The Audacity of Dope

Some simply visuals for a web video of LL’s “Mr. President” off his new album, Exit 13.  Is it good?  Ehh.  Does LL’s rhyme style work in 2008?  Ehhhhh.  Do I support him making a song with at least a cursory amount of substance?  Absolutely.

I don’t even hate wackness.  I hate wackness that glorifies other forms of wackness.  If your heart’s in the right place, I’ll let it slide all day.

Us, over the weekend in St. Louis, vs. them:

We win.

This dropped a few days ago, but who would have thought working two+ jobs would make it hard to post up ill stuff regularly?  Eh, no matter!  So if you missed it, here’s Green Lantern’s long awaited Obama inspired mixtape, aptly titled Yes We Can.  The songs are dope, but the real highlight of the tape is how Green cut up various quotes from Obama and his supporters for all the interludes.

1. Intro
2. David Banner,Busta Rhymes,Talib Kweli – “Black President (Remix), Pt. 1″
3. Barack Obama – “Stand Up”
4. Nas Speaks on Politics
5. Styles P and Cassidy – “Make It Out”
6. Jay-Z Speaks “The American Dream”
7. Barack Obama – “One Mic, One People”
8. Russell Simmons Speaks on Obama
9. Joe Budden, Twista, & John Mayer – “Waiting on the World to Change 2008″
10. Angie Martinez – “Yes We Need A Mixtape!!”
11. Malik Yusef, Kanye West, & Adam Levine -  “Promised Land”
12. Wale, Rhymefest, Christina K, & Royce The 5’9″ – “Black President (Remix), Pt. 2″
13. Barack Obama – “My Life”
14. Jay-Z – “Lick a Shot”
15. Russell Simmons on Change
16. Wyclef Jean – “Obama for President”
17. Charles Hamilton – “The Moment”
18. Find Ur Dreams (Interlude)
19. George Bush’s Highlight Reel
20. Mikkey Halsted – “King George”
21. Obama on Hip-Hop
22. Joel Ortiz feat Dante Hawkins – “Letter To Obama”
23. Akon and U.M. – “Aint No Sunshine”
24. Qadir and Dwayne – “Its My Time”
25. Johnny Polygon and Amanda Diva – “Colorblind”
26. Mavado – “We Need Barack”
27. Jay-Z / Gabe Real – “What We Need” (Speech)
28. Qadir – “Yes We Can” Outro

I spent my entire Saturday afternoon handing out instructional literature for absentee voters in my neighborhood, so it’s safe to say I’m “fired up…ready to go.” Nov. 4th: be ready!

Download here.

Barack killed it last night at the Al Smith dinner in NYC.  Granted, a staffer obviously wrote his (and McCain’s) jokes, but still, great delivery and too many quotables.  Barack’s the man.

We’ve seen a bunch of dope Obama shirts over the last year, and here’s another one to add to the list thanks to Mick Boogie and Dope Couture.  Nothing is assured yet, but I’m so excited about the state of the presidential race right now.  I can’t even imagine the fall out if Obama loses.  Not only would people be upset all over the world, but this would throw a huge wedge in race relations and turn off an entire generation to politics.  If he’s up in the polls by a few points and loses, right or wrong, many will see it as an example of racism where people claim to be prObama, only to go behind the curtain and vote McCain.  Things would be really ugly for a long time, since he is clearly the much better candidate.  McCain’s throwing the kitchen sink at him and it’s not going to work.  There’s a reason why voters under 35 are overwhelmingly supporting Obama.  He’s the future.  McCain is the past.

Cop Mick’s shirt right here and check out the quick mixtape he put together with Terry Urban to launch the shirt:

1. Mick Boogie/Terry Urban: Intro
2. Daytona: Can I Kick It? (produced by Garbs Infinite)
3. Mekka Don: Dear Obama (produced by Skinny Vee)
4. Malik Yusef f/ Kanye West: Promised Land
5. Ra The Mc: Ready Or Not (produced by Judah)
6. Jus Mic: Politics As Usual
7. Jin: Open Letter To Obama
8. 6th Sense: Ignite The People (produced by 6th Sense)
9. Doxx: Smile Sarah (produced by Remot)

Download here.  (ZShare has been acting up in the last few days, so we’ll see if this link stays ‘under maintenance’ for long)

Even though this song is about 2 years old (I even put it on Vol. 6 of my old mixtapes, download it!), it’s just as relevant on the day of the final presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain.  What it all boils down to is ridiculously simple.

The policies and beliefs that George Bush and the Republicans put forth the last 8 years have brought this country to its lowest point in any of our lifetimes.  We’re fighting 2 unwinnable wars, witnessing an economic meltdown, feeling the effects of environmental destruction, adding an extra digit on to the National Debt Clock, and leaving millions of children behind in our educational system.  LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL @ anyone who voted for Bush.  I hope you’re proud of what you helped accomplish.  Can anyone honestly take pride in voting for the worst president of all-time?

Don’t make the same mistake again.  John McCain wants to continue Bush’s work, but it’s time for a change.  Watch the debate this evening and vote Obama on November 4th.  “For our kids’ kids.”

Chyea, those A.R.M. boys are on a roll lately.  If you missed Krukid‘s “Swagger Lockdown” voting PSA, download that and then peep M.anifest‘s “Age of Obama” track:

M.anifest – “Age of Obama”

M.anifest drops some great, timely lyrics about Obama and the change we need in this country over an ill beat from Seattle’s own Budo.  Be on the lookout for an A.R.M. mixtape coming soon!

In the immortal words of Cam’Ron on Bill O’Reilly, “I got dirty on you doggy!!!!!”

But in all seriousness, this is rather important stuff.  For many of us, the Keating Five scandal happened when we were just children.  I certainly didn’t know anything about it at the time, and only heard vague references about it before becoming heavily interested in politics a few years ago.

In essence, the behavior and decisions McCain made during this scandal, and even today, make it painfully clear that he is not someone who should have any impact over our economy, especially during a crisis like this.  I’m not an economist, but I do firmly believe that there’s a certain level of regulation that you need.  The basic Republican tenet of deregulation has been shown time and time again that it’s not beneficial for the country.  Simply put, they are awful in all economic matters unless you’re “rich.”  May I remind you:

Even if we make every single right decision from here on out, it will take years for us to recover, let alone excel.  Obama’s plan and team of economic advisors is head and shoulders above McCain’s, which is why the Republicans have decided to throw the kitchen sink of smears at Barack.  It’ll continue to get worse, until McCain completely ruins any sort of positive legacy he has cultivated over the years.  But actually, when you look at things like the Keating Five, perhaps his reputation isn’t so sterling after all.

You can be cynical all you want, but I think it’s really dope to see people get inspired like Nas has been from Obama.  He’s obviously decided that he wants to educate himself on things that he wasn’t interested in prior to Barack running for office.  Whether you have this awakening at 18, 30, or have a reawakening at 65, this movement is real.  Is Barack the answer to all life’s ills?  Of course not.  Has he already changed the world for the better?  Definitely.

And are we just getting started?  Absolutely.

Shout to the homegirl KayCee for filming this.

Obama bomaye!

The second presidential debate goes down tonight.  Watch it and be part of history.

Sidenote: this week’s Sound Session will be posted soon. Things have been quite hectic lately.  Good…but hectic.  Hold tight.