Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury

At first glance, seems a PE tribute band, or maybe GS Heron, or KRS One's slightly hipper (but not especially more talented) bro or cousin. At any rate, this is decent, earnest, eat-your-vegetables hip-hop – mostly crisp and effective, but awfully pedantic (way too many soundbytes from the news) and derivative, with a distinctly word-drunk-undergrad vibe. Again, not terrible, because vegetables are good for you, after all, but not exactly wildly entertaining, mind-blowing, etc.

Yes

I think it's weirdly preachy? I want to like it more, because I am a fan of stuff like this, but it just doesn't work for me like RATM or Public Enemy does.

Very reminiscent to the style and era. I miss the days when rap didn't have sex, guns, and money in every lyric. My favorite part of this album was the suggested songs Spotify played for me after it.

Not bad.

Great lyrics

More 90's hip hop! I would put this album a little lower than the others we got, but I still liked it. Some of the songs weren't available on apple either so I'll assume those were the best songs. I did keep Satanic Reverses.

Never heard of this group/artist, but I like what I'm hearing. Vocally, reminded me a bit of one of the rappers in Jurassic 5, though it's not the same guy. This album is obviously very conscious, very politically charged. I could see people clowning something like this today, but for the early '90s, it's pretty impressive. Unfortunately, on Apple Music, I think four songs are "unavailable in my region," no idea why. But of those that I could listen to, there were a handful I enjoyed. Cool album, probably never would've heard this if not for the list. Favorite tracks: Satanic Reverses, Music and Politics, Financial Leprosy. Album art: Honestly, it's very '90s, but it's also very cool. You've got the vocalist/rapper on the left side giving us the thousand-yard stare, then a collage of some images: a tank, a man with a chainsaw trying to saw the barrell off the tank, a shot of the US Federal Reserve, and a blimp overhead that seems to be labeled with different currency symbols? Great conspiracy imagery stuff, and I do like the group logo in the corner. 3.5/5

It was good, enjoyed the beats and music. Lyrics were heavily anti-establishment

Starts well; gets boring quickly. Others have done this sort of thing much better.

Consider myself lectured.

It was pretty good. It reminded me a lot of Public Enemy but it fell short compared to them. Socially conscious rap but it did go on a little too long. There were a couple of songs that were different styles but not as good. Overall I enjoyed it. Better than a 3 not really a 4. I will round down.

dad approves.

Spoken poetry is cool and all but….

Long winded but I liked it

I didn't really start actively seeking out rap and hip hop from the nineties until a few years ago, so I've never heard of this album or artist before. Rap was pretty much forbidden when I was a kid, so it's something that I've been trying to make up for as an adult. I've really gotten into Public Enemy the last several years; I love their socially conscious lyrics, and I also really enjoy Chuck D's rapping. As a lot of other reviews have pointed out, this album is about as close as you can get to Public Enemy without actually listening to a Public Enemy album. Michael Franti's voice is incredibly similar to Chuck D's, although his flow and rhymes frankly aren't nearly as good. The lyrics on this album are incredibly reminiscent of Public Enemy as well. The lyrics offer poignant criticisms of policing, the government's handling of AIDS, Operation Desert Storm, poverty and broader economics, and the stalling and sometimes backwards movement of civil rights. I was born in 1985, so while I was acutely aware of some of the things going on in this country when this album came out, I always find it fascinating to look at those issues now as an adult. I was raised in a conservative household, so these types of criticisms of America in the late eighties and early nineties didn't reach my ears until maybe eight years ago or so. I really appreciate being able to listen to music like this to see what life was like for people of color during a time that a lot of middle class white people tend to idealize as being harmonious and prosperous. Also, it's wild for me to imagine a republican governor in California after Reagan, because of I've always thought of California as being very liberal during most of my lifetime. However, I enjoyed the cover of "California Uber Alles," and it's criticisms of former governor Pete Wilson. As much as I liked some of the lyrics on this album, overall, it's pretty middle of the road for me. The musical hooks weren't that great, and they really didn't add much to the overall sound of the album. Lyrically, the hooks tended to be pretty repetitive, and sometimes the lyrical choices felt kind of odd, like the hook in "Everyday Life Has Become A Health Risk." Still, I think this album earns its place on this list, for what it contributes to early nineties hip hop.

very cool that this is michael franti, very political in a good way

While I've heard of (but not heard) Michael Franti and Spearhead, I had no idea Franti started his career in a hip hop group. Franti's voice and flow is deep and rich - reminiscent of Chuck D, and the beats and instrumentation fit in well with the emerging alternative hip hop of the late 80s and early 90s with a little bit of trip hop mixed in. But "Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury" is about the message. And those messages are pointed and wide-ranging. Franti digs deeper than the typical hip hop social commentary, delving into the environment, immigration, and other issues. The variety of topics helps, but the tendency towards very repetitive spoken word in some tracks could be improved with more of Franti's incisive lyrics. The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy evolved Gil Scott-Heron's spoken word for the hip hop era, but despite the potential in the concept, vocals, and beats, "Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury" ultimately falls a bit short.

3.5. I liked this.

never heard this one back in the day, some good beats and political messages, but overall not a banger

The only hip-hop band I've seen live (on a bill with Nick Cave, Iggy Pop, Sonic Youth), and they were great on stage. 3 stars for me, I like that this is a band playing live instruments - everything flows. Cover of California Uber Alles is great. Very preachy, but Michael Franti has things he wants to say.

Oddly sounded nice, but the lyrics made it fall, i didn't like it

Surprisingly, I liked this. I accidentally had shuffle turned on and so "Music and Politics" was the first track I heard. I felt like it was a good intro this album; it set the stage for self-aware, observant lyrics. I do agree with some of the reviews that say the songs themselves were a little repetitive. "Famous and Dandy" was getting a little tired by the end, like Amos and Andy. I don't know if I'd listen to this again but it was nice to hear rap I actually liked.

Better than I expected! Unfortunately it was still topical 20 years later.

Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury is so firmly situated within its time, place and mindset, it feels unkind to dislodge it from there and review it now. To approach it as an album, instead of as a historical artefact, feels inappropriate. Some pieces of art can be described as timeless; this not one of them. The bits which cut through the decades most are those which remain relevant: lamentations about the two-party political system in the US, about the glut of acronyms, about euphemistic language. The frank lyrics of Music and Politics also stick out. Frankness must be met frankness. What am I writing these reviews for? Who am I peacocking to? Am I? Why did I listen this album and then wring words together to describe the experience it has evoked within me? Is this a good enough ending?

3/5. More a spoken word-poetry with some heavy beats behind it, but fun to listen to none-the-less. I enjoyed this, and the TV song was fun. Love straightforward feelings about politics in songs. Favorite line was about the news using oxymoronic language like "military intelligence." Love it. Some of the lyrics definitely aged, and some did not at all. Overall, pretty good.

Está bien encontrar rap con buen mensaje de esta época. Hay partes con rimas internas muy guapas y partes que directamente son habladas. Además hay cierta variedad en las canciones. Resta puntos porque los beats y los flows en general son malillos, y aunque el mensaje es bueno, tampoco es muy profundo u original.

I enjoyed most of this. It's very Public Enemy and Rage Against the Machine.. Again, most CD era stuff is too long. This didn't have 4 songs on Spotify and was still long. Most of the choruses seemed to be repeated an excessive amount of times, stretching these songs into 6-7 minutes long. I think they needed someone to help with editing these tracks.

Actually pretty good. Better than expected

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: California uber alles

This is weird because it feels like Chuck D got warped into a group that is just slightly different than Public Enemy. I don't mind this though, it has enough variation in it at points to be an easy enough listen, even if some of the topics feel very, VERY 90s. I'd be curious to see what happened after this album for this group, as I see high potential, but they unfortunately only made this, and I can't be bothered to check the lead guy's solo stuff.

Not a fun album to listen to, but of course that’s the point-the Disposable Heroes are here to push a socially conscious message, and that’s fine. It would be nice if the beats weren’t so monotonous, though.

Rapzao, legal

- attacks social issue after social issue - pretty cool voice - I enjoyed to hear what he would say next, don’t think I’d ever go back to it tho

I enjoyed this quite a lot - very topical commentary on the environment, society, the media. Funky beats and a strong, rhythmic flow. If anything, though, I found it all rather depressing. Need a bit more joy in my music.

I dug it.

Dense with political lyrics I'm going to have to look up to confirm I know what all the artist is talking about, there are good beats here and sometimes witty rhyming. There's enough here that I may listen to it again.

It was a little (maybe a lot) heavy-handed, but it wasn't bad.

I feel like the arrival of Wikipedia really stole this band's thunder. Tried to listen to this one on a run but felt like I should be taking notes. I learnt a lot, but I came to rock.

This album grabbed me in the first track, but didn't manage to hold me as well as it could have. Like many reviewers have said, this sounds like a Public Enemy imitation. Michael Franti sort of speak sings throughout the album in a very measured way to get his points across. His message is a good one, and It's strange to listen to this album 21 years later knowing that the problems he's highlighting are all still pressing issues in our society. However, there's not a lot of nuance to his lyrics and it comes off more like a lecture than a song. The music is fine, nothing groundbreaking though whoever is making the beats is very familiar with the electronic music trends of the time which is interesting to hear in a hip hop context. I wanted to like this album more than I did, especially with its relevant messages, but it just ran too long and was just too on the nose.

I was surprised and disappointed in this album. It’s from 1992 yet it could have been released today. The subject matter hasn’t changed. Could have done with a little less misogyny but hey, that’s just in general ammirite?? I think I heard a section which may have influenced Goldie Lookin’ Chain, which is always nice.

Stressful but good beats. Lots of complaining

If you want to get me to listen to hip-hop of any kind, having a solid message behind the music is key. This had that, so I was down for it.

Pretty good

Really like the beats, but not all the lyrics hold up even though. Cringy words delivering a message. 3/5

3/5. I never give rap albums any love as it’s not my kind of music, but this album was awesome. Like a more rap heavy Rage Against the Machine!

Really wants to be Public Enemy, but missing the production value. This has the production of something found on soundcloud if made today. Like the message of the songs, just wish it was musically better and Franti's vocals flowed better. Crazy to think where he is now, making music akin to the Wiggles for adults. 3/5 Probably wouldn't listen again

By no means bad, but I wasn't crazy about the industrial sounds or the spoken word style vocals after more than a couple of tracks. The lyrics were interesting bit a bit too in-your-face. I wonder what he makes of contemporary culture and politics?!

90s hip hop with socio-economic political lyrics. Good to hear from an unknown to me artist.

I struggle sometimes with the production for conscience hip hop. It often gets overlooked in favour of the message. Not here. The beats are as smooth as the delivery and the lyrics. Television The Drug of the Nation remains powerful and relevant.

Really not my style personally, but I actually did enjoy it more than I expected to. It seemed thoughtful and some of it was interesting. I did find myself pretty bored by the end though. I think for me it was a 2.5. I'm rounding up because I think it was alright compared against other similar albums, I'm just not a fan of the genre. Now a few minutes after listening I'm already very much second guessing that decision and feel like rating it a 2. I guess the parts I liked were forgettable for me.

I think this album has some of the most intelligent and thoughtful lyrics of any hip hop album I’ve heard, so I appreciate that. Musically, this album sounded pretty cool but I got fairly fatigued of it by the end.

Not a foot put wrong here – not musically (many interesting beats) or morally (these cats are on the right side for sure) – but maybe too earnest and pedantic (and overreliant on newsy audio cuts). One enjoys and it still has some punch, but feels too close to PE in tone and Gil Scott Heron (like direct impression too close). Franti's best work lay ahead.

When originally released I enjoyed the clever novelty of "TV" and punk musical references in "California". Beats are ok, music is a little industrial, voice is strong (not quite Chuck D, but similar) but socially conscious lecturing irritates after 30 minutes! Pity that Franti doesn't sing more as he has a slight Gil Scot Heron style on "Music and Politics", the one song where he breaks away from rapping. Kudos for trying to educate America.

I don't think I had heard this back in the day which is saying something. Great stuff.

This was really fun to listen to. Didn't know shit about the band and wow, the lyrics are political, the beats are good, flows are good. It's like the logical continuation of bands like public enemy and nwa but more interesting imho. 7/10

I haven't listen to this album in a long while and I enjoyed the album when it came up. Funny I enjoyed the very borrowed Chuck D delivery then but now for some reason it sounds more like a cheap ripoff. Still some great tracks on this album such as Language of Violence. I probably would have rated this higher back in the 90's but today it's a 3 star.

Pretty good socially focused rap record. Samples add interesting background/texture. Do anything different that other similar rappers at the time weren’t doing. I dunno.

I wouldn’t listen to it again. Not my style. My praise however does lie in regards to its lyrical content. Biting. In touch with the times. Perhaps a lot of the lyrics ring true even today.

Pales against Public Enemy, would like some harder edged production but the lyrics are strong throughout

Given the quality of Michael Franti's current output, I will admit that this was better than expected. I think there are some cool beats here, but the way too on-the-nose lyricism and way too long songs do start to drag after awhile. 2.5/5

Convincing voice. Like this a lot

3.5

Television, the Drug of the Nation is by far the best tune on the album, whilst not awful it is repetitive

That was better than I thought it was going to be.

Its like a podcast with a little flow

Loved the trip-hop vibes of ‘winter’

A pretty decent album, I definitely enjoyed it but I'm leaning low. I don't think it really deviates from the 90s rap formula in enough ways for it to have real staying power for me. 3.5 rounded down.

Pretty sure I heard this album in the past, but only recognised California Uber Alles. Clear Public Enemy influence, but musically not as interesting and seems to primarily focus on the political messaging.

VERY GOOD! Standouts: California Uber Alles 3.5

3.75

Pretty good rap. The whole albums is pretty much political commentary, sucks to say most of it's still relevant 30 years later. But he communicated points that people should think about more often. Good stuff

Enjoyed this more than I expected. I think I like the lyrics more than the music - especially when things dipped a bit in the middle. Depressing how many themes back in 1992 still linger or are worse today. Some songs bordered on the prophetic. The Dead Kennedys cover / sample was great too. Its a bit too long for me and the forgettable parts were quite forgettable. But added points for hard hitting lyrics. 2.5

A rather refreshing album. The impact of some of the harder-hitting political tracks is lost a bit on a second listen, but this was a pleasant surprise. Music and Politics, and The Winter of the Long Hot Summer were my favourites. Better than a 3, but not quite a 4 and rounding up is too generous.

This was a very political album which became a bit tiresome by the end. I did enjoy a lot of it but don't think I'd listen again. Television The Drug Of The Nation is by far the best track and I think that will be going on some of my playlists. It's pretty damning how some of the stuff he's rapping about from 1992 hasn't gotten any better today.

Not heard of these before but "television the drug of the nation" is pretty iconic and I knew that track. The best one too. I like the sound of his voice but I'm not convinced that most of it is as clever as it thinks it is. Some of the lyrics weren't great, bit repetitive Language of violence was quite the story Overall not bad but probably won't be listening again 3

Liked the lyrics.

This is *that* Michael Franti??

It's good. Wouldn't be the biggest fan of this rap/hip hop. But was surprised that I had never seen or heard of dither the artist or album. The production is far better and interesting than the lyrics and rap.

No se por que siento de lo que habla como lo habla no tiene mucho sentiod, no es fiable. No quiero decir que sea cierto, pero es lo qeu me parece al fin y al cabo y eso me complejizó la escucha. E flow monótno sumado a una voz qeu no tiene mucho que ofrecer en esas tonalidades bajas, hace que cualquiera se vaya rapido del disoc, pero las letras no están tan mal y algunos beats se salvan, siendo peores los beats que las letras. El album es para gustos muy particulares, pero es escuchable, es claro su mensaje y no tiene por que esconderse ante otros discos promedios de los 90 de hip hop, 6/10.

I saw the Beatnigs live and I know bits of this album - TV, Drug of the Nation and California Uber Alez so I knew what to expect. I think probably the older me finds it all a bit different to the younger me.

Whew, a lil alternative hip-hop for a change! This sounds like something you'd hear in the PS2-era Tony Hawk games. The beats are simple but good, and the lyrics are decidedly conscious. It's not excellent but it's good, and simultaneously lets you chill out while also stimulating your brain. A lot of the songs are way too long, though, especially with mostly unchanging backing tracks.

I really liked the concept & music, lyrics were good but felt a little toooo preachy

When I saw the album cover I knew it was going to be quite a ride. And it was; a very political one. When the first song started with "Hallelujah" I thought it was going to be some religious shenanigans, and then it switched to hip hop immediately and I drew a sigh of relief. I have to say I don't think the rapper fitted particularly well in this genre... it felt too tame and square somehow? Too well rehearsed somehow, or reading directly from the sheet or something, hard to put a finger on it. Overall I think it was a bit too political for my taste (though I enjoy Rage Against the Machine, so that's a bit of hipocrisy, fitting to the album). I am still well very glad I listened to this - even though I probably won't return soon - as I would never have found it otherwise. I'll remember it for its militant cover.

I was surprised (and kind of sad) that the album was from 1992 when the topics of the album still felt modern. As a political piece it's great, as a musical album it's ok. The rhymes are not always on points and the beats are a bit repetitive but due to the message it's still a good listen. The album is however way, way, too long. You need to be succinct when persuading people.

Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.

Really cool album. I liked the music and radio style

Album was alright. I thought the lyrics were good in each of the songs, but I don't love the style.

This really isn't my style of music and I wasn't even gonna finish listening to it but the intellectual, political lyrics against problems in modern society are great and captivated me!

Hip-hop.

Yesterday I had Snoop Dogg's Doggy Style, today I have The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy. I was interesting in hearing Snoop Dogg, but right away I hated it. Ended up giving it a 1/5. Despicable, misogynistic crap! Today, I get to listen to this crew.... Never heard of them before. Right from the start, I was impressed! Now THIS is hip hop. Good quality music without mention of Nigga's, Bitches, Ho's or any "fuck da police" cop killing. We need more music like this. I really enjoyed this. It is smart and entertaining and doesn't seem to insult anyone, any race or any sex. They did a cover of California Uber Alles - The Dead Kennedy's classic. They killed it! Can't wait to hear more of this! 3/5

He does have a message. It is not just about "bitches and money". That said, I didn't feel the album was that great overall... So maybe rap music should be about "bitches and money" after all...

It was OK. Didn't blow me away. Don't know why the fella on the cover is attacking a tank with a chainsaw, that's not going to do much damage unless it's a wooden tank.

Political talking rap. Beats are weak, but sign of the times, I guess. Lyrics are very pointed towards socio-political issues in the US, just not the content I want to listen to and relax with. 2.5

I'm just gonna say that I probably agree with everything these guys are saying, but I don't really need it rapped at me for an hour.

Solid

It ended up being better than I was expected. Some heavy beats with actually very spot on political lyrics that are still (depressingly) relevant today. Gets a bit too ranty at some points still though. 5/10

Interesting, for sure.

Some pretty good relevant lyrics here, not bad but gets tiring.

So long and such a bother to find a full version online. Beats are alright and the lyrics are wild but it's not what I look for in hip hop. 5/10

Dit vond ik voor hiphop begrippen best goed in elkaar zitten eigenlijk

Dit had een goede 'flow' en een lekkere 'vibe' (ja, ik ging er helemaal in op!)

Best relaxed. Wel lang.

Decent

It was interesting. Gave me “everybody’s free to wear sunscreen” vibes.

This gives me strange reminiscences of Soul Coughing, if Soul Coughing had decided to go hip hop instead of jazz alternative. The packaging was concerning, I judged very harshly on first sight. But it's alright. Not a timeless classic, but of its time and socially conscious in an accessible way. Plus, there's a Fraser Crane soundbite! Into that.

Smart, thoughtful social criticism here, a la Public Enemy and Rage Against the Machine. The music, though, isn't as bold.

My thoughts on this seem to be shared by a lot of reviewers on the site. It’s got some great conscious lyrics, even if they’re quite on the nose at times, but the production and flow are very dated and need a lot more variety to keep this interesting throughout the whole runtime - even by about track four it seems that he’s run out of ideas

I enjoyed the lyrics and the message of the songs but it wasn’t my favourite sound ever. I think the length was good, the vibe was good, just not the most amazing.

3.5 I can see how someone could write them off as Public Enemy rip-offs, but even if The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy had a similar sound and focus, you really would have to overlook a lot of clever lyrics and beats to do so (though yeah the guy sounds just like Chuck D at times). Hell, on this album alone they tackle a broader range of social and political issues, including school shootings and environmental protection, both topics that I don’t think PE has ever touched, at least to my memory. However, despite that, I saw some other users labeling this as being aggressively woke, “phone=bad” music. Even on tracks like Television, The Drug of the Nation where I could maybe see that being the case, I still feel like some solid points and criticisms are raised, with race baiting in politics and the reframing of US atrocities in news ("Civilian death" to "collateral damages") being two topics in particular that stuck out to me. Yes, it’s a topic that PE had already covered, but I think the argument could be made that Television is more in-depth and insightful than She Watch Channel Zero?!, even if it is one of my favorite songs of theirs. Now, that all being said, I admit I can see why this group isn’t looked back upon as fondly as Public Enemy. Overall, there’s much less of the palpable anger and call to action that PE does so well, and what I think really sells their message. Also, while I did genuinely like every song, most lack any kind of clear musical or vocal hook to really pull you in and impart a lasting impression. I wasn’t a big fan of the song Music and Politics in particular, with it coming across as to me as “I’m more woke than you”... despite the whole “poop in my dog bowl” line, which wasn’t so much a clever metaphor as it was just kind of gross. The take on Dead Kennedys was a nice surprise though, and being that it’s a remixed and re-written update rather than an outright cover, it probably embodies the spirit of the original more than anything else they could have done - I would imagine Jello is a fan. So, while I don’t think they’re better than Public Enemy, I do think they complement the group nicely. Definitely worth a listen and shouldn’t be overlooked solely because of the parallels.

Powerful hip-hop music with lyrics about societal issues that are still relevant today. It's a long album, some song are perhaps a bit too long.

I was amazed to find this was Michael Franti. I thought it might be a supergroup featuring members of Public Enemy. It's a lot less militant, and probably just a little preachy. Like the in between of Arrested Development and Public Enemy. The beats, however, are fucking fire. Not a bad one in the bunch. Favorite tracks: "Satanic Reverses", "Socio Genetic Experiment"

It's really good - but not really my thing.

Great

This is the closest we've got so far to a full-on spoken word album. That's really difficult to make work, the lyrics have to be so good and so tight, and for the most part this album doesn't get there. The TV song is great - it's focused on one theme (unlike some of the others that really wander), and it's got some very pithy lines in there - but there's not enough else there that gets close to that level. It also drags - could really do with losing a track or two and focusing the rest in from 6/7 minutes to 4/5. 3/5, some great messages that really resonate 20 years on but needs a bit more polish and refinement to make it truly great.

I didn't hate it. Just can't relate to it. The album did seem to have a story to it though.

Reminds me a lot of Public Enemy

michael franti had a lot to say here! every song had such a purpose and even bordered on educational. this album is different from the other hip hop i have seen on this list so far; public enemy and n.w.a. have included meaningful lyrics but nowhere near the scale on hypocrisy. the genres itself were interesting as well. hip hop, for sure, but there was some jazz that popped in here and there. like, that trumpet?! it was a good mixture and different from others on this list. as a side note, the disposable heroes of hiphoprisy is a great artist name.

Hard to rate this one. Its bang average hip hop but its aware lyrics are worth an extra point

Not a rap guy, but Franti really makes me want to be one with this album. One one hand, I wish Disposable Heroes had found traction, but if they had, we might not have Burning Spear.

revolutionary but not enjoyable to listen to

Better than I expected.

Some of that good early hip hop with the good samples

this is definitely not my usual type of music but i did enjoy parts of it. the lyrics were also interesting

I like my socioeconomic/political commentary with a beat. My favorite thing about this listening project so far is getting to hear things I wouldn’t necessarily choose. I was never a big hip hop fan and that hasn’t changed, but I am glad to have heard this album. I didn’t realize DHOH was Michael Franti’s band. If the song H2O-Gate Blues on the Gil Scott Heron album had better music I might have liked it more. And if anyone cares about my rant from the Tical album, some reggae radio stations just mix hip hop with reggae. Question answered.

I wasn't able to give this the listen it deserves, but I liked what I heard — propulsive and smart, lots to home in on in the production. It did suffer from one of my recurring issues with hip hop and rap, which is that songs start blending together. The drum beats and sounds were similar throughout, which invariably makes the tracks sound similar and that becomes less interesting as the album rolls on. But, considering the short shrift this one got, I'm rolling down the middle and will revisit another day.

Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.

Hip-hop.

Listened Before? N Political early-90s hip hop. It's cool hearing this looking back. These guys were very concerned with the issues of capitalism, entertainment, wars, etc. None of the subject matter has aged particularly well (They rail against television in what seems to be their most popular song, I wonder what they would have thought of the internet!) The music is good, though, and it DOES hold up well. They have a great style. I liked listening to it, but probably won't go back just because of how dated it is. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Language of Violence

I'm not sure if this is "music" so much as it is, like, beatnik hip-hop - which is still cool. It's quite interesting (and sad) to listen to an album from so long a go that seems to outline some real current and critical issues (climate, poverty, xenophobia, corporate greed, etc.).

Pretty based over some experimental jazzy beats. I enjoyed the album for the most oart especially if you listen to the lyrics

So 90s, this sounds like it comes straight out of a Fresh Prince episode. Fantastic!

New to me. The strong spoken political lyrics are distinctive. The lengthy backing tracks do get a bit repetitive at times but overall it stands out from standard gangsta hip hop. 3

'Television...' is amazing. Fun album, lots of angles without the anger of a Public Enemy or a RATM.

Not my favorite type of music but I respect that artistry and uniqueness

Enjoyed a few tracks on this but the preachiness got to me after a little while. Basically it felt like Jack Dangers production with Consolidated vocals and themes laid over top of it. Which it literally is. Most unexpected but also cool to hear Charlie Hunter on this album!

I'd never heard of this group and started listening to it... then I found out this is the hiphop group that Michael Franti was in. I've seen Michael Franti live and had absolutely no idea he did this before his current projects. His music has definitely changed but his politics hasn't. It was an interesting listen but a little to on the nose for me.

I didn't have high hopes going into this album but I thoroughly enjoyed the parts of it that were on Spotify. While it's on the talkier side of experimental hip hop, I liked the radical messaging and each song made me want to make molotov cocktails or something. It's a shame a third of the album isn't on spotify but hey the parts that are on there are good

Interesting!

I have a thing for old school hiphop from the 80's/90's, but I haven't listened to alot of different artists in that genre. Hency why I never heard of these guys. I like the old school vibe of the album, the music, the use of samples, etc. Although it saddens me that alot of theme's which are mentioned on the album are still problems we have today.

I didn’t listen to this one so i’am just gonna put 3 starts and then listen in my own time.

The very thing that makes this album compelling is also what makes this album one that I'll likely never put on heavy rotation. Its unapologetic intensity is both captivating and exhausting. The elements of hip-hop appeal to your rhythm and soul, while the precisely selected and timed lyrics charge your mind, and the industrial musical palette grind across all of the grains refusing to let your senses relax. That is, until the track 'Music And Politics', which is a jazzy and vibrant guitar jam paired with a self-effacing analysis spoken over the top. The album remains intense, but on a different level, for that one track. Then back to the program. The album overall is as avant-garde as it is gritty and real. Comparisons to Gil Scott-Heron, Public Enemy, Arrested Development, and industrial aspects of groups Nine Inch Nails, Ministry and White Zombie are all apt, but also only represent pieces of the picture.

Mostly interesting because of the industrial elements, but not bad overall. Definitely a product of its time. Perhaps a more hip-hop version of Ministry’s The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste.

I believe this album came up the last go round. A nice social activism themed album and group along the lines of Public Enemy. My only complaint is that some songs unavailable on Spotify.

As described by the group, this is like eating vegetables. Solid concept, but beats you over the head with politics. Great for a listen, terrifying that it's still relevant, but not repeatable for enjoyment.

Great idea and two or three great tracks, but it doesn’t hold up with some others.

I consider it diet Public Enemy. Not bad though it felt a bit bloated at times. Speaking as a Dead Kennedys fan,I liked this version of California Uber Alles. Overall. Not bad, but far from great.

This album reminds me a bit of the scene in Chasing Amy where they're at the comic book convention, and everyone is at a panel. And the one guy (Hooper X) starts making claims about Star Wars that are WAY overreaching. This felt like, although they were making salient points, it was very much hitting me over the head with very little subtlety. Public Enemy seemed... tame in comparison. After three or four songs, it just got... tiresome. A track or two is good, and definitely "Television, the Drug of the Nation" was great. But still... I needed to lighten up after that. Phew.

His insight is strong, but his flow is weak.

A little dated, but I kinda like the simple beats and the naïve lyrics

Good but too long....

Comença de forma magnífica amb el seus primers dos temes, i no baixa gaire el nivell al llarg del recorregut. Es repenja massa, però, en l'activisme i missatge polític que empapa tot el minutage del disc. Malgrat tot, i tot i la seva duració, més d'una hora, és un dels pocs discos de hip hop que no es fan pesats i llargs i fa un bon paper com un dels llegats rellevants de la primera meitat dels '90

This is . . . not a very good hip-hop album. I was really excited to hear it after reading the Wikipedia entry. There are samples from a bunch of songs that I really like. It's from a cool era of hip-hop that has a bunch of hidden gem albums I haven't heard yet. It's politically conscious. The execution is lacking, however. Michael Franti provides a very superficial analysis of the world. The lyrics just aren't good, and he doesn't rhyme very well. Rapping without rhyming is just talking in a weird cadence. This album leaves me feeling flat in much the same way I felt when I saw Michael Franti and Spearhead live. It feels like it could be good, but it's not. It feels lazy. Every song feels like he was inspired to try and make a Public Enemy song, but then he got tired halfway through and gave up. 3/5 The political content and music are pulling a lot of weight in this score. He is talking about a lot of issues that were not common points of discussion at the time. He's just talking about them without much insight

I'm sure that this is an essential hip-hop album and it listens to it in 1992 probably was a great thing. 30 years later (!!!), it sounds like a very good hip-hop album, which is also impressive, but not so impressive as it was in the 90s.

Should’ve given this more attention.. sounded good, but didn’t really invest. One to revisit!

I wanted to give this a 5 for the first 30 seconds - the music is great, old mate's voice is pretty cool when he gets flowing - but the lyrics are beyond shithouse. It's just a collection of surface-level societal complaints that made me roll my eyes whenever they stuck out. TV bad, coca-cola bad, racism bad, healthcare system bad, mobile phones bad, society in general bad. I can take the "I'm 14 and this is deep" approach, I have no problem with it (see: RATM), but the delivery needs to fucking THUMP (see again: RATM). This guy's delivery fell short whenever the lyrics were at their cringiest - surely he felt silly saying half this shit. Bad combo. That being said, once I managed to tune out of the words this was very, very listenable. It had those old school hip-hop beats, turntable shit, and the Chuck D impression really should make a reappearance someday soon. Today's rappers are all bland by comparison. 3/5.

I’m a fan of Franti across his projects and solo output. Musically this did not do so much for me, just no my style. Lyrically the preach factor tended to outweigh flow, a borderline he transgresses pretty commonly (not to impugn the messages, it just doesn’t all gel for me as a whole composition)

I hadn't checked this out before but now it's clearly reminiscent of Public Enemy with a stern and somewhat cynical rebuke to the ills of society. I have to admit that the issues from the early 90's seem quaint, as in nothing has changed since then except for getting worse. The beats/samples and the figurative orator's podium pounding really draw in your attention. It differentiates from PE in that there is no jester like Flavor Flav for levity, so it does feel like an extended lecture by the school principal, or a 'scared straight' counselor.

Prophetic!

3-; a lot of meaningful lyrics, A LOT. Important political problems, this layer of the album is a real top, but flow and instrumental are very repetitious. I enjoyed it, it was worthwhile.

Veeeeerrry socially conscious. The messages were raw and well put together, so much focus was put in the lyrics and the tone was consistent throughout the album. The beats were great too, but sometimes the more spoken word delivery style didn't mesh as well with the musical elements and felt a bit disjointed. The message was clear but the flow wasn't as on point as what would have put this over the edge.

Not really a big fan of this "lecture disguised as music" type of thing. There were definitely some clever turns of phrases that elevated this a little bit but it was still a little too preachy for me. Has a distinct Public Enemy feel in some places. Also much of the album just seemed like reciting poetry over a beat.

Quite enjoyable, but a little too preachy at times. I mean, "Television, the Drug of the Nation" has not exactly aged well. That would have fallen on deaf ears during the lockdown. I can't imagine how these dudes feel about smartphones. It's still better than most rap albums I've heard so far from this list. But like seemingly all rap albums, it's a little long. Is there some rule that every rap album needs to be over an hour in length?

Interesting early conscious rap. Liked the lyrics, music was very generic, not a lot of movement.

Bon album old school hip hop, mais pas le plus groundbreaking non plus. Bonne production mais style de rap un peu redondant. Ça serait bien d'avoir l'album au complet sur les plateformes de streaming pour le réécouter.

Hmmm... ja. Vi är återigen tillbaka vid den allt så återkommande hip-hopen, på gott och ont. Jag vill komma närmare genren och kanske att detta är ett steg i rätt riktning? Så långt som själva rappandet går har jag inte så mycket att säga, just den delen av musik har jag helt enkelt ingen fallenhet för. MEN, det jag gör denna gång (jag vet inte om det är The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy som gör det eller om det är mer av ett val från mig att tackla det på det viset), är att jag lägger större märke till saker i låtarna som inte är kopplat till rappen. Mycket sköna baslinjer och intressanta ljud och knep som tar över, vilket gör detta till en mycket mer trivsam upplevelse än mycket annan hip-hop jag konsumerat. Med det sagt så kommer ändå den där känslan av ointresse som så ofta kommer, men det är betydligt mer sällan än vad jag tidigare upplevt. Jag tänker välja att tro att The Disposable Heroes of Hyphoprisy känner att dom inte behöver stå i centrum, att allt inte ska handla om den som står och slänger ur sig de poetiska och fräna orden i rapp fart, att det inte bara är att dra igång ett soft beat och ha en cool text. Utan att det handlar om så mycket mer. Jag väljer att göra denna bedömning, vilket höjer dom i mina ögon, och vidare också höjer albumets kvalite i mina öron. Bäst: Jag gillar "Music And Politics" och "Television The Drug Of The Nation"

Más hip hop. Tiene momentos buenos, no lo niego: a veces estaba sin darme cuenta medio bailando y todo, pero me pareció largo y ese estilo de rapeo que es más bien un discurso me cansa bastante y lo usa prácticamente todas las rolas. Además siento que casi todas las letras son como de onda moral o algo así. No es que quiera que hablen de bling bling (eso en serio no me gusta) pero de pronto sí se siente que es una y otra y otra rola con esa carga.

12. Hypocrisy is the greatest luxury - The Disposable Heroes of HipHoprisy. 13 tracks. I don't mind hip hop as long as I can understand the lyrics and this was better than ok if a little "samey". 3/5.

Un flow pas pire, tres engage et production minimaliste qui rend bien les paroles. 3

I was well into this when it first started. Though after a while it all generally faded into oneness. I'd struggle to pick out specific moments for you. I was taking care of a leeeeetle bit of work when it was on so I get the impression you gottsta listen to whatever the hell they're trying to say but I just couldn't stomach the attention for it. Would listen again. Let's be honest, this has got FOUR written all over it but let's slap a 3 on it and be done with it.

Whole album not on spotify

Interesting album. Never heard of them. Unlikely to revisit but fun nonetheless.

Cool slam-like lyrics, classic beats

This is another one of those super political ones, but the music is fun. 0RS

Preachy, but that's okay

Really great lyrics but unfortunately it does not flow.

Never heard this one before, so this one is all new to me. Album is pretty woke, and really goes into a lot of issues that plaguing us today. Even gets into GMOs' and pesticides on food. Takes on tv, radiation, violence, homophobia. I think it's a really solid piece of hip-hop and music in the general. It's very much Textbook good. He raps crispy and clear, bar work is good, and it's got tons of meaning. It's really solid. The production I think could use some mixing, and some of the beats are kinda bland. Nothing too crazy on that end. Outside of that, they sound like have a real Public enemy inspired sound. Plus they do a cover of the dead Kennedys californa uber allies, and that's super neat to me honestly.

Good messaging, but meh execution.

Ovaj album u neku ruku dosta, dosta podsjeća na Public Enemy. Jebiga, politički nastrojen album, glas sličan glasu od Chuck-a (D), jedino možda da nisu tako duge pjesme sunce mu. Sve nekih 5-6 minuta. Al taj eerie piano u Water Pistol Man, uf. Sve u svemu dobar album, al ne pretjerano.

they have a lot of power in their message but dont think id come back to it

It was alright. Very political. Attempt at being "Public Enemy." Early '90s. Couldn't listen to the full album, some songs were blocked on Spotify

I get that this must've been pretty groundbreaking for 1992 in terms of rap, there's none of the "chains, bitches and money" lines/songs that many casual fans usually attribute to hip hop music. I'm not really sure, however, if that's a good thing, because even though their subject material is still relevant in this day and age, I can't help but cringe a little at the way the songs and vocals come out. "Television is the drug of the nation" okay, that's true I guess? Not sure if I would go around praising someone for pointing that out (although the parallels to smartphones, social media, etc. are pretty interesting) I almost can't help but feel like this is something that would come out if a politician decided to team up with a rapper to preach about more political problems to the youth. Definitely something that I could see myself having to sit through in class back in high school when the "woke" teacher decided to show this to the young black youth. Maybe political rap just isn't for me(?) Overall feelings - very good for what it is, probably a 9/10 in terms of political/woke rap, but I'm not a big fan of it personally - if I had to rate it by how likely I am to come back to this or listen to it on the train to university or whatever, this would probably get a 5 or 6.

The album isn’t awful but the lyrics really make this album feel less like an album and more akin to a lecture. This can be seen as a positive, as it makes the songs have a real meaning and critique, but it could have been handled better. The instrumentals do leave a lot to desire but it does have some good style to it. The best point of the album is the straight outta left field cover of California Uber Alles by Dead Kennedy’s near the end.

Old school rap with a deeply political message. Serving as a protest outlet, this effort from Hiphoprisy takes aim at society, its issues, and where we can hope to grow all to smooth beats and samples.

I've very much been in the right lane so far this week with Jefferson Airplane and CS&N so my heart sank when I saw this come up. To my pleasure it's a very interesting album which provides social commentary on a number of late 80's /early 90's issues which seem just as relevant today.

Politically charged hip-hop. I don't think there's a topic h doesn't touch on: war, drugs, recession, race. Not a relaxing listen but definitely interesting.

Cool vibe but didn’t totally get into it. Would probs benefit from a second listen

I'll be going back to this. I'm not versed in hip hop/rap. I enjoyed this.

Never heard of this before. Liked the vibe and the sentiment although it got a bit samey. Influenced Hed PE, not sure that's anything to write home about. 6.5/10

Sounds like the definition of conscience rap.

"After all the feces they dumped on my species" is a jokes lyric

Better than I expected. They're definitely there to share a viewpoint.

I would give this a 3 just for the pun of "HipHopCrisy". But this is very solid.

3

Definitely like the delivery and seriousness. It paints an interesting picture of the era and the issues/concerns/challenges. It feels more like a story and though i give incredible props to the content, it's not something that i would gravitate to listening multiple times. Still impressive and enjoyable on the first listen.

Interesting, old school rap. Very political. Beats are a bit too outdated for me, but I can see this being quite fresh in the early 90s

Kinda neat old school 90s “deep thought” hip hop. Lots of social commentary, sort of like Gil Scott-Heron

This is cool. I only knew one of the tracks, but the whole thing was good.

Meget samfundskritisk album, med meget lange numre. Sur rap med gode observationer. Men beatsne bliver ensformige og den virker fanget i dens tid

Better than I remember, but still must be in the mood.

Very Public Enemy-esque

Reminds me of a young chuck D

This was probably more impactful in its day. Now it just sounds repetitive.

Kind of depressing how timely it still is. Pretty good, just not my type of listening.

Intelligent political hip hop rap. For what it’s worth a decent listen, but not something I see myself going back to. 2.5 stars

Disposable

Interesante

Look, good message, but there are better albums from the time to lose yourself in.

Well they’re not subtle, that’s for sure. Beats are fine bordering on good, but every song felt, both in flow and content, like a sermon.

Especially on NBC

I have nothing bad to say about the politics of this album. It's progressive and insightful, taking aim at many different sources of corruption and evil. It has aged well, and tracks like "Language of Violence" feel ahead of their time. But the album is proof that good politics don't make for good music, as I have almost nothing good to say about that. The vocals are unsteady, often feeling more like "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" spoken word than rapping. The beats are Bomb Squad-lite, with a lot going on but little that catches your ear; they're often so loose that it resembles early 90s British alternative dance. Even the lyrics aren't great. They can be clever, but often they just list problems without any kind of personal touch. They make for an album that ends up focusing on negatives without offering solutions or motivation to fix things, which is not fun to listen to.

Political rap. I appreciate the sentiments but much of it comes off as a lecture. I added INS Greencard A-19 191 500" to my playlist.

01/06/2026 It was boring, not catchy enough and nothing stood out, shame. Spotify listeners: 11k

Well-written lyrics on relevant topics, too bad the beats are lousy.

This trip down Obscure Street continues, what a painful few weeks it's been. Instantly made me think of Public Enemy. Musically it's shit, boring old school scratching and weak beats, it's all about the dialogue and eye opening lyrics (if that's your thing, it ain't mine). I am just not into diatribe spoken lyrics about politics, there's obviously an audience out there for this though. I lost interest early. Reading up on them I see Michael Franti is half the duo, and that they opened for PE, Nirvana and U2 that year. Topics covered... Drug of the Nation, Violence, Health Risk, Greencards, Socio-Genetic Experiments, Politics, Finance... I didn't know any 20 yr old who would have wanted to listen to this when it came out. I can't imagine spending an hour listening to this entire album FOR FUN. It's not fun, not even a little, it's the opposite. 2 stars.

oooooh. does not age well.

Socially conscious rap for people who find white bread too spicy.

Not really my style but others I’m Sure ;)

Predictions way off jajaja

I wanted to kick back and relax. Now I want to join a protest and get angry.

This was a miss for me. Quite boring and nothing to really catch my attention.

This was alright 2.5

There are 4 songs unavailable on Spotify... and I didn't like it enough to hunt those down. Decent messaging in the songs, especially for the time it was made, but it's just not for me

Television the drug of the nation… just the beginning of the end

Very dated rap style, content is strong, but a hard listen

This album is basically slam poetry and I hate slam poetry. He was talkin that shit, though! Did not tell not one lie!! Time is a flat circle. So I gotta give him respect for that alone. Highlights: Music and Politics

Hated it. Is it rap? Is it spoken word? Is it West Coast psychadelia? So confused. The standout moment though, was the lyric "TV is the place where the pursuit of happiness has become the pursuit of trivia, where toothpaste and cars have become sex objects, where imagination is sucked out of children by a cathode ray nipple - TV is the only wet nurse that would create a cripple". 2 stars.

Peak "we've got Public Enemy at home" energy. Please dispose of ♻️responsibly♻️

Not going to revisit this one, but it wasn’t the worst rap album I’ve gotten. Can we talk about the album art though? Hilarious. Man with chainsaw cutting the gun barrel of a tank while a blimp with different currency symbols flies overhead. So much meaning.

Liked this. Had never heard it or of them before. Good sounds

Kind of felt like a Public Enemy ripoff

Muuuuy politico/social. Estuvo bueno, pero no lo volvería a escuchar. La esencia es una crítica directa en EEUU en los 90s. Television, the drug of the nation es su canción más famosa, que podría tranquilamente insertarse con la actualidad (es decir, sigue siendo una crítica actual).

I wanted to like this, it tickles some of the same itches as Public Enemy, but just doesn't have the force. The lyrics are sometimes more concerned with making a point than with musicality, and that's to the detriment of the record. Spearhead was a better expression of righteous anger.

Television, the drug of the nation, was quite impactful back in the day. Still relevant I suppose. The rest of it didn't grab me.

Idk man I couldnt even try, im tossing this one in.

I've never heard of this. Weirdly, it is the only album these "Disposable Heroes" ever made. Four of the tracks were not available on Spotify in the United States, so I had to find them on Youtube. Sadly, the album is not very good. The raps are very politically conscious, but they are too literal. It feels artless, almost, with weak flows and basic beats behind them. This is a completely disposable album from the 90s era of politically conscious hip hop. The lyrics have all the subtlety of the album cover, and this is a damning flaw in a genre that relies almost exclusively on lyrical content. I don't think this is even remotely close to list-worthy. It is also the worst rap album I've had(at least Ready to Die had good flows!)

Great message, but entirely too long and not that interesting musically. 2.0/5.0: Disappointing

One of those socio-political rap albums that's too smart for its own good. The lyrical themes are interesting and bring up some good points but the production is rough. The beats are forgettable, the hooks are too repetitive, and the sound balancing is not great.

Nothing super catchy.

While I didn’t dislike the voice itself, the overall sound felt too uniform for me, which made it hard to maintain interest. It may be more rewarding for listeners who focus on the lyrical content, but it wasn’t something that fully resonated with me.

I haven’t listened to the full album, but the sound and lyrics were great. typical 90s rap, not really my style

I'm a big fan of 90s hip hop. But this was f***ing boring.

Very much not for me.

If this album was any more heavy-handed with its messaging, it would come with solid steel gloves. Look, I like socially-conscious music as much as the next person, but just talk-rapping over low-key beats about how TV, violence, littering, etc. is bad just doesn’t cut it. The message has to be entertaining and in your face, in the style of Public Enemy or Rage Against The Machine, perhaps; you have to rile up people’s emotions through the music. This album felt like a lecture set to a beat. 2/5

At a certain point socially conscious hip-hop just all blurs together. Just spoken word over beats rattling off bad shit Reagan did. You're not wrong, but it gets tedious.

I enjoyed the beats and the lyrics, while having a good message, weren’t enjoyable to listen to. More suited for a book of poetry than this. Rating: 2.5

Started out liking this but after a few songs the sermon he's giving got old and repetitive.

This album kept me flip flopping. First song, wasn't my cup of tea. Then it started getting better and I enjoyed and then back to weird. A 2 for now but maybe it would grow into a 3.

a little trippier/less hard than public enemy but feels like them trying to pull of some tribe style beats? Not my favorite.

Too much emphasis on messaging and not enough on good song making. And if they only knew how much worse it would get….

Hip-hop beats, jazz horns, and deep lyrics that repeat ad nauseam. If more time had been spent developing the lyrics to a complete thought instead of just repeated phrases, this could have been something creative. As it stands, the songs feel incomplete and not worthy of this list. I did dig the lead vocalists powerful voice over the beats. His authoritative voice reminded me a lot of Chuck D owning the mic. Needs work, but I like the framework.

This sounds like an afterschool special made by listening to PE’s Apocalypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Black and trying to clean it up and mainstream the ideas. It also makes painfully clear how important good rhyme skills and intricate beats are to make rap music compelling. The lack of this combo in most songs here, coupled with Franti’s lack of a convincing flow, make this rap-by-number concoction a pedestrian listen.

I'm normally a fan of music with a message, but dude is preachy. Album has the feel of a high school assembly.

Wow. Could that have been any more heavy handed and on the nose. It's a 2 for me. Just stop.

Interesting in some parts, but songs are kind of a mess. Standout song The winter of the long hot summer

A heavy, serious listen that touches on pretty much every major issue or social ill that was in the water in 1992 (and, you know, today). They were not fucking around. I respect it but it’s also kind of a lot and not a particularly fun listen. It’s also so unsubtle much of the time that it starts to feel insulting as the album goes on. Great production.

Very message heavy "hip hop" dude is just talking

On principle I was really looking forward to this - I'm on board with the message - but wow the flow is just bad

не впечатляет.

A great album

I want to rate this higher, but found it hard to like really get into…

Just a guy talking about politics over a beat for an hour. 2 stars

On one hand, I think Michael Franti's heart is in the right place and this album is sort of a pre-RATM attempt at tackling a lot of political and social issues. On the other hand, the execution of this kind of sucks. The beats are lame and Franti, other than sounding a lot like Chuck D, is not a good rapper. Furthermore, the lyrics, even if you agree with them, are so heavy-handed. "Satanic Reverses" probably the best thing here. 2.5 stars.

Very political — but not very musical or poetic. One could argue that it wasn't meant to be pleasant. But then, shouldn't counterculture sound explosive and moving — not put you to sleep?

This is one of the weirdest albums I've ever listened to. What he's doing can barely be considered rapping. He's talking through most of the album and considering the beat in the same way you do when you're walking and realize you'd been taking steps on the beats of the music you're hearing. The beat is there, he's aware of it, but he doesn't really care about it. I don't care to listen to it again but props for social justice activism in the lyrics.

Love the revolutionary hip hop genre but this was a bit slow for me.

Doesn't quite make the cut for "should be on the list". Michael Franti's writing definitely has good moments.

2 - ok

it was mid

mostly about US politics

01)Satanic Reverses - 6,5 02) Famous and Dandy (Like Amos and Andy) - 6,5 03) Television, the Drug of the Nation - 6,5 04) Language of Violence - 6,0 05) The Winter of the Long Hot Summer - 5,5 06) Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury - 5,0 07) Everyday Life Has Become a Health Risk - 5,5 08) INS Greencard A-19 191 500 - 5,0 09) Socio-Genetic Experiment - 6,0 10) Music and Politics - 5,5 11) Financial Leprosy - 5,0 12) California über alles - 5,5 13) Water Pistol Man - 5,5 TOTAL: 5,69 (57/100) Current ranking: 703/833

2/10, a shame, the beats are amazing but the lyricism/rap is horrible.

Was not a fan of this. The conscious message is cute n cool and all but the music sounds like bullshit. Won’t be revisiting.

We live in a society… No but in all seriousness, this is all still extremely potent and relevant. I just didn’t care much for the music or delivery, but that shouldn’t take away for the message.

Oli tätä synasoundien rappia jota ei minun päässä hiphopiksi kunnolla lueta vaikka onkin concious meininkiä. Vaisua minun makuun. Räp oli munallisen kuulosta ja hyvä ulosanti siltikin!

I didn't enjoy this even though I am not against the messages.

Tem uns beats envolventes e um bom flow do vocalista, mas o álbum já tá bem datado, além de ser longo a ponto de se arrastar.

Spoken word forward music doesn’t usually do it for me. It works on “television and the drug of a nation,” but otherwise it got old quick.

Politically charged hip hop. The beats weren't bad but with the songs all being 4+ minutes long each one got a bit repetitive. Just about every song covers a new political topic too, making the whole album feel a bit unfocused.

Not bad, old school rap. At least it’s rap with a message, that you can relate to.

God is Michael Franti thought the 90s were bad I bet he’s hating 2026. I like that this has a message but it’s a lecture register over a repetitive beat, with some odd cul de sacs on the way.

great messages - but the music itself a bit harsh for me.

Imagine Public Enemy crossed with Gil Scott Heron, and you have the basis of this group. Sadly, the MC here is Michael Franti and his style of hip hop is about as good as his reggae. Which is to say fine but forgettable and utterly unnecessary. I generally love socially conscious hip hop but this album amounts to a recitation of issues in a near monotone over the most generic beats imaginable. I admire the messages but the delivery is seriously lacking. None of the poetry and humor of either GSH or Chuck D, none of the killer beats and production of Terminator X. Basically the window dressing is here but none of the actual goods

I get the avant-garde, social commentary reason why it's on this list. But sonically it's just another album in my opinion.

I had never heard of this artist before this list. Honestly, gave me a lot of different emotions. Technically, it’s a hip hop album, but it felt more like poetry for some of the songs. Sonically, the production was good and the I love some of the beats and liked others. There wasn’t a beat i didn’t enjoy. Lyrically there were some good messages and bars on here. So where does this album fall apart? It’s in the delivery of those messages. When he would talk I was like cool, it’s a little preachy but it’s fine. As soon as he would start rapping, I was like what is this. His flow and delivery sound very outdated and i couldn’t take it serious. He sounds like the tv show trope of young kids saying all old rap sounds a certain way. He is literally the personification of that.

I totally understand why it was made and what they were trying to do. I recognize the similarities between today and when this was made and as another reviewer said; "we have learned nothing in 34 years" and that is 1000% true. I would not listen to this again but recognize why it's on this list. This is slam poetry over music there's not really a lot of musicality here IMO. Youtube music is missing 2 songs from the album.

This isn’t bad by any means, but I’m just not that into it (2.5)

This isn't bad. It just isn't my favorite style of music. It is a little too heavy in lyrical style. Like I wish it was more sung than spoke. Liked Songs: "Satanic Reverses" , "Television The Drug Of The Nation" , "Socio-Genetic Experiment"

Not good. Boring and sounds super dated, I don’t see any reason for this to be on the list

Listenable. Rap isn't my thing in general, but going into this with an open mind the lyrics were...interesting The beats were a bit odd, but I found almost nothing here I would come back to, and I was just waiting for this to end 2/5

Minimum amount of music.

He reads his lyrics well. But this is not a writing competition..

4 - BAD

5/10 Favourite: Satanic Reverses Least Favourite: California Uber Alles

Uma única canção de 4 minutos (Music and Politics) é muito pouco para um disco de mais de 1 hora e 6 minutos.

Говно

The messages behind these lyrics is captivating and sadly hasn't really changed since the early 90s, but the music/beats are so dated it's distracting for me. Feel like other groups of this era were doing the political rap/aggressive messaging thing much better than this

Thank you for reminding me to listen to the Dead Kennedys again

Better than a lot of hip hop records we’ve listened to thus far, but, certainly, its perspectives seem quaint now, down to the Frasier soundbite on Television, The Drug of a Nation. 2 A poet can’t say something important and have it sound good as well. It’s impossible. America and the world needs the sort of help that can only come one arhythmic non sequitur at a time. It’s fair to say that I don’t have a high regard for rap. With the Disposable Heroes… there is much less bluster than usual about their own preeminent talent in rapping, gunning down other people, and using and abusing women. There are clippings from Chomsky though, which is nearly as bad. 1/5

I dug a lot of the lyrics but the beats are SO BAD :(