Last week, I had the unfortunate timing of being at the gym at the same time a High School JV lacrosse team came in to work out. My run now complete, soon to be free from their adolescent conversations — selfish complaints from the spoiled and wealthy, tempered only by what seemed to be a self-censor put in place to not expose their reality to strangers.
That censor was gone though, as most the adults had left the changing room and I was the only one in the shower to overhear a surprisingly candid conversation among who I assume by their looks were sophomores. A group of about 3 went back and forth declaring their name brand wants, when one kid said this as though he was reading a monologue:
Dude, face it. We buy stuff because of the brand. Most Dockers and Timberlands are basically the same, but we’ll pay 20% more for the Tims. Just because of the name, but that’s cool. We’re privileged, embrace it! We’re not paying for it, so what does it matter. One day, we’ll have to buy that stuff for ourselves; and then one day, we’ll be the ones buying it for someone else.
Yeah, so I’m late on Locksmith. Dude’s been around the block on the underground but I haven’t been checking for him. I say that to say this, I’m not comparing this release to any previous work. Locksmith is an MC through and through. Which is why this album comes off even at its worst as a solid LP representing what mainstream hip hop is missing. Substance.
It took me getting a few tracks into the album to land on the equally instrumental and conflict heavy Stokely Camichael. No one is safe from the “verbal assault weapon” as he likens his peers to the coonery on Meet The Browns.
Easily offended? Then skip Silly Negro where the half black MC goes in on black america, Commander In Chief included. Arguably, rightfully so. Lock cites the media, religion and the youthful “do what I want” motto as the cause for lingering “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.”
There are two polar sides to the so called conscious MC. You’ve got the soft spoken and clever quips of Nas, Common and Talib. And then you have the harsh, aggressive tongue of Dead Prez and Immortal Technique. Lock finds himself nestled right in the middle. He speaks smartly but strongly, with a lot conviction in his words.
Lock directs his frustration with the music industry, or more specifically with terrestrial radio, at Mr Program Director via ”Instead of playing songs, you selling niggas commercials… That’s why I never listen to the radio.“ It’s a beef that’s as old as radio itself. Though I think it’s too focussed on a single point of failure the song is lyrically solid and on many levels transcends genres.
In 100 Millions Views he accurately points out that “There’s some east coast niggas that never heard of me“, it’s like he’s talking about me. In this song though, he kinda hints at a desire to be an attention whore. As if only he’d share more personal thoughts and random happenings in his life he could in fact have 100 million views.
In a world where people get more news and human interaction through Youtube, Facebook and Twitter Attention Whore takes a jab at the human desire for fame. “If everybody’s straight then I’m gay. If everybody’s gay then I’m straight. If everybody’s love then I’m hate. I don’t give a fuck if people talking about me. Long as them mother fuckers keep talking about me.”
Metabolic, he raps. That’s it. No message, no eloquent quip, just the bravado that you’d expect from a seasoned MC. Give me 3 sixteens and a dope beat. I suspect he channeled his inner battle MC on this track. I’m a big fan of substance but know that not all music or artists have to have any. This was a nice change of pace for Embedded.
Give it a listen and if it doesn’t deserve a place in your queue well above the likes of other recently released albums, turn your hip hop card in.
No matter your race, intent or context I find your use of the word Ghetto offensive.
ghetto |ˈgetō|
noun ( pl. -tos or -toes) a part of a city, esp. a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups.
historical the Jewish quarter in a city : the Warsaw Ghetto.
an isolated or segregated group or area : the relative security of the gay ghetto.
verb ( -toes, -toed) [ trans. ] put in or restrict to an isolated or segregated area or group.
Using the term to describe something as cheap or tacky or a person as lazy or apathetic is ignorant and offensive because it links those characteristics to the people that generally live in the quote unquote “Ghetto.” People who live in the ghetto are there due to circumstance, not because they’re cheap or lazy or anything you may consider beneath you.
If I called you ghetto, you’d be offended. Why? Think about it. If you’re misguided however, and think ghetto is cool or something worth aspiring to, you’re fucked up. It doesn’t add character, only exposes your lack thereof.
Outside is Childish’s way of introducing you to what his life was like—explaining how he got to where he is, why he thinks the way he thinks. He’s hoping to shatter your preconceptions. Successful or not, it comes off as self-pitying, feel-sorry-for-me whining. Like much of the album.
Bonfire is a lame attempt at battle rap, with Childish trying to define himself as being as lyrical and clever as he is animated. I doubt he expects his tough talk to be taken seriously, but I still find the over-the-top shock-rap rhymes delivered to be overcompensating for a piece of his personality that he claims to take great pride in. He’s a nice and talented guy, that doesn’t want to be judged for not being a stereotypical tough black guy.
I appreciate All The Shine because he’s honest and being himself—rapping about dick jokes, his lack of fashion sense and being “lame.” That said, the song starts off stronger than it ends and whoever is singing on the hook—it might be Childish himself—needs to be choked.
Just when I was about to say this sing/rap record is going into the trash,Backpackers comes on. So far, this is as hip-hop as Childish can be.
If Childish really wanted to make a point and get people talking, the entire Camp album would sound more like Hold You Down. He says, “White kids get to wear whatever hat they want. When it comes to black kids one size fits all.” His subject matter is biting and honest. His cadence and flow are perfection, as he takes his time to say exactly how he really feels. Being black in America is hard. What’s harder? Being black and not letting that define you. Even when your own community judges you for not living up to a preconceived image.
Sunrise and The Power are decent closeout tracks for the album. Unfortunately, the standout tracks are drowned out by other mediocre ones. Not worth the money or time, in my book. Camp would be better released as a 5 song EP. It would be a solid well rounded extended play.
