REVIBE THE CULTURE: Mixtape Masterpiece- Dead Prez' "Pulse of the People"

“YOU CANT BLAME US/THEM DEAD WHITE PEOPLE ON THAT PAPER AINT US/WE STILL GOTTA HUSTLE FOR THE BENEFITS MAN/MY GRIND IS MY STIMULUS PLAN”

DEAD PREZ- “$TIMULUS PLAN” – PULSE OF THE PEOPLE (2009)

Dead Prez declared on their first album, Let’s Get Free, that they were “somewhere between N.W.A. and P.E. Their isn’t a better description of the duo of stic.man and M-1 out of Florida. On album after album, and mixtape after mixtape, the duo has maintained that same aura on the underground scene for a decade. They can declare “fight the power” in one breath and “fuck the police” in the next with the same amount of credibility.

That’s why Dead Prez stands out from most political Hip-hop acts. They are able to implore their listeners to be critical of their choices without being judgmental of those who earn a living in less than righteous ways.

Prez teamed up with DJ green Lantern last year to release the third installment of their “Turn Off the Radio” series entitled Pulse of the People. The tape was released in the advent of the economic crisis of ’08 and the subsequent bail out of the major financial institutions without regard for the home foreclosure that families were feeling at the time.

This mixtape captures the anger, the betrayal, and the angst people were feeling. The result is a mixtape containing some of the same socialistic lyrics and corporate criticism that has become synonymous with the groups style. But there’s a special focus on the affect capitalism had caused in our country, and what that means for those trying to survive on the ground.

On the first track of the tape, “Runnin’ Wild” Prez assumes the persona of a youth making the transition from innocence to criminal activity as a means to survive: “fuck the police!/can’t wait to get to mama house/hopped off the porch old enough for some drama now.” This transition comes from frustration over dwindling job opportunities and being an adequate provider:”I hear all that righteous shit you talking man, fuck that!/I gotta get out here and get this money/my daughter feet grow everyday/aint nobody tryin to give me no jobs.”

Prez’s observation offers insight to the affect of the economic class on workers and working class criminals. On tracks like “ Don’t Hate my Grind,” they delve into the recession and jobless communities of color. They rap, “you have no idea what its like/to got to bed with excruciating pain in your abdomin.” Don’t hate their grind because they “tire of al these companies getting’ bailed out/and the only thing poor people get is another jail.”

On tracks like “Stimulus Plan” they rhyme: you should google/the amero/then the afro/then the euro/anything for that green/it’s a scam/it’s a schem.” Its its an incredible analysis of capitalist financial institutions and imperialism in American history. As a free country built on slavery, it’s hypocritical for American authorities to expect poor folk to use any means to survive.

“You cant blame us/them dead white people on that paper aint us/we still gotta grind for the benefits man/my grind is my stimulus plan.” Thank God for Hip-hop.

*This is The Word…govern yourselves accordingly.

Mac D is a Loyola Marymount University graduate of African American Studies and Political Science out of Oakland, Ca. He organizes union workers and community members in Los Angeles, Virginia, and Texas. Nine years of progressive experience in intercultural competence and diversity training supplemented by effective facilitation and communication skills, conflict resolution training, and the aptitude to convey complex concepts of oppression. He is also Editor-In-Chief for Revibe, LLC.