Old and Mad

I got to thinking about this yesterday as TV One constantly ran commercials for Cathy Hughes' conversation with the legendary mad Black man Dick Gregory. He dropped such priceless jewels as:

". . . every person born in the US within the past 25 years has a microchip up their butts. . ."

and

". . .Cheney will be president in 2008 with 98% of the vote because Condoleeza will be his running mate. . ."

and

". . .the levees didn't break, they were blown up . . ."

Maaaaaaaan, there is nothing like a mad black man. Even Nelson Mandela gets mean. He has called out Tony Blair, George W. Bush, and other world leaders on their bullshit. At Coretta Scott King's funeral, co-founder of the SCLC Joseph Lowery called out Bush on the lack of WMDs and his other shoddy work. Bush was sitting right behind him, with that plastic ass smile on his face. That was classic. Most cats don't even have the balls to confront someone these days. Diss records don't mean crap, you ever seen 50 Cent step to someone, for real?
When they're in the public eye, they are sometimes are asked to apologize for comments that are deemed inappropriate. Suuuure they do, but you know they really don't care. Harry Belafonte calls out the president whenever he gets good and ready. He called Colin Powell and Condoleeza Beans and Rice "house slaves" for their compliance and allegiance to the White House, which does sort resemble a Southern plantation, in my opinion anyways. . .
They've been through the marches, the hoses and the dogs. They have been treated as less than men, and denied basic civil rights. They have plenty of good reason to be mad. They have lived hard lives, paving the way for generations who may not understand or appreciate the sacrifices they made. There's nothing better than hearing Sharpton's sharp talk, or Farrakhan's quiet anger, or even Cosby's mumblings. Behind all that gray hair, permed or not, there is much knowledge. Not just book smarts, but life smarts. Let 'em talk, there's no reason to shut them up. I wanna marry a man that's gonna be just as mad as these men when we get old and gray.

In no particular order, here are my Top 5 Old Mad Black Men
Harry Belafonte
Dick Gregory
Bill Cosby
Al Sharpton
Joseph Lowery

Younger Men with Mad Old Black Man Potential
Nas
Chuck D
Spike Lee

Kanye West

Damon Dash

Jonesin' for Lauryn

Listening to: Ms. Hill by Talib Kweli (off the Right About Now album)

I like Coltrane's music. "In a Sentimental Mood" and "Naima" are two of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. That says a great deal because I am addicted to music, the way my aunt is addicted to crack. . .but that's a tale for another day.
I love The Artist I've Always Called Prince. His music is beautiful, controversial, erotic, sexual, sensual, and sexy. There was never a pause when we debated in high school, Prince vs. Michael Jackson. . .The Artist always had my vote. The fact that he wears his hair like my mother does can't sway the way I feel about him. . . Prince is sexy

As far as female artists, I could go on all day naming the ones who have made me think, crave, cry, and remember. India, Alice Coltrane, Minnie, Billie, Janet, Toni, etc., etc. But none of these women have moved me in the ways that one Ms. Hill has done.

I first heard her on Blunted on Reality, but I really noticed her on Nas' joint, "If I Ruled the World". I seen a couple Fugee performances on tv, and I was so impressed that this chocolate girl was killin' em, and the crowd was loving her. It was powerful for me to see during a time when I was wondering so much about my place in the world. Granted I was young, but I've always felt wiser than others at my age, despite anything else.
Once Sister Act 2 came out on video, I heard Lauryn sing "His Eye is on the Sparrow". To this day, I still get chills down my spine when I hear her rendition. Her voice was rich and clear. I couldn't quite place it back then, but now I realize how special her talents really are.
The Score comes out in 1996. It was one of the first CDs I owned. I loved it from cover to cover. I played it until the disc damn near ran thin. I loved the singles, "Fu-gee-la", "Ready or Not", and "Killing me Softly", but I loved the other tracks as well. The Fugees were an awesome group to me. Collectively, they were confident, but not arrogant. They were talented black people making music that was against the grain, and I appreciated that.
Flash forward to 1998, my sister gets The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill for Christmas. That album was, and still is beautiful, It's as relevant today, as it was when it first came out. In Talib Kweli's song "Ms. Hill", he says what the album did for black girl's self esteem is so important. I won't speak for all, but that album affected me so deeply. The album touched everything from relationships, to the music industry.

My Favorite Tracks:
Lost Ones
When it Hurts so Bad
Final Hour

from the title track:
". . .I look at my environment And wonder where the fire went What happened to everything we used to be I hear so many cry for help Searching outside of themselves Now I know that His strength is within me And deep in my heart the answer it was in me And I made up my mind to define my own destiny. . ."

It seriously gets no better than that. This is female artist who refused to be mass marketed, who does not need a cologne, a doll, or a clothing line to be established or validated. She has her voice, her opinions (remember she let them know the deal in Vatican City 2003?), and her lyrics to do the job for her. I'm always writing and talking about warrior women, and she's one of them.
Back to Miseducation. . .it was worthy of the accolades and then some. The hater/critic/naysayers wondered if she could come back with a sophomore solo release that generated as much heat as the first. I wasn't worried, even as time ticked on.
Few years go by, I'm growing, the world's changing, music is on the same old bull. I listened to the Miseducation like a new release.
2002 was a weird year for me. I freed myself from someone toxic, and I became more serious about my writing. I listened to lyrics like I never had before. And Lauryn came out with an MTV Unplugged album.
Whoa. Always a fan of live albums, but I never in my life had heard one like hers. In one word: Raw. Her emotions poured from her, as if she was oblivious to the audience. She explained the processes behind songs and played guitar like a folk singer. I only know one other person who feels me on this album. Freestyle fans should hear her spit on "Mystery of Inequity". . .that's what's up.

My favorite tracks:
Just Like Water
Mystery of Inequity
So Much Things to Say

So, I've been getting into some other types of music and artists, but I've never forgotten Lauryn. Since the appearance at Dave Chappelle's block party, and the BET Awards, there's been much spark and speculation about the revival of Lauryn and the Fugees. I anticipate it, but I'm not looking for the old Fugees to return. I'm ready for a newer, older, and wiser bunch to come back. She isn't herself, they say. The clothes, the wigs, the cracking voice,etc. I'll just wait and see what's next. I read the Essence article, and it made me want them back more. I was a big Fugees fan almost as much as I was a Lauryn fan. Even if the Fugees and Lauryn aren't poppin' like they used to be, it'll be good to not not have to wonder what if . . .

To Be Young, Gifted, and Black

**Because there are some who still don't know*

To Be Young, Gifted, and Black
To be young, gifted and black,

Oh what a lovely precious dream

To be young, gifted and black,

Open your heart to what I mean

In the whole world you know

There are billion boys and girls

Who are young, gifted and black,

And that's a fact!

Young, gifted and black

We must begin to tell our young

There's a world waiting for you

This is a quest that's just begun

When you feel really low

Yeah, there's a great truth you should know

When you're young, gifted and black

Your soul's intact

Young, gifted and black

How I long to know the truth

There are times when I look back

And I am haunted by my youth

Oh but my joy of today Is that we can all be proud to say

To be young, gifted and black Is where it's at. . .

Note: "To Be Young, Gifted And Black," written 1969 Nina Simone and Weldon Irvine, Jr., was -- inspired by Lorraine Hansberry's play of the same title.