[PON DE REPLAY!]

I’ve always believed that different music speaks to different people in different ways. As a mixed race Asian male, raised working-class but currently middle-class due to the upward mobility my parents higher education afforded them, I am a mix of what feels like a proletariat-murderous rage at racism/oppression and at the same time, liberal guilt from the privilege I am afforded due to my racial, ethnic, gender, class identity. It’s a confusing mess, but at the same time I hate giving people the impression that mixed heritage people are confused so I make attemps at stifling these feelings. It’s a cold game (as most of you know).

This post is dedicated to the musical artists’ albums that save my life on a daily basis when I feel like I’m boutta go off the deep end and kill myself and/or someone else. =P Universal language/magnetic:

Gnarls Barkley – The Odd Couple

I’m not sure what I would’ve done this past year without Cee-Lo Green and Dangermouse. I literally felt as if every song was made with me in mind. I will follow these two no matter what they do in life.

Green Day – American Idiot
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There’s really no better contradiction to the way I view Amerika, than 3 white dudes (from the east bay!) vehemently protesting the last 8 years of the U.S. foreign policy, domestic policy, pseudo-democracy, mysoginy and hypocrisy. Whie I am an emcee and a Hip-Hopper, I credit Billie Joe Armstrong as one of my biggest inspirations as to the way I write songs. To quote Armstrong: “There’s nothing wrong with me. This is how I’m supposed to be, in a land of make-believe that don’t believe in me.”

Outkast – Aquemini

My mind warps and bends floats the wind count to ten
meet the twin Andre Ben. welcome to the lion’s den
original skin many men comprehend
I extend myself so you go out & tell a friend
Sin all depends on what you believing in
Faith is what you make it that’s the hardest shit since MC Ren
Alien can blend right on in wit’ yo’ kin
look again ’cause I swear I spot one every now & then
It’s happenin’ again wish I could tell you when
Andre this is Andre y’all just gon’ have to make amends…

-Andre3000

Need I say more?

Coldplay – Parachutes

I don’t care who you are. If you don’t feel all warm inside when Chris Martin sings, you just might wanna seek therapy. This album makes me feel like I’m being reminded that the world is so much f*cking bigger than I can comprehend. Its musicality is so beautiful that I actually begin to believe it when Chris Martin sings: “We live in a beautiful world…”

Nas – Illmatic

I often question if I would feel the same love and adoration for Hip-Hop if it hadn’t been for this record. Never before in my life had I heard such a transcendental amalgamation of gritty street life, spirituality and intellect all at the same time. It’s probably how older Hip-Hoppers felt when they first heard Rakim Allah. Life’s a b*tch, but as long as I represent, it aint hard to tell that there’s one love.

Lupe Fiasco – The Cool

Being raised working-class I notice the myriad ways in which “coolness” is perceived. To me growing up, it was a suit of armor. I donned it everyday in an effort to attract the attention of girls, snap on anyone that had ill words for me, and most importantly used it to avoid being the target of violence and terrorization. While this “armor” no longer “suits” me or serves me in the way it once did, I realize fully that the remnants of its internalization still remain in tact in many ways. Lupe Fiasco’s personification of “The Cool” gave me chills in the way that ‘her’ allure and the promises ’she’ makes look enticing to the point that gambling your future and compromising yourself and your inner integrity, makes sense. What is so dope about Lupe (and I attempt with all my might to do the same thing in my art) is that he is able to use his “cool” to honestly express himself, while many others’ “coolness” keeps them from doing just that. Coolness. What a muhf*cking paradox.

Bob Marley – Legend

I am fully aware that this album was jampacked with his “safer” material in an effort to accrue the capital of liberal white people in the UK and United States, but that doesn’t mean revolutionaries, organizers and activists can’t enjoy it yo! While it is problematic that the undertones of the songs in this compilation suggest Marley was a passive, peaceful pothead, those of us who know songs like “War,” “Slavedriver,” “Crazy Bald Heads,” etc. can rest assure knowing that the love in his heart is not taken for granted on this cd. Sometimes for those of us dedicating our lives, time and energy to combatting the world’s mulltitude oppressive forces, it’s nice to be told by our elders: “Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause every little thing is gonna be alright…”

2pac – Me Against the World

Not unlike myself, Tupac Shakur was a gemini and had many faces, sides and complexes to him. It was during this period in his life that I like to remember 2pac by. He had been recently shot and jailed (for the first time) and was using this record to process the world both giving and taking so much from him at the same time. I remember listening to this record as a teenager and hearing someone so full of hope feel so deflated, someone so full of anger feel so much love, someone so brave sound so vulnerable and someone in so much danger sound so fearless.

With all this extra stressin
The question I wonder is after death, after my last breath
When will I finaly get to rest? Through this oppression
they punish the people that’s askin questions…

The title of this album says it all.

Looking back at the albums that save my soul on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis I feel the question I continue to ask myslef is: When is an Asian Pacific Amerikan gonna make some sh*t that moves me?!?!?! It’s been said many other times, by many other people, many times wiser than me: BE THE CHANGE U WANT TO SEE.

Hey Deejay, keep playin’ that song…

Senbei

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