Remember Back in the Day?

Nah, probably not. That's because if you are reading this, you probably weren't around 'back in the day,' (I certainly wasn't) and besides, the nostalgia of terms like back in the day is never a good thing. First, it wasn't like those were the good ole days (trying not to romanticize the burning of the bronx) or that any days are the good ole days for most folks, except when they are looking in the rearview mirror. And also, that kind of nostalgia keeps us from looking at whats in front of our eyes now. When people complain about how things were great back then, those same people will talk about how things that happened right now were great twenty years down the line. Now that more and more hiphop history is emerging, there is a whole industry of nostalgia rising up-even in the music itself.

Some of that history, like Jeff Chang's great book Can't Stop Won't Stop, should make us pause before reflecting with nostalgia-it emerged out of economic crisis and the gang warfare that it breeds and it didn't stop because of Kool Herc or Africa Bambaataa. Just the opposite, reagonomics was completely devastating and gangsta rap is also inseparable from these socio-economic trends, even if there is no simple cause/effect correlation. Still, there is some fantastic music and art that comes out of that and I don't see any problem in recognizing that and celebrating it-not as the bygone era but as something that is alive and permutating all the time. So, with this post, I am putting out a couple tracks from the Soul Jazz comp Big Apple Rappin' that stand the test of time (much of the music on these cds does remain quite potent). The eponymous Big Apple Rappin' is by Spyder D and I am also listing what some call the first political rap track, Brother D & Collective Effort's How We Gonna Make the Black Nation Rise. According to Lister-Hewan Lowe, the jamaican producer who put out the track, it is also the first recorded hip hop track to feature women. But in addition to history, I thought I would extend the political commentary to the present when we are once more living under a horrible right wing christian fascist who is alienated even by the standards of reagan stalwarts. So, the last two tracks are by the Bay Area crew, the Coup who always do a good job of mixing parties and politics: We Are the Ones and Laugh, Love, Fuck & Drink Liquor (and help the revolution come quicker!). both tracks are from the recent release Pick a Bigger Weapon. East to West, New to Old, the best music, if it does anything besides making us shake our asses (definitely worthy in and of itself) it opens our eyes to the world around us and transcends the easy categories that help us function in our daily lives.

Enjoy.


Spyder D Big Apple Rappin'
Brother D & Collective Effort-How We Gonna Make the Black Nation Rise?
The Coup - We Are the Ones
The Coup- Pick a Bigger Weapon

p.s. graffiti pics are from 5 points in queens, a bright burst of color just under the 7 tracks.