jadakiss' single 'why?' - is this subversive or just trite?

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subversive because its essentially a pop song that flirts with political commentary.

trite because those politically/socially suggestive questions are side by side with completely random ones, and jada doesnt really do much other than ask, which is actually quite fine with me, as at least hes trying to provoke *some* sort of thought, but any naive school kid on the bus could do the same.

― splooge (thesplooge), Friday, 6 August 2004 11:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I find it trite. The "why did Bush knock the towers down" line is hardly political commentary, more just a mini shick tactic, with no other line in the song to back it up or explain why he'd feel so cynical. And the "why?" sentiment doesn't exactly add up to "blowing in the wind" reflection.
It's a sad commentary on (radio) hip hop when this song is considered daring just because it has that line, and one about crack's effect. He's certainly no Chuck D.
It's also one "conscientious" song on an album otherwise about his dope skills, drugs, sex and money. A gimmick, in other words.

― paulhw (paulhw), Friday, 6 August 2004 11:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I think it's both - and that's the beauty of it!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 6 August 2004 13:15 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe its subversive simply because its being played on pop radio in the US.

― splooge (thesplooge), Friday, 6 August 2004 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

M@tt OTM. splooge coming around. paulhw needs help with fun.

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Friday, 6 August 2004 13:30 (twenty-one years ago)

what I like about it are the apolitical punchlines and the tinkerbell Havoc beat anyway.

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 6 August 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

hey, i have fun. erm, jadakiss and radio hip hop just don't provide many kicks. if you can find fun in it, point me in the direction...
have you heard the new viktor vaughn - that really is fun, in a twisted kind of way.

― paulhw (paulhw), Friday, 6 August 2004 14:04 (twenty-one years ago)

i sympathise with paulhw. i love jadakiss though, just think he makes bad records ill-suited to his talents.

viktor 2 isnt much fun, but it is good.

― splooge (thesplooge), Friday, 6 August 2004 14:07 (twenty-one years ago)

no fun in jadakiss dictating u.s. mint policies, seeing as how he has all the old $20s? if there's no fun there then my name's not Biz Markie.

― Biz@Markie (Begs2Differ), Friday, 6 August 2004 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

it's had great publicity from one random line that someone's said is 'political'

― addy, Friday, 6 August 2004 18:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I read the title as "is this subversive or just trife".

It's really just tripe.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 6 August 2004 18:21 (twenty-one years ago)

http://villagevoice.com/issues/0433/clover.php

real deep, maaaaan

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Monday, 16 August 2004 19:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Just heard this and was surprised to actually kinda dig it. I'd say "subversive," being that he'd gotten away with including the line about Bush knocking down the towers.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 16 August 2004 19:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Is this the tune that sounds like Luther Vandross, because that fucking sucks, subversive or not.

― Jimmybommy JimmyK'KANG (Nick Southall), Monday, 16 August 2004 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

This song is reason #2,386,049,176 why political songs just aren't any good anymore.

― Mr. Snrub, Monday, 16 August 2004 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

luther vandross? jadakiss? wha?

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 August 2004 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

It does sound like Nicole Richie's dad. Erm, Luther Vandross, I mean. Too.

Bored the living shit out of my fine rear end, I tell ya.

― I'm American, Tuesday, 17 August 2004 09:36 (twenty-one years ago)

five years pass...

i listened to this in the car this morning and got so infuriated i don't think i can ever listen to jadakiss again.

i mean i've heard the song before but for some reason "why won't they give us a cure for aids" or whatever just sent me over the edge. what a cunt

― pollos da don (tpp), Monday, 10 May 2010 11:52 (fifteen years ago)

why?

― no fear, Monday, 10 May 2010 12:28 (fifteen years ago)

still think the dude is the best lyricist in the game today, rip though

― Did you in fact lift my luggage (dyao), Monday, 10 May 2010 12:30 (fifteen years ago)

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