It's also worth remembering that Mike Banks (like K. Larkin, S. Stoll, J. Hendrix) is an ex-armed services man who has chosen to wage war on oppression, injustice & exploitation using alternate means which appear inconsequential to the unknowing & unwitting. At the risk of stating the obvious, politics & music remain inseparable in his book.
UR's reaction to the bootlegger problem can't be divorced from the ongoing struggle to prevent George Orwell's vision from becoming the all-encompassing reality: "The future of mankind is a jackboot stomping endlessly on a human face." UR has determined it will kick back, right to the bitter end. On Mon, 14 Apr 2003, Cyclone Wehner wrote: > OK, I think I understand the context of this now. > I think it's kinda a hip-hop way of expressing it, appropriating terms like > 'shock and awe'. It's ironic, flipping terms to get people's attention and > make them think. I would be surprised if UR supported this current conflict, > com'on. > But some 'wars' are necessary - struggles for self-determination, justice, > equality, etc - and I am as pacifist as anyone. War here is figurative, it > could be as much about people power on the streets or campaigning Sony as > with the Jaguar 'cover'. > UR have a compelling point on the bootlegging. Bootlegging affects their > ability to run a business and look out for their families - and so achieve > self-determination. > I think KDJ has been very, very, very misunderstood. People shouldn't take > it so personally, unless they're bootleggers! > I think you'll find he just supports all people who keep it real and > realness has no colour. > > > > Haven't really followed this thread, as I have been off for a while, but I > > am sure it's figurative, as is a lot of UR's music and imagery. > > Probably more a reference to The Struggle - civil rights, African-Americans, > > Indigenous peoples, working class, women... self-determination, equality, > > etc. > > It's there to make you think? > > > > > >>> While I do not support the rip-off, I think the footer message "War when > >>> necessary" sucks big time. > >>> > >>> Peace in the good times/War when necessary. What defines necessity. > >>> If the US economic situation continues to deteriorate does this > >> necessatate > >>> enforcing control through trigger happy kick ass advanced technology > >> toting > >>> red-necks - know what I'm sayin'? >
