CHUCK D: LYRICS OF A RAP REVOLUTIONARY - Softcover

Chuck D; Jah, Yusuf

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0974948411 ISBN 13: 9780974948416

Publisher: Off Da Books, 2015

Synopsis

The power is in the mic, and the power has been unleashed in clubs, arenas, stadiums, stages, and parks all over the planet. MC’s are able to connect with its audience in a way that the music alone cannot. Hip Hop, via the MC, has undoubtedly become the voice of a new generation. Much attention has been paid to the staggering impact hip hop music and culture has had on the greater American and world cultures; its influence on fashion, television, advertising, and the attitudes of the world’s youth. However, not nearly as much attention has been paid to the social and political impact that the art form and its artists have had. Lyrics of a Rap Revolutionary is designed to transcend rap and venture into the realm of offering commentary and analysis into some of the deeper aspects of life itself. As one of rap’s preeminent political and social groups of all time, front man Chuck D offers direct explanations and interpretations of what his lyrics are about as a tool to help set minds free in this "hustle and flow and get rich or die tryin’ times’." Chuck delves into the inspiration and writing of such rap classics as "Fight the Power," "Don’t Believe The Hype," "Can’t Truss It," and "Welcome to the Terrordome." As Chuck D explains, "We must remain mindful that there’s a road to freedom, and resist the embarrassingly popular trend that ignorance and a ghetto mentality, which is cast upon us, is our only food for thought or food for non-thought. As MC’s we must become more responsible and revolutionary in our approach, because we have young people around the globe listening to our every word and watching our every step."

Admirers proclaimed him the Bob Dylan or Bob Marley of rap. -- Los Angeles Times

One of the most politically and socially conscious artists of any generation? -- Spike Lee

Chuck D is the greatest voice in Hip Hop history as far as social commentary and rhymes for the upliftment of Black people. Chuck D is in a league of his own. -- Kool Moe Dee

About this title

About the Author

Chuck D is the lead rapper of the world famous rap group Public Enemy. With millions of records sold worldwide, and over 50 tours on six continents, Chuck D is clearly one of the most sought after celebrity personalities in discussions of popular culture, race, and trends with the youth. The Library of Congress has named "Fear Of A Black Planet" as one of the 50 selected recorded works to be enshrined for preservation. Rolling Stone magazine recently anointed Public Enemy as one of the 50 immortal acts ever in rock and roll.

Yusuf Jah has co-authored several books including Fight the Power: Rap, Race and Reality, and Uprising: Crips and Bloods Tell the Story of America’s Youth in the Crossfire. He is an educator in Los Angeles.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Due to our approach and the stances we ve taken, I ve been at the center of more ideological and political controversies than any other rap personality. I have been charged with being misogynistic, anti-Semitic, racist, seditionist, and anti-American. Despite all of that, we gotta do what we gotta do. With the current state of rap music and lyrics, there s a huge gap between what the artists are serving, and what the audience wants, in fact, and more importantly, what the audience needs. I ve come up with an acronym called R.H.Y.M.E., which stands for Rap Has Your Minds Empty. There s only so much you can rap about what you drive, what you wear, or how much money you have, and as the Hip-Hop listener gets older but has little or no specialized skills in an increasingly competitive and technology based economy, little marketable education, to go along with children and increased responsibilities to take care of, they will seek and demand more.

Edition details

• Publisher: Off Da Books
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0974948411
• ISBN 13: 9780974948416
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 100