Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury

Was just talking to my dad about the tipping point where increasing awareness of all humanity's biggest and darkest problems goes from motivating to parylzing. This album is an insurmountable list of problems. Suggesting solutions is cheesy. I suppose music and songwriting, in this reviewer's humble opinion, is better suited for nuanced storytelling rather than an artless list of high level grievances. Shout out to TDHoH for bringing attention to social determinants of health (Everyday Life Has Become a Health Risk) a decade before the WHO got on board. Also I can't disassociate Michael Franti from his cornball solo stuff. Funny thing is you could put these cheesy lyrics in Zach De La Rocha's mouth and all of a sudden it feels important again. What can we do about any of this? Take care of those close to us. Make socially, environmentally, and fiscally informed consumer decisions. Support political candidates capable of passing policies to support basic human rights and equal opportunity. Dismantle a fundamentally unjust capitalist economy. Abandon all possessions and the concept of ownership. Surrender all (flawed) individual choice to an omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, AI? Listen to Spotify. C+

Not all of the songs from this album were on Spotify, but I didn’t seek out the rest on YouTube b/c I think I get the gyst: socially conscious lyrics a la public enemy and RATM, with choruses which repeat like mantras, poetic refrains, like a new age Gil Scott Heron. At first I was excited, then I realized how repetitive it was and it wasn’t necessarily a nuanced take. College Sophomore Matt would’ve loved this. 2

Jesus christ this got exhausting fast. I can't keep up with the laundry list of complaints

“Michael Franti's "intellectual grasp thrusts him immediately into pop's front rank.” I BLOODY LOVE MICHAEL FRANTI.

Not as bad as I thought it'd be, but still not great.. Lyrics get a bit much after a while and instrumentals are uninspired

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

Something about this really just didn't click with me. I think the beats were great, and I found the subject matter important stuff to discuss. I just don't think the MC had the skill or charisma to make what he was rapping about not sound super preachy and condescending. Oh well.

This album has only two issues that I think would bring it down to a 4: bloat and availability. With great political rhyming, immersive soundscapes, and a unique vocal performance, I think this album is of particular note when looking at the grand scheme of things.

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.

Vissa roliga låter men inge vidare

Whoa, these guys come right at us, don't they. I like it. It totally works for what they're doing. Powerful lyrics and the music is fantastic they create to support them. Very cool rhythms and instrumentals; quite a departure from most hip hop/rap I've heard (which, admittedly, is not a significant sample size). My only real criticism is the lyrics sometimes seem to me to be a bit heavy-handed, but that's forgivable in this context. "Music And Politics" is so cool; reminds me of Beatnik stuff but sounds much more contemporary. I really want to check out their other album (looks like they made only two...too bad; I would LOVE to hear their artistic take on current times).

Excellent, political, trueschool hiphop. Taking a lot of inspiration from PE but much cleaner production.

I appreciate the sentiment but a bit samey.

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"

ну классный хап чо, есть конечно поинтереснее варики лично для меня - трайб колд квест например, но это дело вкуса.

Este disco debe estar entre mis discos favoritos de hip-hop especialmente de los 90s. El sonido es emblemático, cuando se escucha de inicio parece simplemente que suena a todos los grupos de su momento, esas trompetas tipo Cypress Hill que a veces se atisban, los ritmos rápidos, agresivos pero sin sonar del todo a Gangsta Rap aun. Sin embargo con un poco de atención hay muchísimo más trabajo y composición, sonidos de jazz que vienen al frente sin hacer que se sienta una fusión ni quitando energía. Las letras son excelentes, tienen ese componente de importancia a problemas sociales, con caracter, sin tratar nada más de escucharse como si fuera "este es rap pero con mensajito". En realidad me parecen composiciones que líricamente se pueden sostener a sí mismas como si fueran poemas aun sin la música. Un disco casi desconocido que de verdad se debiera escuchar al menos una vez.

La mezcla está muy bien cuidada, muchos detalles en el fondo y buena métrica generan canciones pegajosas. Mi problema es que quitando un par de canciones en el medio, es básicamente una gran canción de una hora. Quizá sea que no es mi género y aunque las canciones no son malas per sé, se sienten de repente como relleno. Songs: Language of Violence, Music and Politics

Hip Hop + Critical Social... ok, tiene su mérito, pero este ha sido uno de los álbumes más aburridos y tediosos que han tocado. -_-

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.

Loved this album! So introspective

Wow! I never heard of these guys before. Very powerful

fun album, i’ll give it a 7/10 that’s gotta be the preachiest album I’ve ever heard, but honestly he made plenty of good points. I really liked Music and Politics, those were cool instrumentals to rap/sing over. and then Television, The Drug of the Nation was just a straight up classic. I’ve never been a huge old-school hip-hop fan (which is apparent in my previous reviews) i’m not too critical on it, it just isn’t really for me. This album was unique and had a lot of personality so that’s why i’m giving it the 7/10.

Very lyrically heavy hip hop. Definitely some cool tracks.

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.

Old school hip hop, very political lyrically covering societal issues, global events / politics. Some interesting beats with unique elements, first track has a lot of Jazz Sax playing with the drum beat. Spoken Word style delivery on the lyrics, every now and then he "sings" a bit but mostly very monotone even-keel delivery, but that works because the content seems to be pretty deep. I enjoyed this, though it's a very long album with the majority of songs 6 minutes or longer. Back half kicks up the energy a bit, and has more classic hip hop, still keeps the political messaging but a bit more focused on the beats. California Uber Alles is a great takedown of the governer at the time this album was out. A lot of the messaging still applies today about stripping social programs and stuffing the pockets of the rich, not much has changed.

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

Hip hop with a message, most definitely. I'm instantly a fan. Hip hop is the only genre of protest anymore. This is from 1992, but even then - mainstream music has little to no message, but that is not the case with music like this. The lyrics here are a lot to take in. They are critical, but not afraid to be self-critical. There are injustices and cultural/social problems that affect all people. Its a classist society that created a racist society, so he takes aim at the racism by bringing up the elites control the narrative through money, sports, media, television, etc. Language of Violence is going to be my go-to as a father of young kids (obviously not sharing the full song with them for years to come). Dehumanizing the victim makes things simpler. Mob mentality, all of it. Really thoughtful here and terribly tragic. This album was a masterpiece. There are two tracks not listed on the YouTube playlist, a "cover" of Dead Kennedy's California Uber Alles and Water Pistol Man that I suggest be sought out if you listen to this album.

Favs: Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury, INS Mehs: Water Pistol Man This is the first album we've had where I'd never heard the album or artist at all before. I liked it more than I expected. I particularly like his rapping voice and how it flows and his lyrics. "The problem has never been our political logic but the way we enact it We can imagine a perfect society but can't maintain a decent relationship The failure found in the luxuries not in the hardships." Pretty good stuff.

“Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury” by The Disposable Heroes of Hiphopistry (1992) This album is not so much recorded music as it is a collection of lengthy poems which can be characterized as politically motivated doggerel, with very occasional highlights of cleverness and thought provoking synthetic connections. Lyricist/MC Michael Franti’s political claims are too frequently unsubtle, confused, and governed by a tendentious selectivity that amounts to cookie-cutter left wing radicalism. This criticism applies as well to his positions with which I personally agree (such as “Television, the Drug of the Nation”). But Franti’s politics lack both internal consistency and nuance. For example, although television as a ‘cathode ray nipple’ is a powerful metaphor, it is spoiled by confusion with previous line “imagination is sucked out of children”, where the sucking goes the opposite direction. It’s incoherent. The one grand exception to this admittedly grim assessment is the masterful “Music and Politics”, where we get a glimpse of humility, transparency, and a healthy dose of self deprecation, almost turning the rest of the album on its head. But the most potent passages of this track are too obscene to use here as illustrations. It is both curious and nice, however, to simply note that humility and obscenity are not mutually exclusive. There are some powerful grooves, but once they start, they are unrelentingly repetitive and monotonously unmusical. Talented performances of jazz electric guitar (especially “Music and Politics”), bass, and drums are the only good musical features on this otherwise lamentable record (although it is relatively well produced). In a recording such as this, diction is essential, and Franti’s diction could stand much improvement. Performed poetry loses potency when consonants are swallowed by gluttonous vowels. While there is so much that could be improved, given the political impetus, one must ask “Should it?” 2/5

It's not necessarily bad, just a bit too intense.

I like the social commentary, but most of these songs just repeat the same words and go on for too long.

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.

Started out hearing this as an adorable Public Enemy impression minus the Basquiat explosiveness, but it quickly impressed its own qualities, starting with the lyrics. "The only cola that I support would be a universal Cost Of Living Allowance", "Not a single TV station showed dissension / Or made mention of the censorship of information", "The kids don't get diplomas / They get used for gunboat diplomacy" probably aren't the best here, just the ones I wrote down. Once I saw them typed out, the differences from PE started to emerge. Chuck D is the militant orator, proselytising mid-battle and on the hoof, but Michael Franti raps like he's in a lecture theatre, reading verbatim from his painstakingly written notes. After that, the music starting to signify: contemplative, repetitive but soothing, carefully organised to sound like the antithesis of the stupefying and haphazard media misinformation that's got Franti so pissed. Chief among the musical gifts here is Music and Politics. A totally surprising all-timer (on firsall-timer jazz rap that can hang with the best of its type. Scored big for The Winter of the Long Hot Summer too. Never hurts when the 7 minute track is one of the best.

Muito tempo ouvindo rap não é pra mim. Pelo menos tem um sample de California über Alles

This is an emigma, its technically a decent album. Good instrumentals and voice, and would be best suited playing at night, but just couldn't get into it. Felt bored after the first half and got a bit repetitive. It's a 5 but as I didn't enjoy it, 2 stars.

Amazing that the message is still relevant. TDHoH, PE, BDP, KRS-ONE, Marvin Gaye… etc - the list can just go on and on. Black political music has long been speaking truth to power and yet goes unheard. I hope that messages like this will no longer have to be recorded.

Cool ! Alleen te lang

Oooh heerlijke rap vol politiek, bartje wou dat hij zo hard kon spitten

Whole album not on spotify

This is pretty dope. Some hard truths on here that is still felt today.

Political hip hop is not really my jam. Spoken word at an open mic night - sure.

It’s start promisingly enough, but quickly became repetitive and tedious. Boy this album os long on its very one dimensional. These guys have a message and they are gonna beat you over the head with that message for a full hour. Cuz see they are smarter than you, they see things you don’t see and understand the world in a way you do not, got it? Maybe this would be more palatable if they were so condescending in their approach. And actually at time the lyrics are laughably bad. Atrocious even. Listening to this so many years after it was released you could suggest the lyrics were prophetic but the truth is that simply nothing has really changed. They fancy themselves as political poets, in reality they are just a shit imitation of other bands who have done this type of thing much better.

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

interesting album with alot of smart content

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

Can't say i liked it. Usually conscious hiphop is exactly my bag, this however, wasn't it. The rapper had the charisma and flows of a piece of wood. His subject matter, politics, felt forced, boring, his analysis very much just pointing out the bad with no real point, as i don't understand how this would inspire anybody. I completely agree with pretty much every point he makes, it's just so boringly made. Beats were decent though, but not enough to put this above 1 star.

Really great lyrics but unfortunately it does not flow.

Great lyrics, but it doesn't flow as well as songs

Lyrics are respectable, but this was not the way to share these words. The music is dreadful and I can’t justify anything more than a single star rating.

This is hardly music, sounds more like a sermon or ted talk

Sick! Pretty sure this is Chuck-D from Public Enemy... Sounds like him. Maybe a side project? Decent, political hip-hop, gotta love it! 4/5

Very much of its time, early 90s but late 80s and early 90s influenced. Nation of Islam, racial tensions and the likes of Public enemy and Gil Scott Heron are all over this album but just not executed with their skill. This album sounds like public enemy if there was no chuck D and they let flava flav do all the vocals. \"Bail out the banks Loan art to the churches Satanic Reverses\" is one line I could hear people saying today in music or in a protest but still the song is not great. Television, the Drug of the Nation is a worse the revolution will not be televised. \"Faggot, sissy, punk, queen, queer Although he'd never had sex in his 15 years\" but again a pretty bad song overall. The rapping is bizzare, it is like he is not really rhyming at all deliberately I assume or like jean ralphio I dunno. \"I give the rich a giant tax loophole I leave the poor living in a poophole\" just terrible. \"1 - terrible, can't stand. 2 - not for me but doesn't hurt my ears. 3 - decent, could stick on again. 4 - enjoyed it, will listen again. 5 - absolute belter\" 1 - terrible, can't stand

Having never heard of this group, I cautiously hoped it would be a hidden gem of early 90’s rap/rock cross over à la RATM because i) a non black member suggested a move away from solely rap/hip hop ii) based on the name I assumed it would be a political/social commentary driven record. What I did find, but wasn’t overly surprised, was a pile of contrived political and social bolloxology that isn’t really relevant anymore. The “rap” or “hip hop” that could have saved this album is more in line with an amateur midweek poetry slam night. Lyrics such as “Before the world went Completely blind When people grew bald naturally No mutations Unlike Skinheads And chemo-therapy patients” are truly inspirational. “Music and Politics” caught me by surprise with some jazzy upbeat grooves. This album is totally un-listenable for me. The highlight of the album was when I chuckled to myself thinking the main guy reminded me of Fur-Q from Brasseye. “You gotta kill people to respect people...but eh...you can’t kill everybody eh...because you wouldn’t have anybody left to respect if you did”

disco genérico de rap

This genre is not for me, especially from this era, but wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt and give it a fair listen. These guys are taking about some interesting issues but they are not doing it in an entertaining or skilful way. Some songs are straight up history lessons, all are very preachy. Overall I found it monotonous, apart from the musical song "music & politics" which was different but still awful. There were some attempts of humour throughout but much more needed to make it less of a tirade. "Why most people think Central America means Kansas". Self righteous, unpoetic.

Jazzy and political. Sounds like Public Enemy. Songs range from ok to bad but some redeemable qualities. I like California Uber Alles but I'd much rather hear the original. The jazz in Music and Politics is nice but the lyrical overlay sucks. Why are they all so long? Some variation would be nice. Honestly the best song is Television The Drug of the Nation. If the others were like it (and shorter), I would rate the album higher.

wow barras

Remarkable for 1992. Style a little like Blue Scholars. Really good.

Dreadful. This is just noise, not music. No redeeming features.

4/5 - good for what it is and what it was

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.

I didn’t care for the music, but the message is great and still very relevant.

Good messaging, but meh execution.

Revolutionary hip hop. kinda like a mix of Gil Scott heron and rage against the machine. no stand out song unfortunately

It's pretty incredible to listen to a hip hop album from 92 that is this scathingly critical of raps tropes from that era (like the homophobia, predilection for violence, capitalist boasting, etc). And it's all backed by a very fascinating collection of jazzy, bluesy yet at times industrial beats. It's a great and truly prescient album. You'll be shocked at how relevant the lyrical work is from the very get go and it's a great shock.

The kind of hip hop I really like, jazzy beats and deep, meaningful political lyrics, will probably have this on repeat for awhile

Wow. Powerful, direct, and fearless lyrics that were also philosophical and, at times, prophetic. Starting with satanic verses Tv and Garage beats with a unique sound.

Not every song available on spotify

Political art in the form of music! I just wish Spotify had the full album. Absolutely love it! I’m also finding it hard to believe this is the same guy from Spearhead. Favorite tracks are “Satanic Reverses” (I’m a sucker for any jazz tinged hip-hop) and “Television The Drug of the Nation”.

"Television, the Drug of the Nation" was the only song that sounded familiar. This was a new album and artist for me. I liked it more than I thought I would. The opening track, "Satanic Reverses" was my favorite track, followed by "Television...". Some of the tracks were hard to distinguish from the next track. It was good to hear this album, but I'm not sure that I'd listen to the whole thing all at once again.

I was unfamiliar with them tbh which is a shame. Going in I was very intrigued by the album art. This was great, definite 4 stars. I dig the music and everything, plus the lyrics are fantastic. And in a weird bit of timing, I saw an old concert lineup flyer for a club this morning and the very first band listed was this one. (others: Public Enemy, RATM, Redman, KMFDM, Pantera, No Doubt, FEAR)

It was great to finally get a hip hop album

not all songs available on Apple Music. not my kind of music

Smart, well-produced, and good!

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

Eh… idk… I feel like any profound radical edge this might have had at the time is kinda cliched and dated now. Like, the things he’s saying are still mostly true, it’s just they’ve been said a million times and mostly been done better

Not great

fantastic album, highly recommened.

society, television phone bad

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

Very old style rapping. Not particularly aged well. The songs drag on and are a bit boring, some are 8 min and the same flow all through gets a bit bland. no doubt an important record in its time.

Bad, did not find one song that was enjoyable on the whole album.

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.

1/5

Interesting lyrics and was especially interesting to hear about the issues that were being faced in 1992. Especially since so many of them are sadly still problems 30 years later. That one song about television being bad for you, interesting how it's just become so much more part of our society and we're worried about smart phone and social media these days. However, I didn't really enjoy listening to it. The rapping didn't ever really change flow or tempo and it was all a bit repetitive

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.

Top album. Touches upon themes and topics that feel very different from other hip hop albums I'm familiar with, great structure and the instrumental side hits on pretty much every track.

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.

I C U

Whole thing isn't on spotify. I'm not sure why. I actually enjoyed what was on there more than I thought I would.

Political hip hop - seriously needs some editing. Best Tracks: Television the Drug of the Nation, Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury, California Uber Alles

Siempre los topé porque en la hagiografía de Nirvana se sabe que abrieron algunas fechas. Ahora veo que suenan a un Public Enemy que samplea Talk Talk, capaces de tener groove, con un flow mitad Gil Scott-Heron, mitad Chuck D. Sampleos brillantes, la neta. Todo de lo que cantan ya es como lugar común liberal, pero en su momento sí estaba rompedor.

derivative as shit

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

Interesting to listen to some of Franti's earlier stuff. I enjoyed it a lot, but still think to really appreciate him as an artist you need to see him live.

4 songs unavailable on Spotify. I'm not liking this so far...talking over a beat with verbal samples mixed in.

Sounds like the definition of conscience rap.

Edgy will smith

3.8 maybe very Public Enemy

JLAC giveth with the Smiths. JLAC taketh away with hip hop. Its alright. Very of its time- like an edgy Will Smith. Some interesting samples and lyrics but i wasn't blown away by it. 2/5

Really good lyrics

No sé, nunca había escuchado algo así, hip-hop como con jazz e industrialón (?). No me desagradó, pero no sé si la novedad es suficienate para que los vuelva a escuhar. Me gusto Satanic Reverses y Water Pistol Man.

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

3.9 - the lyrics on this record read more like an issue of the Economist than a rap album. Songs deal with a very broad swath of hot button “controversial” issues of the era - immigration, environment, homophobia, television, consumer culture, fame obsession, fundies, white supremacy...these issues are still very much ones that plague us today (with the exception of television). In terms of sonics, there’s much to admire. Vocals are put way way out in front of the mix and the lyrics punch through crystalline clear. MC delivery is smooth and even. Much preachier, much headier, much more left leaning politically, more forward-thinking especially in its condemnation of homophobia, not especially violent or menacing in a physical manner, less gangsta, more well read, drawing in historical perspectives. At the same time, there are lots of dilentattish moments where he gets a little lost in his own head. Also the production/beats on some of these songs is often tinny and basic. For all its strengths and warts, I can say it sounds unlike any other hip hop album I’ve heard.

Great beats. Michael Franti does his rapping professor thing. TIL Charlie Hunter was involved with this. Dead Kennedys cover is great too. Spotify is missing some of the tracks but I found them as uploaded videos in YouTube.

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.

what is this name

Lo triste de escuchar este disco es ver que no mucho ha cambiado desde 1992 respecto a los problemas sociopolíticos, pero también, extrañamente, se sienten envejecidos ciertos reclamos, quizá más por la forma que por el fondo (ejemplo: esto de la televisión como la caja idiota, pues está un poquito pasado de moda). En ese sentido, sería interesante una "actualización" del disco. Musicalmente, me gusta que haya distintos beats, hace que el disco suene diverso e incluso se permite desvíos más importantes como en "The Winter of the Long Hot Summer" o en "Music And Politics". El final del álbum también es un poco dark. Disfruté sobre todo "Langue of Violence", "Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury" y "Socio-Genetic Experiment". 7.5/10

Coñazo, como todo el hip hop?

A fine example of what is called Rhythm & Poetry. The production has a lot of the common places of the times but works exceedingly good. But is the message that carries this to other level, damn those lyrics are powerful. MC states everything he wants to say with carefully and in a most direct way. Makes me sad that the diagnosis this lyrics correctly carry has more than 20 years around and situation has only gotten worse. This, I needed to listen before I died.

Not a big fan of this one. It feels more like a monologue over a beat more than a rap album.

This shit was dope from start to finish!

The first track hits hard. Angry anti-establishment anti-religion political hiphop. Could have been written yesterday. Some of the songs are definitely long winded and after a while you realize each song is a political monologue... it gets a little exhausting. By Music and Politics it gets very exhausting.

3

Great lyrics. Jazzy melodies. Current

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.

Straightforward, yet so deep.

Not for me.

just kinda exhausting to listen to

The scary thing is a lot of this could have been written yesterday, almost 30 years later. I enjoyed the intensity and clarity of purpose.

Never done heard it before. It’s great

In the vein of Public Enemy. I like the atmospheres created here. Wish this style of social/political protest music was able to catch on more.

I want to like this more than I did, I appreciate these themes in hip-hop but the lyrics are so bop-you-over-the-head that there's no nuance and it isn't interesting at all to me. Sounds alright though.

Just not a big fan.

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

"Satanic Reverses" would've been a favorite of mine back when this was released. It's a damn shame I missed out on this album at the time. "Television the Drug of the Nation" is another highlight.

There's some good production here, but I'm sorry, this is some of the corniest rapping I've ever heard. Maybe back in the day it was better received, but the years have made the lyrics really surface level. Maybe you had to be there.

Did not enjoy. Just not in the mood for political rap

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

Didn't hold up as well as I'd hoped.

don't think it holds up today

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

This dude was ahead of his time. Better musical poetry than most

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

Not Bad. Actually good. Message is good, and topical. 4.5

Class album, similar vibes to public enemy. Just maybe a song or two too long

Very Public Enemy-esque

It's socially conscious rap, which I'm usually into. The guy has a nice voice, and at its best, it reminds me of Public Enemy, but this album needed a good producer in the worst way. The beats are uninteresting, some of the flows are wack, and he needs to do something besides repeating the name of the track for every single hook. Some of them are catchy, many are not. For example: "Medical racist social statistics / Has everyday life become a health risk?" doesn't even mean anything, and he says this same phrase like 20 times in an otherwise pretty good track. I think my major problem with it is that he can be clever, but he thinks everything he says is clever, and there's a difference. Best track: Satanic Reverses

Reminds me of a young chuck D

Dope!