This the freshly-monikered
Yasiin Bey (formerly
Mos Def now using his legal name,
Yā Sīn is the 36th '
chapter' of the
Qur'an), dropping a version of
Jay-Z/
Kanye West's
"Niggas In Paris", titled "
Niggas In Poorest". Yasiin uses the same flow on the original, but alters the lyrics to make the track a scathing criticism on what
"Watch The Throne" represents, which continues to create headlines and debate throughout pop culture and media alike. Mos had previously done something similar with the "
Rape Over", a version of
Jay-Z's "The Takover". The track was never released, as it was blocked by
Jay-Z and
The Doors (the samples were never cleared).
"...who the fuck is Margiela?"
Throughout 2011 the participants of
"Watch The Throne" were barely off our screens. With over 7 million albums sold worldwide, a number one single for
"Niggas In Paris" and a 23 date tour in the U.S. alone which made over $20 million (gross). The
VOYR project (of which is unclear whether this is a initiative spawned from Kanye's camp), provided the backstage content, video diary and promotional element to the tour.
In a video demonstrating the brand-power of "Watch The Throne", the album and tour is described as a:
"...perfect synthesis of artist, brand and fan, where technology is the delivery system, and a deeply engaged consumer is the ultimate prize"
Yikes. But so far criticisms of
"Watch The Throne" beyond the music itself has been few and far between. In probably the most economic, social and politically turbulent year worldwide for some time, this testament to a modern American dream, one of self-actualisation and the will to power through fierce capitalism has come under little fire (
incredibly, even when Jay-Z's Rocawear almost starting selling an "Occupy Wall St" t-shirt).
"So what’s fifty grand to a young nigga like me?/More than my annual salary"
From
William Randolph Hearst to
Bill Gates, the myth of the 'self-made' (though often already affluent) man has always been a compelling story. Framed in the context of the disadvantaged and disenfranchised, the story becomes a legend. Is this necessarily a bad thing? Any successful enterprise takes great will and self-belief, especially in the face of an economic and social class system. So these songs, centered on tremendous feats of success and a compelling future (a technique of many motivational speakers), become mantras. I work out while listening to
"The Blueprint", and by the end of it I feel like a goddamn CFO.
So what's the beef? Well, it all depends on how the myth ends. The problem becomes where entertainment perpetuates capitalism as a means of us fulfilling our evolutionary need to survive and prosper. Phew.
Media needs advertising, and advertising needs consumers. We (the consumers) need to feel successful. So we look to media - as well as culture and social proof, areas targeted by advertising - to show us how to be successful. Rinse. Repeat.
Now, black artists do not necessarily need to be politicised just because they are successful. No one's pissed at
Dave Grohl for not tackling the U.S. national deficit in his last album. But I believe in a balanced argument, and the right to an alternative. Which brings me back to Yasiin.
“Doctors say I’m the illest/I ain’t got no insurance/it’s them niggas in poorest/be them rebel guerillas”
This is Yasiin at his most revolutionary. Even the now-famous pause in the track which originally featured a Will Ferrel sound clip, has been replaced by monologue from
Malik El-Shabazz (AKA Malcolm X). The quote itself was made at a time when Malcolm sincerely felt it his eventual assassination was inevitable, as he was surrounded by enemies on all fronts. Is this Yasiin making a stand without fear of reprisal? The reprisal itself may be economic in this case. Hip-hop deemed as 'revolutionary' can expect little airplay and album sales (see
Paris,
Dead Prez etc).
Still, if this is the shape of what's to come from Yasiin, I welcome the alternative point of view, and the courage of an artist going against the grain (please no more 'reggae' singing though). The production on this track is rough as hell, so the lyrics are quite hard to make out - I've dropped them in below.
[Intro]
Live from America
Yasiin, Yasiin, Yasiin
N.I.P, sing it
[Verse 1]
Ball so hard, clean clothes look grimy, pretty women don’t mind me
So what’s fifty grand to a young nigga like me? More than my annual salary
Ball so hard, this shit crazy, fought my side, the whole world hate me
Nervous stares hit the third affairs, Savannahs can of police tracing
Ball so hard, this shit weird, we be home and still be scared
There’s grief here, there’s peace here, its easy and hard to be here
Psycho, liable to turn Michael, take your pick, Myers, Myers, Myers, same shit
Ball so hard, got holey socks, dope block on my stove top
Jumbotrons for astronauts, high at all but no planet rock, say
Ball so hard, this chopper too, we starving Marvin, you hot food
There’s birds of prey, no escape, open-air prison, no pursuit
Ball so hard, who getting faded? Little Maurice in the sixth grade
No mama, no father, role model the dope game, say
Ball so hard, bitch behave, standing behind the deuce-deuce-trey
Ice-cold, heat blow, closed casket, cold case
[Hook]
Ball so hard, that shit cray
that shit cray, that shit cray, that shit cray
that shit cray, that shit cray, that shit cray
[Verse 2]
These young bloods is looking scary at the mall
They wearing pants, you can still see they drawers
They rob a nigga in the bathroom stall
They took his life cause he ain’t want to take it off
Singing, ball so hard, that shit cray, ain’t it, Bey? Diabetics, fish filet
Ball so hard, your hustle cold, nigga it ain’t spring
Every winter and I ‘em with my heat again
Bourgie girl, grab your hand, show you how to do this ghetto dance
Fuck your French, we ain’t in France, I’m just saying
Prince Williams ain’t do it right, if you ask me
If I was him, I’d put some black up in my family
Fake Gucci, my nigga, fake Louis, my killa
Real drugs, my dealer, who the fuck is Margiela?
Doctors say I’m the illest, I ain’t got no insurance
It’s them niggas in poorest, be them rebel guerillas, huh
[Interlude: Malcolm X]
I don’t worry. I tell you, I am a man who believed that I died 20 years ago
And I live like a man who is dead already. I have no fear whatsoever of anybody or anything
[Hook]
[Verse 3]
To the kings and queens and everyone in every place, yo
Don’t get caught up in no throne, don’t get caught up in no throne
Don’t get caught up in no throne
Towers of Babylon rise up and so they shall fall
As it was written before, amen, the show goes on
Don’t get caught up in no throne, don’t get caught up in no throne
Don’t get caught up in no throne
These devils out here lying, acting like the people ain’t dying
They silver and they gold, ain’t never saved a soul
Don’t get caught up in no throne, don’t get caught up in no throne
Don’t get caught up in no throne
Shout-outs to the earth and to the heavens, lunar, solar eclipses
We seeking for forgiveness and safety for our children
Don’t get caught up in no throne, don’t get caught up in no throne
Don’t get caught up in no throne, Allah is in control
- FBZY
