’re doing something together again. Manhood was a good album too, and I was like “he looks like Curtis Mayfied” on the cover so I guess I got it, lol. I can’t believe it’s almost 10 years since Let’s Get Free, now I’m feeling old.

Dead prez is the s**t . The reason you dont hear them is we as black people have forgotten where we came from. Most claim there history stops at there hood but its really much deeper . Old heads use to tell us all money aint good money.Problem now is We dont care about which it is we just want the money even if it makes our race look bad . Hell the soldier boy aint nothing but the new shuck and jive, We think its cool because it made money doing it but clowns make money too, so is it good or bad money ?

you have to be into politics/tricks in order to pic/up on what most that is saying.and sadly enuff most of us arent,i noticed the brother from the west coast wasnt on the list,rass cass is his name and he had a cd in 1996 that was the rage.nature of the beast was one that most of us should have heard but im sure most didnt,alot of these dummies dont want to hear anything that might rock their little boat so we end up being stupid over an over.

[...] moved to the hot beats of DJ Misbeahaviour, and DJ Brina Payne as they got pumped for dead prez[read their interview here], Styles P, and Pharoahe Monche[watch his interview [...]

‘New Amerykah’ (Erykah Badu) is another socially conscious album that goes way over folks’ heads. Shamefully, I didn’t catch on to Dead Prez until two years ago. Some hip-hop artists scratch the surface lyrically, but they clearly, do go as deep as they could. And it’s a shame too, because hip-hop really is the ‘last voice of Black America’ I remember back in the late 80s when Paris threatened to power structure so much, they silenced him.

The spirit of Gil Scott Heron must never die in our music, Black people. If you scared, say you scared!

Keep On….

naw it’s not dead it just plays to a higher mind frame of audience. Rap on the radio is playing more to you 6-17 years old and that is who they market the music too. When people grow up and become more aware of what’s going on the music taste changes. It’s not dead just playing to a higher mind frame

“That n*gga is up there with Jesus with those speeches.” Are we speaking on our friends or the President, and to compare him to Jesus wow dude is gone. President Obama has been that breath of fresh air the country has needed but I think we as a black people have grown too comfy to quickly. Keep in mind 4 years and 8 year come very quickly when you think its all fun. It would be nice if we started to respect his name and Title, because I know I dont call my Dr. by his last name I place a title in front of it.

ITS ALMOST DEAD…ITS NOT MAINSTREAM NOMO REMEMBER ..PUBLIC ENEMY FIGHT THE POWER THAT S**T WAS MAINSTREAM ….THE MAJOR RECORD LABELS CONTROL WHAT GOES OUT…IN HIP HOP THEY KILLED ALL THAT POLITICAL RAP….THEY DONT WANT BLACK PEOPLE 2 WAKE UP…THATS ALL U HEAR ON THE RADIO IS SELLIN CRAck SONGS OR PIMPIN SONGS …2 KEEP U LOST …OK HOW ABOUT A FULL CIRCLE OF MUSIC INSTEAD OF THE SAME THING…ITS LIKE ITS CLOWNED OR SOMETHING ..BUT DEAD PREZ IS MY NICCAS IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE GETTING BLACKBALLED …

BUT U KNO WHAT …IF U WANT 2 SELL RECORDS AND U COMING ON THAT POLITICAL TIP..AND IF U WANT IT 2 SELL…U GOTTA CHOOSE A SUPA FIRE BEAT TO BREAK IT THRU…AND A FIRE AND CATCHY HOOK…I GOT THAT

My first introduction to political hip hop was NWA. Unlike the artist of today, they spoke from a “third person” point of view. Hip hop reporters so to speak. It allowed you to use your brain and decide what was right a wrong with this world by showing you cause and effects. Props go out to Dead Prez,Goodie Mob,NAS, Too Short, The Coup, ICE T, X-Clan, KRS-ONE, P.E., OUTKAST, ICE CUBE, and every Emcee who understood game converts to street knowledge.

Political Rap/Conscious Rap is as dead as disco! Ninety-Nine percent of rap nowadays is about a commercialized negative self-iamgery. How many different ways can you rap about the same thing…women, dope, guns, drugs, and partying? Just a different beats and a different order of the same subjects. And our mindset has become so pitiful due to the lack of intellect in music that whenever a Bill Cosby or myself calls the BS what it is, we’re labeled with the term “hater” simple because we has eyes and good sense to see a spade for a spade. There is no more X-Clan (not the way they used to be), no PE, no Intelligent Hoodlum, no Professor Griff…there is only “Young/Yung This,” “Lil That,” or somebody with the name “Boy” in their stage names. GROW UP!!!!

http://beyond-the-political-spectrum.blogspot.com/

Political Rap/Conscious Rap is as dead as disco! Ninety-Nine percent of rap nowadays is about a commercialized negative self-iamgery. How many different ways can you rap about the same thing…women, dope, guns, drugs, and partying? Just a different beats and a different order of the same subjects. And our mindset has become so pitiful due to the lack of intellect in music that whenever a Bill Cosby or myself calls the BS what it is, we’re labeled with the term “hater” simply because we have eyes and good sense to see a spade for a spade. There is no more X-Clan (not the way they used to be), no PE, no Intelligent Hoodlum, no Professor Griff…there is only “Young/Yung This,” “Lil That,” or somebody with the name “Boy” in their stage names. GROW UP!!!!

http://beyond-the-political-spectrum.blogspot.com/

Dead Prez on Obama…..

“Politically, his agenda is business as usual. He still promotes capitalism. He is still the black face of a white power system. The 3.2 billion dollars they gave in the stimulus plan to the prison industry was definitely not for the people. He still represents Uncle Sam, in terms of the job he has to do. We got black police that still send us to the same jail. Just cause we have a black politician don’t mean the white house still ain’t the White House. (Laughing) People think if you have anything critical to say about the administration then you attacking the black man. I ain’t attacking a black man. I’m a black man. But when the black man giving 3.2 billion to the prison industry, he aint giving the black man a chance ‘cause we the ones in prison.

But we have to be able to respect him for the historic nature but be able to critically analyze the situation. It’s bigger than hip-hop and it’s bigger than skin tone. It’s about your agenda and what policies you’re putting in place for the people.”

When I was a kid in the 80′s and 90′s I remember political hip hop as racist I was too young to understand but I listened to it because it was cool. If I recall it spread a lot of hate and I can remember being called a cracker because I was wearing an african symbol and I didn’t know what it was I just saw the other kids at my school wearing them. I am glad that era is over with.

no niggas just real dum dont care about s**t but bulls**t

Wow…i feel the same way on Obama…and thats as far as it goes. As for political rap..it isnt dead if you listen to the right people, they may not be producing albums or on the radio…but they are there. If you dont listen to it…then thats why you are probably ignorant to alot of things going on and why rappers do things they do..and why the black populus acts the way they do. Dead Prez is on it…right on target.

I love Dead Prez, they are one of a very few hip hop artist’s that truly speak to the NEEDS of our community. Keep doin your thing brotha’s……….Uhuru!!!

Props to Dead Prez! I definitely feel their movement and their music is on point as well. As far as Obama goes, it’s the same thing I’ve been saying. They throw a black face up there and everybody singing for joy, as if he’s about to do something for ya black azz! See thru the lies!

just to comment on the political aspect, many artist may make a song but it is not released as a single. simply because it doesnt sale. kanye made his comment after katrina and you see what happened. i think artist stray away because of the consequences. i wish we had more songs like u-n-i-t-y, all in the same gang and others. its a shame that the ones that have an opportunity to speak out choose not to. if we dont speak out or demonstrate we go unheard. as for the prison system its a billion dollar a year industry. who would not put money into it. thats about the only place you can put money and expect a pay out. listen to the Geto Boys “The Ressurection” the interviews with King Hoover, he’s talking about all the big wigs with stock in the prison system. that was one of the most political albums out there. scarface ” if i’m caught then I’m out of here.but if you caught up then you out of here. then you wonder what we learned while we been trapped here we figured out how to adapt here”

We never called them political rap. we always knew them as HIP-HOP. Majority of this artists out I dont consider them HIP-HOP because our culture was founded and deeply rooted socio-political struggle and through all athat struggle we also had fun. The difference of club songs back then to now, it wasnt dumb down and it wasnt degrading to women to it is now.Lets be real these rappers now adays doesnt even know the founding fathers of hip-hop and the elements that are pulses of the culture.Thses guys doesnt respect their elders. all they respect are money, their coon A&R’s, and their MASTER(record EXECUTIVES).

I have so much respect for dead prez(RBG), and they can always count on me to get their record. However, the comment regarding Obama’s speeches and Jesus is a subtle message to real hip-hop which is Obama and his speech has the power to manipulate the world. Believe the consciuoss brothers and sisters because Obama is a false prophet,exactly what Master Teacher Frants Fanon was talking about;BLACK MASK WHITE FACE.

OBAMA = NEW WORLD ORDER

there’s a reason to why they are dumbing down the population through music and the media. they dont want us to have our third eye, which will help us see the truth. The truth is going to wake us up and we will cause civil unrest all over the country. That’s why we will never see mass movement that we are seeing and hearing in IRAN.Remember the 1% elite of the world are depopulating the world, and dumbing down the populace is a step to their plan.Shoot, look at all these gangstas, goons, trappers, pimp,etc. they are the top level of dumb down populace. the second are those that think the aforementioned are cool and role models. LETS BE REAL THE SO CALLED GANGSTAS TODAY HAS NOTHING TO THE OG’s because the GANGSTAS back in the day were socio-politically aware. These SO called Gangstas today are nothing but pawns of the government to create civil war in our community. Why do you think they kill more of the innocents rather than their rivals? the numbers wasnt as skewed back in the day as it is today. There’s a reason for that, and there’s a government programs that made it that way.

wow… so people should just really wake up…. i didn’t know a president which is part of a government could be compared to jesus.. i guess they got rappers that sound smart(really isnt). and ones that really are smart..in dis case i think you know what i mean…

Hip-Hop and the message needs to return! However, it will only do so if the consumers will stand up and not promote the trash that is out here now. If society is tired of the silliness played on the radio and on tv by children (ages ranging from teens to old Negros that should be ashamed of themselves), then take a stand. Claim back the heritage and the community that uplifted the culture. Hip-Hop and rap are two completely different things. To God Be Glory.

Dead Prez tried…but if this jerry barrow dude oversees content on here then he’s the biggest sell out, uncle tom, poison-your-own-peoples-mind-and-spirit, despite i’ve ever seen…grow a spine and a conscience and stop hating your own…and stop being a tool used to subversively erode us in every way….

Jazzpast needs to stop smoking crack or meth or weed or whatever he’s killing his braincells with. The government is not the problem- this is a democracy and we voted them in. They are as strong or as sick as we are. Brothers who are still brainwashed enough to call themselves “Ni$$az” are the problem. Brothers and Sisters who sit at home watching BET videos instead of voting are the problem. Young Brothers and Sisters who know more about the NFL and the NBA than the SATs and the S&P 500 are the problem. Brothers in particular who think it’s more manly to “make it rain” than to “be an active father and loyal husband” are the problem. Oh yeah, and Brothers and Sisters who have the nerve to compare any President of the United States to Jesus are. Wake up people. Wake up.

I enjoyed this interview.

I remember when I was bumping dead prez in 99 through about 2001 non-stop.

nobody BLACK around me was feeling it. not a one…and this was in college with black folks from all walks of life and from all different corners of the country.

everybody talking about how they love this type of music, where are the record sales? where are the sold out concerts at BLACK venues? why don’t BLACK PEOPLE invite dead prez to perform at homecoming?

I’ve been to dp’z concerts before and it’s all white hippies.

political hip hop is dead unless you are somebody like jeezy with his “my president is black” bulls**t. gotta slang a little dope and f**k a few hoes before black folks can hear you….

Revolutionary hip hop is not dead,it’s out there to be heard.
The powers that be wont promote Dead Prez!

Get free…RBG!

I think Public enemy and Tupac were the most influential political rappers of all time.

i couldn’t agree with pretty-cp more… it’s we than can change our condition & stop Letting these white music executive’s dictate to us about what kind music to Listen to what kind of music to put out and what sells best what win’s award’s what makes you a whole Lot of money which will soon be obsoLete once this (new world order) takes effect real soon… that snap your finger’s/rock-star s**t is terribly destroying & weakining our youth’s conscious mind’s and thoughts hindering their ability to think and be naturally creative Like our great hip-hop mind’s of the past.. that is what we need to get back to… (critical thinking)

Dead Prez is and has been my favorite group for a long time I am excited by this new venture and look forward to more from these two Kings.

First, i must extend much respect on your interview with DP. Like a number of revolutionary hip-hop heads and lovers of the culture, i was extremely moved by DP’s Let’s Get Free album. Now, almost ten years later, i remain a committed DP supporter. This support doesn’t stem from the motivation gained due to their musical skills, but how they complement their talents with the necessary organizing work that has to be performed throughout this empire and the globe for that matter. Yet, just as them, We all have personal contradictions that we strive to reconcile with. That said, continue to ignore the hate brothers. Cats are going to say what they want to say regardless. It’s evident that you brothers are on the path to mastering that challenge. Continue to keep the pressure on the system. i’m looking forward to hearing the latest album. Uhuru!

You people are asking for a round of reality check. First of all, any one person that believes it “righteous” to “kill any son of God” so that they can live is in serious error. Show me where the first of “Ten Commandments” was abbrogated, in the “bible” (thou shalt have no other Gods before Me)and I will not argue anymore. Then, explain to me why our honorable brother “Frederick Douglas” didn’t even get an honorable mention for the work he put in to free “His” African Slave Brethren, by our new “Chief”?

If they are making music that Black people can play lip service to say that they support while not providing any financial support in purchasing their music and attending their concerts, Yes.

Most conscience hip hop is supported by white audiences, go to any conscience Hip Hop show and 90% of the audience is white.

This is a very good interview with Dead Prez. Revolutionary hip-hop isn’t dead and there many people who want to hear it. I’m tired of all the lolipop and the wannbe gangsta hiphop I want to hear some real hiphop. I can’t wait for their new album.

HipHop is seen as ”dangerous”… unless nagas is talken about cars, jewelry, clothes, drinkin, smokin, gettin p*ssy, or killin other n*ggas….. its all good.

to anyone who wants to get into this deeper go on youtube.com or http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com and look up PROFESSOR GRIFF. he’s goes in on alot of the history and what not far as the music industry n things of that nature. he was the minister of information for Public Enemy.

KNOW THAT when J Edgar Hoover, the FBI, Co-Intel-Pro (counter intellegence program) took the ‘head’ off the black consciousness movement back in our parents days, the body went wild. with no leadership, no political/cultural awareness, the youth….the gangs rose up. Vice Lords, Black P Stones, GD’s, Latin Kings, Crips, Bloods, etc etc….look at what was going on during the time period they originated.

the gov’t even tried to get the Stones to war with the Panthers in chicago using anonymous letters but they didnt fall for it. Fred Hampton was setup by a snitch, who was suposed to be his security, this negro told the police the whole blueprint layout of his pad so the police knew exactly where Fred’s bed was when they shot his crib up in the middle of the night. some say the SWAT team originated from all these beefs with police, Panthers & B.L.A. (shout out to Assata Shakur n George Jackson RIP) THIS WAS NO CO-INCIDENCE !!!

music is used as a TOOL to dumb nagas down, to keep us docile and content with the backwardsness. we only wildout if we wildin’ out against OUR OWN, that how you know nagas is b*tched out cuz their aint no goons around when sum Sean Bell or Rodney King situation goes down….. but U know how it go most negroes still LOVE and FEAR the european subconsiously while secretly HATING themselves and have an inferiority complex we inherited generation after generation…but im optimistic for the youth :)

Co-Intel-Pro was a Gov’t program under the FBI, setup to ‘prevent the rise of a black messiah’, UNLESS it was one they personally created.

ex: Kill MLK and insert Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton, and now the great negro saviour Obama. its basically like this… Kill Jesus and make Judas the false messiah, under Ceasar’s control you digg what im sayin…..

nearly every major group/movement was infiltrated. government agents, snitches, uncle toms and other b*tch azz n*ggas were the downfall. from the 1920s up until TODAY!

n*ggas aint even knowen man… how the f*ck we went from 60s n 70s…black power to pimps n h*es??? just gettin high and f*ckin ??? same way rappin went from the late 80s and early 90s…. to the garbage we hear on the radio NOW…. aint no co-incidence…. erytime nagas start waken up, they do sumthin to put us back to sleep. nagas gotta stop fallin for the okey doke………

oh yeah that Deadprez “MANHOOD” album was str8 !!!

*Ressurect*
*Black*
*Gods/Goddesses*

I had to re-post parts of JazzPast’s post….
______________________________
“LETS BE REAL THE SO CALLED GANGSTAS TODAY HAS NOTHING TO THE OG’s because the GANGSTAS back in the day were socio-politically aware. These SO called Gangstas today are nothing but pawns of the government to create civil war in our community. Why do you think they kill more of the innocents rather than their rivals? the numbers wasnt as skewed back in the day as it is today. There’s a reason for that, and there’s a government programs that made it that way.”

“I have so much respect for dead prez(RBG), and they can always count on me to get their record. However, the comment regarding Obama’s speeches and Jesus is a subtle message to real hip-hop which is Obama and his speech has the power to manipulate the world. Believe the consciuoss brothers and sisters because Obama is a false prophet,exactly what Master Teacher Frants Fanon was talking about;BLACK MASK WHITE FACE.

OBAMA = NEW WORLD ORDER”

oh yeah…. ALL THINGS in existence have a frequency or vibration/vibe to them…

ex: fruits n vegetables are a very HIGH vibration, while pork is an exteemly LOW vibration.

music is the same way….

the reason we nod our heads or tap our feets is cuz we are basically hypnotized by the frequency of the sound. like the guy with the flute playin music for the snakes making it dance. the so-called reptilian brain (r-complex) is part of man’s makeup and it responds to RHYTHMS!!!

it speeds up or slows down ya heartbeat according to the music.

your breathing/heartbeat tempo affects your level of consciousness……

so basically music puts people into a TRANCE and the sounds and WORDS are being planted into your sub-conscious mind. ‘you’ dont know it at the time, but everything is still being ‘digested’ within you sub-consciously….. so be aware of that shyt

cuz it goes both negative AND positive.

When Stic and M-1 give me the word, I’m “all in” …ten toes down. I been ready to take this s**t to the sterets. We just need some real revolutionaries to completely organize this s**t, so we can move out!!

[...] Does Dead Prez Still Have A Pulse? Does Dead Prez Still Have A Pulse? | The Urban Daily BIG [...]

[...] Does Dead Prez Still Have A Pulse? Does Dead Prez Still Have A Pulse? | The Urban Daily BIG [...]

These my n*ggaz right here!!!

10 years ago, when I was 18, I basically stumbled over “Let’s Get Free” in the record store, when that infamous album cover grabbed my attention…

And they’ve been my favorite hip-hop artists ever since (next to Pac)…

Even before that, I was conscious and aware, but they help push me even further…

Check out my page, you can see how I’ve been influenced to this day…

(Revolutionary warfare, it’s all fair in love and war, for the cause I’ll take you off of here)in the words of my nigga Nas. I love Dead Prez and for what they stand for. It’s too much ignorant s**t out and this real music that inspires get left on the backburner. Music like BlackStar (Mos Def& Talib Kweli) – Common – The Roots- Nas.. should get more recognition.

there proably the most underated rap duo of all time, they have skills, but todays rap is not about skills, its about fake thugs. Look at plies, he is all over the radio, he has no skills but claims he is a goon. he even gets exposed and people still eat it up. its marketing its bet thats f**king up the rap game!

Lets get free is one of the hardest albums i have ever heard!!!!!!

[...] a subject I broached with dead prez some time ago. If you choose to speak out against one wrong in your music, like racism, does that [...]

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