2016 was a strange year for hip-hop. It was at once the pinnacle of the slurred, codeine-soaked trap music that rose in popularity around 2011 as well as a huge resurgence of boom-bap. Boom-bap is essentially the polar opposite of the high-production based voice-as-instrument styles of trappy hip-hop: it relies on a minimal, percussion based beat and as much clever lyricism as a rapper can bring to the table. In maintaining some kind of cosmic balance between these often at odds forces, it follows that at the close of a big year for crooners like Young Thug, Lil Yachty, and Travis Scott, the remaining members of A Tribe Called Quest would release their mythical final album.
Phife Dawg, born Malik Taylor, was an icon. He was one of the most highly regarded MCs of all time and remained never waned before his death due to complications of diabetes in March of this year. Along with Q-Tip and producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Tribe put out three impeccable albums and two that were very good. In October of last year, a few months before his death, Phife and all of the original members, along with many of their associates met in the studio and started work. They were fueled by a last performance together on The Tonight Show, as well as sorrow in the aftermath of the Paris Bombings, and they quickly started recording what they do best, funky, clever, politically charged bars that bounced from member to member as if it were their freshman album.
The album is so incredible because it does not rely on nostalgia for quality. It would have been easy for the Tribesmembers to lean on their old tropes and put out a samey attempt at replicating The Low End Theory, but they veered towards slightly more modern production and themes skewering gentrification and using outlandish samples of Elton John to an accompanying Jack White on acoustic guitar.
The showstopper on this album that is packed full of incredible features from André Benjamin to Kendrick Lamar is the track The Space Program. The track is built on an organ and barebones percussion beat and opens with a quote from the 70’s blaxploitation film Willie Dynamite. The track follows a loose narrative of a US space program taking off and leaving without black people. The space program is of course a metaphor for systemic gentrification and Q-Tip and original Tribe member Jarobi take turns lambasting the state of treatment of black Americans in every form from housing to police brutality.
In the middle of the first verse, after boasting about their lyrical prowess and how they cannot be fooled by the system, Q-Tip rails against the Voting Rights Act, rapping “They planning our future//None of our people involved.” He elicits the frustration of lack of representation in government due to oppressive redistricting and the de facto poll taxes of in person voting, particularly on a Tuesday.
He goes on to bemoan the systemic practices going on in Flint Michigan and Standing Rock of minorities being forced to bear the burden of white ecological destruction with the lyrics, “They’d rather lead us to the grayest water poison deadly smog//Mass un-blackening, it’s happening, you feel it y’all?” This mass un-blackening relates both to the destruction of lives through poisoned water as well as the gentrification of historically colored neighborhoods with the influx of wealthy white people (see: Pilsen, and ironically, Pilson’s large Latinx population only got there after being gentrified out of the UIC area).
Toni Morrison has written extensively on the idea of flight as a mode of freedom for black Americans, both in novels like Song of Solomon as well as in interviews and essays. It comes from the folk tale of the flying African. A story which in turn stems from the mass-suicide of captured Nigerian Igbo people who killed themselves as opposed to returning to slavery. The myth followed that the people actually sprouted wings and flew back to Africa. Songs of flight spread and grew into a mythology of their own.
Ironically, in The Space Program, the idea of flight is reimagined as a white flight from the problems associated with black Americans. This shift serves to show how the attempt at freedom is deemed impossible within a system designed to oppress black Americans. Instead, flight, once deemed a freedom dream for many is co-opted by the oppressors.
So where does that leave the members of Tribe? The answer lies in the hook. A resoundingly positive Phife Dawg repeats to a bouncing beat as the song fades,
Time to go left and not right
Gotta get it together forever
Gotta get it together for brothers
Gotta get it together for sisters
For mothers and fathers and dead n—–
For non-conformers, won’t hear the quitters
For Tyson types and Che figures
As the hook fades into the outro, a trippy sample of Gene Wilder (another great who passed away in 2016) in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we are reminded that this is an uphill battle and “they’re certainly not showing, any signs that they are slowing!”
So on behalf of all people, let’s make something happen.
5,873 Comments
Companion, this web site will be fabolous, i merely like it بت فوروارد
thank you dearly author , I found oneself this web site very helpful and its full of excellent healthy selective information ! , I as well thank you for the fantastic food plan post. 1xbet giriş
Get the latest news with Azaad English! Visit our blog for timely updates and comprehensive coverage on current events and trends.azaadenglish news updates 2024 Stay informed about what’s happening globally in 2024—head over to our site for fresh news and insightful articles.
Ich kenne einige Leute, die aus Kanadakommen. Eines Tages werde ich auch dorthin reisen Lg Daniela asyabahis giriş
Güncel Sekabet giriş adresini buradan öğrenin ve online bahis dünyasında güvenli bir yolculuğa başlayın. En heyecan verici oyunlar ve cazip bonuslar için Sekabet’in en son erişim bilgilerini keşfedin! sekabet giriş
Maltcasino giriş Türkiye'nin en iyi casinositesi ile en güvenli bahisleri alabilir, maltcasino'in en iyi casinooyunları sizlerle. maltcasino giriş
An attention-grabbing dialogue is value comment. I’m sure that its better to write on this topic, towards the often be a taboo topic but typically persons are not sufficient to speak on such topics. To another location. Cheers kilat 333
Gnarly article mate, keep the good work, just shared this with ma friendz Stitch Braids Boston
Rasakan Sensasi Seru Bermain Slot PGSoft Server Luar Resmi dengan RTP Gacor yang Memberikan Peluang Kemenangan Tinggi iosbet
I added this article to my favorites and plan to return to digest more soon. It’s easy to read and understand as well as intelligent. I truly enjoyed my first read through of this article. Kongcuwin Oxplay Slot Online
Hey! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog. Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Cheers property marbella apartments and villas for sale
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now every time a remark is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any approach you’ll be able to remove me from that service? Thanks! pam4d
Substantially, this publish is really the sweetest on this notable theme. I harmonise along with your conclusions and will thirstily seem ahead in your incoming updates. Stating thanks will not likely just be ample, for that phenomenal clarity with your writing. Login Master333
The elegance of those blogging engines and CMS platforms will be the lack of limitations and ease of manipulation that permits builders to implement rich subject material and ‘skin’ the website in such a way that with really tiny effort one particular would by no means discover what it truly is making the internet site tick all with out limiting content material and effectiveness. Facebook
우리카지노 계열의 단연 No.1 카지노 사이트 더킹플러스카지노를 여기 Thekingplus62773 에서 만나보세요. 공식 가입 안내와 신규 가입 보너스 및 이벤트 등 가장 빨리 만나볼 수 있습니다. 더킹카지노
https://drum789.click/dolar4d/
Highest quality fella toasts, or toasts. will most certainly be given birth to product or service ? from the party therefore supposed to become surprising, humorous coupled with enlightening likewise. best man speaches dimensi 69
Sunwin là cổng game bài cá cược online đỉnh cao với Tài Xỉu, Xóc Đĩa, Nổ Hũ, Game Bài với tỷ lệ trả thưởng cao. Tải Sunwin nhận ưu đãi lớn Tải Sunwin
FLUX AI comes in three variants: FLUX.1 [pro], FLUX.1 [dev], and FLUX.1 [schnell], each tailored for different use cases and performance levels. Flux ai image
Last month, when i visited your blog i got an error on the mysql server of yours.,`’,”
Bathrooms Glasgow
ALEXISTOGEL sebagai bandar toto macau online terpercaya yang menyediakan layanan togel online terbaik selama 24 jam untuk Anda. Bandar togel online
Great article.
Boxer puppies for sale near me
Thanks.
Pitbull puppies for sale near me
Need to see more of this.
Harlequin Great Dane Puppies For Sale
Read more.
Buy Snack Vending Machines
Check this out.
Buy Outboard motors
Situation Critical Fall 2016 has such an intense vibe! Definitely one of those moments where having Wink Premium Apk to stream it on repeat would be a game-changer.
Situation Critical Fall 2016 has such an intense vibe! Definitely one of those moments where having TeraBox Premium Apkto stream it on repeat would be a game-changer.
Situation Critical Fall 2016 has such an intense vibe! Definitely one of those moments where having WorldBox Premium Apk to stream it on repeat would be a game-changer.
I was very pleased to find this website. I wanted to thank you for your time for this wonderful post!! I definitely enjoy reading it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post. iptv brampton canada
You’ve made various nice points there. I did specific search terms around the matter and found mainly individuals will believe your site https://buyroyalhoneyusa.com/
I admire what you have done here. I love the part where you say you are doing this to give back but I would assume by all the comments that is working for you as well. Do you have any more info on this? NEMO189
How much of an significant content, keep on penning significant other 家庭教師 英会話
Kemang88 merupakan situs judi slot yang resmi & terpercaya, juga memberikan kemenangan kepada para pencinta game slot online. Sebagai situs resmi slot Kemang88 menyediakan juga beragam jenis permainan slot yang asli gacor dengan mencapai kemenangan 97%. kemang88
There is clearly a lot to know about this. I think you made various good points in features also. blog transportation
I really enjoyed reading this site, this is great blog. blog post article
bless you with regard to the particular blog post ive really been searching regarding this kind of information on the web for sum time right now as a result cheers work for a moving company
Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn anything like this before. So nice to find any person with some authentic thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this website is something that is wanted on the internet, someone with a little bit originality. useful job for bringing something new to the web! ponti sollevatori auto
Regards for this terrific post, I am glad I discovered this site on yahoo. moving company New York
Thanks for helping out, excellent information. Long distance movers NYC
it was a wonderful chance to visit this kind of site and I am happy to know. thank you so much for giving us a chance to have this opportunity.. alexistogel
the Mostbet mobile application is a perfect solutionePh
Yay google is my king assisted me to find this outstanding site! . stellar tv
I totally agree! I came over from google and am looking to subscribe. Where is your RSS feed? abonnement iptv france
I beloved as much as you’ll obtain performed proper here. The comic strip is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. however, you command get got an nervousness over that you want be handing over the following. in poor health indisputably come further previously again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you defend this hike. slot88
This is just the information I am finding everywhere. Thanks for your blog, I just subscribe your blog. This is a nice blog.. togel hongkong
Good post, well put together. Thanks. I will be back soon to check out for updates. Cheers Lobby138 Link Alternatif
forty people that work with all the services Oasis provides, and he is a very busy man, he toto resmi
Ich kenne einige Leute, die aus Kanadakommen. Eines Tages werde ich auch dorthin reisen Lg Daniela bandar slot gacor
Firmade likvideerimine. Teie ettevõte on probleemne? Maksuamet esitab küsimusi? Äripartnerid kaotavad usaldust? firmade likvideerimine