Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury

Hiphop, fan van! 5 sterren! Vooraf dacht ik, hier krijgen we weer de zoveelste hiphopplaat waar een paar gasten gaan rappen over hoeveel geld, auto's en vrouwen ze bezitten. Maar dit is politieke rap a la Gill Scott-Herons spoken word op Public Enemy beats. Public Enemy kan ik nog wel hebben, maar die spoken word is aan de saaie kant. Naar hiphopteksten luister ik meestal niet, en dit staaltje activisme gaat ook een beetje aan me voorbij. De manier waarop je je boodschap verpakt, maakt namelijk een groot verschil. Verpak je het in de vorm van rap of hiphop, dan gaat het langs me heen. Ik zou zeggen, giet het eens in een rockvormpje, wat carribean vibes erbij, vleugje Lenny Kravitz, laat een beroemdheid als Pink even opdraven. En dan krijg je Yell Fire! van dezelfde Michael Franti die ook voor dit album verantwoordelijk is. Een politieke aanklacht tegen de oorlog in het Midden-Oosten (oh hoe actueel), waar de boosheid van de teksten nu worden verpakt in muziek die eerder hoop geeft dan dat je gelijk op zoek moet naar een shotgun om zelf iedereen overhoop te schieten. Het politieke pamflet is er nog steeds, maar je hebt me dit keer wel te pakken. Gelukkig had Michael Franti door dat je soms van verpakking moet veranderen, helaas de snobs van deze lijst niet, want die kozen een oud album. De 5 sterren zijn dus voor Yell Fire! Aanrader voor de zure broeders die niet van hiphop houden.

Preachy garbage.

Oh yeah. I like this. Righteous lyrics and groovy baselines. Underrated early 90s hip hop.

I liked this. It was good. Especially Music and Politics. But honestly, after a while, the late 80s early 90's hip hop all kinda starts to sound the same. 4

Political spoken word rap by Michael Franti!!! Never knew him before his solo guitar driven stuff - this was pretty awesome. Like finding a deep cut

Interesting album

This was pretty good. I didn't realize Michael Franti was in a hiphop group before Spearhead and I never noticed how similar his voice is to Chuck D. Love me a good Pisschrist reference, lol. 3.5/5

Wow, this is really good. I never heard of this, but I'd heard of Michael Franti before. The lyrics on these songs rule, and I really liked most everything. I liked Franti's delivery quite a bit even. 3.75/5

The rap is nice and the overarching theme is pretty cool.

I know it's all a bit on the nose, but at this point I feel like we need a sledgehammer to get the message through to people.

Strong lyrics that are as relevant today

I used to borrow this CD off my boss quite often but only really listened to Television (which is superb!) and few other tracks. I can see why now, it’s just so depressing and serious, probably because it’s all true!

Too serious for me.

This could have been written last week. It's still so depressingly current.

Wow, listening to this was both cathartic and eye-opening. First, the beats are great. Second, these guys are speaking truth so clearly. It's very refreshing to hear someone point out the inequities and absurdities of our culture. It's also a bit saddening to know that the exact same issues that were prevalent in the early '90s have not gotten any better, and in fact have taken a turn for the MUCH worse in the past decade. What a crap show. Anyway, great album, just as relevant today as the day it was released.

Interesting. Very real. Haunting predictions about the future. Didn't love the dated hip hop sound

oh brother... lots of political comments, the is vlid today, but... not good music

I. Think this type of hip hop is corny

We live in a society

"Hiphoprisy" is kind of an awkward fit, even if it's obvious what the intent is. Similarly, this has the slightly awkward-feeling flow of hip-hop from the early days. It's still cool, the samples work and the beats propel, but it does have the feel of a political speech that was adjusted slightly to become spoken word, rather than something that was built from the ground up to be music first. None of that is to say that this is an unpleasant listen. Michael Franti has a recognizable voice, a compelling take and serviceable skills as an MC. I'd never heard this album before and I'm glad that I did. Not as good as Public Enemy or the Roots but still a good listen. 3/5

Educational and catchy

Political sophisticated lyrics, that couldn't be more relevant with beautiful low beats that's suits today's music Definitely not 90s recognizable

The lyrics are still very relevant today. This was very listenable way back, it doesn't seem to have aged well musically.

Absolutely crazy how relevant this album is in 2025

Thirty-plus years later, this could have been written yesterday. Michael Franti’s razor-sharp lyrics on racism, immigration, homophobia, consumerism, and media brainwashing are eerily relevant in 2025. How are we still struggling with the same B.S.? The music and the words, the vibe and the message are all solid.

There were four songs from this missing from Apple Music, so I had to listen to those on YouTube. I don't know what’s worse, rap with filthy, explicit lyrics or this kind of pretentious lefty political lecture rap? In the song Music and Politics, he actually says he suffers from the *worst* type of loneliness, the loneliness of being misunderstood. Jesus, that’s some uber-douche Kanye West shit. You can just tell from his lyrics that he grew up in a well-to-do family and feels guilty about it. But then in the same song he said he pooped in a dog dish. His style is a clear Public Enemy rip-off, but missing the bombast, the hype man, and the realism. His singing sucks, so those songs that have a sung chorus in them are really awkward, like California Uber Alles. I wonder if this album really had a lasting impact, considering how tiny the Wikipedia page for it is. It came out when I was a senior in high school and still listening to rap music, but I never heard of it.

-i was expecting some extremely bland, middle-of-the-road hip hop here. and while it was definitely nothing mind-blowing, there were a few songs and ideas i enjoyed much more than i thought i would -there are some great usages of electronic beats on here. i’m glad i didn’t end up disliking it -Favorites are Famous And Dandy (Like Amos ‘N’ Andy) and Socio-Genetic Experiment

Missed the mark.

6/10

Album 866 of 1089 The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy - Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury (1992) Rating : 3.5 / 5 I’m not a big hip hop fan, but I’ve been waiting for one I could really connect with—and this is it. Socially conscious from start to finish, it doesn’t dance around its message. Some folks knock it for being too blunt, but I have no problem with that—sometimes you need to say things plainly if you want people to actually hear them. The record tackles a range of social issues with clarity and conviction. “Television, the Drug of the Nation” has already made my ‘like’ list, and there are a couple more that might join it. A powerful listen and one worth adding to the library.

Vocals sound a bit like Chuck D, or Guru. Minimalist beats. Nice.

Was okay. There were a lot of good points being made, but some of the flow was lacking. Probably not one I'll listen to again, but nothing I disliked.

This album was pretty groovy. I enjoyed it

this was incredible

Cross between Public Enemy and Gil Scott-Heron, but not as impactful or enjoyable. Yes to the socio-political rhymes, but the delivery and production are lacking.

While I enjoy conscious rap this was somewhat uninteresting to me.

Thoughts before listening: I've heard of this, but I've definitely never listened before. I feel that this would be a surprising pick for a hip hop best albums list, so it's even weirder that it's on this one. Is it British maybe? Is that why it's on here? Review: Oh wait...this is Michael Franti from Spearhead? Definitely not British. I mainly know him as the hippy dippy lead singer playing day slots at jamband festivals singing about love and politics. I guess he got his start as a Public Enemy style political rapper? This is just okay to me. There is a sound collage style to the beats similar to PE, but Franti just isn't as engaging as Chuck D...and this is definitely missing the charisma of Flavor Flav. There are some jazz elements here that I do like, but I can't really get over Franti's wooden, monotone rapping style. I'm also not hearing a lot of hooks on these songs, with this sound closer to spoken word than anything resembling a pop song. I guess the main selling point here is the social and political commentary, and while I probably agree with a lot of the words here, it's not really doing much for me. 2 stars

I felt I have heard this type of eclectic hip hop album done in a better way many other times. Public enemy rip off

just not my thing

Impressive

Not for me one little bit. Bad Hip-Hop meets weird Jazz.

Ice T and Chuck D vibes. Very political and poetic. Lots of important messages, but the delivery becomes a bit too much for an hour's worth. Better when he intersperses with a little more of the comedy and the variety of vocal delivery.

Bomb squad production and that kind of half poem/half lyric style that Chuck D pulled from Gil Scott Heron. Also like Chuck D is the heavily didactic presentation of the subject matter. I think where it falls down is that Public Enemy could kind of spread it out among a few talents whereas here Franti has to do all the lecturing. The single, Television, The Drug of a Nation seems a bit quaint in 2025 as I'm bombarded by social media. The promised industrial bits start with The Winter of the Long Hot Summer - an eight minute long song without a lot going on. Franti struggles to stay on the beat. The production does get a bit better in the second half with some early 90s dub track in Socio-Genetic Experiment and INS Greencard A-19 191 500 being an interesting exploration of a government phone queue (!). Financial Leprosy has a great slinky dirty bassline. Despite this Its just Public Enemy with more steps. Franti doesn't have the same presence as Chuck D and while I don't think its a bad album I do think its a bit redundant for this list.

Gear: ZMF Bokeh Artwork: 🪚🏛️🤢 Production: 🙄🤔🤷 Music: 📢📰🗣️ Rating: 📺📺(📺)/5

As good as this Hip-Hop is, it’s depressing that we are facing the same fucking issues 35 years later. I appreciate the flow that Michael Franti and his DJ Roni Tse carry on throughout this album, it’s politically charged to say the least but it’s done well with strong delivery and weight behind the lines. Still, super discouraging that we are facing plenty of the same gross problems now in 2025 than they were when I was fucking 6. Fuck Donald Trump and if you support him, Fuck You too jabroni. 4 stars

Follows in the vein of public enemy

The focus on lyrics and a message over the beats and mixing doesn't work for me with this album. I get that the message is powerful and important, music as a way of conveying that message is a good idea but this almost feels more like spoken word poetry than music a lot of the time.

I enjoyed this more than I expected! Lyrics are still incredibly relevant today. Reminds me of Gil Scott-Heron.

Favourites: Satanic Reverses, Famous And Dandy (Like Amos 'N' Andy), The Winter Of The Long Hot Summer, Socio-Genetic Experiment, Music And Politics, Water Pistol Man

This is like listening to a repetition of the same song over and over. The only difference are the lyrics.

Somehow this manages to be both prescient and dated at the same time, which is a feat. I can definitely see why U2 vibed with this record in the ZOO TV era, but it doesn't work too well for me. I'm generally not a fan of industrial sounds, and generally not a fan of being preached at; I like a little melody and poetry with my protest music. Glad I had the chance to listen to it, tho!

Simplistic political and social HipHop describing it's topics verbosely and being dated for obvious reasons.

Sounds nice. Didn't mind it. It's political to the point of being didactic. Its points aren't wrong, they just don't make for the most compelling listen. More of an after-school special than a truly rewarding album.

trash

ohcrap

Cool album rap, avec des beats retros. Samples des fois un peu rough/datés. Triste qu'il manque des chansons sur spotify.

Cool beats, j'aime l'aspect industriel qui est parfois présent. Moins un fan des lyrics qui sont très on the nose, ca manque un peu de poésie.

Man, this took me back. To the year I graduated high school. To when so much rap and hip hop was rooted in activism, in changing a rapidly deteriorating world. And yet, all the themes and issues explored in this album are more problematic than ever. It really serves as a potent reminder of how little this country changes and how self-destructive Americans are. Even when we identify and understand the evil, we embrace it rather than destroy it. Really enjoyed "Music and Politics," maybe the most personal song on the album and a call for constant vigilance. We can't sleep on those parts of society that would kill us. Yet sleep we have.

Turns out I like 'political rap'. Whatever it is about this style - more commentary than grit or anger, I think, I prefer it and enjoy it. At one point the rhythm of the lyrics reminded of Rage Against the Machine and then I read that these guys opened for RATM at one point! Definitely complimentary styles. Also reminds me a bit of 90s acid jazz/acid house in terms of flow and rhythm tracks. Overall, I quite enjoyed it and probably never would have found it if not for this list!

the lyrics were interesting but the beats weren't

Not a fan. Very political. America haters.

Too political and preachy. Puts me on edge. Once is enough, one and done. Will not stand up over time.

I'm staggered I've not heard this before

Great lyrics. A bit long

This is a hard one. On one hand, the observations are sound, but the beat and flow is pretty atrocious. It is sadly interesting that 30+ years on, the same issues prevail.

Not for me

Meh

I like the very aware political lyrics. INS Greencard could’ve been written yesterday. However the beats are kinda mid and production isn’t very impressive.

Really?

satanic reverses hell yeah

co prawda wracamy do trojek ale szczerze pod bozia bylo to niezle doswiadczenie

I thought this came out in the 80s based on what it sounded. There are better sounding hip hop albums that came out before and around the same time. Rapping was a bit dry. It was a decent album but I didn't find it very interesting. The only song that stood out was - Music and Politics.

Brilliant album that has been in t collection since it was released. A fabulous album!

Good. Public Enemy style rap, socially engaged righteously angry.

i get the message, fair enough, but this was boring to listen to, i wouldn’t see myself going back to this again, the songs are extremely long and they lack engagement. 1/5

probs wouldn’t listen in my everyday life but honestly a good album overall

Classic!

Socially concious rap. The message is good, I suppose, but the delivery is too preachy. The beat is generic early 90s hip hop, so nothing special there either. 4 tracks are unavailable on every service I looked at, but I don't think I'm really missing anything.

The lyrics are a little on-the-nose, but I dig the message. I like it, just maybe slightly less than Public Enemy.

1992! Ben benieuwd. | Ok I tried maar er is echt heel veel wat ik liever luister dan Rap, dus aan het eind van nummer 2 heb ik iets anders opgezet.

I love this, never heard of this at all. Feels painfully relevant 33 years later. Beats hold up and it feels more modern. Solid flow and powerful, I want more of this!

It's OK. I've always liked Michael Franti...but I've also always thought he was a bit tedious. I listened to Spearhead a bit when I was young, but although this predates that, the Michael Franti I know is all here. He's a good storyteller, if a little heavy-handed. If you want a history lesson, or if you want to be outraged at the state of the country, this is the album for you. Honestly, it's staggeringly sad that this album could have been written today. INS Greencard A-19 191 500 is the most timely 30-year old song I could imagine. Overall it's a decent album that's probably a little longer than it should be. I like it, but he has a unique voice that gets to be a bit same-y after awhile.

This is another one of those albums that I remember exactly where I was when I first heard it. Summer of 92, on the radio, as i was driving through Florida. It instantly caught my ear as a that Unique style that I had never heard before. This was in the days before Shazam and the internet, and I was just passing through listening to a radio station. I would never hear again. So it took me kind of a long time to figure out what artist it was and how to find it. Once I found it I listened to it on constant rotation for weeks. Years later I would fall in love with the band. Spearhead. Took me awhile to connect the dots and realize that that Michael Franti was the frontman for both of them. Early spearhead kept a lot of the anger, energy, and politics of Disposable Heroes, but put it to really fun music. Re-Listening to this album really makes me wish Franti could get some of that anger back. We need it more than ever now.

Found this interesting more so than liking it

Best album so far

This is ahead of it's time in it's preachiness and repetitiveness. There's a world where this is particularly cutting and incisive but that world has come and the TV bad stuff just isn't hitting the same. It would be another thing if the flows or production was doing anything interesting but it doesn't. The emphasis is on the content and the content just isn't all that interesting.

I went it mostly blind to this but the brief reviews I read covered it pretty well. This is a very political rap album pretty obviously influenced by public enemy and the like. It’s very political, unfortunately all still relevant today. What makes it stand out is that it’s almost a spoken word album. It’s more of a poetry set to music than it is rapping. When things rhyme they come out almost ridiculous, like the singing chorus in “music and politics”. It’s extremely direct and to the point lyrically, the beats are fine but not really stand out. While the messaging is good all I can think of is the intro to the music video for the song “1980” where Simon Rex is rapping mystical nonsense way too quickly. This album is almost too direct. Glad I listened to it though; our shitty societal problems in America are eternal it seems.

There's some interesting (don't read as "good") production here. The beats are varied and contain a wealth of different instruments and samples. I can't get behind the vocals. It's like a history lesson crossed with 70's/80's story-time rap. It feels dated, even for 1992.

I liked it! I've never heard the album or artist before. it was a little same-y throughout, and I didn't think he was saying anything revolutionary but I was pleasantly surprised.

Guy is obviously a talented lyricist, but the message at this point is old and has been re-done over and over (while unfortunately some of the things he talks about are still relevant). Not gonna listen to this again

Cool concept

Really great stuff here. I've liked this style of rap for a while now and there are some great beats behind it. And of course the messaging is still pretty relevant, unfortunately!

Artistically this is a 4, but musically this is often stuck somewhere between a 2 and a 3. Cool album, but not something I enjoy musically.

Really great stuff. Political hip hop of the most based form, underscored by jazzy & lightly industrial beats? Sign me the fuck up. The sort of speak-rap style they go for only accentuates it for me.

Not something I’d ever listen to again, but it had some great beats. Shoutout to Michael Franti

A surprisingly strong example of politically conscious rap. It does dip into #im14andthisisdeep territory now and then, but I suppose his heart is in it, and it's a rawness and honesty that I can respect - if nothing else, at least the pen game behind it all is consistently impressive. The album does also benefit from great production, not just from the excellent jazzy beats, but also its storytelling through the use of samples. On that note, my personal highlight on this album is the intermission track INS Greencard A-19 cleverly evoking some of the alienation and red tape immigrants face through sound design alone. Sad to say that the hysteria on illegal immigration has only gotten worse since. Overall it's far from perfect, but I think it treads ground that not many hiphop albums do, and I think that does deserve some recognition. Standouts: Satanic Reverses • Language Of Violence • INS Greencard A-19 191 500 • Music and Politics

This is a guy monotonously reading his manifesto over some of the best beats I have ever heard in my life. I agree with literally every political point he is making but as a music album this sucks. I'm sorry.

MY FIRST UNKNOWN 5! I''d heard the name, and their biggest song, but knew nothing else about them. Outstanding stuff here. I dig, and own some Franti albums, but was not aware that he was part of this. Bonus.

I love an album that's decades old, yet, still has lyrics that are as relevant today as they were when they were written. Spooky shit. Good production, good writing, incredible lyrics and flow. Love this. 4/5

un duro

Not my thing, only listened to a few tracks

I didn't mind the political stuff, but it was just way too repetitive and long.

Downloaded!

Listened in Jan 2022. Great, wordy, poetic early 90s hip-hop. Should have been bigger.

This was a new group for me. I really enjoyed this album, even if it was a bit long. Solid 4.

This guy is prolific. I’ve never heard this before but really enjoy this

This was really good! The music was awesome and the lyrics were interesting - this guy is good.

Decent

This is my sort of hip hop. Does stray into after school special territory a couple of times though.

Hip Hop. Pass. 1/5

it sounded like written word over a rap beat it wasn't really my jam but still kinda good if you like that type of thing

Kjedelig altså, om enn tidsriktig 30 år etter.

Ikke for meg

Hippetyhop

Good beats overall. Some of the songs have great rap and messages, whereas other seem long and repetitive.

Solid.

Well, that was quick today. I listened to the first three tracks briefly. That's just hip hop. Even if the rap isn't quite as aggressive as so often in this genre, I wasn't interested. The community of my streaming provider seemed to be of a similar opinion. The viewing figures for "Television, the Drug of the Nation" are in the low seven-digit range (which is not much for a over 30 years old song), those for the other first three tracks in the low six-digit range. All others are in the low four-digit range. A silly album cover, by the way. 1/5

Its so mid- too much " deepness" but not done right .... I would not listen to this

Surprised I've never heard of these guys before. Really good rap and beats though most of the songs are overly long and there is some repetition which makes this hard work. There's also a lot of Public Enemy in here.

Well, all those statements about TV being bad shocked my to my core. Thank god I can now watch content on social media instead. I love hip hop and the beats were great. Maybe it's iconic because if the message and I get it. But listening to it back to back is tiring.

Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury blew me away. I’d never heard of The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy before, but this album hit hard—musically and lyrically. It’s packed with sharp political commentary that’s somehow even more relevant now than it was in 1992. Back then, they were calling out systemic racism, media brainwashing, violence, and attacks on women’s rights. Fast forward to today—those same issues are still making headlines. On abortion rights, they were already shouting about government control over women’s bodies before Roe v. Wade had even been seriously challenged. Violence? Still everywhere, whether it’s mass shootings or police brutality. And their track “Television, the Drug of the Nation” feels prophetic—swap out TVs for phones and social media and it nails how addicted and manipulated we are by our screens today. While 90s gangster rap often focused on street life and personal survival, these guys went macro—pointing fingers at the system, the politicians, and the media. And honestly, political rap like this feels more vital than ever.

Yo that was dope.

Songs sounded similar

Wow, this is bad.

First hip-hop album, a solid political one, nothing special.

first song was amazing but then i feel like it went downhill

Very much of its time, but if you want to test a subwoofer this is for you

Good message clouded by the same rhythms and tones. Maybe a 1.5

Heavy, stressful lyrics, a bit of a chore to get through, but he seems well-meaning. The music was sometimes repetitive with some nice jazzy bits. Idk, feels like a 2.5, but rounding up because the politics he’s discussing are still relevant.

Good groove and good lyrics, but it felt a little long as it went on. Nevertheless, this was a cool thing to find on this list - I had never heard of it.

Politically charged talk/rap about the issues in the world. Funny how prevalent many of the things he said still are today. Feels like slam poetry a bit but I enjoyed it

This is an album, and an artist, then I’d never heard of before today. After seeing the artist name, I thought it sounded pretty silly and didn’t exactly have high hopes, but damn this was a good listen. There is something about west coast hip hop flows that have always resonated more with me than east coast. Not to say I’m usually a big hip hop fan because I’m generally not, but this just sounded so pleasing. The lyrics are fun and sometimes a little satirical which is always a nice feature. I’m sad to see that this seems to be their only album. I want to deep dive!

Never heard of this one. Interesting, but probably not a repeat listen for me.

Never heard of this one but I enjoyed it. Decent flow, clear message, wish I could have found the 4 songs Spotify and YouTube didn't have so that I could hear the whole album

the whole rap and hip-hop with a message genre is conflicting for me. Yeah, the themes are important and its a great way to make your voice heard for those who cant speak. But man, it gets tiring. Also I think his peers did a better job, its got some good beats and its poignant when it needs to be, but I'm not sure it needed to make this list with Public Enemy also being here.

Based on the artist name, album title and cover art this sounded exactly how I expected it to. It’s not bad, there’s some hard hitting writing and some of his rhymes are pretty dope but we’ve already got Public Enemy and Jeru the Damaja albums on this list… do we really need another album covering basically the same ground without adding anything new?

Generally mediocre with a few moments of brilliance. I like the message, but the execution isn't great.

Had no idea Franti did this. Worth the listen.

Not usually a huge fan of conscious hip-hop, although the 90s variety always goes down better than the more modern stuff. I hadn't heard of this artist/album before so it was a nice intro. Overall pretty solid.

Not gonna lie I gave up barely half way into song 1. The style just isn't for me.

Never as good as their PR.

Too boring to really pay attention to, too much going on to have it as nice background music.

Very good conscious hip hop

The issues being sung about here seem quaint in hindsight, but this is a thoroughly enjoyable early 90s hip-hop record. Should have had more attention.

Seems pretty pointless.

Overall: 6/10 Pretty good for the most part. I enjoy how jazzy the beats can get and the social commentary in the lyrics. A lot of the songs remind me (and most you, I'm sure) of Public Enemy, which can never be a bad thing. However, the beats can get a little boring at times and the lyrics, while I enjoy how they're used, can be a little cringey and preachy. It's easy to recommend it just for people to make their own opinions about it, but I'd say it was interesting at the most. Fav Song: Satanic Reverses Least Fav Song: Music and Politics

Some great moments here! I miss being exposed to this type of socially aware hip hop.

Powerful and inventive stuff !

The highest-IQ rap I’ve heard, and it sounds pretty good too. Similar to Public Enemy but much less grating 3.8

Allow me to be just, like, incredibly blunt to start this review/babble off: this album is **boring**. It's the closest I have come in a **long time** to just straight-up falling asleep during a listening session, no fooling. And believe me, there's only so much I can blame on having a wonky sleep schedule and an AuDHD brain. Which, I'll tell you, none of my complaints have anything to do with the lyrical content. Or not much, at least — see, I like me a bit of fiery, socially conscious hip hop. I dig Public Enemy, and I can jam the fuck out to Rage Against The Machine any day. I love a good lyric taking a black or just generally colored look at the state of the States and tearing them down for everything they're worth — especially these days, goodness. So, y'know, it's not like I'm disagreeing with what the rapper on this is saying. Besides the couple of passages I picked up on that leaned a bit too close to Speech of Arrested Development's preachiness for my taste, I'm all for it. No, no, the problem simply comes down to... Everything else. I mean, let me walk you through my experience with the first three tracks: "Satanic Reverses"? Oh, it's got a fine-ass beat, and this rapper reminds me of, like, Gill-Scott Heron, or a slightly laid-back Chuck D. It's a fine flow and delivery, with quite a few words I like. I'm thinking this could be a good album! "Famous And Dandy (Like Amos And Andy)" — for some reason, the delivery here, particularly on the refrain, reminded me a lot of Godforbid from That Handsome Devil. And, hey, I'm me a fan of THD, so I'm not complaining. It's a catchy little refrain, anyway, so, hey, that's another good track in the bag. I'm thinking this could be a **great** album! Then we hit "Television, The Drug Of The Nation". This was the big single released from the album, so it had a lot to live up to in terms of selling this thing. And for a moment there — yeah, I can jive with it. There's maybe a few lyrics here or there I'm not 100% into, but, y'know, OK... OK... Sure, OK... Yeah... It's still going... It's still going... It's still going... It's still goi— holy fuck, this song is **SIX-AND-A-HALF MINUTES**? And there we come to the big problem: this album's **LENGTH**. Which, OK, sure, it's not like Public Enemy (the main point of comparison here) have always made short albums. One of their masterworks, FEAR OF A BLACK PLANET, is slightly over 50 minutes. But then, that album has a lot of tracks, each one with a unique beat and, of course, Chuck D's militant delivery, backed up by Flava Flav's goofier, hype man thing. Meanwhile, Disposable Heroes is too serious to have a Flava Flav, the rapper sounds like everything he's saying is just **SUPER IMPORTANT, MAAAN**, and besides maybe one or two of the things, I could not tell you one beat from another. Starting with "Television", the album just hits this... Malaise, I guess. In my mind, the rapper's voice sinks deep into the beats and the beats just become noise. They all blend together, all at the same tempo and pulling the same kind of tricks... And seriously, if I have one other problem with the words besides an occasionally preachy bar, goodness me, this man will **NOT STOP REPEATING HIMSELF**. Maybe that's why these songs can go on for as long as they do, and ultimately feel twice as long. At a point, it felt like a chore to keep going with this, and I kept checking my phone to see how much longer it'd be until the end. And if I'm actively looking for when the thing's gonna be over... Yeah, y'might've goofed your album a little. The only song I managed to tune back into, at least a little, was "California Über Alles", and only because I'm such a fan of Dead Kennedys and that song. It was the one track I was looking for to the whole album, 'coz maybe, **just maybe**, Jello Biafara could inject something interesting...? Nooooope. I appreciate the sample and flip and everything, but at that point, I was so past being assed to care... Frankly, nothing could've brought me back, I don't think. Y'know, I did have some hope for this thing, honestly. Again, I like me some Public Enemy, so something in their lane should've been my shit. But it can be and, for me, is an interminably boring album. An endless 90 minutes of this man dictating to you over what sounds like maybe 5 different beats, tops. Quite frankly, this might be one of my least favorite hip hop or rap albums I've heard so far from this list. Only by the virtue of me liking the first two tracks and these guys not being Kid fucking Rock is it not the absolute worst (and also by the fact that I'm pretty sure if I would've liked the lyrics if everything else could've kept me zoned in enough to hear them). It's one I easily could've gone without hearing, and believe me, I probably won't again. Now, if you'll excuse me, "Fight The Power" and the original "California Über Alles" are waiting for me right over there.

Some pretty damn good hip hop from an artist I'd never heard of before this was picked for my group. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

I’m at a 4. This is hyper-socially conscious hip-hop for 1992, filled with a lot of harsh truths, some biting observations, & a lot of musing about society in a way that’s all fair, if a bit heavy-handed at times. This is sort of a mirror to the Arrested Development album we got a while ago, which felt preachy in a positive way, save for the 20% of it that gave me an ick. I don’t really have an ick with the content of this album though – much like the Arrested Development album, I liked around 80% of this, but the 20% that’s nagging at me consists of a few verses & tracks that aren’t “icky”, but more so outdated & pearl-clutchy, at least by the standards of 2025. Let me be clear: when this album is matching its lyrical prowess with some good vocals, underlined by some production chops that feels very reminiscent of Public Enemy, then it’s absolutely rolling. “Vocals” in this case can mean both rap flow & authoritative tone – “Satanic Reverses” & “California über alles” are great examples of rap flow, but something like “The Winter of the Long Hot Summer” (fantastically prescient track, by the way, my favorite on the album) is a great example of how effective a rhythmic, authoritative tone can feel for a politically driven album like this. If you have a conviction for what you’re saying, people will be more inclined to listen, and I think a lot of this album is worth thinking about at a somewhat deeper level. The 20% of this album that’s biting at me is still worth thinking about at that deeper level, but it’s undermined by a sort of “holier than thou” thought process that puts an overt emphasis on a lot of the negatives, while neglecting some of the positives present. Take for example, “Television, the Drug of the Nation” – great track through its first two verses, and then it sort of leans into an awkward “won’t we think of the kids!” angle, before rebounding nicely into the power of endorsement… and then totally losing me in the fourth verse. Granted, children’s TV improved tenfold by the early 2000s, so perhaps it’s just an “outdated” moment, but it’s still leaving a bad taste in my mouth. There’s a few examples of this sort of thing throughout the album: “Everyday Life Has Become a Health Risk” feels fair, if a bit overblown nowadays with a more renewed focus on agricultural oversight & healthy living in the years since. “Socio-Genetic Experiment” feels a little tone-deaf in how it approaches tolerance to bigotry, and by modern standards, you just don’t really give an inch to racists, no matter how well-intentioned you want to be. The hook on “Financial Leprosy” feels like an unnecessary shot – perhaps the idea of modifying natural beauty felt taboo in 1992, but by modern standards, it feels very accepted to do whatever you want to feel comfortable in your own skin, & shaming that is one of the biggest missteps this album takes, undermining a pretty solid track about how people are constantly manipulated into feeling rich even if society is, at large, comprised of the poor. Those pearl-clutchy, outdated missteps are part of the reason why this is going down to a 4, though I’d be remiss to not acknowledge that sometimes, this album just doesn’t work from a musical standpoint – for as good as the beats are, sometimes they’re a little scratchy or a little overblown. There’s also moments where the vocal flow just feels off, compensating for moments where the lyricism is trying just a little too hard. Overall, I did enjoy this. I totally understand why the critical acclaim is there without the sales to match it, given the heavier political/social elements, but it’s an album that would slide in really nicely into today’s rap/hip-hop landscape (with some tweaks, obviously). For me, it’s a 4, which in retrospect, is probably what I should’ve given “3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of…”, but c’est la vie.

I get it, he's angry, and he wants you to know why, cos you'll surely be angry too. Well I am, but the lyrics are very preachy and I am overwhelmed and eventually numb with the constant flow of statements and 'clever ' lyrics. A good idea, lacking in the execution. Plus I just don't think I like Michael Franti, either in his angry young man or wise and loving man aspects. Morrissey is a wanker. Three stars. He means well.

A bit heavy handed at points, but overall, a thoughtful and pointed look at the social and political landscape of America, both in the recent past, and ongoing. Loved the production on this album - just so dense with layers upon layers feeding in and out each other. I was left pensive, in a good way. Still wondering how someone who saw the mindless and virulent nature of television would have reacted to a future peak at the internet…

Some fun lines but not my thing

Really good to have this on my radar.

Political/socially charged hip hop. Dude sounds like Public Enemy by times. Surprisingly not too bad. For once, a hip hop group that isn't obsessed with singing about their cocks! Favorite songs: Television the Drug of the Nation, Satanic Reverses Least favorite songs: INS Greencard A-19 191 500 3/5

This one was all about the lyrics. Probably the most hard hitting political album yet, he seemed to cover everything with scathing accuracy. And wow... in the United States civil rights have collapsed at the hands of fundamentalists, a quarter or a century later. However, he did rhyme testicles with necklaces. Like. He really did that. Other bars made up for it though. 'Most people think Central America means Kansas,' and 'CNN, ESPN, ABC, TNT, but mostly bs.' Brilliant

Chin-stroking hip-hop with an intellectual edge. I liked

2,4/5

Liked the songs. A lot of the instrumentals are a bit too out there for me.

No es un mal álbum, pero me resultó demasiado repetitivo musicalmente. Entiendo que es hip hop, y que las bases que sustentan el rap suelen ser loops. Pero en este caso la repetición pesa porque los recursos que utilizan son casi los mismos en todos los tracks. Los timbres de los sonidos, la voz hablada de algún discurso de radio o televisión para iniciar un track, y además la larga duración de los mismos, hacen que se vuelva un disco aburrido. Me pareció positivo el recurso del estribillo, que aparece para darle cierta cohesión a la letra. Sí me gustó mucho el contenido político y social, las letras son interesantes. El único track sobresaliente en mi opinión personal es "Music And Politics", más que nada porque probaron algo diferente. Un track que solo se vale de guitarra y bajo sobre el cual el cantante rapea, e incluso tiene un estribillo más melódico. Hubiese preferido que todo el álbum fuese más bien así. Por lo menos sería menos genérico y aburrido. El trabajo de Gil Scott Heron me parece una demostración valida en cuanto a cómo generar mejor interés y variedad musical teniendo letras de intenso contenido sociopolítico. Sin embargo reitero, no me pareció un mal álbum.

Had to seek out the original version but I really enjoyed this. It could have been recorded recently as it is incredibly relevant. Mass consumerism, school to jail pipeline, racial identity...literate, powerful lyrics and great beats and soundscapes. Makes me want to listen to more of Michael Franti and his other work, both solo and with Spearhead.

Thought Michael Franti was just a one hit wonder with that awful song from like 2007, so this was compelling. Overall I liked this. As much as I agree with the politics here, it does come across as sanctimonious sometimes, but at its best there's some great socially conscious lyrics. It's too damn long, but I did enjoy that Dead Kennedys tribute/remix. Altogether a cool 90s hip hop project I'm glad to have heard, depressing that the US is way more fucking bleak than described in 1992

Alternative Hip-Hop.

It's an okay album, but some of the raps have not aged well.

Ihan hyvää räppingiä, ei silti omaan makuun tämä. Liian vakavata tai jotain.

Gostei mto do som

þrælfínt pólítískt rapp. svipar til fjandmanns þjóðarinnar. hvert er þetta allt farið?

ferocious, conscious, wide-awake and furious

he sounds like will smith clean rapping in that one family guy cutaway gag. kind of terrible but like in a cool way. i admire the creativity with some of these instrumentals. he spitting but god he's terrible rapper, the flow is god awful. i'd rather just hear him do just straight up political commentary instead tbh this has aged very very well tbh

Eurgh, tricky, because the 'music' is non-existent obviously but, annoyingly, I did find myself agreeing with some of the messaging...

Potentially interesting themes, but no interest musically.

They lost me at anti-TV manifesto. This could not be more 90s! Also I am on a hen do and it was a bit embarrassing to play it. 2 🫡

lots of words.. very literated/ lyrically sophisticated rap

Yeah, this was fun. More relevant today than when it came out.

Get this Diet Public Enemy out of here

Look on YouTube to find the tracks that weren’t available on Apple Music or Spotify. Definitely worth seeking out for the whole picture!

This album opens with lyrics about the Illegal aliens, stripping of civil rights, tightening control on all fronts from government, deteriorating global relationships, and the Panama Canal. These guys were on the money on most every front. This album was written in the dial up era. For all they got right, they had no idea how much things were going to slide from the 90's onward. It was actually a little chilling listening to this in 2025.

This is a great album. I’m surprised and disappointed I haven’t heard it before.

It's just ok

my pockets so empty I can feel my testicles.. fitto fitto. compatto. manifesto. creativo. fissato.

tries to tackle literally every societal issue. and i mean EVERY one

Good album, I thought the themes were very true. They still hold up today, in fact maybe even more so then they did back then. The beats were unique and creative but still recognizable as hip-hop from the 90s which is a good thing because that era has a great vibe. Overall I liked it but sadly some of the songs were delisted on my streaming service so I couldn’t listen to the full thing but I only imagine the album would have been better with them. Favorite Tracks: Famous And Dandy, Socio-Genetic Experiment, and Music and Politics

Great r&b voice, and sounds pretty cool for early 90s. Lyrics arent that impressive and didn't age well, however Greencard song is pretty fitting for today.

Hiphop ... men gillar det softa och nattradio-flowet. Svårt att fokusera på texterna. Trea.

very important album

The commentary was good and probably more topical than it has ever been but it was extremely repetitive. Some of the songs would have a catch phrase/line and would just say it over and over for like 5 minutes. 5/10

I like it! I can hear what the lad is saying - I can only imagine and laugh about their reactions to the modern world.

ei lauleta vaab puhutaan... lauluja kuitenkin tultu kuuntelemaan... eli hiivattiin tämmöset heh... lauleskekuabseuraava kiitos..

Very interesting album. I enjoyed it.

Actually fire

Not for me

This is definitely not for me. First one star. It sounds like that whole “lyrical, miracle, spiritual” rap or a rock critic’s version of what good hip hop is.

A bit too boring for my liking

this album makes me upset like what do you mean we’ve been dealing with the same issues for 20+ years and haven’t made any progress, in fact the issues may have gotten worse. like these lyrics could so easily apply to what’s happening today

It’s spoken word rap pretty chill but not really inspiring

It is immediately apparent, that even though this was written in the year nineteen hundred and ninety two, everything about it is sadly as relevant today as it was then. Every major socioeconomic, political topic is covered slowly and clearly. The world could use a newer version of this 8.3/10

Subtlety is an art that is very much absent from this

Super smooth hip hop. From front to back, social issues brought to the forefront. I am comfortable in saying that everything he touches on them is still an issue with society today in 2025. Sad how we haven’t changed as a society and his lyrics still ring true today. Have we not learned to accept one another as human?

While I applaud his use of art and media of music to express his political beliefs, I can’t see repeated listens of this. Not enough of a hook, not much musically to sink my teeth into. And that’s kind of what I listen to music for.

MICHAEL FRANTI?? The Say Hey Michael Franti?? I was not familiar with your game. This album slapped. Scary and depressing how many issues that faced this nation in 1992 still impact our day to day lives 33 years later.

3 but I can see how it could be a 5

Big fan. Love me some political 90s hip hop

While I really like and support its political and cultural nature, I don’t think I’d probably revisit this because it doesn’t really stand out over any other hip hop of the era etc.

The music was good but the album was overly preachy. I enjoy Franti's later work with Spearhead much more.

Was excited to be hit with 90's hip hop, this being politically charged with the group just producing this album. Starts strong and is consistently good, but there's not a lot of range, the songs blur together.

Funny enough, the album title is just as literal as the lyrics across the album and found it to be far too on-the-nose. It's kind of conscience rap but not really my thing. The fact that it came out in 1992 while sounding 1987 is impressive considering how quickly the sound was evolving in a few short years. 4/10.

Reminds me a lot of public enemy but i believe i prefer the dj and hooks to public enemy. I feel like Michael Franti has a much more informed pointed message than public enemy, more akin to gil scot heron. I do love the music and dj of this, but the message definitely is more the focus of this project.

I love the nearly spoken word vocals. They feel effortless but still have so much bite. The instrumentals are raw and stripped back. Very industrial. I'm surprised I've never listened to this before.

Cool overall. Good message for the most part, but the music is inevitably a little dated.

Lyrics were interesting but not sure I’d listen again

Some decent flows but feels a bit heavy handed

Thoughtful lyrics, fun listen if in the mood, but the music is basic and repetitive

Aw man. This one bummed me out big time. Not because it's bad; it's actually pretty amazing. But it's probably the most relatable album to modern times I've had on this list so far, and it's 32 years old.

The greatest luxury of all would be for these heroes to truly be disposable instead of perpetual, but the hypocrisies they put on blast remain painfully relevant decades later.

Political hip-hop in the same vein as Public Enemy. Not sure I agree with everything he lays out in the lyrics but I like the general direction of the music, which is calling out the problems within our society.

Really heavy album, with absolutely zero punches pulled on how brutal life can be. Depressing that the album still feels perfectly relevant as ever. Makes it hard to listen to all the way through though. But a great overall performance and album

Man, that dude is serious!

3.75

It has all the things I like in HipHop. Great lyrics, music to support the message, loose basslines. And still, it never grabs me by the throat.

(in a sincerely good way) the most fight-the-power ass rap album ive ever heard in my life

The music is nothing special but the lyrics are worth hearing. 3 stars or C+.

Shit shit shit

Never heard of this in my life and oddly poignant to the modern day political climate

If I’d heard this in 1992, or really any time before 5 years or so ago, I’d have thought this is far too preachy. And…I mean, it IS preachy. But in 2025 it sounds just about right?

Day 24 - I was not very into Hip Hop in the 90s - this was an exception back then - I liked that it was mainly political. However, at some point I traded in the CD... On this re-listen - It fits my current mood. 3/5 #Musicsky #albumsky

There were a few tracks missing from this on Apple Music, but the tracks that were there were stunning. There's an incredible range of instrumentation. My favorite is the guitar work on "Music and Politics." And of course, the lyricism/subject matter is razor sharp. It's almost jaw dropping how relevant the themes and issues are to today, more than 30 years later (though definitely depressing). Shit really don't change.

Never heard of this before. Lots of the messaging still applies today. Not particularly enjoyable to listen to, but powerful.

I'm not a hip hop fan nor am I a fan of being lectured on the woes of the world. The guy has good flow but he needs to lighten up. If all you look at is the crap then that's all you're gonna see.

i kinda like this

This album sounds like 1992 hip hop. I'm really surprised I haven't heard of it before. I do feel like I would have loved it if I had heard it then, but today it sounds very dated and hard for me to really "get".

Big feelings

This guy's got opinions.

Its sad that everything that was said is still relevant today. Some things clearly don't change and its gut wrenching. Music wise, great lyrics. Liked the first half of the album the most but to the end it felt dragging a bit. Could've been shorter but still a great album tho. Clearly underrated. (3.5/5.0)

Felt .. disposable, maybe?

2.7 3x catch up 3/31/25

I am too lazy to listen to the full message he wants to send, but I respect this. It sounds ok too.

*Mo music here, mostly repetitive noises and rap

I liked this much more than I expected to

Feels like he has a lot to say and he did. Not my taste. I don’t mind the political themes, just make it a bit more exciting instead of making it sound like a long monologue over a beat. At the end of the album there were some better songs, still it couldn’t save it.

Clearly much influenced by Gil Scott-Heron and none the worse for that. Possibly the best hiphop I've heard so far, which admittedly isn't saying much, but if you really must listen to rap, start here. Makes me wonder why the real Gil Scott-Heron only makes one appearance on this list...

Woah a lot going on. Instrumentals are crazy and distracting. Questionable flow (a lot of just talking) and repetitive verses. Most of the lyrics don’t really make sense. The songs are looong.

Feels more like political spoken word than rap. Not very relevant politics either so there is not that much value to it anymore, the style is also quite dated, but fine nonetheless . I do like "Television the Drug of the Nation" it's a good track.

Classic old school hip-hop. Great sound and very socially conscious. Lyrically it has purpose and musically it has entertainment value. Great experimentally quality.

Excellent political hip-hop in the vein of Public Enemy. Michael Franti even sounds like Chuck D on a lot of these songs. His cadence and flow is similar. The lyrics cover a wide range of topics -- war, the media, homophobia, environmentalism -- but manage to distill big ideas and radical messages into digestible verses. I think what impresses me the most about this album is how succinct and to the point its messages are. There are no wasted words. Michael Franti makes complex arguments against the powers that be, but he's very clear and hits his targets with precision. "Television, the Drug of the Nation" stood out as a particularly strong track. He rattles off a dizzying number of reasons why TV is numbing us -- force-feeding us commercials, distracting us from the horrors of the world, turning politics into entertainment -- all of which feel just as relevant in 2025 as they were in 1992. A lot of the lyrics on this album are unfortunately very relevant to the present moment.

Pretty cool spoken-word type rap album. There's some mix choices that really hurt my listening experience, like on "Television The Drug Of The Nation", there's some high frequency swishes panned to the L and R ears and they really take my attention away from the singer which is unfortunate. Almost like they hurt the groove? Albums like this are sometimes hard for me to get through; I don't know if it's because when I put on an album I'm expecting to hear something more musical but this kind of leads me astray. I'm wanting some kind of melody and instead of that I'm getting pretty flat vocal parts. Many songs on this give me hints of melody and hints of rap, but not enough in each, and existing more in some middle area of the two. I think that my listening experience is probably hurting it here though because this seems like an album that you put on and pay close attention to, and I'm kind of going about my work day with this in the background.

Different, not terrible

Good hiphop that’s as culturally significant today then when it was released. 3.3

If I had never heard Public Enemy or Gil Scott-Heron, I’d probably think this was better than it is. I want to like it more than I do. Sadly, as it stands, it’s a budget Public Enemy at best…a Private Enemy, if you will.

I've never heard of this, it looks fun. I enjoyed this a decent amount. I liked the political lyrics and the jazzy beats. It was definitely preferable to the much more popular gangsta rap going round at the time.

i'm a spiritual lyrical individual spiritual miracle lyrical individual spiritual miracle individual

Hell yeah

At first it was annoying and I even wanted to turn it off, but towards the end there was some variety and therefore 2 out of 10.

I get it. Smart. Political. Important. But holy hell, it’s like getting lectured by a guy who just read his first Noam Chomsky book and wants to make sure you know it. The production is cold and rigid, more Public Enemy’s angrier cousin than something you actually want to vibe to. It’s not unlistenable, but it’s damn near joyless. If I want social commentary with some bounce, I’ll take Arrested Development instead. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - Television The Drug Of The Nation

Second group after Shack that I've never heard of. This is pretty bad. No fun whatsoever.

Extremely preachy, but also very smooth

As far as hip hop goes, I'm not a big fan as I don't generally consider that music. However, I must admit in this case, the lyrics kept me listening to the whole album. Not bad.

Not for me.

Listening to this gave me a new appreciation for Flavor Flav. It’s Public Enemy without the fun.

Schizorap

Pretty shite.

Lyrics are very on the nose. Beats are not the best, even for 1992. 3/5

I always liked Michael Franti with Spearhead. I did not know about this album. A little too militant for my taste but the beats and guitars were good.

i mean yeah but only if it wasn't an hour long that felt way more for some reason

Not for me.

Pretty cool I guess. Sounds like public enemy

What the fuck? This came out when I was 8? *double checks release date* Is Michael Franti a time traveler? Did he escape from our current hellscape back to 1992 to give us a (distressingly unheeded) warning? I'm sad now.

Disposable.

How typical. I get using music as a vehicle to get across a political message at times, but that’s all this whole album is. Just like a big rap political statement. Give off and rap about something else for abit

I like a lot of the political and social issues being addressed, but the unwillingness to stray from these themes was also the downfall of the album for me. Bit too long, and bit relentless by the half way point. Also sounds like an impression of rap at the time rather than something with it's own identity.

Just because you’re rapping about social issues doesn’t make the music good. Was interesting for first min of each track but then lost interest

How little things have changed

Surely has a lot to say, but not very captivating.

Man, interesting how our political landscape hasn't change much since the 90s but our music sure has. Sounds dated, with the same super bass-y beats. 2/5

Thought provoking lyrics. Some great jazzy beats. But it’s missing notable hooks (that Amos and Andy one is pretty bad to be honest), and there were some head scratch moments like when he’s talking about pooping in his dog dish? Franti also doesn’t really have a flow per se, it’s kind of just spoken word. Interesting listen either way.

Terrible

Public enemy, Angela Davies, Foucault, a bit of psychedelia... Great album

Love the message, beats are fire, flows are dated.

Intelligent, political hip hop, but at an over an hour it's a trudge. Public enemy were doing it better around this time, because they made way more fun music.

Very interesting

The lyrics are powerful, and the production is interesting.

3.5

This was interesting because on paper I should've loved this but for some reason it didn't quite hit. Felt a bit old man shouts at cloud in the lyrics. Musically it was good but I wasn't convinced overall.

I'm conflicted on this, but I like it much more than I dislike. The beats on this are really good for the most part and quite forward thinking at times, such as the industrial influences a few of the songs have. The lead is quite good at rapping and some of the political discourse is quite hard hitting, especially for 92. The sampling is also pretty good for it's time. My big issue I have with this is the preachiness, I agree with most of the political opinions on here but it's done in the most blunt way possible and at times feels more like a political rally than an album. This is possibly the preachiest album I've ever heard, however they pull it off really well occasionally, such as the track "The Winter of the Long Hot Summer" which was quite chilling. When it's done poorly it comes across as an "old man yells at cloud" moment, the biggest offender here being the 7 minute rant against TV. This album has very competent rapping, beats, and sampling as well as having some great political discourse, however the preachiness is too much at times.

I had never heard of this band or album, but yeah it's real good.

This wore thinner as it went I feel like it owes much to public enemy yet it lacks a sense of enjoyment. It is overly didactic and musically looses its charm as the album wears on.

This album helped me gain a lot of respect for Michael Franti, who right now strikes me as more of a pop icon than anything. His roots as an activist shine bright here. He is either politically prescient, or we have just been dealing with the same bullshit for the past 30 years. Methinks it’s the latter. At any rate, Franti and co. Find grooves that complement the tirades. There is some heavy 90s hip hop turntable dust on this sound, but it’s not too bad.

This is what rap can be - a well-articulated message without the MC being a dickhead. Arrangements and beats are a bit simple, but not boring Best: Socio-genetic experiment, Television,

7/10

I had never heard of them before so I didn't know what to expect. I ended up really enjoying a lot about this album; the messages, the jazzy production and Franti's half-spoken vocal style. It really had me thinking about how a lot of the problems they rap about are unfortunately still very pertinent and relevant today. The Dead Kennedys cover was also pretty unexpected.

oh god

Nix für mich.

This album was actually quite powerful. While made at a different time and for a different target audience, I do believe some of the songs on here still hold up today in the messages they were trying to deliver. I felt that “Television the Drug of the Nation” still has applicable messages in today’s society, speaking to what it must’ve been like when this album was first created. While I appreciated what they were attempting to do in this album, I wouldn’t listen to any of the songs again. I will say that I think it is a beautiful reminder of how music, as an art form, can be an outlet for anything and for anyone.

This was interesting. An album serving as the voice of probably a lot of people from this time frustrated with politics, war, media, you name it. This serves as an almost manifesto in the form of music basically saying fuck all of the shit going on in today’s society. You gotta respect it. While I respect it, it just wasn’t for me. The lyrics while probably powerful just didn’t do it for me. His voice was kind of like sandpaper for my ears. Would not listen to again, can understand and appreciate what it was trying to do. 2 stars.

Some clever songwriting that touches on political issues that are still happening today. Overall, I liked this but probably wouldn't revisit it. I think it's mostly due to the record lacking in some production areas, and I tend to prefer either angrier or higher energy vocals in rap.

What a treat. One of the reasons why I've always gravitated towards punk, folk and hip hop is that the commonality is speaking truth. This whole album is totally in line with Bob Dylan's Master's of War, or Public Enemy's Fight the Power, or Bad Brain's Arrested in DC or NOFX's Franco UnAmerican. It's that political and social commentary on things that are someone's experience and truth. This whole record feels like it could have come out today and it would still be relevant. Its records like this that give me hope in times of social and political uncertainty. This shit has been going on for a long time, and people have been lamenting about it for a long time. And when I compare the bullshit that's going on in 2025 vs the bullshit in 1992 or the bullshit of 1943, I realize its the same fight, the adversaries, the same victims and the same struggle. BUT I can listen to the commentary of those times and compare to now and see the progress line. It's an uphill battle, its never going to stop, but its going to be okay. And artists like this will always give me hope.

Never heard of this before, but damn was I impressed. Powerful messages right across the album. My biggest gripe is the repetitiveness with certain lines. Yeah I got it the first 20 times, you can stop now. Sadly the songs still resonate as the problems discussed haven't been fixed.

Não deu pra terminar...

Liked this more than i thought i would. Like a slightly less dated version of P.E.