Thursday, January 16, 2020
Week 2 [Nicolas Hopkin]
I remember the controversy surrounding this song when it first came out, but seeing it roughly four years later gives me a new level of appreciation for some of the more subtle parts these folks sneak in underneath the chorus. They include much more specific messages in the verses than I can remember, with Nipsey Hussle even warning of Trump's plan to take away the voting power of the previously incarcerated. Additionally, both Bloods and Crips are shown to unite in a mutual moment of activism and protest, something I'm not sure I've seen before or since.
Also, for everyone's viewing pleasure, this gem:
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This track makes a powerful statement. It's not common for music to be so explicit in calling out individuals for their actions. This kind of track, especially when accompanied by the actual video footage used for the video, serves to demonstrate the rejection of this president by an entire community. Presenting a united front, it shows people who may have grown up in more isolated communities (see: white conservatives) that there is a massive segment of the population who is hurt by this man and the political sphere he brought forth.
ReplyDeleteThe approach to be this upfront is a powerful one, especially with such a backing from two communities often seen as enemies, and YG and Nipsey Hussle really managed to draw it home. It wasn't empty, they really backed it up to help make clear to anyone who may oppose them where they come from, and it worked.
ReplyDeleteI remember in 2016 when people would make statements like this and folks would get all offended and here we are, four years later and there are scores of recorded statements and tweets from Trump that go far beyond a statement like "Fuck Donald Trump". That second one also really irritated me when I first saw it, not gonna lie. The message is fine, but the execution was very capitalistic in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThese are great examples of using power and fame to spread important messages and call-to-actions. Sometimes you need unapologetic honesty and clarity to prove a point. YG and Nipsey fearlessly blame an individual who has become a symbol of bigotry, oppression and hatred, and although they express specific and meaningful verses, they also comment on an endless array of relevant issues that Trump's been the catalyst of through three simple words.
ReplyDeleteDirect confrontation—calling out the target of your protest—has always been one mode of protest music. It's not subtle, but the artists clearly feel they're at a point beyond subtlety. And one role of protest artists has been to give voice to a large population they feel whose voices aren't being heard, which I think this song does. I think it's worth thinking about how we got from Nina Simone "Mississippi Goddam" to here.
ReplyDeleteI love how overt this song is. As artists I feel like we are often forced to express dissent in more subversive ways in order to appeal to a greater audience, so YG and Hussle's choice to directly confront the obvious issue is what makes this song so great.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm being honest, Lil Dicky's track feels like such a feeble attempt as protest music. I understand that the point is that it's over the top, but it's such a stretch of reality that it feels like it really isn't addressing the issues that climate change will inevitably consume us. I like the idea that we should respect the planet and love the earth, but c'mon now this is way more serious than "what the fuck I'm a clam."
ReplyDeleteI'm usually one to see more value in a protest approach that requires listeners to question their ideologies towards an issue rather than being directly confronted by a world view, but I definitely think this song is effective in its avoidance of skirting around the issue. Its statements are direct and therefore mobilizing.
ReplyDeleteRight around the same time JPEGMAFIA released "I might vote 4 Donald Trump." Although I don't at all agree with the stance JPEG took during a time where much of America was left confused on how he even got to where he did, I do take interest in the different stances non-trump supporters took as a reaction to the possibility of his presidency.
ReplyDeleteI think the direct, overt nature of this track puts it near the furthest end of the spectrum of protest music, where gentle, and subtle are at the other end. I think all approaches on this spectrum can have value, but the purpose of each will undoubtedly vary. I imagine this song was not expected to change many minds of Trump supporters, but a powerful dissenting voice can sometimes speak for those whose voice was not heard as well before. I can also be a rallying anthem for that community.
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