In 2002/3 I heard some dead prez for the first time, my Marxist friend let me borrow the album. I was impressed by the consistent lyrical content on their premiere album. I have not seen dead prez have much mainstream industry support over the years, and I can understand why.

As an LA native, NWA was part of my consciousness as far back as I can remember. I think they originally intended to take Public Enemy to the next level, and somehow shed some light on issues in society.

So on the one hand, both of these groups, in a very up front and explicit way, intended some good purpose with their music.

I, however, can see that NWA was a turning point in music, where the music/entertainment industry began to take seriously the notion of exploiting the most negative images of black youth for the sake of profit. Although, this would not be edge, it quickly became the industry standard for all “urban” music. In their day, they were not a mouthpiece for the music industry. However, nowadays, they clearly are.

Although all hip hop socio-consciousness has always been a slap in the face to mainstream music, NWA, and sometimes dead prez, are really effective on blurring the line between genuine justice and chauvinistic aggression. As you can see, I obviously listened to their music at some point in my life, but I think neither of them were ever able to capture the values that really matter to me and have shaped me into a better person. It is not that they have nothing good, revelatory, or significant to say, it is that I feel they are somewhat lacking on the big picture.

As a young, white, educated twenty something, there would also be an irony, if not outright idiocy, if I pretended to identify too closely to their music. Although I am hesitant to outright condemn their music, I am in no position to publicly, nor for that matter personally, advocate it.