Fri 21 Oct 2005
All the news about Mos Def these days is really just news about Alicia Keys’ third #1 album. So, time to turn to the blogosphere for something that I hope will become a regular feature, Blogwatch. This is where I scan the blogs for people talking about Mos Def, and report it here. This will also provide a little link-love to those those precious few blogs that do talk about Mos Def.
The first installment proves that I’m not just a Mos Def fanboy. In a post cleverly titled, “Black On Both Sides: Mos Def and Hypocrisy” Jay from gotmilkfart calls out Mos Def for his appearance in a GMC Denali ad. Jay equates Mos Def rhyming about a truck to the slew of other rappers throwing their success into the face of their minions in the ghetto, only reinforcing the notion that “trucks = success” and the quick, easy path to status, fame, and wealth.
the impoverished mind only sees the end product. by any means necessary they want to achieve this goal – this status symbol because anything better than ghetto is great. what the impoverished mind doesn’t see is that there are many barriers that they have in front of them and me, as a minority, alike. instead of pimping the system and working through school, the impoverished mind wants the greatest goal for the least input and least time. the impoverished mind then turns to dealing drugs on his block, shooting and robbing. or more legitimatley and promising (if you can even say that) turns to playing basketball or rapping – disregarding academics and how minimal his or her chances are in actuallly making it to the nba or cutting a deal with sony records.
And all this after pointing the finger on the track “Got” off of Black on Both Sides:
This one goes to all them Big Will cats
With ice on they limbs and big rims on they Ac
You rollin’ round town with your system bumped
And your windows cracked low to profile and front
Now I like to have nice things just like you
But I’m from Brooklyn, certain shit you just don’t do
Thoughts? Post them in the comments here or at the original article at gotmilkfart.
4 Responses to “Blogwatch: Mos Def & Hypocrisy”
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October 22nd, 2005 at 3:01 pm
Thank you for putting a link to the article. I do wonder if Mos has a response to the criticism. I remeber reading once how he was questioned about possibly homophobic lyrics on “The Rape Over”. His reponse was insightful and unforced, and proved yet again, that the man seemed untouchable in the “right on” department.
Not that I think he has to have a reason for everything, but I konw his fans probably hope he does. And I think fans should be intelligent enough to question their icons when they need to be questioned. I know as a fan, Mos represents pretty much everything down, hot, smooth, thoughtful, deep, varied, and seemingly perfect in entertainment right now. Perhaps this is just a reminder (and trust, I find it very difficult to be reminded) that Mos Def is a moniker, a character invented and maintained. Who really knows, besides possibly his family, his close friends and himself, the reasons behind all of Dante’s decisions.
Also, thanks for this website. You are doing a great job.
October 22nd, 2005 at 11:05 pm
thanks for the link. ive already recieved feedback that i’ll be sure to reply to and/or post about after im done my midterms. im glad this site of your’s exists and thank you.
believe it or not, i DO love mos def…it’s only natural that i question my hero’s motives rather than have blind devotion. at least i think so.
October 23rd, 2005 at 10:42 am
It was obvious, at least to me, that you were and are a fan of Mos. I am definitely of the opinion that we should question the actions of those that we look up to and those, like Mos Def, who are leaders in their communities (the hip-hop community, that is). We must approach everything with critical thought and analysis.
Good luck on those mid-terms. So glad that phase of my life is over…
September 8th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
um. that blog is some of the most ignorant nonsense i’ve ever read. talk about simplification.