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Old 08-10-2004, 09:43 PM
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Default Immortal Technique: Hardcore Political Rap

I first came across Immortal Technique when Blake downloaded some tracks after hearing him played by an Atlanta DJ who noted that it was an "FCC no-no" and he wouldn't be able to play it again. Lyrics like this might have a little something to do with it:

The 4th Branch
They bombed innocent people, tryin' to murder Saddam
When you gave him those chemical weapons to go to war with Iran
This is the information that they hold back from Peter Jennings
Cause Condoleeza Rice is just a new age Sally Hemmings


Industrial Revolution
So if your message ain't shit, fuck the records you sold
Cuz if you go platinum, it's got nothing to do with luck
It just means that a million people are stupid as fuck


Harlem Streets
Check to check, constant struggle to make the payments
Working your whole life wondering where the day went
The subway stays packed like a multicultural slave ship
It's rush hour, 2:30 to 8, non stoppin'
And people coming home after corporate share croppin'


I could quote the whole CD really, but it's way better heard than read. Check out Revolutionary Vol. 2 samples on the Viper Records site (which is where I bought the CD cause I couldn't find it even in off the beaten track record stores). I highly recommend "Peruvian Cocaine" and "Freedom of Speech" for a good sample of IT's killer lyrics and sound, and "Homeland and Hip Hop", a track written and voiced by Mumia Abu-Jamal just for the album.

For an outstanding article that covers much political ground, see Allhiphop.com's three-part feature Immortal Technique: Undying Method: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. Here's a review from a Maoist site with some solid criticisms of the album, particularly wrt homophobic language (there's not much of it, but what's there makes me cringe). Here's an interview which answers one of my main questions; ie, how the hell does he get away with cover art like this without the Secret Service breaking down his door?



A guy in a suit who looks a lot like IT stands holding an uzi on the back of the CD.

Last edited by livius drusus; 08-11-2004 at 02:05 AM. Reason: to give credit where credit is due
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Old 08-11-2004, 01:55 AM
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Petra Petra is offline
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Default Re: Immortal Technique: Hardcore Political Rap

I've just scored some of this guy's stuff - still more to come. I'm right now listening to The 4th Branch for the first time.

His voice reminds me of Young MC, kinda, but without the hiphop-jazz crossover groove that Young MC has with all those funky polyrhythms.

Lyrically, he reminds me of Michael Franti's rhymes with The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, but sparser.

Dig it, liv. Thanks for turning me on to this guy. :)


Oh, and that album cover art rocks. I'm sure I've seen that very image in my dreams over the last 3 or 4 years. :eek:


Listening to Creation and Destruction now. Overtones of Method Man.


Edit: Beef and Broccoli just cracked me up. He's not into vegetarianism, is he? lol.
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Last edited by Petra; 08-11-2004 at 02:10 AM.
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Old 08-11-2004, 02:43 AM
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Default Re: Immortal Technique: Hardcore Political Rap

Quote:
Originally Posted by lunachick
I've just scored some of this guy's stuff - still more to come. I'm right now listening to The 4th Branch for the first time.

His voice reminds me of Young MC, kinda, but without the hiphop-jazz crossover groove that Young MC has with all those funky polyrhythms.
I never would have made that association in a million years, but you're right. If I'd ever heard Young MC sound pissed off, he'd sound a lot like IT.

Quote:
Lyrically, he reminds me of Michael Franti's rhymes with The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, but sparser.

Dig it, liv. Thanks for turning me on to this guy. :)
My pleasure. It's like serving a tasty meal to Wolfgang Puck or something. :)

Quote:
Listening to Creation and Destruction now. Overtones of Method Man.


Edit: Beef and Broccoli just cracked me up. He's not into vegetarianism, is he? lol.
I haven't heard the stuff off Revolutionary Vol 1 yet. I can see I need to get on that. :D
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Old 10-22-2004, 05:37 AM
xorbie xorbie is offline
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Default Re: Immortal Technique: Hardcore Political Rap

IT is pretty interesting, but I personally prefer his story telling tracks to his political ones. That said..

Quote:
Check to check, constant struggle to make the payments
Working your whole life wondering where the day went
The subway stays packed like a multicultural slave ship
It's rush hour, 2:30 to 8, non stoppin'
And people coming home after corporate share croppin'
is excellent. His best song, IMO, is "You Never Know." And if you haven't heard Revolutionary Vol. 1 yet, wait till you give "Dance with the Devil" a listen. Holy cripes. I'd post lyrics, but you really have to hear it over the beat for the full effect.

And yes, as with many other rappers, homophic language/lyrics is existent... it's really the one thing I dislike most about rap in general, and especially when it's with otherwise good lyricists like IT.
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Old 10-22-2004, 12:29 PM
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livius drusus livius drusus is offline
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Default Re: Immortal Technique: Hardcore Political Rap

You Never Know makes me cry. I read in an interview that he rarely performs it live because it's so intense.
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Old 10-22-2004, 05:47 PM
xorbie xorbie is offline
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Default Re: Immortal Technique: Hardcore Political Rap

Yeah... it's up there with One More Dance (Nas), Bottle Dreams (Eyedea), All That I Got Is You (Ghostface) and some similiar songs.
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