Bush Addresses the Country's Energy Problems

Given the follies of the last seven years, it's hard to imagine how George Bush could become any more irrelevant in today's political climate; however, he's managed to do it again.  Today Bush held a press conference, declaring a call to action from Congress to address the country's current oil and gas crisis.  If the crisis has taught us anything, it has imparted on us the indisputable fact that dependence on oil for fuel is a zero sum game.  Alternative energy sources, whatever they may be, are the only long term solution to our current energy problems.  Yet, in the face of this obvious fact, Bush's recommendation to congress is to lift a number of restrictions on drilling for oil.

Really?  More drilling?  This is the answer to rising fuel costs?  Bush's proposal is both surprising and expected; surprising in that the proposal to drill more only further increases our dependence on oil, and expected because big oil companies stand to benefit from the proposal over the long term.  

Bush's proposal mirrors that of Republican presidential candidate John McCain.  This is unfortunate for McCain.  The average American Republican who feels the financial pain at the gas pump on a regular basis must know that more drilling isn't going to help.  McCain should be distancing himself from Bush in any way he can, not embracing a flawed energy policy recommended by him and his lame duck administration.  McCain, if you're going to win in '08, you'll have to do better than that.

Proper Beat: 'One Day' by Jeru the Damaja

A Proper Beat is the antithesis of a Wasted Beat.  It's a song whose lyrics blend with the underlying track in such a way that an original artistic work is created.  The message of the work is elevated beyond the ego of the artist, telling a compelling story in a musically moving way that evokes strong emotion in the listener.  A Proper Beat is not about bling, glory, fame or status; it's about authentic artistic expression that makes your head bob.  Proper Beats pay the appropriate homage to the tracks they sample, giving fresh perspective to time honored classics.

'One Day' is such a Proper Beat.  Jeru's track from the album 'Wrath of the Math' is an all too short tale of treachery and malice that describes the kidnapping of Hip-Hop by the likes of Puff Daddy and Foxy Brown.  The metaphor is obvious: Hip-Hop is being held hostage by greedy phonies who are only interested in their own financial gain.  Hip-Hop is eventually rescued by Jeru and his crew, unmasking the kidnappers by noticing Foxy Brown's fake alligator boots.  The narrative is clever and provides a clear message: desecrating hip-hop with greed and self indulgence is a serious offense to the art form.

Jeru and his music are about authenticity and originality.  He is a poet and a self proclaimed prophet.  Prophet may be a bit strong, but his heart is in the right place.  Although Jeru's more recent works have lacked the punch and grittiness of 'Wrath,' he will always command respect of the genre's hard-core fans.

More on Wasted Beats...

As a general rule, I think it's important to offset negative criticisms of anything with positive examples that portray the antithesis of that which is being criticized. In my case, it's only appropriate to provide examples of what I believe to constitute great hip-hop. That said, I realize that some of the examples I'll ultimately provide could be considered by many as that which I so harshly criticize: the abhorrent 'wasted beat.'

Let's be fair, my hip-hop heroes aren't entirely guiltless when it comes to offensive lyrics, shameless self promotion, or the glorification of materialism. Tupac, Jeru, Guru, and The Beastie Boys have all written lyrics that use language or convey a message that won't be appropriate for consumption by my children for many, many years. Misogynistic messages, profanity, and the veneration of drug money are prevalent themes in many of the songs written by some of my favorite hip-hop artists; however, as is the case with all things in life, each artist's work should be viewed in all relevant contexts.

When making criticisms or endorsements of any artist, it's important to do this in the context of the artist's entire body of work. Although Tupac had some really nasty things to say about Biggie, he gave unequivocal praise to women in 'Keep Ya Head Up.' Although The Pharcyde places a great deal of emphasis on marijuana use (to the extreme extent that one of the band members claims to expose his son to marijuana use on their album Labcabincalifornia), they are still able to convey largely positive messages through their gifts of humorous storytelling and unique prose.

In general, the body of work plays a large role in distinguishing the truly gifted artists from the one-hit-wonders that plague the hip-hop airways today. Even the greatest musicians aren't immune from releasing at least one song that falls well short of the mark of their musical potential. It's the ability of these artists to move us with truly unique works of musical art that separates them from the grubs that taint our ears with wasted beats.

Obama Loses the Texas Primary

Yesterday morning I voted for Obama in the Texas primay, then went back in the evening to vote again in the caucus. Texas makes it a point to do things differently than the rest of the states, so we have both a primary and a caucus. In Texas, a portion of the delegate votes are determined by each, thus it's important to vote in both.

I actually took my daughter with me to the caucus because I wanted her to experience firsthand part of the democratic process. The poll was at the public library, and, as we drove up, we could already see a long line forming out the building. Normally I avoid lines at all possible costs; if there is a wait at a restaurant, I usually go to another restaurant. However, this line I didn't mind. As we waited and the line started moving, we saw a huge crowd of people gathered inside. As we got closer, one of the staff instructed us that the line to vote for Obama was on the left, Clinton on the right. After getting a closer look, the Clinton line was modest, while the Obama line stretched the entire length of the library and started wrapping around the back... good sign.

As we waited, my daughter made friends with another little girl there with her parents, looking at books and discussing little girl topics. Her parents and I spoke about the housing market in Austin, local schools, and Battlestar Galactica. Call me a sap, but I felt a true sense of camaraderie and community as I shared stories and common concerns with other parents in my voting district. Again, I felt like this was the process at work, and we were participating in a truly historic election, where the first black man or first woman could be elected President of the United States.

As the hour drew later, eventually the polling staff allowed people with children to head to the front of the line. I signed my name for Obama and we headed home. My daughter got to bed late, but that's OK because she was by my side as I cast my vote. I got to bed late as I watched the pundits track the votes as they came in. It didn't look good for Obama... they had already declared victories in Rhode Island and Ohio for Hillary. Right before midnight, NBC declared the same for Texas... bummer.

There is still a great deal of hope for Obama. Despite these losses, the pundits say Hillary still has an uphill battle in terms of winning delegates. I hope so. And, the jury is still out on the Texas caucus. This morning, with 35% of the caucus votes in, Obama is ahead at 55%. I'm crossing my fingers...

What are Wasted Beats?

I'm a huge fan of hip-hop; have been for years, although I've become increasingly frustrated and disappointed with what's being played on the radio these days. Granted, radio is becoming less and less relevant in terms of new and original music (it's certainly not where I go for new tunes), but it's still a place where many very talented artists get their starts. Unfortunately, it's also become a haven for hacks and thugs, where the ability to ramble about bling and bitches supersedes true artistic talent and sincere social commentary. Hip-hop isn't just about the tracks and the beats; it's also about the content of the message and the prose in which it's conveyed. All too often a good track or beat is wasted on a worthless, unoriginal, inarticulate rant of self promotion and hubris.

This is where I got the term 'Wasted Beats,' and thusly the name of the blog. This blog, like many others out there, will include musings about just about anything, but one of the themes I'd like to consistently cover is the promotion of good hip-hop, and, conversely, calling out the hacks that give hip-hop a bad name. So, who gets called out first? Although this hack's single has been out for a while, a good friend of mine has this track as a ring tone on his phone, so my hatred for this song has a special place in my heart.

WASTED BEAT #1: The Way I Live by Baby Boy Da Prince
This song has a fantastic track; if only 2Pac were still around. Unfortunately, Mr 'Da Prince' massacred it with his hit single 'The Way I Live.' Let me say this loud and clear: anyone who feels compelled to not only stack and count their money, but also advertise the self absorbed act to the rest of the world has some serious insecurity issues (that goes for you too Floyd Mayweather Jr.!). The message in this song is deplorable, as is the case with most wasted beats. Young men out there, pay attention... life is about much more than being a pimp, rolling in spinner dubs, and stacking Benjamins!!!