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June 6, 2005
Iraq Rap . . .
I'm not sure if it's in the same spirit as Kosovo and Way to Amarillo, but it's certainly "All-American". Members of Task Force 112, currently serving in Iraq have released an album, yep, a full fledged album, not just a net-video parody. Members of the task force had the recording equipment sent to Iraq, created a makeshift recording studio (actually a semi-soundproof room with exercise mats for soundproofing) and used the "studio" to "vent" their anger when returning from patrols. The result is their rap-album Live from Iraq, the Music of a Lifetime.
Now I'm not a big rap fan, I like R&B and some of the more mainstream rap, but if you ask me for details of the East vs. West coast thing, I'm clueless. Although I do think that Tupac is alive and well somewhere on an island dreaming up his next "post mortem" CD.
Now, on to the album, which you can buy at CDBaby.com. The "anger" I referred to earlier isn't what those lefties that come read my blog and then send me stupid emails might think. This is the ANGER of young men and women serving overseas and fighting a life-and-death battle every day to give a better life to the Iraqi people and protect our way of life here at home. Anger that's directed at the insurgents who target women and children, as well as American, Coalition and Iraqi forces. Anger that's directed at urban youths who are "playing soldier" (in reference to gang-bangers in America) and whose common lexicon tries to develop solidarity with soldiers fighting in Iraq (the track is called Reality Check, links below). Anger that's natural for any soldier to feel when he or she realizes that just a few moments earlier someone was trying to kill them. A special ANGER is revealed on many of the tracks for critics at home who are second-guessing every action of our soldiers and media whores who want to condemn every action of our soldiers as they put their very lives on the line. More than one track references the Marine who was vilified by the media for shooting an insurgent in a mosque which was videotaped and sent around the world as "evidence" - !NOT! - of soldiers acting inappropriately, namely Integrity and Testament of a Soldier.
From what I've heard so far (the sample tracks and trailer), I like it. While it's not what I normally listen to, the beats are rough yet catchy and the lyrics are direct and easy to understand. Most of all though I like the messages and honesty of the work and think it's worthy of recognition, if even only by me.
WARNING: The lyrics in the samples are strong, these are soldier's in the field remember, not rappers in a studio sipping on Cristal. There are also some images in the video trailer linked below that may be disturbing in their stark reality.
I've listened to all the tracks sampled at CDBaby, and even if you don't buy the CD, listen to the sample tracks, the first 2 minutes of each song is available at the CDBaby page. Each of the tracks carries a powerful message, some simple, some very complex, please go have a listen.
Here's the official website for the album -- www.4th25.com
Here's the trailer video for the album.
Now if I can just get my hands on a DVD of Gunner Palace, I'll be happy.
--Jason
PS I'm tired now, but I'll pull individual lyric quotes from the album tomorrow for those reading from work or dial-up readers.
Posted by JasonColeman at June 6, 2005 12:57 AM
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Comments
Hi Jason!
I hadn't even heard about this until now. I went and checked it out; even though I really can't stand rap, I might actually buy it just to support them. Thanks for writing about it!
Posted by: Beth at June 16, 2005 3:50 AM
Actually, Jason, the album, if looked at with more objectivity, is a little more subtle than you suggest. The anger is also addressed to people like you and me who sit in our comfortable, consumer-oriented America that requires other people to fight and die to keep us in that comfort. These soldiers are dying only so that we can maintain our "way of life" -- a way of life that is not about "freedom" (as both you and these soldiers in ignorance seem to suggest), but about exploitation of the rest of the world. Listen closely and every once in a while someone says what the real motives are for wars like this. As Michael Ledeen of the conservative and very powerful think tank, American Enterprise Institute, put it: "Every ten years or so, the United States needs to pick up some crappy little country and throw it against the wall, just to show the world we mean business." If I was still a soldier and fighting a war for that reason, I'd be pissed too.
Posted by: Sgt. Allen at July 11, 2005 12:16 PM
I want to congratulate you and the soldiers you make this music with...You soldiers motivate me and my soldiers. I am glad that there is a way to vent ones feelings like this. The truth is a bitch aint it? The fact that you talk about the media, posers, and fucked up things makes us proud! Cause' we both know that this truth is damn due! thanks
Hellontracks...
Posted by: HELLONTRACKS at July 28, 2005 4:33 PM
