A few pairs of new Airs
January 14, 2010 4:37 PM   Subscribe

I have an inexplicable fondness for rap/hip-hop songs with lyrics that are critical of consumerism, mass media, or some other specific aspect of modern culture. Help me find some more!

Kanye West's "All Falls Down" is the best example I can come up with off the top of my head.
posted by aheckler to Media & Arts (39 answers total) 22 users marked this as a favorite
 
Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy/Michael Franti--"Television: The Drug of a Nation" (1992)
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 4:45 PM on January 14, 2010 [2 favorites]


I love Sage Francis' Makeshift Patriot (lyrics, SF talking about the song). Perhaps more political than you're looking for, but there are a lot of knocks on pop/modern culture.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:46 PM on January 14, 2010


"Just To Get By" by Taleb Kweli

The verse that mentions "penis enlargers" is dead-on to what you're looking for.
posted by drjimmy11 at 4:48 PM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]




BlackStar's "Children's Story" (lyrics, youtube)
posted by hippugeek at 4:55 PM on January 14, 2010


Busdriver!
posted by cmoj at 4:55 PM on January 14, 2010


Try two of my personal favorites, local to Seattle: Blue Scholars and Common Market. I love these guys. They are seriously talented, and not your typical brainless hip-hop. If you're looking for some political and social commentary in your rap, these are the guys for you.
posted by dhalgren at 4:57 PM on January 14, 2010


Public Enemy: Burn Hollywood Burn
posted by Rangeboy at 4:57 PM on January 14, 2010


Consolidated is good for this. Especially "Dysfunctional Relationship." Can't find a link to this so here's "White American Male" Note that I don't actually really think this music is good, but it scratches that certain itch.
posted by escabeche at 5:00 PM on January 14, 2010


Kanye's "Spaceship" is a pretty funny take on working in retail.

Burn Hollywood Burn is hilarious in the context of history, considering what kind of movies Ice Cube stars now.
posted by jedrek at 5:02 PM on January 14, 2010


Dumb This Down by Sole.
Song for John Walker by DJ Krush and Anticon. Particularly critical of the W Bus presidency.

In general, the Anticon puts out some stuff that is critical of materialism. Look into Sole, Dose One, and some of Alias's earlier stuff.
posted by HighTechUnderpants at 5:05 PM on January 14, 2010


The Coup
posted by rhizome at 5:10 PM on January 14, 2010


Cadence Weapon is my go-to guy for biting, funny cultural criticism.
posted by carsonb at 5:14 PM on January 14, 2010


Nerdcore Hip-Hop might be up your alley. See, e.g., Fuck The MPAA by the Futuristic Sex Robotz.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:16 PM on January 14, 2010


NaS, What Goes Around.
posted by hermitosis at 5:23 PM on January 14, 2010


Anything by The Coup would likely fit.
posted by deadmessenger at 5:42 PM on January 14, 2010




Really, all of Dead Prez's catalog.
posted by phrontist at 5:47 PM on January 14, 2010


Saul Williams
Perhaps too obvious, but... Gil Scott-Heron
posted by phrontist at 5:51 PM on January 14, 2010


The Roots
Dialated Peoples
Jurassic 5
posted by phrontist at 5:56 PM on January 14, 2010


Don't laugh: Afroman actually has it in for corporate radio. Listen to his lyrics! It's true!
posted by Truthiness at 6:21 PM on January 14, 2010


Public Enemy - She Watch Channel Zero
posted by porn in the woods at 6:27 PM on January 14, 2010


Here's Cool Calm Pete with Black Friday.
posted by zer0render at 6:27 PM on January 14, 2010


Tim Fite's Over The Counterculture - available legally for free on the internets.
posted by kpmcguire at 6:27 PM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]


Another vote for The Coup.
posted by Red Loop at 6:34 PM on January 14, 2010


Lupe Fiasco is my first thought.

Lupe Fiasco -- Conflict Diamonds

Lupe Fiasco -- Superstar

Lupe Fiasco -- Daydreaming


de la soul might also fit the bill, I'm thinking of the albums Stakes is High or Buhloone Mindstate, older stuff but still among my favorites:

de la soul -- Stakes is High
posted by seventyfour at 6:41 PM on January 14, 2010


2nding Busdriver. Pretty much any song by him.
posted by ishotjr at 6:42 PM on January 14, 2010


on the r&b side
Lauryn Hill That Thing
Erykah Badu Bag Lady
The-Dream Love vs Money
posted by citron at 6:53 PM on January 14, 2010


It's more like rap metal, but Corporate Avenger are pretty angry about a lot of things.. Songs like "Taxes Are Stealing", "Christians Murdered Indians", "FBI Files", "Voting Doesn't Work", etc.
posted by hypersloth at 7:21 PM on January 14, 2010


Generic Crunk Rap by MC Lars
posted by 256 at 8:04 PM on January 14, 2010


Not sure if this really fits the bill but I enjoyed it.
posted by ropeladder at 8:28 PM on January 14, 2010


Mr. Lif is pretty much a go-to rapper for political and cultural critiques.
posted by hiteleven at 8:42 PM on January 14, 2010


And check out "Check What You're Listening To" on PE's quasi-comeback album New Whirl Odor.
posted by hiteleven at 8:44 PM on January 14, 2010


Spearhead (Michael Franti)

For some really old school, track down The Last Poets, e.g., here.

Also, Jalal's On the One album. Tremendous. Timeless.
posted by coffeefilter at 9:35 PM on January 14, 2010


I like Aesop Rock's song None Shall Pass, which sort of fits what you're asking for.
posted by JDHarper at 9:57 PM on January 14, 2010


For political hiphop in Australia, try the Elefant Traks label:

The Herd
Combat Wombat
posted by zamboni at 5:56 AM on January 15, 2010


Deltron 3030 in a futuristic, roundabout sort of way. One of my all-time favorite albums.
posted by Zoyashka at 9:05 AM on January 15, 2010


Non-Prophets "Mainstream 307" (other songs on their awesome album Hope also fit the bill, this is another Sage Francis project, who someone else mentioned)

MC Paul Barman "Anarchist Book Store (Part 1)"

sort of maybe MC Frontalot "Charity Case"

Busdriver "Happiness('s Unit of Measurement)"
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:32 AM on January 15, 2010


Mr. Lif is pretty much a go-to rapper for political and cultural critiques.

Yep - one of his best songs is a critique of Black Friday - Ultra Mega.
Outkast - Red Velvet (Conspicuous Consumption)
Ice Cube - Turn off the Radio (Radio)
Madvillain - Strange Ways (Culture, War)
Slick Rick's verson on Mos Def's Auditorium (War)
R.A. the Rugged Man's verse on Jedi Mind Tricks' Uncommon Valor (War)
Eric B & Rakim - Casualties of War
Slum Village – Bootleggin My Shit (Downloading)
BDP - Who are the Pimps (Taxes/IRS)
BDP - The Real Holy Place (Religion/Christianity - more like spoken word)
BDP - Illegal Business (Laws/Law Enforcement)
BDP - Drug Dealer (The origins of American wealth)
P.E. - Shut 'em Down (Various)
Da Lench Mob - Aint Got No Class (Drug-consuming Parents)
P.E. - Caught, Can We Get a Witness (Copyright/Sampling)
Along the same lines - Stetsasonic - Talkin All that Jazz.
Binary Star - Honest Expression (Entertainment Industry Personas)
Donnie ft Phonte (Little Brother) - Over the Counter Culture (The Pharmaceutical Industry)
posted by cashman at 12:46 PM on January 15, 2010


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