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Showing posts with the label Harry Belafonte

Without A Reasonable Doubt

Let's start with facts. Jay Z is a hypercapitalist. The foundation of his economic principles were built & solidified in the vicious drug game of the 80s. All he did was take that same model into the rap game at a time when the industry was being co-opted by institutions who had the resources to take advantage & exploit hip hop culture's limitless earning potential. He's the product of a Post-Civil Rights marketing of individualism, Reaganomics being the standard. Woven into his lyrics are vivid elaborations of obtaining & maintaining wealth for himself & his small circle of trusted associates. Now, I'm not against the accumulation of capital to better the life of self & loved ones. At the same time, in the cultural tradition of Blackness, social responsibility comes with that territory. A certain degree of integrity must be shown. Especially if you made your fortune off the strength & support of those same Black people. He can't blame us f...