YouTube Provocation Thread Vol. 1

[Troy]

My point is that "100 Years" is commentary albeit using language that alienates some of you. Has anybody listened to the lyrics in this? It's an anti-establishment rally against the inequities of the modern legal system. It's a viable form of protest. Anyone wanna explain why the penalties for crack cocaine are significantly harsher than for powder?

Listened to the lyrics? I can't even understand what the guy's saying! The language doesn't offend me, it's the diction and cadence that makes my skin crawl.

I've never been a fan of protest music in the first place. I listen to music to be pleased, amused and thrilled, not to be whined at or preached to. If I want to be reminded of this stuff I'll just pay attention to the news. i don't need to be assaulted by it in my entertainment.

As an artist, don't you dare tell me how I'm supposed to feel. The best art should induce you into thinking without actually being told to. I like art that is more open to interpretation.

You have a complaint about crack bringing a longer sentence than powder? How about you don't do either and then you don't have to worry about stiffer sentences.

[bobsticks]

Listened to the lyrics? I can't even understand what the guy's saying! The language doesn't offend me, it's the diction and cadence that makes my skin crawl.

I've never been a fan of protest music in the first place. I listen to music to be pleased, amused and thrilled, not to be whined at or preached to. If I want to be reminded of this stuff I'll just pay attention to the news. i don't need to be assaulted by it in my entertainment.

As an artist, don't you dare tell me how I'm supposed to feel. The best art should induce you into thinking without actually being told to. I like art that is more open to interpretation.

You have a complaint about crack bringing a longer sentence than powder? How about you don't do either and then you don't have to worry about stiffer sentences.

As with any other musical offering it's perfectly acceptable for anyone to have preferences. I'll try and remember it the next time evryone is waxing poetic about Dylan. It seems to me that between bong-tokes and acid hits he found time to formulate and express some opinions. Sid Vicious, Jello Biafra, Frank Zappa, Ice-T too.

One can assume that a member of the poor and disenfranchised class would prefer to not have the media and modern(white) culture dare to tell him how he's supposed to feel when members of the gentrified ruling elite commit far worse crimes and routinely receive easier sentences. As has been said, "They don't make no Uzis in Harlem".

And we know that this is not completely a race issue either. OJ's on his second crime spree and will probably get away with it.

I don't think anywhere in video there was an advocacy for selling drugs. Some people have fewer options. Some people are brought up in urban desolation.

I have to give credit to those that have posted whether they hold valid the message or not. There have been alot of views to this thread and it seems as if many choose silence when social inequality threatens someone from a different neighborhood. Evidently, P-Skies' would have us believe that his biggest beef is a visceral dislike for Omar Epps...