by Damian Garde
Daily Lobo
Bill O'Reilly should be the biggest hip-hop fan in the Western Hemisphere.
Granted, he has been among the most vocal opponents of the genre, but considering the philosophies conveyed in mainstream hip-hop, right-wingers ought to be knocking G-Unit in their Beamers.
First of all, image is everything. George W. Bush is lauded as a man of the people, representing the working class. Accordingly, he is often photographed with rolled-up sleeves, cutting logs with chain saws. 50 Cent is marketed as the hardest gangster around. His press photos generally feature him shirtless - to show off his nine bullet wounds - and toting a Glock.
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But Bush was born in Connecticut to a family reeking of old money. His grandfather was a senator, and his father went on to become president. 50 sold 11 million copies of his debut album and has since moved to Connecticut. Paris Hilton is a personal friend of his. In addition, despite dropping lyrics describing himself as "high all the time," 50 admitted in a 2004 interview with Spin magazine that he doesn't smoke marijuana at all.
The interesting aspect is not this inherent hypocrisy, but rather that these facts are widely known and accepted. 50 is among the richest rappers in the world, but any time he so much as mutters a line about selling drugs and shooting people, he makes $10 million. The same goes for one's background. O'Reilly claimed he was from the most working-class of backgrounds, but, after extensive probing, the Washington Post disclosed that he grew up in a middle-class New York suburb. Kanye West has made numerous references to having no money and growing up in the hood, but he was raised in Oak Park, Ill., a middle-class suburb of Chicago. His mother was the chairwoman of the English department at Chicago State University.
Mainstream hip-hop has also taken on a muddled form of conservative fiscal ideas, echoing the tenets of laissez-faire economics. In Jay-Z's new song, "30 Something," he eschews his old habit of telling street stories of violence and realism, instead boasting about having "black cards, good credit and such." He goes on to brag about none other than his stock portfolio, saying, "I got the right stock. I got stock brokers that's moving it like white-tops." While the passing drug reference begs for street credibility, the fact remains that Jay's getting Reaganomical on the breaks these days. It's only a matter of time before he releases a beef track on the gift tax.
Furthermore, hip-hop shares the right-wing's sense of xenophobia. Eminem told us back in 2000 that there's nothing worse than homosexuality. He threatened to "stab you in the head whether you're a fag or les', or the homosex', hermaph' or a transvest'." He later clarified, for those struggling to deduce his opinion on the matter, "Hate fags? The answer's yes."
In the song "Dipset (Santana's Town)," Juelz Santana unveiled the phrase "no homo." These two words are to be thrown at the end of a sentence that could be construed as sounding homosexual in nature, thus assuring listeners that the speaker is 100 percent heterosexual. For instance, "Hey, can I borrow your mascara? No homo." This is remar kably necessary because, as we all know, homosexuality is on par with bestiality. Just ask Rick Santorum.
Aren't we the slightest bit bored of the rap administration? Isn't America ready for a change? Vote Black Thought-Boots Riley in 2008.
Photo Illustration by Harrison Brooks / Daily Lobo
President Bush hangs with 50 Cent.
