Political and social views are verbally sprayed from the mouths and minds of underground hip-hop artists. Not all rap artists use their music as a means to project their opinions reflecting relevant issues. Like KRS-One said, "Rap is something you do, hip hop is something you live." Immortal Technique and the Jedi Mind Tricks are such artists that take this statement to a new level.
The live presence of these men is intense. Rocking the microphone at the 9:30 club last Friday, they spit lyrics with anger. The show started with Immortal Technique, who attacked our current political situation by combining relentless emotion and masterful rhyming skill to put on a crazy show.
Through his lyrics, he tried to gather his audience together to revolt against what he believes is wrong, and perhaps educate them if they are na?ve. This is shown in the song "Speak Your Mind," which says "it's improbable that the average intellect could understand / so I encrypted this into hip-hop high in demand / and spread it through the ghetto of every city like contraband."
As Immortal Technique poetically recited his lyrics over the bumping bass line, he continues his political views and voices his disagreement strongly in "The 4th Branch," where he says, "just 'cause I won't trade humanity for patriotism."
The intense stage presence of Immortal Technique, and their hating Bush and Taco Bell for slave labor practice, left the knees of his audience trembling. Jedi Mind Tricks picked up where Immortal Technique left off. Although they aren't quite as politically focused, their anger and intensity is equally relevant.
As the headlining act, the crowd's enthusiasm increased dramatically when they came on stage. Jedi Mind Tricks fed off the energy as the audience was jumping around the mosh pit and crowd surfing off the stage. Ikon, the verbal hologram, preached his lyrics of fury regarding war being on the forefront in their track "I Against I." The lyrics, "Don't ever come to me with war / I'm seven scores of orators, rappers fall onto all fours like minotaurs / with Jedi Mind and the planetary we bombin' this / we stand one step above you like a pharmacist / with all in this, detonate the bomb / heads dread hallucinogens in Vietnam."
The concert was a high-energy craze. Being part of the audience, jumping around and bouncing to a succession of beats and rhymes that were masterfully put together was an experience. These producers have an incredible skill for compiling attractive and musical rhythms. Their beats coupled with the lyrics of the poetic emcees make for a solid rap scene with an agenda: social reform. They have recognized a problem and are doing all they can to battle against it.
