saw this on twitter. and really feels we youth Of this nation ain't give a damn about reawakening our political consciouness through music anymore. most peeps are just junkhead party tune freakzoids.




Talib Kweli is one of the most brilliant emcees out there. He's not only
smart, but he also speaks on real issues and is the ultimate
personification of the ''conscious rapper''. Even his name Talib, means
'student' or 'seeker' in Arabic. I have been a fan since the first verse I
heard from him. Kweli is also one of the most hardworking emcees out
there, and as an independent artist has been able to achieve a whole
lot even without major label funding. He is constantly on tour (he
visited, performed and shot a video for the song Hostile Gospel in
Lagos, Nigeria a few years ago), recording, and releasing materials as a
solo artiste, as Blackstar with lyricist Mos Def (Yaasin Bey), as Idle
Warship with singer Res, or as Reflection Eternal with DJ Hi-Tek.
He not only comments on issues affecting the black man in America,
but in this Reflection Eternal video, from the 2010 album Revolutions
Per Minute, he speaks on Nigeria's Niger Delta problems, highlighting
the struggles of The Ogoni people and the efforts of the late poet and
activist Ken Saro-Wiwa who was killed by the military government of
Nigeria. He also talks about Fela Kuti's mother. (He named his son
after Fela!).
Talib Kweli, in a few bars of rap on this song, said more about the
struggles of a people 5,300 miles away from his own country than the
rappers in Nigeria have ever dared to say!
Does Talib Kweli, an American, born and raised in Brooklyn NY, love
Nigeria more than Naija rappers who survived the long years of
military rule, who struggle daily with the failure called PHCN, who
managed to graduate from under-funded schools, who have no jobs
and little hope of even getting one, and who have to watch daily as
corruption and greed of politicians impoverish their people
Now, if only we had more rappers and singers in Nigeria willing to
shelve the booty-shaking, party and alcohol formulaic trash songs for
a minute and share some intelligence and wisdom, I wouldn't be asking
this question now, would I? *sigh* Well, that's a post for another day.
I have added lyrics from the verse where he talks about Niger Delta,
just so we can see and appreciate the poetry and depth of his lyricism.
I hope you enjoy it.
Please add your comments and opinion after watching the video
below.
'' This is the ballad of the black gold, they call it Texas tea
But it's bigger than a cowboy with a lasso
It's deeper than a black hole, create monopolies
Except they collect a fee when you pass go crisis' international
The government de facto we got no control in this fiasco
Darker than the back roads, bubble hotter than Tabasco
More than what you bargained for or asked for
Nigeria is celebrating 50 years of independence
They still feel the colonial effects of Great Britain's presence
Dictators quick to imitate the West
Got in bed with oil companies and now the place is a mess
Take a guess, which ones came and violated
They oiled up the soil, the Ogoni people was almost annihilated
But still they never stayed silent
They was activists and poets using non-violent tactics
That was catalyst for soldiers to break into they crib
Take it from the kids and try to break 'em like a twig
And make examples of the leaders, executed Saro-Wiwa
Threw Fela's mom out the window right after they beat her
In an effort to defeat hope, now the people's feet soaked in oil
So the youth is doing drive-bys through speed boats
They kidnap the workers, they blowing up the pipelines
You see the fires glowing in the nighttime
This is the ballad of the black gold, they call it Texas tea
But it's bigger than a cowboy with a lasso
It's deeper than a black hole, create monopoli
Except they collect a fee when you pass go crisis' international
The government de facto we got no control in this fiasco
Darker than the back roads, bubble hotter than Tabasco
More than what you bargained for or asked for''
--- Talib Kweli - Reflection Eternal - ''Ballad of The Black Gold''

Great Lycrism, Talib is a G.O.A.T . . . But you gasto know we got MC's like Boogey, Lord V, M.I(sometimes,) Me, Babatunde, Mr.RAW and etc. . . Speaking for us too, tho they ain't plenty, but they making impacts.

I will download this track today.