Check out the classic Remix, Hip Hop Dreams By Dj Alias  Please click on the link:  http://hiphopbattle.com/videos/Hip%20Hop%20Dreams.mov

Common Versus the Veil

On May 11th, 2011 Michelle Obama hosted a poetry slam at the White House. Those invited to recite were James Earl Jones who read from Othello, Joshua Brandon Bennett and Mayda Del Valle. None of these names caused a stir, however the invitation and work of legendary rapper Common created a storm of controversy. Conservatives began to report that Common’s music condones cop killing, opposes interracial marriages and supports the burning of ex- president Bush.

Those who oppose the decision of the White House to include Common in this poetry slam use the theme of A song for Assata a Common song about the life of revolutionary Assata Shakur. Also used to hurt the character of Common are portions of interviews and song lyrics that oppose interracial dating and marriage. Pundits go as far as to think Common wants to murder ex- president Bush. Within the Poem he read on May 11th one line says “ I burn a bush cos’ for peace he push no button”, also criticized was a line Common quoted from the Public Enemy song Miuzi weighs a ton.

Conservative media has vilified Common based upon misunderstandings of hip- hop music and its message. A song for Assata is about the mistreatment and subsequent imprisonment of Black Panther Assata Shakur. In 1973 she was involved in a Police shooting in which two New Jersey State troopers were killed, she was put in prison but escaped after 6 years of beatings and mistreatment. Evidence tampering, and false police reports have made this case a controversial one. Was she a cop killer, or did the police fabricate evidence to imprison a woman they saw as threatening? A song for Assata is not a song that advocates violence, or the murder of police officers. It is a song that is supposed to bring an injustice to light, and help people learn about the struggle of one revolutionary. The song itself is on the album Like Water for Chocolate In Latin American culture water is the base of Hot Chocolate not milk, so Common is saying he is like water ready to boil over from the years of struggle and mistreatment: a sentiment that Assata Shakur shared as well.

Water ready to boil is certainly the image when you bring up interracial marriage and dating in America. People have strong opinions on this matter and those opinions can manifest themselves into hate or into a culture of love and understanding. Common did say in interviews that he disagrees with interracial dating, and has several song lyrics opposing the practice. An answer to this is that Common raps from a Pro- black stand point. This may be his opinion, however he does not vilify those who practice interracial dating, he simply uses his music to express himself and the issues of the black community. Many black women feel a lower sense of self worth when they see positive black men with non-black women. Maybe we should discuss the state of the black woman in America, instead of demonizing an artist for attempting to bring social ills to the forefront.

Hip Hop lyricism has always been about nuance and metaphor. A great emcee uses wordplay and poetic license to express inner feelings. Some lines sound violent but really are meant to uplift or point out an injustice. Sean Hannity and other conservative media folk have read the poem “ A letter to the law” (The one recited at the White House) and dubbed it violent and pro cop killing. The line “Miuzi Weighs a ton, I walk like a warrior from them I won’t run” This is a reference to a Public Enemy song entitled MiUzi Weighs a Ton. In this song the UZI is meant to reflect the emcee skills of Chuck D (Public Enemy’s Emcee) assaulting other groups musically, not harming individuals physically. Later in the poem Common says “ I burn a Bush cos for peace he push no button, killing over oil and grease no weapons of destruction” Common is expressing his opinion about American presence in Iraq during the Bush administration. Does being Anti War make you a violent, vile misogynist?

The conservative media really wants us to believe that Common, the son of a PhD Chicago School principal. The man who wrote The mirror and me a book for children about acceptance and stomping out self hate. The Man whose music is about love and creating positive self-image really wants to murder President Bush. No, it’s fuel for the fire to taint the image of a positive black male artist who has been growing as an emcee for 20 years and is now a Poet, actor, and legendary rapper.

Neil Monroe of the Daily Caller asks about Common “Is this really the kind of person we want our First Lady to be honoring”, “Is this the kind of person we want our kids looking up to”. To both statements YES should be the answer. Would Maya Angelou have been acceptable to recite poetry at the White House? Possibly, but in 2011 as a 31 year old black man Common has influenced me and forced me to look inside for positive growth more than Maya Angelou. I respect Maya Angelou a great deal, Common is a modern day Maya Angelou for the Hip Hop generation. In fact Maya Angelou respects Common saying. “ I wish he was Common in fact he is rare” She went on to say “ I will always support him, I stand on the shoulders of great men and women, and I know young men and women who stand upon my shoulders”

Common is a man a deep growth, with a high level of self- knowledge. He is a man who has been criticized for lyrics he wrote when he was 20. He now apologizes for those lyrics and has made the appropriate changes in his own life. Isn’t that type of growth what we want from our children? To learn from the past, take stake in their own lives, and make positive changes to become better citizens. Common has done this, so why would he not be a positive role model? Sarah Palin said Common was a “Vile Rapper” and the White house lacked class and decency for inviting such a violent misogynist to the White House. Sarah Palin is clearly riding the media fear campaign as well, because songs like “The Light” and “Come Close” which show Common’s love for women, clearly depict a different rapper: but those songs are not mentioned. Let’s also bring to light that Sarah Palin thinks Common is a “Vile Rapper” but says about Kid Rock who professes to be a cocaine sniffing, Boones drinking, female groping pimp (see EARLY MORNING Stoned Pimp) “He’s Pro- American and has Common Sense ideas) (no pun intended). How can this be, Common the most socially conscious and non-violent rapper, is made out to be a villain, and Kid Rock is simply Pro- American.

This double standard leads into the real problem, which is the identity of people of color in America. W.E.B Dubois wrote in “Souls of Black folk” about the “Veil” The Veil he says is this double consciousness that does not allow people of color to see themselves outside of what white America has prescribed for them. The demonizing of Common only adds to this veil. Common who lives a positive life, and fills his music with moral messages gets invited to the White house to deliver an uplifting message. In turn he is made out be violent, sexist and, racist when he is none of those things.

Not only does this assault on Common perplex me as an educated adult, but think of our young children of color. Common is some one that young people of color should look up to. Now they hear all these negative things about him, and the confusion builds. Is he a violent, vile person? Should I try to be positive and learn from my mistakes to create a better society like Common? Or should I just go along with the despair, and negativity America expects from me. These confusions keep the veil Dubois spoke of alive and well. Forcing our youth into not knowing who they should be and how they fit into this melting pot.

I praise Michelle Obama and Common for all their positive work. I know they will continue to fight for equality and justice in a place where those ideas are very “uncommon”.

Resource Material

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/14097/sarah-palin-wrote-what-uh-what-are-kid-rocks-common-sense-ideas/

http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities-news-in-pics/13-05-2009/51518/general/

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-may-11-2011/tone-def-poetry-jam

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/common-hater-sean-hannity-defended-ted-nugents-violent-anti-obama-rhetoric/

http://www.chicagodefender.com/article-10813-maya-angelou-common-is-ldextremely-uncommonrd.html

Dubois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk.
First vintage books/The library of America. 1986

Shakur, Assata. Assata an Autobiography
Lawrence Hill books. 1987

Lynn, Rashid Lonnie. Like Water for Choclate.
MCA, Universal Records 2000.

Shocklee, Hank, Carlton Ridenhour. Miuzi weighs a ton – Yo bum rush the show.
Def Jam/Columbia Records, 1987

Lynn, Rashid Lonnie. The Mirror and ME.
Hip Hop School House, 2005