So earlier I promised everyone that I’d make the blog a little more personal. While true, I have slacked on that a bit, to my credit I’ve been bringing the heavy JDM content steadily. This is time to switch gears for a second. With me or not here I go…

The one thing that perhaps I love as much and know as much (if not more) about than JDM tuning is undeground hiphop. Since way before it was socially acceptable to be a white kid listing to hiphop, I’ve been a fiend for quality lyricism and dope beats….nearly 20 years now.

The one thing that has consistently made me embarrassed about my love for hiphop is its mainstream media image which is deservedly bad in my opinion. While on one hand I love underground hiphop as much as I love JDM, on the other hand I hate mainstream hiphop (like Soulja Boy) about as much as I hate mainstream “spocom” (like APC). The fact of the matter is I’m a purist towards what I love and I don’t play along nicely when mainstream media trashes the integrity/message and goes for the quick buck on unsuspecting listeners/viewers. So to those that know me it shouldnt come as a surprise that I’d rather listen to an amplified looped clip of nails on a chalkboard than most of the garbage hiphop on the radio.

What I particularly love about hiphop is when lyrics either educate the listener or challenge the listener, classic albums like Nas’ Illmatic do a bit of both. Better yet though is when hiphop acts as a positive catalyst towards social change. Political hiphop is I feel a great way of using the strengths of the art form to unite the world in a useful way.

Political hiphop although still thought of as the antiquated example of Public Enemy, repeatedly surfaces year after year to make people not just think but unite and take action. Tonight I came across a new video which I think works on a number of levels. The rapper/producer 6th Sense is solid, although not mind blowing enough on his own to carry my first hiphop post on this blog. I chose this example because of it’s timing, its positive message and one particular line which resonates with me

“Did you ever think you’d see a white rapper endorse a black President”

(Plus the use of the Common Sense sample is great.)

By the way the top image is a cover of an Obama themed hiphop mixtape put together by DJ Green Lantern and hiphop entrepreneur and pioneer Russell Simmons.

For an example of another good political track check out: The Perceptionists - Memorial Day. On this track Mr. Lif and Akrobatik from Boston (my hometown) rip apart the topic of the war in Iraq. Heavy and moving…