Twitter was rocked recently by a strange interaction
between a rapper and an astrophysicist that started out weird but just kept
getting better:
That's why today's review is of TYSON. I can't
review him as a DJ, but listening to the tracks available on Soundcloud has
been a good experience.
I started out with the view that this was something
interesting and I should check it out; it ended up being something where my
feelings were more along the lines of gratitude and relief. That sounds like it
might be overstating, but so often reviewing Hip Hop becomes a chore because it
is so repetitive and unoriginal, often crude and misogynistic. At times like
that I forget how good Hip Hop can be; TYSON reminded me.
You would probably expect a track defending
astrophysics and the roundness of Earth to be on a high level intellectually,
but it doesn't stop there. There is more science in "Star Talkin'"
(also featuring his uncle), there is environmentalism in "Mother
Earth" and political awareness in "#BLACKLIVESMATTER" and even
analysis and defense of Hip Hop in "Four Elements".
That higher level of engagement can have some
unexpected effects. "#BLACKLIVESMATTER" names several victims of
police brutality, including Akai Gurley. I listened to the song for the first
time shortly after reading this:
"The defense for #PeterLiang, during their
summation, telling the jury, "Yes, #AkaiGurley was innocent, but don't
feel sorry for him."
So hearing his name right after that felt a little
raw. That's appropriate. These are real issues, and Hip Hop - perhaps more than
any other form of music - has been about addressing them. That return to
meaning and quality has been a treat.
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