Jack & Jill Politics

Jasiri X and his crew is back with a tribute to those protesting in Egypt in pursuit of freedom. This time he’s teamed up with M-1 of Dead Prez. If you don’t know Dead Prez, you should, son. They are one of hip hop’s godfathers. Classics. If you liked the Dave Chappelle Show then know you heard the instrumental version of their hit “Hip Hop” on every show as Chappelle’s entrance music.

Mubarak’s playing games but he oughta know — the game’s up. His people have got beef. Seems like the smart people have fled Mubarak’s side because he came up with some wack ideas yesterday. He sent in those “protestors” who looked more like his dreaded police to beat up the crowd, try to push people out of the square, attack and detain journalists — all in an attempt to  a) make it look like he has some real popular support and b) try to further shut down the world’s efforts to understand the situation on the ground & support the Egyptian people.

It’s fortunate that the military stepped in to prevent further bloodshed and in so doing, it’s a death knell for Mubarak’s reign of terror. Because unlike Tiananmen Square, the military chose the side of the people in Tahrir Square, not the police state. It means that no one is buying Mubarak’s reason for staying anymore — that without his iron fist, there will be chaos in the land of the Nile. He’s the one causing the chaos — who shut off the internet, food & medical supplies, banking and train systems? Who sent thugs on camels and horses to beat people or agitators to throw molotov cocktails down on peaceful protestors? It’s time, long past time, for this elderly man who prefers to dye his hair black Reagan-style, to get to steppin’.

We must not fear the people of Egypt and their determination to be free. For, deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall all be free someday.

Lyrics after the jump. My favorite lines:

we just trying to live like human beings
when we protest in peace police shoot up the scene
look at your computer screen you can see it right through the stream
Let our forming be a warning to every brutal regime

Lyrics to We Shall All Be Free

Jasiri X
Revolution’s not an act it’s an actual fact
an idea that burns until it turns blacker than black
the truth bearer new era like the back of ya hat
the true terror who’ll scare ya without packing a gat
through the barrier one carrier then it spreads like malaria
bury us with no fear of oppression every tear is a weapon
When God hears it a blessin
Every tyrant is destined to die that’s connected to violent aggression
if arrested remain silent when questioned the wisest lesson
Freedom’s the highest expression of life in the present
that’s why worldwide the riots are spreading
A righteous message like God set the fires from heaven
Uprising we done crying the young riding
when people get the power dictators go run hiding
we just trying to live like human beings
when we protest in peace police shoot up the scene
look at your computer screen you can see it right through the stream
Let our forming be a warning to every brutal regime

M-1
It’s a simple math equation it’s scientific OK
you put the power in the hands of the people its liberation
and even if you take it away its multiplication
repression breeds resistance and this is our situation
I’m an expert on exploitation master of ghetto misery
a miracle of modern enslavement given our history
the fire through the wire bullets bombs and the liars
the snitches he counterinsurgency mad vicious
they kill us the freedom fighters but can’t kill the revolution
they put crack in our community laughing like it’s amusing
but I don’t see nothing funny the crackers that’s on the money
they only wanna keep us mis-educated like Sonny
They see how we never give up and wonder just how we do it
f#ck a roach we’re the scarabs the beetle up out the ruins
you can hear it in our music is resilience part of our experience
you can call it the freedom experiment
you hear it but do you feel it
either join with it or fear it
but I want it in my lifetime period.