The Torture MixTape

I’m sure parents everywhere are nodding their heads and saying “I told you so”
In a report by Mother Jones they are reporting that

Music has been used in American military prisons and on bases to induce sleep deprivation, "prolong capture shock," disorient detainees during interrogations—and also drown out screams. Based on a leaked interrogation log, news reports, and the accounts of soldiers and detainees, here are some of the songs that guards and interrogators chose.

Here is the playlist and be prepared to give up any information that they want from you, be it true or not

Fuck Your God- Deicide

Die MF Die- Dope

Take Your Best Shit-Dope

White America-Eminem [download]

Kim-Eminem [download]

The Barney Song-Barney the Dinosaur

Bodies-Drowning Pool [download]

Enter Sandman-Metallica [download]

Meow Mix

Sesame Street Theme

Babylon-David Gray [download]

Born in the U.S.A.- Bruce Springsteen

Shoot to Thrill-AC/DC

Hell’s Bells- AC/DC [download]

Stayin’ Alive- Bee Gees

All Eyez on Me-2Pac [download]

Dirrty- Christina Aguilera with Redman [download]

America-Neil Diamond

Bulls on Parade- Rage Against the Machine [download]

American Pie- Don Mclean [download]

Click Click Boom-Saliva

Cold-Matchbox Twenty

Swan Dive- (hed) P.E.

Raspberry Beret-Prince


So a lot of loud angry yelling music. Plus a sprinkling of way too cutesy with a dash of patriotism and a pinch of David Gray.
Interesting. I think I've found my music for my Black Site party...And oddly enough I think this would be a perfect mix for at least one of my friends- he doesn’t need to know it’s used to torture…

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A Black History Mix

An exercise in exploring the history of black consciousness and history as expressed through music . Far from comprehensive or even really representative but these are some songs I have that I thought would provide a decent enough primer and that I like (and so, obviously should you)






Music for the People:

Sweet Honey in the Rock- Wade in the Water [download]
Robert Johnson- Me & The Devil Blues [download]
Billie Holiday-Strange Fruit [download]
Ike Turner & His Kings of Rhythm- Rocket 88 [download]
Nina Simone-Mississippi Goddamn [download]
Nina Simone- To Be Young, Gifted & Black [download]
Richie Havens- Freedom/Motherless Child [download]
James Brown- Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud) [download]
The Last Poets- Black Wish [download]
Stevie Wonder- Black Man [download]
The Last Poets- Just Because [download]
Gil Scott-Heron- Brother [download]
Public Enemy- Fight the Power [download]
Boogie Down Productions (KRS-One)- Why Is That? [download]
Ras Kass- Nature of the Threat [download]
2Pac- Old School [download]
Dead Prez- Hip Hop [download]
Outkast-Liberation [download]


Who’s up for a revolution?

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Paint the White House Tan

So some big news that brought shock and outrage to a lot of people today (and no, not that Barack compared himself to the anti-Democrat and thus anti-humanity and pro-evil Reagan) but rather because of a joke.
From the Rocky Mountain News

William R. Farr was pretending to read telegrams congratulating this year's award recipient, University of Colorado President Hank Brown, when he pulled out a piece of paper and said, "I have a telegram from the White House."

Then he added, "They're going to have to change the name of that building if Obama's elected."

Witnesses said they could hear people gasp in the ballroom of the Adam's Mark Hotel.

Really?! That was the joke?! Firstly it wasn't really funny.
Secondly I know I'm not easy to offend but I thought with the buildup; this was one of those things where you have to click on a read more link after "I have a telegram from the White House" so I thought it would be like really bad like "And they're fixin' to plant a banana tree in the backyard so the Obama's will feel at home" or something.
Thirdly, we'd have to paint the White House tan or maybe a brownish taupe for Barack (half WASP and all)
Finally, the idea of "painting the White House black" is not a new idea- I mean I remember when I was young reading some children's book about an inner city kid dreaming about becoming President and painting the White House black as a symbol of Black pride or a sign of the end of white European hegemony and privilege or something, I think it was an Ezra Jack Keats' book.
And doing a very quick check, because I knew I had heard a similar sentiment expressed in some old rap song, I thought PE, I found these songs, mostly hip hop that talk about the same thing that Bill Farr did.

From X-Clan: "Xodus"
I hear some niggas talking 'bout they'll paint the White House black
I'd blow the sucker up and pressure on the attack

(featuring similar elements to 2Pac’s Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z )

MC Breed- "Ain't No Future in Yo Frontin'"
If I was the president, then I would state facts
You leave it up to me, I paint the white house black

(wow I actually knew this song! I think it was on a lot back in the day. I’m such an o.g. obvi)

Lil' Wayne- "Knuck if You Buck (freestyle)"
Young mane for President
I'd probably paint the white house black if it was my residence


George Clinton- Paint the White House Black

(featuring Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Yo-Yo, Flava Flav and a Hillary impersonator dancing on tables in the Oval Office. Jesus, the early 90s were weird)

Social Distortion- Don't Drag Me Down
Taking two steps forward
And four steps back
Gonna go to the White House
And paint it black


S.L.A.B.- Ready 4 War
I stay on Barbary and Scott, 5000 block
I paint the white house black, and start renting it out
"Video" (at about 1:42)

DJ Vadim- Ghetto Rebels
No time to idle the rastas are rising black we come to wipe out crack
Paint the Whitehouse black and speak real fast to the children
Expose our government foes who know the truth will never be told
They teach the people the root of all evil while they're stashing all of the gold

And from Snoop Dogg, a Dolomite skit (and I really enjoyed these lyrics)

Yes, This is me,
The bad bad Dolemite
and i'm Ready
to put me,
in the White House
make me the President,
i'm gunna move on my first act
I'm a get me 2000 ragedy ass painters
to paint the mutha fuckin white house black
Dolemite,
for your president
I'm a legalize every mutha fuckin thing

Somebody ask me how do I stand on Marijuana
Very high baby, very high
How do I stand on prosititution
I don't stand on it
I lay on it
im a legalize sellin pussy
Sell it Sell it
Sell your pussy girls
pussy will sell
if pussy don't sell
grits ain't gross
and eggs ain't poultry
and Mona Lisa is a mutha fuckin' man


I also found a few songs about painting the White House pink, which I enjoyed; songs for Hillary, perhaps?
Anyway people are way too sensitive and reading so much into everything in fear of not offending. What I did find offensive though was while continuing to read that article stumbling across this delightful anecdote

Between calf roping contests, a black rodeo clown, Leon Coffee, attempted to rope a calf without success. After an announcer pointed out that Coffee couldn't rope very well, rodeo clown Eddie Hatfield, who is white, responded by saying that Coffee knew everything about roping because his father and grandfather had died at the end of a rope. {Ed. Note WTF?!?!?!}

The exchange outraged a number of spectators, who filed complaints with the stock show and the mayor's office. At the time, stock show officials said that Coffee, a 30-year rodeo veteran, helped write the script for the banter, and that the reference was to the lynching of outlaws and not about slaves or blacks.

And even that isn't nearly as offensive as one of my favorite jokes from The Aristocrats, delivered by T.Sean Shannon

Three women of color, they go into this agent's office. He says, "What do you do?" She goes, "Well, my sister plays the cello. She plays Chopin's third movement, in B minor. I lie on a chaise lounge, naked, reading sonnets from Shakespeare, and my third sister, she makes a painting very similar to Decroix's 'The Girl'."
He says, "Wow, that sounds good, what do you call this act?"

"Oh, we're Nigger Cunts."

insert rim shot...or sound of utter despair and disgust, I don't judge but feel free to judge me. I am a horrible person.

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Making Math Fun(is the)Ky

Yeah, I'm not in love with that title either.

Anyway I think the BWE website had a link to this site and this amazing t-shirt
(that I absolutelty want but don't think I'm ironic or cool enough to pull off) but it reminded me of a link I shared on facebook a month or so ago, the "rap represented in mathematical charts and graphs" site. And though some were repetitive or uninspired and I wasn't familiar with 100% of the references I still really enjoyed quite a few

and so in a form of tribute/ a type of game and because my brain doesn't want to think of anything more creative I'm going to list a few songs and you can see if you can match the song to the mathematical representation
(or just download the following songs; whichever will be funner)

Kelis-Milk Shake [download]
NaS- One Mic [download]
The Notorious B.I.G. (featuring Mase)- Mo' Money, Mo' Problem [download]
Ice Cube- It Was a Good Day [download]
Jay-Z: 99 Problems [download]
Jay-Z: I Just Wanna Love You (Give It To Me)[download]
Ludacris-Act a Fool [download]

2Pac-All Eyez on Me [download]
Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg-Outro [download]
Ben Folds- Bitches Ain't Shit [download]
2Pac- Hit 'Em Up [download]
Wu-Tang Clan- Ain't Nothin' Ta Fuck Wit' [download]

everybody's a winner.

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Tupac: Resurrected

Bentley Green with his single "Hey Mama"

What went through my head upon first watching this: shock, awwww he's so cute, wow how old is that kid?, awww he loves his mom, did he just say "peer?," I wonder who wrote this for him? But the kid was obviously born to be a rapper, I mean Bentley Green; Bentley. Green. His name just smacks of materialism and excess. If this was a few years ago (or back when I was like 8) he already would have had a record deal.

btw, The song he's rapping over and obviously inspired by, is Dear Mama (download) though the chorus he seems to have taken from 2Pac's earlier Keep Ya Head Up (download) which is tremendous all around considering this kid was born like 5 years after he died. And people don't believe in reincarnation with such evidence.
Just a word of advice to Bentley though, if you ever encounter any giant men nicknamed Suge, run. Run far and run fast. And hopefully things will work out better this time around...

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Health News, um....Occasionally

(yeah i can't figure out a specific day for these)

• Men's Health recently published an article about 6 Mood Foods that can "help kick your mind into gear." I wouldn't think it would just work for guys so here is what they suggest (you can find the brain chemistry facts in the article):
• If you're anxious eat " Half a grilled-chicken wrap at lunch, hold the mayo"
• Stressed? A handful of sesame seeds while you're working
• Restless? Nonfat popcorn half an hour before you go to bed
• Depressed? Grilled salmon or sushi for dinner
• Insecure? A snack-size chocolate bar
• or if you're Flummoxed (funny word) eat Pineapple chunks for a snack or a cup of berries in your oatmeal
• Though I wonder how anxious, stressed,depressed, insecure or flummoxed (hehe) guys really are. The New York Times has published the results of a study that shows there is a growing happiness gap between men and women with men being much happier in general. One hypothesis for why women, who in a study in the 60s were found to be happier, are now not as content is that now women have much more to do, including working out of the home, but also being primarily responsible for certain household functions and caregiving, being sandwiched by caring for their children as well as their parents, and so with so much more to do than can be done they feel as if their falling short. And it starts much earlier with the pressure to be effortlessly perfect that I know so many of my classmates felt.
• And in a twist that seems totally unfair,in n marital disputes women who keep silent or don't express themselves are much more likely to die of heart disease than those who let out their feelings. So ladies do it with Martha Stewart and just scream for a few seconds, and scream away some frustration. It really helps. Or just don't get married. ugh James Brown is sadly right- It's a Man's World, still (straight man's world)
  
• Or maybe that should be adjusted to It's A (straight) White Man's World (like 2Pac said.) The stress of being a Black man, and the discrimination both real and perceived can lead to a life expectancy that is 6.2 years less than that of white men. In other words the toll of Racism may be physical. In this article you can read about the many contributing factors. It's pretty fucked up.
  
• Videotape has surfaced from an Nambian holiday that shows Prince Harry snorting vodka. I didn't even know that was possible or that people did such things. I can't even imagine the stinging, but I guess if you wanna get really really drunk and are too lazy to swallow this is perfect for you. If you don't care about the potential lethality of such a drinking game. The Royals- they really are different from us.
• But maybe not that different; it seems a lot of Brits are lazy "sods" (i love that word.) A recent British study has shown that only 38% of British adults would exercise more if their lives depended on it. Sounds like they could be Americans- maybe we do share a Special Relationship after all.

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