Monday, April 06, 2009

Please don't stop the music.

Hey everybody. It's Monday, and you know what that means--it's Music Monday time! This weeks selection is Hate it or Love it by The Game featuring 50 cent. Once again, I must warn you about the language in this song. I found a version that had all the questionable language taken out, but I thought that made it difficult to figure out what was going on. This is because in addition to the cursing, MTV took out any references to violence or illegal activity. Both of these things apparently figured prominently into both guys' formative years, so I think it is important that we the listeners be able to hear them. As always, I found the lyrics for you and you can read along as the song plays here.
Sidenote: Apparently some of my readers visit my blog at work, and so they don't want to play music videos at their desks, to avoid giving the impression that they are doing anything other than diligently working. First, let me say thanks for making me a part of your day, even at the risk to your livelihood (:

Second, if you can't listen now, you should make sure to come back when you're in the comfort of your own home. I've even tagged all of the Music Monday entries, so you can just click on that little label below this post--and all the videos will come up.



A couple of things about this song. I first heard it when I was driving home in my car. I (like most others I would suspect,) was immediately drawn in by the beat. Then there's that catchy chorus:

"Hate it or love it the underdog's on top,
and I'm gon' shine homey until my heart stop.
Go ahead envy me-- I'm rap's MVP
and I ain't goin' nowhere so you can get to know me"

Talk about a refrain to keep people pushing forward, I love it.

But the moment that I still remember 3+ years later is when The Game says, "When I'm in the booth and get exhausted, I think 'What if Marie Baker had got that abortion? I love you, Ma'"

That line stopped me in my tracks. I thought, "Yeah, what if that had happened? This song wouldn't exist, for one."

Fast forward to today. I just saw a report from the CDC that said that in 2003 36% of the women getting abortions were black. I don't have any reason to believe that number has decreased significantly in the past six years, do you? And faithful readers of my blog know that black people are what percentage of the population in the U.S.? That's right--12%. So that's three times more likely.

I'm not trying to make some statement about abortion, but I have to say that really bums me out.

I have more to say about this, but I think I'll leave it for another day.

You know what doesn't bum me out? Comments.
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Posted by myblackfriendsays at 9:31 AM
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2 comments:

  1. I'd have a field day with this one but let's keep it short.

    First of all, you amaze me. Now getting down to the point. This song, when I first heard it, moved me. I see it as a metaphor of the average African American man's battle. The battle that the most challenged specimen in our society has to endure to succeed due to centuries of subordination, discrimination, and outright "racishm" which in today's society exists institutionally. In the song they cite battling from a young age with unstable family issues, poverty, lack of a role model, lack of parents, neighborhood violence, loss of friends, and most of all envy. Envy from friends, neighbors, and others in society that create institutionalized "racish" factors to limit or just about guarantee the destruction of his progress. However, "hate it or love it," when he succeeds, in reality it's IF he succeeds, against all these odds, and makes it to "the top," he considers himself The Don. And I don't blame the guy. Anyone who battles all such odds as the typical African American man has to do, especially one who has to grow up battling all the above listed throughout their lives starting from such a young an innocent age, they should surely consider themselves a "Don" and deserves to "shine" or tote their pride "until their heart stops." While gloating is not humble, you can't blame a person for having such an ego. Especially one that has achieved such an accomplishment- from rags to riches. See definition of New Money. That song still inspires me until today for some various similar reasons.
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  2. PS: The Hate It or Love It term is there to show the swagger/confidence that such an Afro American has to have within in order to be able to successfully battle such odds and make it to Don status. Don is then used as a metaphor of his perception of a success person. A leader. A ruler. Example: Maximus in Gladiator battled slavery, lions, humans, death of loved ones, and an emperor. With similar "hate it or love it" confidence/swagger throughout, to eventually reach Don status and shine until his hear stopped. Unfortunately, he ultimately shined for only 3mins before his heart stopped post his elimination of his last obstacle: The Emperor.
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