If Revolution Had a Movie I'd be Theme Music - Common

Are we done with revolutions? 

If not, what artists or genre of music is going to spark it? Lead it? I'm sure there are many underground and indie musicians doing good work in all genres. But I am talking about something, someone, that is going to appeal to the masses. 

"Music is important in the struggle, every revolution has music." I'm paraphrasing here, but this is the spirit of what the legendary Grace Lee Boggs said during her opening speech at the North Dakota Study Group in Detroit, MI last weekend.  Later a woman got up with her acoustic guitar, echoed her comments and then proceeded to lead the group in singing a protest song from the '60s.

One hour later we were on a bus taking a tour of Detroit. As we passed the old "Hitsville USA" I began to come back to that idea of music and social change. Are we going to have another What's Going On by Marvin Gaye? War by Edwin Starr? Then again, the struggle was so different then, so visible, so tangible. This made it easier to be outraged. The enemies, the issues were clear. Despite more media, the struggle now is more elusive. Is a musical artist going to write a song railing against institutional racism? Develop a catchy chorus that shines a light on predatory loan practices? How do you describe those things? Do you write about the cause, or the results?

That evening, performances included a Detroit rapper named Invincible who, along with a versatile flow and solid wordplay, carried with her a strong message of change and hope.  This also made me return to the idea of change and music. I wonder what role rap music can have and will have.

This is going to be the first of yet another series of posts that highlights lines, phrases and rhymes that are aimed at societal change. It is hard to do that topic well but I plan on holding a high standard. Important and prophetic words alone will not be good enough. Ultra-technical and "deep" artists may not always get posts. Flow and wordplay are going to be just as important content. It's rap after all, not spoken word poetry. It has to be musical.

All of my reoccurring posts have a title that is drawn right from the topic itself. Vomitspit, Come Back Like Jordan...,  7MCs, and Camay are all representative of lyrics or song titles by particular artists (DOOM, Jay-Z, Rakim and Ghostface Killah). "If Revolution Had a Movie..." is props to Common.  

"Come Back Like Jordan Wearin the 4-5" -Aaron Cohen

Aaron Cohen

Potential Fans

Aaron Cohen uses two strong sports references here.

"Girls backin down on D like...Gary Payton"

"Trying to get play from these twins like my name was Kirby Puckett

Wave a finger at you haters like Mutombo on the Nuggets"

Let's start with the first one.

The sexual reference not withstanding, it depends on what he means by "backing down" and "D".

Hall of Famer Gary Payton was one of the fiercest competitors in NBA history. He "backed down" to no one. Ask Mike.

A nine time defensive player of the year and the only point guard ever named Defensive Player of the year, The Glove would get into defensive position and lock down opposing players.

Additionally he was a skilled post player despite being a guard. He would often back down smaller and weaker guards into the post and score.

The Kirby Puckett/Twins part of the line was just, okay. Kirby did play for the Minnesota Twins. The Mutombo line is more nuanced however. Dikembe waved his finger at many 'haters" (offensive players) over his 18 year career. He is on record saying that he started in his last year as a Denver Nugget in 1996. Just three years later, while playing as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, the NBA banned him from wagging his finger at people as it was considered taunting. Deek continued to wag his finger after blocked shots, but this time he could only do so towards fans. This is why the who, and when in Mr Cohen's line are so important. Had he named any other of Dikembe's four NBA teams it would have been off. Unless of of course he said 'wag finger at fans' or something other than the opposition.

I love a good sports metaphor.

"When I come back like Jordan wearing the four five...

it ain to play games witchu..." Jay-Z

Alright that quote is not related to the post in any way but M.J. is heading to the hall of fame and I am a little emotional about it.

Anyway, It is en vogue for a lot of rappers to brag about how easy spitting lyrics comes to them. The problem is, that for many of them, the only "easy" part is how simple it would be to write some of the half-baked garbage rhymes they spit.

But when I think about rappers whos flow seemed to fit into the easy category the first name I think about is Big Pun.

flow Pun's flow seemed almost effortless. Regardless of the beat, slow or fast, pop or gutter, Pun seemed to ride that shit with no problem. As evidenced by the countless number of imitators after him, many have attempted to replicate his exploits with limited success. Many of them simply seem to be trying to "force" their rapid flow into a small space.

This is a typical Pun rhyme in terms of content, however, in addition to his liquid flow, what stands out to me is the company he is keeping. Shining on a D.I.T.C track with these heavyweights is no small feat.

Come Back Like Jordan Wearin the 4-5 - Chuck D

Public Enemy
Rebel Without a Pause
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back










"Simple and plain, give me the lane
And I'll throw it down your throat like Barkley"


With all of the sports media coverage about Michael Jordan's 50th birthday, many have forgotten that Charles Barkley recently turned 50 years old as well. 

The only thing wrong with Chuck's line is that Barkley never needed to be "given" the lane...he just took it.

Come Back like Jordan wearin the 4-5... - J. Cole

"Blood on my sneakers
No remorse for the grievers
He played the corner like Revis
He shoulda had better defense"  - J Cole, Miss America Reprise





Cole on the the most difficult position to play in all of sports (corner back),  and the challenges of making a living "on the corner".

...Also the shrinking of "Revis Island"....(go Patriots!)

Come Back Like Jordan Wearin the 4-5 -Billy Woods

Billy Woods 
The Foreigner
History Will Absolve Me

"Eyes blank like plain clothes po-lice
Tell them to pick their own cotton!
This is professional football we don't run the option
Barry Sanders, who gives a fuck if niggas is blockin
Top of the key white as John Stockton"

Triple play with this sports reference. Despite the emergence of of athletic quarterbacks in the NFL over the last 5 years, the option play is rarely used. Quarterbacks are the most important players on the field, and defensive players in the NFL are just too big and to fast to risk getting your QB killed.

Though I was more of a Emmett guy,  Barry Sanders did more with less than any other running back I have ever seen. His offensive line was awful.

Thats what makes these sports metaphors work. They are based in an actual understanding of said sports.

The Stockton on the other hand pales in comparison to the other two.

Come back Like Jordan Wearin the 4-5 - Jay-Z

 Jay-Z- , My 1st Song The Black Album









"Had to make moves like Olajuwon
Started out sellin dimes and nics
Graduated to a brick
No exaggeration, my infatuation with the strip"

The challenge with a good rap sports metaphor is that you can't be too general, "pass like (fill-in-the-blank-point-guard)"  See, it has to really be something that is representative of the the player, game, etc.  Well, "moves" is likely the first word that follows the name of Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.

Come back like Jordan wearin the 4-5 - Phonte

"Racing like Petty in the stock

Now we heavy on the block like guards or left tackles" - Phonte off Everything is Falling Down

Come Back Like Jordan Wearin the 4-5 - Big L

Big L

Deadly Combination
The Big Picture









"With more game than Ron Harper

The bomb sparker 
Rapper slash armed robber"

He averaged 23 points per game  yet many remember Ron Harper as the steady defensive lead guard for some of the Bulls championships. Previously he was one of the best all-around players in the NBA. He and Jordan used to go at it. A.C.L injuries are common to return from now, but during his era they were more serious. Knee injuries changed his game for ever. 

L's description is understated. 


 

Come back like Jordan wearin the 4-5 - Action Bronson

"Just a white man excelling in a black sport
Like I'm Pistol Pete" 

 The NBA was certainly more diverse in the 70's than it is now, but I still understand Bronson's attempt here.

Come back like Jordan wearin the 4-5 - Sean Price

"Fuck fame homie I rap for the change only

Counter-punch suckers for lunch I'm James Toney" - Sean Price

 Sean Mandela off of a Random Axe track, saluting the prolific nature of "Lights Out" Toney, one of the greatest counter-punchers the sweet science has ever seen.

Nothing like a good, accurate, sports metaphor that demonstrates an actual understanding of the sport. Well done P.

Come Back Like Jordan Wearin the 4-5 - Raekwon the Chef

Wu-Tang Clan feat. Cappadonna
Triumph
Forever












"Sickening, guaranteed made'em jump like Rod Strickland"


He is now known as an assistant coach for the University of Kentucky. A guy who has mentored point guards, Tyrek Evans, Derrick Rose, John Wall, Brandon Knight and Marquis Teague.

He was known as one of the most under appreciated point guards in NBA history. Led the league in assists one year and is 8th on the all time assists list.

 And the metaphor works because he had an incredible hesitation move.

Come back like Jordan wearin the 4-5 - Vado

"In Orlando I pass Dwight (the white), like Jameer an them...."

Very nice. Well crafted double entendre, sports/drug dealing reference. What really makes this work is the fact that Jameer Nelson is the point guard, therefore the one mainly responsible for passing the ball to Dwight Howard. Naming any other player would simply not have been enough. That is what separates a haphazard sports reference from a solid one.


Vado has a real nice flow on this joint.

FF to the 2:50 mark for the line, but the song is worth listening to.

Come back like Jordan wearin the 4-5 - Action Bronson

 Action Bronson - Mike Vick
















"Behind the back pass Arvydas Sabobis...."

This is not just your run of the mil sports name drop, but a nod to one of the best passing big men in basketball history. You Tube it.

"Come Back Like Jordan Wearin the 4-5" -Action Bronson

Wu - Tang Clan x Action Bronson x Terminology


Meteor Hammer

Legendary Weapons

"I was born to rep, you fuckin’ with a Hornets’ nest


Old shooters in the corner like Hornacek


Young boys that be handling the rock


Chris Paul, dish off, hammer in the sock"

Bonsonlini with a hockey assist here with the Hornets reference. Jeff Hornacek was one of the better outside shooters in NBA history. John Stockton would penetrate and if Karl Malone was not open he'd kick it to Jeff and indeed would snipe you with the corner three-point shot. "Old" is used well here as Hornacek played in the league for 14 years. Chris Paul is a combo guard however is an excellent distributor of the ball.

Camay - Homeboy Sandman

One late night at work 3 years ago there were only four people in the building, me, two female co-workers and the night custodian. One of my colleagues came to my classroom and asked if I was planning on leaving any time soon. I told her yes, but that the night custodian was still there. I don't remember her response but I could sense that she was still leery of being there. I didn't understand her hesitance. To me, the night custodian was harmless. Just as I was attempting to make sense of her unease, my other colleague walked into the room and was posed with the same question. Before she could even mention not wanting to be there with just the custodian the second colleague almost finished her sentence. It was like she knew exactly what she was feeling. They shared a giggle and left. I left. It took me a while to understand what they understood.

Come back like Jordan wearin the 4-5 - Ka

"...Zoned out on the block, cops iso'd..." Ka





While I appreciate the line, it has a flaw. If one were really running a zone defense then isolation would be really ineffective. You can iso vs  man-to-man, not a zone. Or perhaps that is exactly what he meant...

"If skills sold, truth be told..." - Jay-Z

Sean Carter was dope from the beginning. Further, he is dope regardless of what he is rhyming about. His how, is strong enough to overcome his what, most of the time. I feel like I need to state that so that my subsequent comments are not interpreted as as me insinuating anything to the contrary. But the reality is that Jay-Z spent several years providing listeners with less than his best and most creative effort lyrically. Picture Michael Jordan subbing himself out of an important basketball game to save energy. What would the response be if Derek Jeter didn't run out ground balls to first base? Exactly. I mean, its cool to mail it in if you are simply incapable of penning anything worth a damn, but this is Hov!

Eventually, Jay began to hear and respond to the criticisms with a line or two, here and there on mixtapes and albums: