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, August 29, 2010
Music Video: Jasiri X - Real Gangstas
via Jasiri X:
"Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan and Jasiri X go on location to New York and Chicago to show the world who the Real Gangstas are, you know the ones who collapsed the economy and were rewarded with billions of dollars. Produced my GM3 "Real Gangstas" is not meant to be a diss song, but a defense of young Blacks and Latinos who are made out to be scapegoats for our country's ills, while the super wealthy continue to add to their tremendous fortunes at the expense of the poor and middle class. Special thanks to Edward 6X for directing the Chicago shoot."
Lyrics:
Verse 1
Gangster means organized crime
to exploit the poor or the blind using fortified lies
before you use the word think more than five times
they use to run with the cops they are borderline swine
with a 360 deal still a whore to the signed line
like a child still amazed at how quarters and dimes shine
real gangstas make billions making slaves of civilians
making slaves of ya children making slaves do the killin
really the games brilliant create the pain and the illness
then sell you the medicine that they claim will heal it
Real Gangstas don't need guns to leave ya brains on the ceiling
they teach ya self hatred and leave ya chained by ya feelings
almost insane from dealing with ya everyday problems
they in every state mobbin doing heavyweight robbin
intimidate congress giving orders to the president
that's why all were selected before we elected them
Verse 2
If you spent ya whole paycheck and you ain't even saved yet
and you still in great debt then are you still a slave yes
800 billions in bailouts is what the banks get
Goldman Sachs Merrill Lynch throw up ya gang sets
Money talks but Ebonics isn't its language
that's why any black man teaching economics is dangerous
Real Gangstas are the 10% Satan and his apprentices
banking discipline businessmen raping pillaging innocents
master plans intricate Africans witnessed it
at the hands of the wickedest bastards and damn hypocrites
scamming riches with cash derivatives on wall street
then slash ya benefits ask the senators cause they all meet
to send soldiers to secure the Iraq boarder
before BP and Halliburton New Orleans had black water
if ya land resources you getting attacked for it
cause Real Gangstas run the world on the backs of the poorest
Jasiri X - twitter | facebook | youtube
More reading:
Paul Krugman: This is not a Recovery. [New York Times]
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Music Video: Jasiri X - What if the Tea Party was Black?
I posted a link to this the other day but thought it deserved its own post because it was so well done. Here's the back-story:
"A few months ago, Tim Wise wrote a widely circulated article called, "What if the Tea Party Were Black" which challenged America to take a close look at the hypocrisy of the Right Wing. Now Pittsburgh rapper, Jasiri X is accepting his challenge in true Hip-Hop form.
The Hip Hop artist says that he got the idea when Paradise, a member of the pro-black rap group X-Clan, forwarded him a copy of Wise's article. "I saw the article and I liked the concept," says the rapper. So Jasiri hit the studio with producer, Cynik Lethal while Paradise grabbed his video camera and they went on their mission to defeat the Right Wing propaganda machine."
Follow Jasiri X on twitter
Labels: Jasiri X, Racism, Right Wing Nutjobs, US race relations
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Video: Jasiri X Responds to the Just A Minstrel Critics
Previously The Kitchen:
Watch the Jasiri X - "Just A Minstrel" music video HERE.
Labels: Coon Picnic, Jasiri X, US race relations
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
MALCOLM X - May 19, 1925 - Feb 21, 1965
Before I forget: Happy Birthday, Malcolm!
Check out Jasiri X's "Universal Ruler" off the Malcolm X tribute album, NECESSARY!
"NECESSARY! a tribute CD in honor of Malcolm X will be released this summer as a prelude to the three unpublished chapters of The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X's daughter, has agreed to write the foreword to three chapters omitted from the original Autobiography of Malcolm X."
I know it's cliche to say it, especially amongst cats who don't read a lot of books but The Autobiography of Malcolm X changed my life when I read it in college. I think I've said it before on this site but as I read it, X's words just reaffirmed stuff I'd always thought or felt but, because I had never heard them articulated anywhere or by anyone else, had come to doubt because of that. I look forward to reading this newly-expanded version of what I consider an essential text in Black, Muslim and American cultural, social and political history.
Tweet
Check out Jasiri X's "Universal Ruler" off the Malcolm X tribute album, NECESSARY!
"NECESSARY! a tribute CD in honor of Malcolm X will be released this summer as a prelude to the three unpublished chapters of The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X's daughter, has agreed to write the foreword to three chapters omitted from the original Autobiography of Malcolm X."
I know it's cliche to say it, especially amongst cats who don't read a lot of books but The Autobiography of Malcolm X changed my life when I read it in college. I think I've said it before on this site but as I read it, X's words just reaffirmed stuff I'd always thought or felt but, because I had never heard them articulated anywhere or by anyone else, had come to doubt because of that. I look forward to reading this newly-expanded version of what I consider an essential text in Black, Muslim and American cultural, social and political history.
Labels: Jasiri X, Malcolm X, US race relations
Saturday, April 17, 2010
New Music: REL!G!ON - Pyramids (feat. Planet Asia & Jasiri X)
New music from this Ottawa-born, Van-city (Vancouver) based MC:
REL!G!ON - "Pyramids (feat. Planet Asia & Jasiri X)" [mp3 & wav file]
From the album Revelationz I in stores NOW! For more info, click HERE.
Previously on The Kitchen:
Watch the video for REL!G!ON's"Lucid" feat. Moka Only & E.D.G.E. HERE.
Labels: Its a Canada Thing, Jasiri X, Planet Asia
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Music video: Jasiri X - Ballers and Rappers feat. President Barack Obama
Clever sample in the hook! I dig it....
[via Jasiri X's Google Buzz]
Labels: Barack Obama, Jasiri X, Politics, US race relations
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
New music: Jasiri X - Exhibit X
The Bloggers Made Me Do it:
"First of all I love “Exhibit C“! Just Blaze’s incredible gritty yet soulful production and Jay Electronica’s raw no nonsense lyricism make this the song of the year in my opinion. The song’s success as well as Raekwon’s Only Built for Cuban Linx Part 2 truly renewed my faith as an artist, because they both proved if you make great Hip-Hop music, people will support it. I especially felt “Exhibit C” because Jay Electronica is spittin bar after bar of consciousness, something that is sorely missing in today’s rap landscape. To echo Just Blaze, “we need something realer”."
Read more on why Jasiri X rocked the “Exhibt C” instrumental HERE.
Listen to Jasiri X - "Exhibit X" [usershare mp3 link: stream | download]
Related:
Download Jasiri X's American History X mixtape HERE.
I'm getting to "Exhibit C"....
Online:
Jasiri X - Real Talk Xpress | twitter
Labels: Jasiri X, Jay Electronica, Just Blaze
Friday, December 18, 2009
New mixtape: Jasiri X - American History X
New mixtape featuring many of the tracks from Jasiri X's Real Talk Xpress video series. Click HERE to see the back cover with the full tracklisting.
Download the Jasiri X - American History X mixtape HERE. [usershare link]
Online:
Jasiri X - Real Talk Xpress | twitter
Labels: Jasiri X
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Music video: Jasiri X - "Ballers and Rappers" feat. President Barack Obama
"President Barack Obama looking to boast his sagging approval rating teams up with conscious rapper Jasiri X on a song designed to change the media's negative portrayal of Black man. "Ballers and Rappers"- the Season Finale of This Week With Jasiri X, was produced by Black Czer and directed by Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan."
Season finale?? I'm sure I just saw another one of these videos in my inbox!
Labels: Barack Obama, Jasiri X
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Music video: Jasiri X - "Afghanistan (HerStory)"
Yes, guilty as charged - another one of my 'random posts' about the Afghan elections and such! :/
"Episode 26 is tells the story of the connection between Afghanistan and war, leading to her intimate yet volatile relationship with the United States. "Afghanistan (HerStory)" is produced by Kai Roberts and directed by Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan."
Click HERE for the lyrics.
Online:
Real Talk Xpress
Labels: Afghanistan, Jasiri X, Politics
Thursday, November 12, 2009
WTF??!!? In 2009 is Blackface the New Black?
[Daily Show viewing link | Canadian Comedy Network viewing link.]
And while we're on the topic of Blackface (still?), check this out right here in my hometown at the local institute of 'higher' learning:
Four white students at the University of Toronto (U of T) decide to don Blackface and play the 'Jamaican Bobsled Team' for Halloween (with one Black student in 'Whiteface' as their coach, er... what??). C'mon, son! [Torontoist]
After (a more-than-appropriate) uproar, U of T hosts a Lesson on Blackface Town Hall meeting. [also via Torontoist]
Previously on The Kitchen:
Bamboozled Entertainment Television: The Return of Blackface!
Jasiri X's "Blackface" music video.
Labels: Its a T.dot Thing, Jasiri X, Racism, US race relations, WTF
Music video: Jasiri X - "Silent Night (Do Rappers Watch the News?)"
This week with Jasiri X:
"Episode 25 asks the burning question-With so much going on all over the world, how come nobody's rappin about it? Silent Night (Do Rappers Watch the News?) was produced by Religion and Directed by Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan."
Good question! Nice take on the intro track, "What We Talkin' About" from Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 album. S'cool except that nonense about vaccines "we're being forced to take" at the beginning. Can the H1N1 hsyteria stop already?! That woman, Desiree Jennings who claimed she got dystonia from the flu shot is already recovering from her supposedly irreversible condition.
Online:
Jasiri X - Real Talk Xpress | twitter
[h/t: Desiree links via Bol]
Labels: Jasiri X
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Music video: Jasiri X - "Beware Young Girls"
""Beware Young Girl" explores the disturbing trend of horrific violence and injustice towards women, including the brutal gang rape of a 15 year old girl in Richmond, California, the case of Sarah Kruzan who was sentenced to life without parole at age 16 for killing her pimp, who raped her and forced her into prostitution at age 16, and the case of Heather Ellis, a college honor student who is facing 15 years in prison for allegedly cutting the line at Walmart. Episode 24 was produced by King Sym and was directed by Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan"
More:
TheHeatherEllisCase.com
Richmond High School Gang-Rape Victim Speaks Out for First Time. [CBS} | Police: As many as 20 present at gang rape outside school dance. [CNN]
Sarah Kruzan: Sentenced to Life Without Parole at Age 16. [Current/YouTube] | Sarah Kruzan: 16-Year-Old sentenced to life for killing pimp. [the daily voice]
Related:
Video of Rihanna On GMA. [RapRadar via Rock the Dub]
Online:
Jasiri X - RealTalkXpress.com
Labels: Jasiri X
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Video: Jasiri X - "Dear Debra: A Letter to BET"
I've been feeling the videos Jasiri's been making recently....
"This Episode is dedicated to the BET and their CEO Debra Lee. Dear Debra is a critical but loving letter exploring the possibilities of Black Entertainment Television. Episode 23 was produced by Kai Roberts and directed by Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan. No ducks were harmed in the making of this video."
Updated (11.2.09): Black gossip site, Bossip.com totally plays themselves by completely misinterpreting the intent of Jasiri's video and trying to mock him but, indicating that they are a lot more smarter than the site editors are, their readers call them on it. There is hope after all! [grandgood via Davey D]
Online:
Real Talk Xpress
Friday, October 23, 2009
Music video: Jasiri X - "Blackface"
From Jasiri X:
"Yep, I'm dealing with Race. In "This Week With Jasiri X" Episode 22-tackles the issue of Racism in a supposedly "Post Racial" society, highlighted by the recent high profile incidents of blackface. "Blackface" was produced by Diesel and Directed by Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan."
Previously on The Kitchen: Bamboozled Entertainment Television: The Return of Blackface??!!
Related:
A couple links to the story of Kiwane Carrington referenced in the video:
"The family of a Champaign teen shot and killed by police say officers overreacted, and 15 year old Kiwane Carrington should be alive today." [WICD ABC Ch. 15]
Kiwane Carrington Press Conference Video.
Labels: F-ck the Police, Jasiri X, Racism, US race relations
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
This Week With Jasiri X - Episode 21: What's Peace?
The background:
""This Week With Jasiri X" Episode 21-explores the meaning of peace and the audacity of giving out a Peace Prize in a world so violent. What's Peace was produced by Black Czer and Directed by Paradise the Arkitech"
Online:
Real Talk Xpress
Labels: Jasiri X
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Music video: Jasiri X - "What's the State of the Black World?"
The background:
"This is Episode 20 of This Week With Jasiri X, which examines who's really to blame for the death of Derrion Albert and the innocent victims of our violent communities. "What's the State of the Black World?" was produced by Religion and Directed by Paradise the Arkitech"
Online:
Real Talk Express
Labels: Coon Picnic, Derrion Albert, Jasiri X, Racism, US race relations
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Video: Pittsburgh's Homeless Forced to Move for the G-20 Summit
Figures! Why am I not surprised? Talk about missing the point!!! Shot by Jasiri X, the guy who made the song, "Blogs." [via Dante Ross]
Online:
www.jasirix.com
Labels: Economy, G-20 Summit, Jasiri X, WTF
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Jasiri X - "Blogs"
"You are no way flavor you need a Different Kitchen/You Heard That New X you better give it a listen...."
Calculated and pandering? Probably. Did it work? Flattery will get you everywhere on this site, baby (LOL)! Seriously though, this track, inspired by GZA's "Labels" & "Publicity" tracks and written to promote his new Real Talk Xpress site, slavishly name-checks all the major urban/hip hop mp3 & gossip blogs and websites (including yours truly) but is actually not too bad. Check it:
Jasiri X - "Blogs" [mp3 audio download links: sharebee | zshare]
Online:
www.jasirix.com
