Where HipHop and Libertarianism Meet

Umar Farouk Abdulmtallab: Hip-Hop Fan

2010-01-07T15:10:00.002-05:00

Umar Farouk Abdulmtallab is the Al-Qaeda member who tried to blow up the plane from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day. Luckily for the people on the flight the terrorist was not able to create a large enough explosion and jumped by one of the other passengers. Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo reports that one of the things we do know about Abdulmtallab is that he was a big fan of hip-hop music.

Hip-Hop in Yemen

2010-01-05T11:58:00.002-05:00

The Christian Science Monitor has an article posted January 4th about Hip-Hop being used as an alternative to Al Qaeda in Yemen. Hip-hop provides an outlet for Yemeni youths to express themselves and is a way for the hearts and minds to be swayed from Islamic extremism:

In Yemen’s staunchly traditional society, the main activities for young people are chewing khat, a mild narcotic, or going to mosques. Events like last week’s show hope to promote hip-hop culture as a healthy alternative and keep youths from being swept up into extremist ideas, say event organizers.

“[In Yemen] you have people who are trying to gain support among the youth for every sort of cause: Al Qaeda, Salafis.… We have to win the hearts and minds of the kids,” said one of the event organizers who wishes to remain anonymous because of his close ties with the Yemeni government.

“Yemen is hungry for hip-hop. When I first came here in 2003 you couldn’t find a rapper or a break dancer,” said Hagage Masaed, an American of Yemeni descent and self-described “Snoop Dogg” of Yemen who has been a centerpiece of hip-hop’s growth in the country.

“All the problems youth are facing in Yemen – there’s no work – this a way for them to release. It’s an outlet,” he said before the start of the show.

Hip-Hop Links December 15 2009

2009-12-15T18:17:00.000-05:00

Masta Ace & EDO G have a video for their song "Little Young." I like the gimmicky song about Rappers and little things even if it is a little corny.

Here is Skyzoo's lead single Popularity off his new album The Salvation:

Here is a great video of Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes performing "Scenario" and "Where All My Eyes Can See" at the Knitting Factory

I was in Russia at a Trade show after party and I heard the original version of Pitbull's Hotel Room Service play and it felt so American. It was a nice change from the bad taste in techno that Russians seem to have.

Normally however I'm not the biggest fan of club music.

Pitbull - New Music - More Music Videos

Here is the latest in Shaun Boothe's series of unauthorized biographies. This time Sean Diddy Combs, gets the treatment:

Hip-Hop Links September 30, 2009

2009-09-30T16:23:00.000-04:00

More Hip-Hop Links from around the internets:

Here is the New York Post covering Def Jam being celebrated at VH1's Hip-Hop Honors.

Here is a video of Blue Scholars for "HI-808" rapping about Hawaii.

Goodie Mob is reuniting according to Cee-Lo Green.

Here is a video from Senior Kaos called Automatic Classic:

Señor Kaos - Automatic Classic OFFICIAL VIDEO from Señor Kaos on Vimeo.

Here's a rap video about Ending The Fed probably from a Ron Paul fan:

It's not great but it sounds better than the corny music played at the 9/12 Tea Party in D.C.

Hip-Hop Links August 27 2009

2009-08-27T23:09:00.001-04:00

Here is the video for Kid Cudi's song Make Her Say: This song is off of Kid Cudi's album Man On The Moon: The End of Day which will be released on September 15, 2009.

Joel Ortiz has a new video called Food For Thought and sponsored by nahright.com. Joel Ortiz basically does a version of Common's "I used to love H.E.R."

Here is Lonely Island's On A Boat song mixed with Bert and Ernie on a boat:

Hat Tip Andrew Moylan

4080Records.com has a neat roundup of stories about hip-hop and politics is such places as Senegal, Guinea, and Bolivia.

I found this video of Nas being interviewed by eccentric Canadian host Narduwar.
Narduwar interviews are always highly entertaining.

Obama Signed Up For A Hard Job

2009-08-13T13:40:00.005-04:00

Recently, Barack Obama has taken to blaming George W. Bush for problems such as our economy. It is true George W. Bush did screw up the economy pretty well but eventually Obama is going to have to take credit for it.

Obama signed up for a bad job when he ran for President. Being President normally is a hard job. It becomes an even harder job when you are President and start off with a recession and two wars going on.

I guess the only really good part about starting off with a country in a lousy condition to run is it is pretty easy to make things seem better.

All Shout Does Is Make You Lose Your Voice

2009-08-12T14:20:00.002-04:00

All Shout Does Is Make You Lose Your Voice. Apparently conservatives and Republicans, led on by Rush Limbaugh, have taken on the idea that yelling is the way to win a public policy debate.

There is a new trend that is happening increasingly where conservatives are showing up at "townhall" meeting with Congressmen and yelling at them to indicate dissaproval with Obamacare. The conservatives are protesting and being disruptive in a way that is reminiscent of the worst activism of those on the left of the political spectrum.

The protesting is not helping the Republican's cause of opposing Obamacare legislation as this may make the Republican's look bad and increase the ease with which the legislation goes through.

John Hall on Soda Taxes

2009-07-30T15:33:00.003-04:00

I sent a letter to my Congressman John Hall opposing soft drink taxes and I am glad to say that his response was to oppose soda taxes. From Congressman Hall's response:

Soft drinks alone are not the sole cause of the chronic diseases that plague our nation. While comprehensive health care legislation is still being formulated, I am concerned that a tax on soft drinks would be a regressive tax, and disproportionately hurt lower-income people. I believe we can achieve health care reform without raising taxes on lower and middle-class New Yorkers. I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind should Congress vote on this issue.

While I am not sure any "health care reform" that is going to make it through Congress will improve our health system, I am glad to see the Congressman does not think soda taxes are the solution and realizes they would be a regressive tax.

African Immigrants The Future of Hip-Hop

2009-07-08T13:58:00.002-04:00

African immigrants seemed to be the source for a lot of great hip-music. Both Wale and K'Naan have recently released great material but the latest artist to continue in this trend is a rapper by the name of Blitz The Ambassador. Blitz the Ambassador is originally born and raised in Ghana but now hails from Brooklyn.

Blitz the Ambassador brings a unique sound backed by a horn based band. Below are some samples of his recent work:

Here is the Trailer off his recent album:

Hip-Hop Links July 8 2009

2009-07-08T13:16:00.000-04:00

A group called the Brown Bag Allstars have a new song out called All I Do. Brown Bag Allstars features Audible Doctor, J57(formerly JLOG1C), KONCEPT, Soul Khan, DJ GOO Punch, E Holla, Deejay Elemen who I think are from New York. The track features a sample from Friends Of Distinction covering the Beatle's "And I Love Her." Link via The Smoking Section

The best thing about the Jimmy Fallon Show is the Roots. The latest example of this is Mos Def performing the song "Casa Bey" with the Roots"Casa Bey" is off of Mos Def's New album The Ecstatic.
Link via HipHop Flavas Blog

Unkut.com has a list of the top 6 homophobic rap songs.

Former Bad Boy rapper Loon has converted to Islam and is taking it somewhat seriously..In the interview below, Loon is interviewed about his conversion to Islam.

B-Real and Damian Jr Gong Marley have a video out for a song they did together called Fire. The song is off the album off of B-Real's Smoke N Mirrors albums.

Healthcare Is Never Free

2009-06-12T15:56:00.003-04:00

Healthcare is never free. According to Charlie Rangel, the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman in order to pay for the "health care reform" taxes will be raised by $600 billion and Medicare and Medicaid will be cut by $400 billion. This plan will not only cost more money but old people and poor people will have their healthcare limited to provide healthcare for other people.

Obama had been hoping health care reform would only cost $634 billion but it looks like it will now cost over $1 trillion.

Taxing Cellphones

2009-06-11T13:29:00.002-04:00

According to The Wall Street Journal, The IRS is considering taxing cellphones provided by employers. Currently cellphones and the cellular service that employees receive from employers is considered a fringe benefit and taxed fully by the I.R.S. Most people and corporations don't enforce it.

Any change in the tax law even if it is only taxing cell phones as being personal use 25% of the time. Increased enforcement would be the equivalent of a tax hike. When the tax law was established on cell phones in 1989, cell phones were a luxury. Cellphones have now become a necessity and to tax them as a corporate luxury would be ridiculous.

Do the taxpayers get something in exchange for this tax hike? Probably not.

Hip-Hop Links June 11, 2009

2009-06-11T10:56:00.000-04:00

Unkut has a list of the most graphic STD rap songs.

Dallas Penn now is starting to Podcast on his blog.

Here is a new song form DC rapper Soulstice featuring Kev Brown called "Bird's Eye View." Worth a listen.

The Meaning Of Dope posted this link to an old MTV News story about Ice Cube's The Predator album. I'm starting to think I am the only one left in the world still buying CDs.

Jay-Z - "DOA" on Autotune

2009-06-09T11:47:00.000-04:00

So Jay-z has his new song out "DOA" about the Death of Autotune. Last Friday Hot 97 premiered the song on Funkmaster Flex's show making it out to be a big deal that they had a new Jay-z song first repeatedly playing the song over and over. Then song itself is okay. The beat contains a sample from Janko Nilovic with a guitar lick that Jay-z doesn''t even that great rhyming over.

Essentially,Brandon Soderberg is right that the song is essentially a concept rap song in which the rapper tries to prove they are real hip-hop by taking on whatever goofy trend is currently popular. I do disagree with Brandon Soderberg's defense of autotune. Autotune does make club/dance style music but it certainly should not be called hip-hop or rap.

It is confusing to understand Jay's attack on autotune when he has defended T-Pain, Kanye West and Lil' Wayne. Ron Brownz seems to be the only person Jay-z is addressing.

When Jay-z speaks, hip-hop listens. Jay-z criticism of Autotune will probably have some effect at the margins in terms of pushing up and coming rappers and producers to turning to voice effects.

Close the the National Drug Intelligence Center

2009-06-08T09:59:00.002-04:00

Republican leaders in the House of Representatives, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor and House Minority Leader John Boehner released a set of budget cuts on Thursday including closing the National Drug Intelligence Center. This should be the first in many steps in scaling back the drug war. The Republican leaders pointed out that the National Drug Intelligence Center unnecessarily duplicates the work of other agencies. Closing the NDIC will save $44 million the first year and $220 million over five years. President Bush unsuccessfully tried to close this boondoggle.

Republicans are probably just proposing closing the NDIC to poke at John Murtha since the Center is located in his district. The reason it is being closed should not matter. Bad policies should be ended.

Ron Paul on Freedom Watch

2009-06-04T14:49:00.003-04:00

Ron Paul appeared on yesterday's Freedom Watch with Andrew Napolitano. Freedom Watch is a web only news show hosted by former Judge Andrew Napolitano.
Ron Paul is right we should have allowed GM to go bankrupt months ago. Keeping GM alive these several months was just a waste of money but then maybe it is cheaper than unemployment insurance for all those workers. Ron Paul is right to say that the Republican Party has given up the right to provide opposition to these bailouts by supporting them when George Bush was in power.

The argument often made in favor of why Republicans supported the bailouts is that we were in an emergency and something had to be done. Yes, we were in a bad situation but there is little evidence that government action has helped to solve the crisis. The Government always uses emergencies as an excuse to take on more power and do things that the people would not normally approve of.

No Sex Themed Parks Allowed In China

2009-05-21T15:34:00.007-04:00

The fact capitalism has come to China is a good thing. It is good that the Chinese people have more choices that they are able to make in their lives as well as increased prosperity.

However, China is far from a free place. The latest example is the fact that Chinese authorities have put a stop to the opening of a sex-themed amusement park. The theme park was set to have giant-sized reproductions of male and female anatomy, an exhibition about the history of sex and featured at the entrance a giant pair of women's legs clad only in a red thong. The park did have a learning side also offering lessons in safe sex and the proper use of condoms, as well as workshops offering sex techniques.

The Chinese officials closed Love Land, the sex themed amusement park saying it was vulgar and unnecessary. I wonder if the government officials realize the appeal is that it is vulgar and unnecessary. I guess the Chinese government don't see the necessity in teaching people about safe sex considering the fact that "an estimated 700,000 people living with HIV in China, including about 75,000 AIDS patients"

In a free country you are allowed to do something the government may deem unnecessary; China fails to meet this criteria.

Link via Marginal Revolution

DJ Emskee is a rapper

2009-05-19T15:08:00.002-04:00

I have been listening to the Underground Railroad on WBAI on and off for probably over 10 years. Little did I know that DJ Emskee also has a side career as a rapper.

DJ Emskee along with producer and rapper Saint rap together as the group The Good People. The Good People have been rapping together for 4 years and have released 2 full length albums, An EP and 5 singles. Now The Good People are preparing to release their first U.S. album on May 19th with the release of Home Coming from Domination Recordings.

Here is a link to the song "Gotta Thing For You" By The Good People.

Money Does Not Equal Culture

2009-05-19T12:12:00.002-04:00

Time Magazine has a quick interview with Busta Rhymes on their site. In the interview Busta Rhymes is asked about the criticism in his popular single "Arab Money". Quote:

There's a song on the album called "Arab Money" that incorporates verses from the Koran as well as statements about women and partying. Some people are really offended by the song and its video. I know you've stated publicly that the song isn't meant to demean anyone. What were you trying to say there?

Busta: I think the handful of people who disagreed with this song really misunderstood what the record was about. What I'm talking about is getting money. I was really trying to point out that Arabs have one of the richest cultures in the world, not just from a monetary standpoint but also a spiritual standpoint. In the United States and North America, we're not really identified with a particular faith. We don't really have a culture that anyone can identify with because America is a mixture taken from everyone else's [roots]. My thinking is that if we're going to take from a culture, let's take from a culture that has exemplified success for thousands of years.

Hearing Busta's response is interesting and sounds like the way Michael Eric Dyson would explain away objectionable lyrics from a rapper. It is commendable to point out that the Arab people have an old culture which should be appreciated for spiritual and other reasons.

But this is not what Busta Rhymes mentions about Arabs in the song "Arab Money." Sure there are references to a couple of Arab things but mostly Busta is just talking about oil money and material possessions. Busta should learn that money of itself is not culture.

However I admit I have enjoyed listening to the song when it is being played somewhere.

Barr Spending Roundup

2009-05-18T12:31:00.002-04:00

George Phillies has a roundup of Bob Barr's 2008 Presidential Campaign spending. George Phillies lost the Libertarian Party's nomination of President to Bob Barr at the 2008 Libertarian Party Convention.

No Freedom For Prostitution In Rhode Island

2009-05-15T12:38:00.002-04:00

There is a new loss for liberty in Rhode Island. Rhode Island state legislators have adopted a ban on indoor prostitution in the state.

According to the AP article, state lawmakers in Rhode Island have previously tried to outlaw prostitution state unsuccessfully because of concern for the prostitutes. As Rhode Island Rep. Anastasia Williams, D-Providence says

"Some of them may be unemployed by no fault of their own, and find that 'Let me go make a quick buck to pay the landlord, or pay to keep the light on,'" Williams said. "At that moment they make that wrong decision, they get popped. They lose everything they've worked for."

Prostitution should be legal if it is an exchange between two consenting adults. There is no reason police in Rhode Island should be diverting resources away from combating real crime to arrest people for having sex.

Link via To The People

Rand Paul for Senate

2009-05-15T10:16:00.004-04:00

Rand Paul, Ron Paul's son, announced on The Rachel Maddow show that he is forming an exploratory comittee to run for the United States Senate.

Rand Paul has owned his own business, performing eye surgery in Bowling Green, KY, for 18 years. He is also the founder of the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic, an organization that performs eye exams and surgery for less fortunate patients.

Rand Paul is also the founder of the Kentucky Taxpayers United (KTU) in 1994. KTU rates the state legislature’s tax honesty and helps promote the Americans for Tax Reform taxpayer pledge, to oppose any and all marginal income tax increases and any reduction in tax deductions.

Rand Paul has a large amount of experience working with his father Ron Paul on his 1988 Presidential Campaign.

Rand Paul sounds very much like his father politically. The issues section of his website has sections on guns, bailouts, inflation, taxes and debt, national defense, privacy and liberty, soveirgnty, veterans, home schooling, veterans and energy innovation. Many of his positions are expressed in a libertarian direction similar to his father Ron Paul. The only section on his website that is the section on sovereignty which expresses to much fear of international organizations. His website focuses a lot on government spending which is an out of control problem right now.

will.i.am is a Democratic Party Drone

2009-05-11T12:34:00.004-04:00

Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas decided to become politically active last year along with a large number of celebrities pushing for Barack Obama's presidential candidacy. Will.I.Am did that corny "Yes We Can" YouTube video where Will I Am got a bunch of celebrities to proclaim their worship to Barack Obama and his candidacy. That was okay. That was not a problem for me. I kind of liked Barack Obama as a Presidential Candidate he was talking about transparency and rolling back some of the horrific foreign policy decisions of the Bush Administration. If I had to vote for Barack Obama or John McCain, I probably would have voted for Obama. Lots of celebrities supported Obama and still do because he was cool and liberal among other things.

Now Will.I.Am is planning on meeting Terry McAuliffe at at least four events as he campaigns to get the Democratic Party's nomination for Governor. Terry McAuliffe is not from Virginia and has not spent any amount of time in the state of Virginia other than parts of Northern Virginia inside the beltway. will.i.am stated in a press release:

"Terry is my good friend and my closest political mentor," said will.i.am in a statement released by the campaign. "He will be a great governor because of his passion to help people and his understanding of the grassroots community. I look forward to joining him on the campaign trail."

To me this sounds like will.i.am does not have a specific reason other than he probably met Terry McAuliffe with Barack Obama once. will.i.am is a hack. Hip-hop should not support professional politicians.

New Music Stuff May 1, 2009

2009-05-01T15:04:00.003-04:00

Here is a video for Kanye West's "Amazing."

Amazing from kwest on Vimeo. I like the visuals in this song but I kind of missed the earlier Kanye West when he used to rap. This is good background music though.
Buy "Amazing" as a digital song from Amazon here.
Link via Notes From A Different Kitchen

The Meaning of Dope has a great clip from The Pharcyde performing "Passing Me By" on In Living Color. Great song but in this clip as in many hip-hop performances on In Living Color the show would usuallly end before the song would finish.

Buy the CD of Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde at Amazon.com. Buy "Passing Me By" as an .mp3 at Amazon.com

Robbie at Unkut has up an interesting interview with Dante Ross, the famed A&R behind De La Soul, Digital Underground and many other acts. Here is Part 2 of the interview with Dante Ross where he talks about working at Elektra turning Busta Rhymes into a solo artist and other things.

Murs has a new video for "The Science" off of his album Murs for President

Murs - The Science from 2dopeboyz.com on Vimeo.

Link via 2 Dope Boyz Murs raps about racism, hip-hop and problems in the criminal justice system among other things.

Here is a new video for "Be By Myself" featuring Cee-Lo off of Asher Roth's new album Asleep In The Bread Aisle. It's a so so song but Asher Roth is enjoyable:
Buy the .mp3 of "Be By Myself" here.

Arlen Specter Bolts the GOP

2009-04-28T15:20:00.003-04:00

Arlen Specter, Senator from Pennsylvania, has announced he is about to jump ship from the Republican Party to become a member of the Democratic Party. It seems a large part of the reason Arlen Specter left the Republican Party was because he was being challenged in the Republican primary by Pat Toomey and his Club for Growth posse.

This will make the Democrats reach the magic number of 60. 60 is a magic number because if the Democrats have 60 votes in the Senate they will theoretically be able to end a filibuster by getting a cloture vote at any time. Democrats will not always stick together on the party line so the 60 votes does not automatically mean the Democrats will be pushing through their agenda. Arlen Specter's switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party clearly does increase the Democrats' membership in the Senate by 1.69% which certainly helps the Democrats.

Update:Video from Notes From A Different Kitchen

New Music Stuff April 23, 2009

2009-04-23T11:23:00.003-04:00

Here is a video of Kid Cudi performing "Day and Night:"I have to say this song is certainly growing on me.

I've been a fan of Slick Rick for a long a time and it is good to see him on this Asher Roth Track "You Are You." It's a fun song and is always good to see Slick Rick doing his thing.
Link via The Full Clip

New Music Stuff April 23, 2009

2009-04-23T11:15:00.001-04:00

Young Buck has a song with Glasses Malone called "My Zone" that has a gread sound. The song is produced by K-Salaam & Beatnick for their upcoming "Where The Streets Have No Name" compilation album (Powered by imeem and illroots)

Another free song from the "Where The Streets Have No Name" album is "In Jamaica" featuring K'Naan and Buckshot.

"Everybody with Me" from Ludacris featuring Shawna may the be first song off of the album The Battle of The Sexes that the two rap artists are doing together.

Luda and Shawnna Talk Battle of the Sexes from DTP TV on Vimeo. Vimeo Link via 2 Dope Boyz

KRS-ONE and Buckshot have been working on an album titled Survival Skills set to be released in record stores August 25th and will be released on iTunes May 5th. The lead track "Robot" has been released which features KRS-ONE and Buckshot speaking on T-Pain and other things in hip-hop.

Here is a video of Marco Polo giving a tour of his Brooklyn production studio. It's a rather sparse setup but it gets the job done:

Ron Paul Speaks on Bruno Interview

2009-04-16T15:14:00.002-04:00

Earlier in March the story first appeared about Ron Paul being interviewed by Sacha Baron Cohen as the character Bruno.

Here is audio of Ron Paul speaking on the matter to talk radio host Curtis Sliwa:

It is believable that Ron Paul may not have hard of the movie Borat but it is rather unfortunate that nobody on his staff was cautious enough before setting up the appointment. Then again Ron Paul has done interviews with 9/11 conspirator Alex Jones.

Link via Gawker

Eminem is a wimp

2009-04-07T14:46:00.002-04:00

Eminem is a wimp. Eminem has based a large amount of career based on dissing popular cultures that are easy targets and Americans don't particularly have any large degree of respect for. He did this on The Marshall Mathers LP with the song "The Real Slim Shady" insulting pop stars big at the time including Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and host of other pop stars. Eminem followed this same formula with The Eminem Show's lead single "Without Me." Eminem's new single continues this boring gimmicl an awful sounding pop songing in which Emimem takes on Brett Michaels, Jessica Simpson, Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, Ellen DeGeneres, Sarah Palin, Britney, Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, and Amy Winehouse. The one liners against these pop stars are supposed to be funny but listening to the song and watching the video the first reaction is to yawn.

As atrocious as 50 Cent's behavior has been in his latest feud with Rick Ross at least the feud is against another rapper.

After such a long hiatus from Eminem, it is disappointing to see him return with such boring material. Eminem should have stayed retired like he had talked about doing.

Asher Roth

2009-04-07T12:44:00.002-04:00

I am intrigued by Asher Roth. I am not exactly sure I get Asher Roth and am still curious as to whether or not Asher Roth will ever become a mass event.

Based on just hearing "I Love College," I thought Asher Roth was just a novelty artist. This is a fact that Asher Roth has acknowledged in interviews I have seen on the internet. Hearing "Lark My Cart" it is clear that Asher Roth is a talented rapper and more than just a novelty artist.

It remains to be seen whether or not Asher Roth will have any success and what the sales for his new album Asleep In the Bread Aisle will be.

CNN: Hip-Hop Givs a Voice to Cuba

2009-04-06T13:51:00.004-04:00

CNN has a piece on how hip-hop is giving a voice to Cuba. Hip-hop in Cuba has grown partly as a result of state subsidies through the creation of the Cuban Rap Agency, as well as a record label, "Asere Productions," and a rap magazine called "Movimiento."

State subsidies of rap in Cuba comes with limitations however.

Formed in 1996, rap duo "Doble Filo" ("Double Edged") have been part of the Havana scene since the beginning and work with the Cuban Rap Agency. But rapper Irak Saenz admits there are contradictions in being part of the system.

"It does limit our creative freedom," he told CNN. "The CRA has an agenda that goes with the government's agenda. It doesn't limit me but it does force me to be creative in how I express my ideas."

Real hip-hop artists in Cuba will only retain their artistic freedom by escaping the CRA:

But "Los Aldeanos", who formed in 2003, are part of a younger generation of Cuban rappers. They don't belong the CRA, and nor do they want to. They are defiantly underground and outspoken.

"Hip hop is an art form speaks the truth about how people are living," says Aldo Rodriguez, one half of Los Aldeanos.

Their track "Niñito Cubano" is about a young boy growing up during Cuba's "special period", when the fall of the Soviet Union brought hardship to the island.

Their forthright lyrics about life in Cuba don't make them any friends among Cuba's authorities, and that limits their opportunities on the island.

"Our lyrics don't always go with the standard Cuban rhetoric and often that won't get airplay," says Rodriguez. "I can be famous in other countries, but here they won't let me play a concert in a theater."

With state subsidy of art, the state gains control of what types of art is produced and distributed. If Cuba is given the opportunity to move further towards a market community, freedom of expression will be allowed that groups like Los Aldeanos success can be determined by fans and not by the whims of the Cuban government. One think the United States could do to help move Cuba to a market economy would be to end the embargo on both trade and travel with Cuba.

New Music Stuff March 17, 2009

2009-03-17T11:10:00.000-04:00

Joel Ortiz has a great cover of Pete Rock's "T.R.O.Y."
Link via The RapUp

Here are a couple videos of De La Soul at The Key Club in Los Angeles:

De La Soul - Oooh! (Live @ The Key Club) 3/12/09 from AlwaysHustle.com on Vimeo.

De La Soul - The Grind Date (Live @ The Key Club) 3/12/09 from AlwaysHustle.com on Vimeo.
Link via Ben de AYora

Normally I don't care about T-Pain but Nardwuar has an interesting interview with T-Pain.
It is good to see Nardwuar bring up the fact that T-Pain is basically making a career off of rehashing Cher's old act.
Link via RapRadar.com

MC Lyte has a new song called "Brooklyn." It has a nice Caribbean sound to it that I like.

I'm tempted to start DVRing The Jimmy Fallon Show just for the musical performances. Here is a video of The Roots and Public Enemy performing "Bring The Noise:" Bring The Noise is a very hard song for a live band to get right musically but the Roots do a pretty good job.

Ron Paul Debates The Guy From BioDome

2009-03-16T15:12:00.002-04:00

Ron Paul was recently on Larry King Live debating Stephen Baldwin about marijuana prohibition. It is a sad state of political journalism when political debate is lowered to the level of a celebrity debating a professional politician.

Is Michael Steele Hip-Hop? (Probably Not)

2009-03-12T15:55:00.003-04:00

Is Michael Steele hip-hop? I don't think so but I'm not sure. Any television video I have seen Michael Steele in recently I have heard him misuse hip-hop phrases so badly it becomes painful to watch. I appreciate the effort. Micheal Steele is right to try and move the Republican party into to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings” it is just important he does not make himslef look any worse off on his quest to do this.

In the GQ interview, Michael Steele talks about his relation with hip-hop:

I was kinda expecting hip-hop to be playing in here today.

Aw, sh—. It’s on my, uh, computer there. I haven’t pulled it up yet, but I’ll get a little bit goin’ in a second or two.

Who do you listen to?

I actually listen to a cross section, because I like to hear what the medium is saying, what the voice is.

But do you have a favorite?

P. Diddy I enjoy quite a bit.

Do you want to rethink that?

[laughs] I guess I’m sorta old-school that way. Remember, I came of age with the DJ and all this other stuff, so I’m also loving Grandmaster Flash, and that’s not hip-hop, but… Um, you know, I like Chuck D. And I always thought Snoop Dogg was—he just reminded me of the fellas back home. So I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed him.

Who else?

I like Sinatra. I like old-school. You know, Bing Crosby, Sinatra, Dean Martin. Love Dean Martin. He was one of these guys who just didn’t give an F. He just didn’t. Life was a party, and you either want to party or you don’t. But yeah, I like those. I’m a big Pack Rat. I love the Pack Rats from the 1950s—Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, those guys.

You mean the Rat Pack.

The Rat Pack, yeah.

Okay, so tell me about this hip-hop plan of yours.

Well, I have to admit, I’m rather amused. It was a conversation I had with a Washington Times reporter, and we were talking about the breadth and depth of the reach that I would try to bring to the party. And I told him, everybody’s in play. I want to reach everybody; I want to touch everybody. I think we have a very strong and powerful message to deliver. The urban community is a center for economic activity. It always has been, particularly in the black community. We are very much an entrepreneurial people, and I think the Republican message is one that speaks directly to that. It’s self-empowerment, it’s ownership, it’s opportunity. And hip-hop—I used hip-hop more as a symbolic term. I know some people started going a little nuts about “Oh, well, you know, they’re misogynists!” And some call them urban terrorists, which I think is an offensive term. But you know, they miss the point of what hip-hop is. Hip-hop is about economic empowerment. You’re talking about a generation of men from, you know, P. Diddy to Russell Simmons and the like who have created empire from their talent. Russell Simmons has empire. His reach is beyond hip-hop.

You’re not gonna convert Russell Simmons, though.

I’m not trying to convert anybody. If I wanted to convert somebody, I’d have kept my collar on, as a monk. What I’m trying to do is to inform. I have enough respect for people that they can make their own decisions. I just want to be in a situation where every time they’re not against me.

Early 2 hip-hop mistakes: He says Diddy is his favorite but that is a forgivable mistake. His second mistake is to say that Grandmaster Flash is not hip-hop; this is a bad mistake.
The good:Micheal Steele seems to understand one of the things that I love about hip-hop in that it is to a large degree a culture about building something out of nothing? It's good to see he can see the positive empowerment opportunities that are a part of hip-hop and can get past the misogyny.

Black Republican - Nas/Jay-Z

Aborting Roe v. Wade

2009-03-12T15:27:00.003-04:00

Micheal Steele has had a rocky start as chairman of the RNC. First, he accurately describes Rush Limbaugh and then Steele apologizes to Rush making himself extremely weak. Now, Michael Steele has mad a very confusing statement on abortion to GQ:

How much of your pro-life stance, for you, is informed not just by your Catholic faith but by the fact that you were adopted?

Oh, a lot. Absolutely. I see the power of life in that—I mean, and the power of choice! The thing to keep in mind about it… Uh, you know, I think as a country we get off on these misguided conversations that throw around terms that really misrepresent truth.

Explain that.

The choice issue cuts two ways. You can choose life, or you can choose abortion. You know, my mother chose life. So, you know, I think the power of the argument of choice boils down to stating a case for one or the other.

Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?

Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.

You do?

Yeah. Absolutely.

Are you saying you don’t want to overturn Roe v. Wade?

I think Roe v. Wade—as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter.

Okay, but if you overturn Roe v. Wade, how do women have the choice you just said they should have?

The states should make that choice. That’s what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide.

Now on the face of it Michael Steele's viewpoint is very confusing and does not make much sense the first time you hear it. What Micheal Steele is trying to say is that Roe v. Wade is bad law and states should choose whether or not abortion should be legal. This is the "pro-abortion" position of allowing abortions everywhere. This is also not the religious Christian Republican Party morality position of calling for a Constitutional amendment banning
all abortions under any conditions. States like New York and Massachusetts are not going to ban abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

He Started It

2009-03-11T16:17:00.002-04:00

Barack Obama has pointed out to journalists that "it wasn’t under me that we started buying a bunch of shares of banks. It wasn’t on my watch. And it wasn’t on my watch that we passed a massive new entitlement -– the prescription drug plan — without a source of funding.” As Micheal Tanner of Cato puts it "He Has a Point." Many Republicans in Congress, as well as some conservative commentators like Rush Limbaugh, have been extremely hypocritical in attacking spending now that Obama is in power and not causing a stir when Bush was in charge.

This does not excuse the bad behavior. If big spending was bad when Bush was in power, big spending is bad now. In many ways, the Democrats often sound like two kids quarreling tattling "He started it" to excuse bad behavior.

Sanjay Gupta Likes Teevee

2009-03-11T13:10:00.002-04:00

Sanjay Gupta announced recently that he is not interested in the position of Surgeon General for which he was being considered.

It is perfectly understandable why Sanjay Gupta would not want the position: the Surgeon General makes little difference. It is hard to think of any Surgeon General in recently history that is memorable; the only Surgeon General I can think of is Jocelyn Elders who was fired after a bunch of false outrage after she suggested that masturbation should be discussed in sex ed.

Sanjay Gupta is likely to have a lot more impact and reach a larger audience as a commentator on CNN. It would not make sense to give up a large audience for an inconsequential Washington Office. Most of the control of health care public policy remains in control of the Secretary of HHS.

RapRadar.com L:aunches

2009-03-09T16:37:00.005-04:00

Elliot Wilson of XXL fame has launched his new website RapRadar.com. The site seems to be in early launch because many of the sections on the site are content free; Elliot seems to his placed in getting his site up live after his promotional hype around the hip-hop blogs. The site is still lacking other things like an About Page and an RSS feed.

Elliot Wilson has called RapRadar.com a Huffington Post like destination for the hip-hop blogosphere. GlobalGrind.com had the same idea but has failed to take off as promoters had hoped.

Will rapradar.com be successful? Maybe. It does have some good content like an interview with Q-Tip and T.I. but do I really want to read about what Pam from Martin thought about Biggie.

Earmarks Aren't Free

2009-03-09T15:46:00.003-04:00

Earmarks by themselves do not add to the cost of the federal budget. Earmarks just direct general funds to be appropriated to specific projects. As a slice of the budget, earmarks represent a small portion.

This does not mean earmarks are not a fiscal problem. Earmarks direct resources away from areas where they would be appropriated. This causes programs to go unfunded until later years when bigger federal budgets come along.

New Music Stuff February 26, 2009

2009-02-26T16:36:00.000-05:00

Q-Tip has a new video for the song "MANWOMANBOOGIE" off of his new album The Renaissance

Buy the song from Amazon here: ManWomanBoogie
Link via Rock The Dub Video costars hiphop journalist Amanda Diva.

Rock the Dub has a link to an mp3 of a mashup of MIA's "Paper Planes" and Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ten Crack Commandments.

K'Naan has a new video for his song ABC's by Chubb Rock:
ABC's is off K'Naan's forthcoming album Troubadour
Link via Eskay

Here is the remix to Q-Tip's Renaissance Rap with Lil' Wayne, Busta Rhymes, and Raekwonn. Busta Rhymes ane Raekwon are enjoyable but Lil' Wayne gets too many bars on this remix.
Link via Metal Lungies

Recession Rap: Jadakiss Edition

2009-02-13T14:49:00.002-05:00

Jadakiss is the latest enter into the fray with his new song called "Hard Times" with Barrington Levy. Compared to other recession rap that has been released this song seems a lot darker lyrically.

Offshore Drilling. Maybe Later?

2009-02-10T16:06:00.004-05:00

Before the economy collapsed in the fall, Republicans were planning on using offshore drilling as a political issue against the Democrats. It was going to be the perfect issue for the Republicans where they would have an actionable policy that the Democrats refused to go along with despite the wishes of the majority of the American people. The Republicans went so far as to choose Alaska Governor Sarah Palin based almost entirely on her support of oil drilling culminating in her catchphrase of "Drill Baby Drill."

But the Democrats did not extend the offshore drilling ban. I am still not sure if the ban was not extended because the Democrats were not organized enough to renew the ban or if they realized it was bad politics and policy.

Now it appears that Barack Obama is at least putting into practice a delay of offshore drilling for 6 months. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar put out a statement saying that the administration wanted to extend the time for "review" on offshore drilling which is just a Washington D.C. of saying delay. Ken Salazar does give legitimate reasons which he may be sincere about including studying the uses of other forms of alternative energy and reconsidering the royalty rates on offshore drilling.

Obama should be prepared for the Republicans to use this against him. The Republicans will not turn down a political issue artificially causing oil prices to be higher.

Recession Rap

2009-02-03T15:59:00.003-05:00

A new trend is starting in rap: recession rap. The latest example is Cam'ron's video for "I hate my job" off of his upcoming Crime Pays:

N.E.R.D. released a recession themed song and music video with "Sooner or Later" fairly recently:

Hip-Hop post-Obama

2009-02-03T11:06:00.003-05:00

The New York Press has on hip-hop's relationship with Barack Obama. The main point of the article is that hip-hop is also excited about Barack Obama being President because he is black, cool, and he gets hip-hop unlike all previous presidents.

The question is where does hip-hop go from here? Part of the appeal and power of hip-hop is that hip-hop has continued to serve as a voice of opposition of the status quo. A key element of rap music even in the works of commercial interests like Jay-Z has been to question the political leaders.

Based on the twittering of ?eustlove of The Roots, I am afraid most of hip-hop will automatically approve of Barack Obama's actions. Thank goodness Dead Prez will still hold his feet to the fire.

Obama; The Abridged Chinese Version

2009-01-28T11:28:00.002-05:00

China is not really ready for Barack Obama or that is what it would seem like from China's covering of Obama's inaugural speech. Not only did the live news broadcast cut away when Barack Obama mentioned dissent but parts of his speech were censored when published by the state-run Xinhua News Agency.

According to the Associated Press:

BEIJING - The official Chinese translation of President Barack Obama's inauguration speech was missing his references to communism and dissent, while a live broadcast on state television Wednesday quickly cut away to the anchor when the topic was mentioned.

The comments by the newly installed U.S. president veered into politically sensitive territory for China's ruling Communist Party, which maintains a tight grip over the Internet and the entirely state-run media. Beijing tolerates little dissent and frequently decries foreign interference in its internal affairs.

At one point, Obama said earlier generations "faced down communism and fascism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions." He later addressed "those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent ... know that you are on the wrong side of history."

The Chinese translation of the speech, credited to the Web site of the official China Daily newspaper, was missing the word "communism" in the first sentence. The paragraph with the sentence on dissent had been removed entirely.

The censored version was carried by the state-run Xinhua News Agency and posted on popular online portals Sina and Sohu. Another portal, Netease, used a version without the paragraph mentioning communism, but retaining the part about dissent.

As much progress as China has made moving towards a "free-market" system, a lot of progress still needs to be made in terms of moving China toward the direction of freedom including the right to dissent. Free countries let people speak their minds China is clearly not one of them.

Link via Reason.com

The End of The Torture Age

2009-01-15T11:36:00.003-05:00

Eric Holder, Barack Obama's appointment for Attorney General testified to Congress yesterday that he believes that waterboarding is torture. This is a big change from the Bush administration in which none of the Attorney Generals said they were against torture. Thankfully, we will have an administration that will return to the rule of law in governing.

Wyclef Jean feat Timbaland - War On Our Hands

2009-01-14T15:37:00.002-05:00

Wyclef Jean has a new club song out featuring Timbaland called War On Our Hands This an okay song I found posted over at The Smoking Section. I notice this song mentions the recession and you know things are bad when dance music recognizes the bad times but then again that seems to do a lot with how hip-hop started.

New Music Stuff

2009-01-14T11:39:00.000-05:00

Here is an interview by that crazy Canadian interviewer Nardwuar of Flava Flav:

Antonio Starr has a new digital TV show with a lot of classic rap.

Nostylegia episode 2 from Antonio Starr on Vimeo.

Nostylegia Episode 4 from Antonio Starr on Vimeo.

Here is a video from ThisIs50 where Ron Brownz talks about "Pop Champagne" and producing generally:

Robbie at unkut.com has a run down of all the different variations of the Queens rap classic The Bridge.

Here is a recent video from Wordsworth speaking on the music industry business:

Paul Wall and Barack Obama

2009-01-08T14:18:00.002-05:00

Paul Wall told HipHopDX that he feels inspired to make more positive music because of the election of Barack Obama:

DX: This is the first time in history that we have a President Elect thats extremely in-tune with urban culture. What type of influence do you think Barack Obama has on Hip Hop?
Paul Wall: I think he has a huge influence because being that he likes Hip Hop, and listens to it; he's real in touch with what's going down. Also, I feel like we have a bigger responsibility to uphold our duties as Hip Hop icons, musicians or rappers - whatever you want to call it. We got a responsibility we have to live up to now. You got the President of the country thats down! What if he got my CD in his deck right now, or my new song on his iPod? It's something that really might happen.

DX: So you feel pressure to make more "positive music"?
Paul Wall: Yeah a little bit man because I voted for Obama. But what if I come out talking 'bout I support Obama this and that, man they going to get on Fox News talking about they got someone like me supporting Obama and I'm talking about sex and drugs and street lifestyle. So I don't know if he wants that kind of support from somebody like me, but at the same time, those same people talking about drugs and alcohol was supporting [George W.] Bush and he ain't have a problem with it, so it's all good. Dude definitely made me sit back and say, "Okay let me make some positive music. Maybe I'll be performing at his inauguration! Bring my grills."

It's a good thing to have hip-hop artists involved in current affairs as influential as Obama has been on the youth.

I'm back!

2008-12-15T13:04:00.001-05:00

Blogging will continue. I have been on vacation in Central America but blogging will resume shortly.

Gettin' Up Into The I-phone

2008-12-01T14:08:00.003-05:00

As album sales decline, music artists continue to look for new sources of income. Mobile phones have become a standard source of income with singles sales transitioning into sales of ring tones.

Musical artists realize ring tone sales are not enough. The new world of mobile phone profits for mobile phones is applications. Q-Tip has entered the world of mobile application licensing by licensing Gettin' Up off of his new album The Renaissance. Q-Tip has authorized "Gettin' Up" to be used in the iPhone game app "Tap Tap."

I would embed a Q-Tip video here but the thugs at Universal don't want me to promote their artists fully.

DMCA Blog Takedown

2008-11-12T12:47:00.002-05:00

Blogger took down this post because someone accused it of being in violation of the DMCA. Blogger did not tell me who accused it of violating the DMCA act. The post just vanished without me even suggesting that my use of the content would qualify as fair use.

My guess is that it is because I embedded video of a performance of Digable Planets appearing on In Living Color. I guess the corporate powers that be would rather people not get excited about In Living Color or Digable Planets.

I would suggest for those of you concerned about DMCA to get involved with EFF, the ELectronic Frontier Foundation to try and roll back the excesses of the DMCA.

Barack Obama

2008-11-06T14:48:00.004-05:00

Barack Obama has now won the 2008 Presidential election. I did not vote for Barack Obama but I wish him well. I hope Barack Obama brings home the troops and closes the prison on Guantanamo Bay as well as realizes there is no longer the financial incentive to continue the war on drugs.

Election Day

2008-11-04T12:47:00.004-05:00

I voted in Pound Ridge, New York this morning where turnout appeared to be higher than previous years. I voted for Bob Barr for President because I believe voting for Bob Barr shows a clear message in favor of small government.

Update: Here is a video of George Carlin arguing against voting and democracy.

Voting Is Scary

2008-10-30T10:57:00.008-04:00

Voting isn't really scary in the United States unless something goes extremely wrong. Choosing candidates to vote for now that is the scary part. Reason Magazine has a survey of its writers and contributors and who they plan to vote for President.

My answers are down below:
1. Who are you voting for in November? Bob Barr. He is not a perfect candidate but who is. Voting for Bob Barr gives the clearest signal to the world that I side with libertarians. I'm not going to vote for John McCain because he strikes me as crazy and believes that national greatness can be brought to the country by the government. Barack Obama is a liberal who wants to spend more than most of the other candidates running and would make George W. Bush look like a fiscal conservative. So I am voting for a former member of Congress who has recently lobbied on behalf of the MPP and opposed the bailout of the banks.

2. Who did you vote for in 2004 and 2000? In 2004: I voted for Badnarik and was a candidate for the electoral college for Badnarik in New York. Badnarik was a loon who could not drive himself anywhere because he refused to give the DMV in Texas his Social Security number. But Badnarik was not Bush or Kerry and he talked and believed in smaller government. In 2000: I voted for Harry Browne. I thought about voting for George W. Bush because he said he was against nation building but I am sure glad I did not make that mistake.

3. Is this the most important election in your lifetime? I'm not sure. Looking back the 2000 Presidential Election was a big deal. I don't think we would have gone into Iraq after 9/11 if Al Gore had been President.

4. What will you miss about the Bush administration? Laura Bush. Laura Bush has been a very gracious first lady who has had very little involvement in policy which I admire in a first lady.

5. Leaving George W. Bush out of consideration, what former U.S. president would you most like to have waterboarded and why? I'm tempted to agree with what Grover Norquist told Reason that it should be Dick Cheney for poetic justice reasons. I guess it would have to be one of the warmongering Presidents like Polk, Jackson, Wilson or Johnson.

Obama and the Fairness Doctrine

2008-10-21T11:14:00.002-04:00

The fairness doctrine is an old idea which liberals propose every so often and right wing talk show hosts bring up to scare their listeners. The fairness doctrine would force broadcast media to give equal time to equal sides. Both John McCain and Barack Obama oppose reinstating the fairness doctrine. This does not stop Mark Steyn at National Review from basely bringing up the idea that Barack Obama wants to bring back the fairness doctrine as a given. There is enough to dislike about Barack Obama without having to make things up.

Pimp My Walker.

2008-10-15T12:19:00.003-04:00

Reason TV has an animated cartoon at their site called "Pimp My Walker" explaining the generational income shift that occurs with Social Security. A simplistic but accurate description of how Social Security works.

Ron Paul had the best fair way to deal with Social Security which is to allow people to choose to opt out of security.

Update: Below is part 2 of a Five Part series at reason TV:

Rap Is The Russian CNN

2008-10-02T12:41:00.004-04:00

Everyone knows that Chuck D has called rap the CNN of the ghetto well you can take this analogy to include poor condition all around the world including places like Russia. A Russian Army Lieutenant made a rap video called "A letter to the minister of defence" which he posted on RuTube. "A Letter to the Minister of Defense" features the Lieutenant rapping and showing the poor conditions of the barracks in which Russian soldiers live.

According to BBC analyst Steven Eke, the Lieutenant had a point in pointing out the Russian military's deplorable conditions:

BBC Europe analyst, Steven Eke, says that the message in the video was a serious one.

Russia wants to build modern, professional armed forces. Yet wretched conditions - especially for conscripts - are one of the reasons for the hundreds of suicides and desertions every year that plague the Russian army.

For pointing out these horrid conditions the Russian Lieutenant was transfered to Ussuriysk, a coal-mining town which is nine hours by air from Moscow. Russia will hinder progress if they continue to punish people critical of the Russian government.

Whining About Pelosi

2008-10-01T11:52:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted down the $700 billion bailout of the financial industry. The bailout happened because constituents were overwhelmingly calling their congressmen complaining about the legislation in addition many members were opposed ideologically to the idea of the bailout.

Right before the speech Nancy Pelosi made a silly partisan speech blaming small government ideology and the Bush administration for the current financial mess. The vote failed and Republicans like Eric Cantor blamed Pelosi's speech. Stop your whining! You would think people would take a $700 billion expenditure more seriously.

Update 1:

Bailing Out Investors Bad Decisions

2008-09-30T14:44:00.004-04:00

The United States is economy is in pretty bad shape right now. The economy is in such poor shape right now that we must hand over at least $700 billion to the Treasury Secretary to purchase bad debt from Wall Street.

The reason many people say we need a bailout is to make up a string of bad decisions made on Wall Street. From what I understand the problem is that Wall Street firms continued to create securities consisting of worthwhile and worthless mortgages that eventually created convoluted securities than no wants any more. If no one continues to buy these securities, banks on Wall Street will lose lots of money, which it feared will create a credit crisis that will mean it will be more difficult for consumers and businesses to borrow money.

I remain unconvinced that this bill is a good idea. $700 billion is a lot of taxpayer money equal roughly the cost of Iraq war to date. The federal government does not have this kind of money to spend over a short period of time due to Congress inclination not to limit spending or raise taxes this bill will probably largely be financed through government spending which will push us further into an economic crisis. Sure the bill may not actually cost $700 billion, some people think the government will actually make money off the bailout but the bailout could alternatively cost more than $700 billion since 700 billion is just a figure basically made up by the Treasury Secretary.

The bailout goes against the way capitalism works. Capitalism is a system of economics based on profit and loss. Traditionally in capitalism, people who are more productive and make a profit are rewarded, the opposite side of the coin is that people have to take losses when they make bad decisions. The people who invested in mortgage securities whose worth is not clear made bad decisions. If you take away the downside of bad decisions, you will just encourage people to engage in riskier decisions without any regard to whether or not they will be profitable; economists call this moral hazard.

The House of Representatives did vote down the bailout yesterday but the bill is not completely dead. It appears as the bill will be reintroduced in the House of Representatives on Thursday after Congress returns from the Jewish holiday.

Update 1:

5 Random Music Links

2008-09-30T12:57:00.000-04:00

More Music:

Diplo has produced a remix of John Legend's "Green Light" featuring Andre 3000 with a 90's era techno bass mix.

The Knux have released a video for their single "Bang Bang" off of their album Remind Me In 3 Days.
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I found this great video for a song called "Keep It Moving" by underground Chicago rapper Seel Fresh.

The song is off of Seel Fresh's sophmore album Street Famous which drops October 28th. "Keep It Moving" is produced by Cee The chef with Cuts by DJ Mental. The video is directed by Brian "TangAble" Evans and features cinematography by James Mulholland.
Link via VidRap.com

Here is a video of Q-Tip performing "Work It Out" as well as "Electric Relaxation" on Jimmy Kimmel's show. The video is a little grainy but still enjoyable.

Link via Hip-Hop Flavas Blog

People Under The Stairs have a video for The Wiz off of their new album Fun DMC. I really like People Under The Stairs fun laid back vibe.

People Under The Stairs - The Wiz Video
by golddustmedia

Link via Nah Right

Social Security Is A Disgrace

2008-09-16T15:40:00.002-04:00

Earlier this year John McCain said that Social Security is a disgrace. John McCain meant that Social Security benefits may not be there for future generations, but John McCain would be correct to say that Social Security is a disgrace..

Social Securtiy is a disgrace not just because Social Security is a multi-generational Ponzi shceme but also because Social Security increases poverty by giving people a disincentive to save because a belief will be created that the government is saving for them. Edgar K. Browning,Research fellow at the Independent Institute, explains:

While it reduces poverty by providing income to retired persons, it discourages private saving during the working years—ultimately decreasing the private assets people bring to their retirement. The net effect of this is increased poverty among the retired population.

To understand this conclusion, it is important to compare the rate of return on taxes paid that is generated by Social Security to the rate of return people could receive on their private saving. For those retiring in 2008, the average implicit real (inflation-adjusted) rate of return on Social Security taxes paid was slightly below 3 percent—and it is scheduled to decline to under 2 percent in the next forty years. In contrast, if people retiring in 2008 had invested the taxes they paid into Social Security in a balanced portfolio (60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds), they would have received a return of 5.5 percent.

The difference between a 5.5 percent return and a 3.0 percent return may not sound like much, but in annual returns compounded over a lifetime, this difference has a huge influence on the income available during retirement. In fact, the annual retirement income provided by a 5.5 percent return is double than that provided by the 3.0 percent return of Social Security. Even more compelling, an investment in the stock market averages a 7 percent real return, which would mean an annual income of three times what Social Security provides.

In short, it is likely that we would have fewer poor among the elderly had they been free to invest their taxes in private assets. Once Social Security’s rate of return drops to below 2 percent, it will only continue to aggravate poverty in the future.

While this simple comparison is compelling, it overlooks the huge hidden costs of this system. By reducing the incentive for workers to save privately for their own retirement, we reduce the economy’s saving and investment in productive assets. This means the economy grows more slowly as a result of Social Security and people end up with lower incomes even before they pay their taxes. When this cost is taken into account, the real return from Social Security to those retiring today is actually negative!

And things are only going to get worse. Although Obama assures us, “the underlying [Social Security] system is sound,” economists have emphasized for years that this is not the case. Today, government expenditures on Social Security and its companion retirement program, Medicare, are 7.3 percent of GDP. However, the Boards of Trustees of Social Security and Medicare tell us that figure will rise to 15.2 percent by 2040 if we don’t change the rules for determining benefits.

Ultimately that means we will have to more than double tax rates to pay the benefits Congress has unwisely legislated. Or we will have to cut benefits in half, or some combination. Raising taxes would be disastrous—imagine a 35 percent payroll tax rate (compared to the present 15.3 percent) and higher income tax rates as well. And since Medicare is partially funded by the federal income tax, its rates would have to rise as well.

Neither option is attractive, but cutting benefits is clearly preferable since people would then depend more on private saving. Most economists favor gradually raising the retirement age as the least painful way of cutting benefits. But the longer we wait, the harder it is to implement this option and the more likely we will be forced to accept substantially higher taxes.

The elderly poor, as well as the rest of us, are ill served by politicians who systematically downplay the huge costs of Social Security and delay confronting what is indeed a true crisis.

New Music Stuff

2008-09-09T12:19:00.000-04:00

Loud.com has a new video for Talib Kweli and KRS-ONE's song "The Perfect Beat." off of Talib Kweli's Eardrum album.

Wildabeast has a video for his song "iBeast Playlist" off of his upcoming Next Levels mixtape the song is produced by Madlib.
Link via Rock The Dub

Kanye West has finally released his video off of "Good Morning" off of last year's release Graduation.

Kanye West - Good Morning
by kanyewestofficial

This video seems to have been made a while ago because I remember watching a grainy version copied with a camcorder earlier this year. It is good to see Kanye West putting out more videos for his album even at this late date after release.

TheMeaningOfDope.com posted this video of A Tribe Called Quest performing "Oh My God."

Great to see A Tribe Called Quest performing at the peak. It is too bad it doesn't seem like another A Tribe Called Quest album will ever come out.

Obama: Let's Prop Up Failing Corporations

2008-08-31T22:52:00.002-04:00

Obama has a new ad called "Revitalize" in which the narrator criticizes John McCain for not supporting government loans to the auto manufacturing companies. There is no reason to support loans to car manufacturers who are not able to meet the demands of the manufacturers; American car manufacturers will be able to get loans from private businesses if they deserve them. All these loans would do is to funnel money from taxpayers to big inefficient corporations.

John McCain Goes With Inexperience

2008-08-31T12:36:00.009-04:00

Less than 24 hours after Barack Obama finished making his acceptance speech, John McCain shifted all the media coverage by choosing Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, as his Vice-Presidential running mate.

From a timing standpoint this was a smart move because the media was concentrating on McCain's speculation for Vice President rather than on Obama's speaking skills.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is a good choice from her record. She has been Governor of Alaska for two years which is a bit of a welfare state. Palin has tried to clean up corruption in Alaska. She supports increased domestic drilling including drilling in ANWR which is further than John McCain is willing to go on the issue.

Strategically, it seems pretty clear that Sarah Palin is partly a quota pick. A governor,with two years experience of a small strong-Republican state would have been chosen without the rise of Hillary Clinton. In fact, Sarah Palin made reference to Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro during her speech earlier this week. Sarah Palin's lack of inexperience may actually be a plus for Obama because each time a Democrat or the media points it out it will point to Obama's lack of experience.

Will this choice pick up Hillary Clinton voters? Probably not but it will excite the Republican Party base.

I'll House You

2008-08-22T13:01:00.002-04:00

Politico was interviewing John McCain and John McCain did not know how many houses he has. Members of the media seem to be covering this non-stop on the TV news networks.

Research has been done and according to Barack Obama, John McCain has seven homes.

It does not matter how many homes John McCain owns. Some people would like to use this as another example of how John McCain is old, senile and probably out of touch but the truth is that John McCain doesn't know how many homes he is part owner of because his wife is the one with the money. Politicians who are treated as serious Presidential candidates have lots of money and that is not going to change.

5 Random Music Links

2008-08-21T14:11:00.000-04:00

More Random Music:

Rhymefest has a video out for his song "Stolen." Rhymefest raps about genocide in Africa over a well produced No I.D. beat.

Kanye West has a new video for his single "Champion" off of last year's album Graduation. The video features a puppet version of Kanye West.

1 Time 4 Your Mind has posted the promo video for Nas's first classic album Illmatic.
Featuring many of the producers talking about their impact on Nas's classic Illmatic.

The Meaning of Dope posted an old story CBS 48 Hours did with Ice Cube.
Bernie Goldberg should go back to journalism like this instead of just complaining on Fox News about liberals which he seems to do for a living.
Buy Ice Cube's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted here.

Anthony Hamilton has a new song which David Banner appears on for a verse.

Earmarks are closer to being under control

2008-08-19T11:09:00.002-04:00

Taxpayers for Common Sense has an analysis of the new spending bills including the number and the amount spent on earmarks is down:

During this election year, lawmakers are showing slight restraint in writing the earmarks in the FY 2009 spending bills, according to an analysis by Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) (click here for the new database). The House has increased the number and value of earmarks at about the same rate. The Senate has cut earmarks by 16% in the spending bills in terms of total dollars. The analysis is based on all the bills that have passed full committee and are awaiting action in both chambers.

TCS analyzed the available House and Senate Fiscal Year 2009 spending bills and found that earmarks decreased by more than 15% in the Senate and increased nearly 7% in the House compared to the same appropriations bills at the similar point last year. The House increased the number of projects in these bills by 5% from 4,149 in 2008 to 4,367 in 2009 and the Senate reduced total projects from 4,313 in 2008 to 4,093. To some extent this represents the Senate restraining their irrational earmark exuberance of last year. In the six bills that were available for both chambers, the Senate still outstrips the House in total earmark cost: $5.86 billion to $5.12 billion.

One of the more remarkable shifts is a $426 million drop in Senate earmarks for the Transportation-Housing and Urban Development spending bill (the House bill hasn’t been considered yet). This is at least in part due to the cratering of the Highway Trust Fund, which is fueled by the gas tax. Overspending in previous years, coupled with the precipitous drop in gas tax receipts as motorists drive less, has drained the fund and well for earmark spending. The only other bill to have a similar fall on a percentage basis was the Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill, which also fell more than 30%, or $228 million.

But don't get your hopes up yet;

There are twelve final spending bills for the federal government. So in turn, there are 24 final House or Senate bills. Congress has only released 15 of those bills. With so many bills not considered, including the Defense spending bill that includes more earmarks than each of the House and Senate passed bills, much can still change. And that assumes that the spending bills will move under relatively regular order.

Earmarks is not the end all of spending but earmarks create the quickest route to corruption and may raise the level of overall spending by the Federal Government.

More Random Music

2008-08-12T11:31:00.000-04:00

More random music:

I saw this great remix to the Jay-Z song Roc Boys by K Def. The horns are replaced with a smooth guitar lick. Instead of being a party song the song switches to a laid back song emphasizing the lyrics with occasional blasts of sirens for a sense of urgency.

Link via 4080Records.com

Here is the new single "Touch & Go" from Joe Budden. Joe Budden will release his new album Padded Room on October 28. Fun Joe budden song with an electronica sound.

Here is a new song from Q-Tip called "Gettin' Up Clean." How we all miss A Tribe Called Quest. Hopefully Q-Tip will get a release for the album he has been working on.
Link via Hip Hop Flavas

Here is a new video by Detroit female emcee Invincible for her song titled "Sledgehammer". Invincible covers topics such as gentrification and urban decay briefly in this song.

This song by Invincible is off of her new album Shapeshifters which will be released on September 9th.

There is a new Jay-z song called "Jocking Jay-Z" produced by Kanye West that is floating around the internet. More Jay-z talk about how rich he is and famous he is; Jay-Z's act of exclaiming how famous he is getting a little boring but his rap flow is still great and the Kanye Beat is amazing with the simple guitar distortion and straight forward hard rap drum beat.

Tire Pressure and Politcal Pressure

2008-08-08T12:50:00.003-04:00

Obama mentioned in a speech that energy would be saved if they properly inflated their tires. This is a good solution that will help solve the energy crisis without any government solution that either involves spending taxpayer money or causing damage to the environment that would come with coal mining or oil drilling. According to a federal government website, properly inflating your tires can improve fuel economy by 4 percent.

One would think that Republicans would support properly inflating car tires as a free-market solution to the energy crisis. This is not the case, Republicans care about winning elections, and apparently the Republicans think that if they attach Obama with properly inflating tires people will start supporting McCain and other Republicans. Properly inflating tires alone is not an energy policy but it is a solution for the average person to save themselves the money they would spend on gasoline. We need to increase drilling and inflate our tires.

Harvard Political Review

2008-08-07T11:02:00.002-04:00

Harvard Political Review has an article addressing the need to get the appropriations process under control. The article by Pio Szamel points out the corruption that has lately been found in the appropriation process. The article offers two options to get control of the appropriations process limit earmarks or find more accountability:

While the current process is certainly not ideal, the question of how to reform it is a controversial one. One approach is to eliminate earmarks entirely. Some members of Congress, with the support of presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), tried to enact a one-year moratorium this spring. However, the measure failed in the Senate by a 71-29 vote as rank-and-file senators voted to protect the pork that helps their bids for re-election. Nevertheless, clamping down on earmarks remains a priority for many reformers because earmarks are considered to be the easiest avenue for corruption: they provide a mechanism for individual members to direct money to specific causes, groups, and even corporations.

But Adam Hughes of OMB Watch, a non-profit budget watchdog organization, told the HPR that there is another approach to reform: an emphasis on transparency rather than on eliminating all earmarks. “There’s been a lot of negative press around the term earmark,” he explained, before pointing out some valuable projects that were funded by earmarks, such as the Iraq Study Group. Rather than get out of the earmark business entirely, Hughes argued that the problem is accountability, noting that “when you can operate unaccountable to others, you can do whatever you want.” The solution is then to make the process more transparent, thereby fostering accountability.

The article points accountability efforts have been more effective than attempts to limit earmarks.

The article misses the major way to combat government corruption which is to reduce the size of government. Many earmarks are for activities to be performed at a local level. What we need is a change to at the very least to expect a lot less from our federal government.

Hillary is Right!

2008-08-07T10:51:00.003-04:00

I don't often agree with Hillary Clinton on anything but Senator Hillary Clinton has a column in the Wall Street Journal arguing for fiscal restraint on the executive. Quote:

I've proposed a comprehensive overhaul to root out corruption in no-bid contracts and other shady deals. Reforms must include the following:

- Instead of rewarding companies that exploit tax shelters and incorporate in tax havens, let's ban the federal government from contracting with companies that hide profits offshore.

- We should put in place safeguards so that contracts are awarded to responsible companies that abide by the law and complete the work they're hired to do.

- Let's put a stop to the disgraceful practice of giving bonuses to contractors for work never performed, which has been allowed to happen in Iraq and throughout the federal government according to the GAO and inspectors general.

- We need to increase transparency and competition in the contracting system, and to stop the ideological privatization of critical governmental functions.

Except for the last measure these all seem like good ideas. Federal contracting has failed recently in Iraq and with FEMA after Hurricane Katrina.

However, there is nothing wrong in of itself with federal contracting and privatization. There is no efficiency gained by the government by producing everything which is the logical extent of attacking privatization.

5 Random Music Links

2008-08-05T15:28:00.001-04:00

More music on the blog. This looks like it will become a regular feature.

Here is a video of some guy calling himself Narduwar interviewing Shay and Pharell Williams of N.E.R.D. The interviewer seems to know a lot about them and be a little crazy.

Link via Elitaste and Metal Lungies

The Full Clip has a new song from Blu called Pour Me Another. Fun song worth the download. Smooth relaxing song.

A new song from GZA called Finance has leaked on to the internet. Gza flows off the track really well in this song. This song is leftover that did not make his new album Pro Tools.

The Full Clip has also recently posted a live performance of J Dilla's work as interpreted by jazz artist Robert Glasper and Mos Def.

The Meaning of Dope.com continues to present interesting old hip-hop videos. Here is a video of a Much Music interview with the Fugees.

Sudanese Rappers om Egypt

2008-07-30T15:24:00.002-04:00

Egypt Daily News has a story about Sudanese refugees in Egypt using rap as an outlet for free expression.

As violence increases among Sudanese male youth involved in local street gangs in Cairo — demonstrated most severely with the fatal stabbing outside the American University in Cairo in June 2007 — hip hop groups work as a healthy coping mechanism to deal with the harsh reality. It also acts as an avenue for camaraderie outside of the gang scene.

“It has been shown in a variety of settings that there is a direct link between increased ability to express oneself and decreased levels of violence,” said Natalie Forcier, founder of the Campaign for Internationally Displaced Youth [CIDY]. The program is under the non-profit organization called the Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies that works to develop the natural talents of refugee youth through various techniques of creative expression like poetry and music.

“The goal is trying to get them to express themselves in some way. Because right now all the anger and resentment is just being bottled up,” Forcier explained.

Indeed, V.I.P’s song lyrics — sung in Arabic, English and French — have more to do with unity among people of the world than the typical sex, drugs and violence-centered lyrics typically associated with hip hop genre.

Both Nour and Reagan regard themselves as messengers, charting their life stories through their music. In one song, Nour raps about hurtfully being labeled a “Janjaweed” by his fellow Sudanese, in reference to his hometown Darfur where the infamous militia group is most prevalent.

A common theme found in their lyrics is racial intolerance.

“We started to let the people know the Sudanese situation by rapping,” Nour said.

There are around six well-known African refugee hip hop groups in Cairo that perform regularly at venues like the Townhouse Gallery, El-Sawy Culture Wheel and The Factory in Maadi, while many other groups spring up on a more ad hoc basis.

There is more in the article and it is worth reading the whole thing.

More Random Music from The Inbox/Blogs

2008-07-30T14:59:00.008-04:00

Some more random songs:

I recently got sent this new hot song called "Bang! Bang!" from the rap group The Knuxx. Good song with a positive message. It sounds a little bit like something Outkast might have done.

This song will be the second single on the album they are releasing on October 14th titled Remind Me in 3 Days.

Termanology and Bun B have collaborated on a new track produced by DJ Premier titled

Termanology will be releasing his debut LP, Politics As Usual, on September 30th, 2008 via ST. Records/Nature Sounds.

DJ Revolution has a song off his new album with KRS-ONE called "The DJ." KRS-ONE is an always enjoyable rapper especially with some good production behind him. DJ Revolution 's new album King of The Decks arrives in stores September 16.

CL Smooth has a new track out called Dripped in Champagne which has leaked on the internet. CL Smooth enjoyable as always. link via Mick Boogie

Mixtape: Sha Stimuli - Hotter than July

2008-07-26T09:07:00.002-04:00

There is a new mixtape from DJ Victorious and Sha Stimuli called Hotter than July. The mixtape features rhymes mixed in with Stevie Wonder. Worth a listen. Download here.

August 6th Barr Bomb

2008-07-25T10:15:00.003-04:00

Barrbomb.com is setting a goal for a money bomb for Bob Barr of August 6th.

The people at barrbomb.com seem to realize that the Bob Barr money bombs are not going to raise as much as Ron Paul's money bombs. They have set the goal for the August 6th money bomb to raise $100,000 which is an impressive goal since the last money bomb for Bob Barr raised only $40,000. Bob Barr does not seem to be having the traction that Ron Paul had earlier this year either in terms of fund raising or media coverage.

T.I. - Whatever You Like

2008-07-21T15:46:00.003-04:00

T.I. has a new song called Whatever You Like that has a new kind of sing-songy hook that I like. It's a typical rap song about sex and materialism but it sounds good and sometimes that is enough.

Update August 8, 2008:

Here is the video for the song:

Bob Barr Meets with Al Gore On Global Warming

2008-07-19T13:32:00.004-04:00

Bob Barr met with Al Gore earlier this week to discuss global warming. From Bob Barr's press release:

Former Vice President Al Gore and I have met privately to discuss the issue of global warming, and I was pleased and honored that he invited me to attend the "We" Campaign event. Global warming is a reality as most every organization that has studied the matter has concluded, whether conservative-leaning, liberal oriented or independent. I am, however, also aware that scientists differ on its causes, impact and remedies. I remain firmly committed to free market solutions and innovations to address this issue; not tax-driven policies.

I commend Mr. Gore for his efforts and leadership in this area, and urge Senators Obama and McCain to join me in studying, debating, and finding solutions to the problem of energy needs, consumption and effects. The American people deserve to hear all of our views and proposals on this issue and others. I am particularly pleased that Mr. Gore agrees that the public debate of this issue should include me so that the American people can make an informed choice after hearing a range of views. However, the fact that neither of the two major party candidates attended this event may indicate their unwillingness to address this important issue. Mr. McCain, for example, seems to have adopted already the internationalist approach and relying on the cumbersome and costly "cap and trade" formula and he may therefore be unwilling to engage in a real debate that would reveal how flawed that approach truly is.

All of the three major candidates have met with Al Gore to discuss global warming.

Thomas L. Knapp left a comment on the Third Party Watch blog post discussing global warming explaining a libertarian argument for a carbon tax:

In discussing the “green tax shift” with advocates thereof (Brian Holtz and Fred E. Foldvary, to name two), I’ve been at odds with them insofar as they advocate a carbon tax not for the purpose of paying for the removal of excess carbon from the atmosphere and sequestration of it, but as government’s “general revenue” source.

In my opinion, a government carbon reduction policy should pay for itself—barely. It shouldn’t be a source of revenue that enables the state to get up to unrelated fuckery.

The presumptive goal is to keep the carbon content of the atmosphere below x parts per million (the number I’ve heard thrown around a lot is 350, but it may be something else). If there’s a libertarian justification for that goal, said justification is that carbon in excess of x parts of million harms people or property, and that therefore pushing the ratio of carbon above x parts per million is an initiation of force.

It’s already getting complicated, but then throw into the complication the fact that there are not just 300-odd million Americans involved in emitting carbon, but another 6 billion people not in US jurisdiction.

Presumably there’s going to have to be an assessment of just how much carbon any one person can emit before crossing the threshold into initiation of force by contributing to exceeding the x parts per million threshold.

After that, rather than a tax, I’d prefer to see a destination-optional user fee. For every ton of carbon in excess of the threshold, the emitter can buy offset/sequestration from a private party at a market rate. If someone is caught “emitting in excess” without offsetting or sequestering, then why not go with the old civil standard of “treble damages?” The government fines them three times the market price of the offsets/sequestration they should have bought, buys TWICE as much on their behalf, and keeps 1/3 to cover the costs of enforcement/administration.

I suspect that most of this would take care of itself very quickly through the market—manufacturers would roll their automobiles, lawn mowers, etc. out of the factory with an “X Tons of Carbon VER purchased for this device at point of manufacture” sticker on them (in an amount in excess of emissions produced in the average life of the device type), utilities would fold the price of VERs into the kilowatt-hour charge, etc. On a personal level, investigating/charging someone with excess emissions would be subject to all the same probable cause, reasonable search, etc. constraints as any other state enforcement action

Previously Bob Barr had said that global warming is a myth.

A blogger at Freedom Democrats posits that Barr flip flopped on this issue so he will be included in a debate on climate change.

Bob Barr Conference Call

2008-07-18T11:38:00.002-04:00

Bob Barr recently held a conference call with several bloggers. Ed Morrissey, The Moderate Voice and James Joyner. Bob Barr explains the practical things he would do if President:

Barr would lead by example, ordering an immediate 10% cut in the Executive office for personnel and spending. Further, he would ask Congress, (both parties) to start cutting costs or “they will be next“. Any bill that increases the national debt will be vetoed. No increases in appropriations for any office will be tolerated. He would immediately put a freeze on all federal spending. He would also eliminate the Dept. of Education, reduce the size and scope of the Dept. of Energy, and establish a commission similar to the Grace Commission under Ronald Reagan. This group would examine every department and agency to determine their constitutionally based identity and function and prioritize eliminating those that don’t meet muster

Drill Now! Or in 7 Years

2008-07-11T10:22:00.002-04:00

From the latest article from The Hill it sounds as if some Democrats are moving towards expanding the areas where drilling is allowed. Quote:

The House is going to have its own “gang” of Republicans and Democrats who want to push for more drilling to relieve gas prices.

The Democrats in the group, led by Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), will be bucking Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who earlier Thursday called efforts to open up new areas to drilling “a hoax.”

Abercrombie announced late Thursday that he and Rep. John Peterson (R-Pa.), one of the loudest voices for more drilling, will form a bipartisan working group to discuss energy issues.

In an interview this week about his work with Peterson, Abercrombie said the Democratic message on energy is not working.

“Simply standing up and saying, you can’t drill your way out of this doesn’t work,” Abercrombie said. “The people are standing up and saying, ‘Yes, we can.’”

There are to be 20 members of the working group – 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans. The members will be announced Tuesday.

“In order for us to remain competitive and rescue ourselves from a second ‘great depression’, Washington needs to put the politics aside and address the crisis,” Peterson said in a statement announcing the working group.

Drilling is politically popular and will probably result in lowering the price of oil down the road. The federal government should allow states to have some say in whether or not drilling occurs in an area.

I understand the concern for the environmental damage that drilling would do but I would say that is a problem with the government owning such a large amount of land.

John McCain = J-Love

2008-07-08T10:22:00.004-04:00

Yesterday this blog mentioned an analogy between John McCain and 50 Cent, today this blog would like to point out the similarity between John McCain and J-Love.

What could old Washington insider Senator John McCain and underground rapper J-Love have in common? They both hate bloggers.

Below is the audio of J-Love dissing bloggers.
This was put together by Robbie at unkut.com
John McCain also hates the bloggers as seen from this clip from New Hampshire:

Where I Agree with Fidel Castro

2008-07-07T12:19:00.002-04:00

Fidel Castro has called on FARC to release all hostages.

I have openly and energetically criticised the objectively cruel methods of kidnapping and holding prisoners in the jungle," he wrote in an internet article posted on Sunday.

"If I may dare to suggest something to the Farc guerrillas, it is that they simply, by whatever means at their disposal, declare that they have unconditionally freed all the hostages and prisoners still under their control."

...
Hugo Chavez called on FARC to release their hostages in June.

Drivin' Down The Block

2008-07-07T11:17:00.002-04:00

Kevin Drum has a post pointing out that for the first time since 1983 the number of vehicle miles driven is down as compared to the previous year. This is a sign of how Americans have changed their behavior as a result of high gas prices.

Spending Like Their Ain't No Tomorrow

2008-07-03T18:06:00.002-04:00

Tim Pawlenty is one of John McCain's likely choices for Vice President. Tim Pawlenty is not a great candidate on fiscal issues. Here's the text of a post by Sam Batkins lifted from NTU's blog:

Spending:

Like Governor Romney, Pawlenty’s spending record started off strong. During his first year in office, Pawlenty was actually able to cut general fund spending by 1.2%. This penchant for fiscal probity waned in later years, however. In the next four years, general fund growth averaged 6.6%.

This rate in government growth is average when compared to the rest of the United States. From FY 2004-07, spending increased 17.2% (from $13.6 billion to $15.9 billion).

Unfortunately for taxpayers, government employment in Minnesota grew 27.7% (from 33,279 state employees to 42,515) during Pawlenty’s tenure.

Taxes:

Pawlenty’s record on taxes can rightly be characterized as a disaster for Minnesotans. There have been no broad-based tax cuts in Minnesota and the largest reduction during Pawlenty’s time in office is only $28.7 million.

Overall, during Pawlenty’s tenure, taxes have increased $1.74 billion (with a b). Some supporters might attempt to describe these increases as merely fees, but consumers and corporations nevertheless have to pay the bill. To his credit, Pawlenty has proposed a modest $77.3 million reduction in sales taxes for FY 2009, but this is more than offset with $138.7 million in other tax and fee hikes.

Rumors are abound that Pawlenty is the front-runner for McCain’s VP slot, but with over $1.7 billion in tax hikes to his name and even more on the way, McCain might think twice about choosing Pawlenty.

This certainly wouldn't be a way for John McCain to get libertarian types of people to vote for him.

John McCain = 50 Cent

2008-07-03T11:38:00.003-04:00

The blogger Humanity Critic argues that John McCain is the 50 Cent of politics. Humanity Critc's main point is that John McCain and 50 Cent have both retained higher levels of credibility with the media by bragging about their wounds:

At the height of 50's career, whenever I would antagonize some of his misguided fans by sarcastically questioning his street credibility, more times than not I'd find myself on the business end of an extremely strong rebuke. With that person usually arguing their case like a seasoned trial lawyer, their main argument being that 50 Cent survived multiple gun shot wounds, smirking as if they had just nailed the landing on a Perry Mason style closing argument. No matter how many times I'd question that brand of logic, the intelligence insulting suggestion that failed murder attempts that leave holes in your respective ass somehow makes a persons street credibility beyond reproach, always puzzled me whenever one of his supporters would act as if going after his main narrative was off the table.

In terms of John McCain, everyone respects his fine service to this country, and if most people are honest with themselves for even a moment they will readily admit that if faced with the same hardships that McCain faced in that POW camp - they'd spend half of their time soiling themselves, and the other half offering their captors a complimentary reach around in hopes of preferential treatment. John McCain is a bona fide war hero. That being said, I reject the media's misguided narrative that Obama cedes all ground to McCain on everything Foreign Policy solely based on the fact that the Arizona Senator spent time at the Hanoi Hilton. Even attempting to respectfully question whether or not being a prisoner of war qualifies you to be president is often met with fierce resistance, with the offended party acting as if you had just wiped your ass with the American flag in front of them. My question is, because John McCain constantly cites his service in Vietnam when on the campaign trail(..don't buy into the media's notion that he's resistant to do so, that's horseshit) - why can't we have a both respectful and substantive debate on how that does or does not relate to being a commander in chief. I'm not in any way talking about denigrating the man's service or his time as a P.O.W, I'm not even talking about citing irrefutable facts like him graduating 884 out of 889 in the Naval Academy, the fact that he crashed 5 different planes as a pilot, was known to disobey orders, and owes his military advancement largely to family connections(His father and grandfather were both admirals in the Navy) I'm just suggesting that we challenge the silly notion that John McCain's foreign policy cred is beyond reproach because of his time in captivity - its almost like someone making the "Wait a minute, his mother was white!" argument whenever some bumbling pundit discussed Obama's one time perceived problem with white voters during the Democratic Primaries. That simply doesn't work.

Being shot down in combat does not solely qualify someone to be commander in chief then again neither does being a state senator.

Bobby Jindal Keeps The State Legislature In Check

2008-07-02T12:29:00.002-04:00

Bobby Jindal has vetoed a bill that would have doubled the salaries of Louisiana legislators.

BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Bobby Jindal announced today that he has vetoed the legislative pay raise.

After days of saying he would not reject the unpopular measure, Jindal said this morning that he had changed his mind.

"I thank the people for their voice and their attention," Jindal said of the public outcry against the raise. "I am going to need your help to move this state forward. ... The voters have demanded change. . . . I made a mistake by staying out if it" originally.

Jindal said that legislators "are going to be angry I broke my word to them" by promising to stay out of the pay raise issue. "Let them direct their anger to me and not the people of this state," Jindal said.

The governor said that although he originally promised to refrain from injecting himself in the issue because a veto may threaten his future legislative programs, he was wrong.

"The bottom line is that allowing this excessive legislative pay raise to become law would so significantly undercut our reform agenda and so significantly diminish the people's confidence in their own government that I cannot let it become law, so I have vetoed the bill."

One would think of all people fellow politicians would know not to believe what a politician tells you. This is a good example that if the public demands something from the legislature politicians will respond and it does not necessarily cost the taxpayer money.

Video: Wale - The Artistic Integrity

2008-07-01T15:56:00.002-04:00

Here is a new video for Wale's song The Artistic Integrity off of The Seinfeld inspired mixtape The Mixtape About Nothing.

This is a good quality video to by Rik Cordero.

It's not often you see quality videos for songs that have only appeared on mixtapes.

Link via Sit Down Stand Up

Laws Are Dumb

2008-07-01T11:31:00.002-04:00

Laws are dumb or at least some of them are.

The Club for Growth can be a little apologetic of the Republicans for my taste. However, The Club for Growth has come out with a great new blog called Dumb Laws. The blog covers just that subject, dumb laws. It even has a feature where you can search the blog's Dumb Law posts by state.

Barack Obama who?

2008-07-01T09:50:00.003-04:00

I am starting to take a weekly poll of the readership of this blog. Last week there were 4 votes for Bob Barr, 1 vote for John McCain, and 1 vote for Ralph Nader, and no votes for Barack Obama. If there are any 3rd party candidates I should be including in the poll feel free to leave a comment.

Obama supports higher prices for food and gasoline

2008-06-23T09:45:00.003-04:00

Obama supports higher prices for food and gasoline. Or at least that is what one would have to conclude from Obama's support for ethanol.

According to the New York Times, Barack Obama is a big ethanol supporter.

When VeraSun Energy inaugurated a new ethanol processing plant last summer in Charles City, Iowa, some of that industry’s most prominent boosters showed up. Leaders of the National Corn Growers Association and the Renewable Fuels Association, for instance, came to help cut the ribbon — and so did Senator Barack Obama.

Then running far behind Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in name recognition and in the polls, Mr. Obama was in the midst of a campaign swing through the state where he would eventually register his first caucus victory. And as befits a senator from Illinois, the country’s second largest corn-producing state, he delivered a ringing endorsement of ethanol as an alternative fuel.

Mr. Obama is running as a reformer who is seeking to reduce the influence of special interests. But like any other politician, he has powerful constituencies that help shape his views. And when it comes to domestic ethanol, almost all of which is made from corn, he also has advisers and prominent supporters with close ties to the industry at a time when energy policy is a point of sharp contrast between the parties and their presidential candidates.

Obama is not just a supporter of ethanol as an alternative fuel but it is part of Obama's protectionism. Obama refuses to even consider using sugar based ethanol from Brazil defending the need for high import tarrifs on ethanol.

This is one issue where John McCain has taken a stand that does not appease the voters of Iowa and has opposed the ethanol program.

Mr. McCain advocates eliminating the multibillion-dollar annual government subsidies that domestic ethanol has long enjoyed. As a free trade advocate, he also opposes the 54-cent-a-gallon tariff that the United States slaps on imports of ethanol made from sugar cane, which packs more of an energy punch than corn-based ethanol and is cheaper to produce.

“We made a series of mistakes by not adopting a sustainable energy policy, one of which is the subsidies for corn ethanol, which I warned in Iowa were going to destroy the market” and contribute to inflation, Mr. McCain said this month in an interview with a Brazilian newspaper, O Estado de São Paulo. “Besides, it is wrong,” he added, to tax Brazilian-made sugar cane ethanol, “which is much more efficient than corn ethanol.”

The United States should be getting rid of ethanol all together or at least letting in Brazilian sugar based ethanol which is 4 times more efficient.

The price of ethanol has raised the cost of gasoline.

Ethanol also has raised the price of food. Farmers are growing corn for ethanol thus raising the prices of all types of food.

Things Done Changed

2008-06-19T15:56:00.003-04:00

I think I qualify as an O.G. in this hip-hop blogging thing since I've been covering hip-hop on and off since October 2001. Back when I first started blogging it was just me and hip hop anonymous. Times have changed, now the record industry can not deny the influence of hip-hop blogs.

Hip-Hop blogs in 2008 have such great influence that other sites react to them. Here is a video of Kidz in the Hall responding to a poll featured on unkut.com

In the poll Kidz In The Hall were one of eight choices for Who Is The Biggest Hipster Rap Douchebag at unkut.com

Kidz In The Hall should be happy, they came in last place in the poll.

To defend themselves Kidz In The Hall holdup a silk screened t-shirt of Obama. The interview seemed perplexed about how pointing out that a pastel colored t-shirt defends them from the accusations. They also claim they are the first artist to put out a pro-Obama song which may or may not be true.

It's hard out here for a blogger.

2008-06-19T12:54:00.002-04:00

There have been limits to American freedom in recent years but Americans remain largely free to blog; whether Americans choose to blog about serious issues or waste time blogging about the the latest Lil Wayne album or who has appeared in the Presidential candidate's photo ops.

In some countries blogging is a hazardous activity. Since 2003, 64 citizens unaffiliated with news organizations have been arrested for their blogging activities.

Using Google and LexisNexis as search engines, the World Information Access found 64 blogger arrest incidents discussed in various news articles, blogs, scholarly articles and informational Web sites. The WIA organized the incidents by blogger name, country, date of arrest, reason for arrest and time in jail. The majority of incidents took place in the Middle East and Asia with some in North America and Western Europe. The WIA recorded only bloggers who were arrested for using electronic media, which included written online blogs, videos and text messages, to discuss or record political issues and events. The online texts WIA reviewed cited a variety of reasons for the arrests including refusal to give information to the government and violating rules unrelated to state security. Incidents involving pornography or sexual abuse were avoided with the exception of a few select incidents.

More date on the World Information Access report can be found at this link.

Link via A Stitch in Haste

Barr Not Just Running for McCain Voters

2008-06-19T11:34:00.002-04:00

The Washington Post has a video of an interview where Eric Pianin interviews Bob Barr about the election.

One of the things I liked about this interview was that Barr brought up Obama making it specifically clear he is not just going after John McCain's voters. Barr should repeat to the anti-war Clinton voters that there is an anti-candidate running other than Obama.

Barr also brought up the point that McCain's proposed assault on earmarks is not enough to fix the budget process. In many cases, earmarks just redirect funds that would otherwise be appropriated. Control of earmarks is a start but is not enough to get control of the increased rates of spending.

Bush Considers Idea of Off-Shore Drilling

2008-06-18T10:49:00.002-04:00

President Bush has decided to come out in favor of allowing states to participate in off-shore drilling. Bush is pushing a good policy proposal here. It is too bad Bush never did this earlier in his administration.

offshore oil, come on bubble and boil

2008-06-17T14:17:00.002-04:00

Senator John McCain has proposed ending the federal ban on offshore drilling. This measure would then allow coastal states to decide whether or not to allow drilling for oil offshore. Offshore drilling has not been allowed since 1981.

John McCain told a conference call:

Asked about the offshore drilling, McCain responded, "Right now there's a moratorium, and they have to be lifted. I'm not dictating to the states that they drill for oil. I'm saying the moratorium should be lifted so states can choose that option if they want to." He added that the situation might require "additional incentives... in terms of tangible financial rewards" to states that permit drilling. He said he didn't have a particular position at this point on an appropriate distance from the coast for offshore drilling.

Oil prices are due almost entirely to supply and demand. One sure way to lower the price of oil would be to increase the supply through measures such as offshore drilling. At the very least decisions on whether or not to drill should be made by the states that will be most directly affected by offshore drilling.

This is a positive policy proposal by Senator McCain.

McCain Not Old Enought To Remember The Dred Scott Case

2008-06-16T16:08:00.002-04:00

McCain may be old enough to remember Pearl Harbor but he isn't old enough to remember the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision. How else do you explain the fact that McCain compared yesterday's court ruling as one of the worst Supreme Court ruling?

The ruling required that terrorism suspects be charged with a crime.

There are many worse Supreme Court ruling I could think of off the top of my head. Dred Scott vs, Sandford declared that black people have no legal standing and are no different than a chair in the eyes of the law; this decision partly led to the Civil War. Korematsu v. United States declared that holding American citizens in prison camps is okay as long as the public feels they have a legitimate reasoning for their racist beliefs. People such as John McCain, who say they want to overturn Roe v. Wade should take that case into consideration. John McCain should realizes there are many historical instances of bad Supreme Court decision. Giving terrorists the right not to be locked up forever without at least being tried is nowhere near the level of bad Supreme Court decision.

The Supreme Court made the right decision. One measure of a free state is whether or not people can arbitrarily be arrested by the government with no means of challenging the government's say.

Fox News Does Some Good For Once

2008-06-14T14:33:00.002-04:00

Fox News has some sort of a political bias that can be summed up as pro-Republican Party, pro-war, anti-Muslim. It is almost amusing the ability of some of the anchors to deviate from the norm.

However, Fox News has done a good job lately by airing an hour long special on earmarks, wasteful spending and Congress.

The contents of the hour long special are below:

Impeach Bush Now!

2008-06-14T13:11:00.003-04:00

Rep. Dennis Kucinich has led the charge of impeachement against Bush.

Kucinich has pushed the House of Representatives to vote on sending articles of impeachment to be taken up by the judiciary. Kucinich had previously attempted to raise the issue several times for impeaching both President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

I support the impeachment of George W. Bush for no other reason than it will be a waste of time and will not cost that much money compared to the other actions that Congress would be taking. Unfortunately, it does not look like the motion will be taken up by the Judiciary Committee since John Conyers realizes it is a waste of time.

Snoop Goes Country

2008-06-14T11:12:00.003-04:00

It takes a lot of guts for a rapper to go in as many musical directions as Snoop has recently. Snoop had sensual seduction written for him and made the video for it in which Snoop tries to appear as an 80's funk video one would expect from the likes of Prince.

Snoop has taken it one degree further. Snoop has gone country with the video for his new song My Medicine which features references to Grand Ole Opry, a cameo by Willie Nelson and starts with a shout out to Johnny Cash "a real American gangster." Snoop going country shouldn't be too surprising since the South has been running things but country seems like the new frontier for rap music.

My Medicine isn't a bad song though. It's a fun Snoop song what else would you expect.