Mos Def Hip Hop Revolutionary

People treat hip-hop like an isolated phenomenon. They don't treat it as a continuum, a history or legacy. And it really is. And like all mediums or movements, it came out of a need. -Mos Def
Here's a video clip of Mos Def and stic.man of Dead Prez arrested for boycotting MTV Video Music Awards.
For some reason I've been having trouble uploading the more revolutionary videos. I can send this file to a third party for storage and leave a link for download, I think. Maybe I'll work on that tomorrow.
For now just enjoy the Mos Def quote and remember to double click the post title for possible badass links.

Mos Def

Mos Def does the math! Click title link for an additional, third party hosted, mos def video.

Not Yet Free

Dig another rad video by revolutionary hip hop group, the Coup, circa 1993. Back when this video was made independent labels were just being bought up by the major record companies.
Recently I read an interview with "Boots" Riley on record labels using revolutionary groups to gain credibility. Based on the work I did this packet, in looking at the relationship between corporate media and hip hop-- once both parties enter into a contract together the potential for the music to lend itself to a movement decreases exponentially. The needs of the corporation direct what the corporation can and cannot sell for the artist. The sole purpose for the existence of the corporation lies in increasing the profits of its shareholders.

Dig This!

Enjoy this revolutionary bus ride and Dig It video with the Coup!

Message Music

While, this isn't Hip Hop, Lauryn Hill makes some amazing message music. This seemed an appropriate track and video to begin posting commentary on corporate media's relationship to music.
Remember when Lauryn Hill dropped off the public face of the planet? For many years she was gone, not presenting music in public, waiting for her contract to run out. In the appearance for this show she talks about why that happened.
To paraphrase, she said that she felt owned, to the point where every decision in her life was based on how it would be viewed by a public and by her record label. This was my favorite track from that show. (and a good testing video to practice uploading)
Here goes...
I just added another feature. Click the post title "Message Music" for an audio download, Lauryn Hill talking about her message music and the inspiration to rhyme she found in early hip hop.