UPDATED INTRO:
The first time I heard of Kanye West, he was troubling the waters of higher education matriculation with his freshman release: The College Dropout. Fast forward 16 years (or FOUR election cycles!) and he’s at it again! Only this time, he’s stirring up trouble in the democratic election process. I fired off on ‘Ye back then and I may find myself firing off on him again in the not-too-distant future. Oh snap… it’s definitely about to go down! The title of the poem just came to me: The Electoral College Dropout!
ORIGINAL INTRO:
Until then, take a walk with me back through history.. you may need to dust off that College Dropout CD to remember all the allusions I make to the album. Enjoy!
Kanye West, sensational Roc rapper/producer, has taken charge of a sharp resurgence of creativity and hope within the young Hip-Hop culture that is marred with the sting of a double-edged sword.
All around the city and as far-reaching as the northwestern suburbs, young aspirants are rabidly embracing the image of what this rapper/producer represents: pulling oneself up by his bootstraps and walking the beat less taken. Where doors are normally bolted shut, Kanye has shown that you can get into the establishment of success by many means necessary For Kanye, this included dropping out of college for greener pastures in the rap game. Kanye is the proverbial exception to the rule.
So, at what point do we as a people allow the empowering image of getting an education to be smeared further in the already tainted minds of some of our youth?
At what risk do we promote a career that can overshadow raw talent with being in the ‘right place at the right time’ AND the right network of people with the same stats as professional sports? The chances of being successful as a rapper are about the same as getting to the NBA – period. I don’t feel Kanye’s view by suggesting to our African American youth (and youth in general) to forget about education – a right that we fought, bled and lost lives to achieve?
The success of Kanye’s The College Dropout answers these questions in his highly creative, entertaining way and frank way. Without the knowledge and drive honed through SOME form of education; this concept has its own A&R that promotes an already growing trend of instant gratification. But how is an aspiring youth to deal with high expectations with minimal input without stressing the importance of some type of backup plans? Obstacles arise in ANYTHING worth going after:
Aiight, Kanye – you had a few jokes billed to my expense.
You had some good laughs off college grads with
pokes of ill-content.
But we rolled in the trenches,
took our hits and gradually graduated.
I’m glad you made it, but don’t ruin the path
that lies behind you
By attaching your wrath that blinds youths’ mind to
what you’ve so kindly supplied to the
masses that attacks getting educated.
I made it past the obstacles that
blocked your view with a swift @ss kick.
But even so, I laughed hard at the dude in your last skits.
I have my own hang-ups with the system in place
that I took advantage of.
When my walls fell down from false security,
All hell from tall tales hailed from a farce in obscurity…
So I understand – when it all falls down,
tall gall’s bound to look down from a vantage snubbed.
I was told that a job was promised
If I worked hard and made it through college.
That knowledge was short-lived once Bush stole
erroneous votes with systematic fraudulence.
I wasn’t told that Congress also had a say
in the progress of how I got paid…
After I was laid off I gave some thought to the true lies
behind ceremonious stoles and diplomatic documents.
What one gains with a degree
from a school of hard thoughts
Is the same as the streets that
breed a school of hard knocks.
Hard locks are hard to pop if you don’t
possess key lessons learned.
Keeping your eyes on the prize with a backup plan
Keeps drive alive as long as you stack up plans…
It’s guise is determined in wise discernment when
potential is lessened or returned.
Being told “No” or that “You can’t make it”
Are situations that each of us must be faced with.
Many options are taken to overcome such adversity.
But you can’t turn the key away from a child
Before they’ve latched on to what they
freely see in agreement or denial…
You’re tainting thousands by basting in talcum outcomes
tasted in bitter uncertainties.
You can’t turn kids’ key ridges away
from school with your lyrics.
You can’t burn uncrossed bridges that
sway with such school spirit.
My gift of writing was well prepared in Delaware –
where my alleged legend was placed in.
Your humor was as hilarious as In Living Color –
you kept it hood, ‘Ye.
But when you tarry us, you’re a n*gga, not our brother –
“And I don’t mean that in a good way…”
There are ways out of any circumstance –
one being the pleasant methods of education.
I’ve got two bitter tastes left in my mouth.
One from higher learning, the other from what you
let leak into our culture’s house.
Speakers can speak worse than hearing Big Momma curse –
kids regard them just as high.
It doesn’t matter what stereos they typically own,
What you amplified stereotypically phoned home…
As the tones blown extend a warranty
many children are looking to justify.
You mentioned your grandfather’s sit-ins –
Those types of rallies got us college admissions!
You can’t just diss it with condescendence and get away with it.
You made some pretty rude skits
That can hurt worse than a virgin immersed
in a “Pretty Huge D*ck”…
How you gonna have a PHD with a little Jimmy? –
every style isn’t made to fit.
Play with it – reread that last statement.
I’m not talking about sex, I’m talking about
methods of education.
My man’s in Atlanta getting his Doctorate’s –
little Jimmy belittles Femi.
This cat is a Longshot from his native land,
But he came hear with a stated plan…
His PhD will make his keys to unlock doors with
the stocked force of a Nigerian HEMI.
It’s obvious you’re so self-conscious –
you seemed awfully curt in those skits.
Your production IS monstrous – but you came off like
an offbeat jerk with those riffs.
I’m exposin’ it no matter how phenomenal the
skills are you demonstrate.
I’m glad you revealed your hard aches
before becoming so astronomical.
But my heart aches for kids whose faith in their beats
gets blasted when told they’re nominal…
In Chi-town, they honor you,
but you’ve got a wider account beyond your view –
so watch what you illustrate.
