Smart & Angry

There’s only so much an individual can take before they throw their hands up and give up due to exasperation.

This is the way I feel about politics. (Though these contemplations definitely apply to other issues!)
I’ve always been curious about the state of domestic and foreign affairs and have tried to maintain a level of awareness that, as an American citizen and registered voter, I need to make conscientious decisions about at the ballot.

Well fuck me three times to Dallas if I continue to give a damn for one more minute. Between loud-mouthed, arrogant pundits hogging up the TV screens, unrelenting politicians refusing to compromise on vital economic laws and regulations, foreign powers deeming it to perfectly OK to refuse statehood and dignity to a marginalized group and the slow death of our butt-buddy the European Union, is it so surprising that I am ready to renounce any interest in world affairs?

Politics has always been a contentious field, and I feel as though anyone on the playing field must be there due to insanity. I’ve even caught myself wondering sometimes why I continue to be so intrigued and vocal about matters when at the end of the day society is still deconstructing towards chaos.

Civilized beings my ass.

The premise this site is built on, “when intelligence goes up, happiness goes down”, speaks beyond the cynicism and jadedness that awareness brings upon an individual. It’s human nature, and has been a steadfast theme in our historical and spiritual traditions.

I guess I can use the story of Adam and Eve: they ate the forbidden fruit of knowledge and were kicked out of Paradise.  

Even God thought it better we remain in blissful ignorance than pained awareness.
Yet this is no excuse to be lazy and unconscious and now my thinking shifts. We’re here on this temporary plane and have only so many years before we return to the empty ground of which we sprung out from. We were kicked out of Eden and given conscience and doubt. There’s no such thing as Paradise or Perfection on our broken stage...only understanding and acceptance. Maybe that’s the point?

Ultimately, we’re better off a little unhappy but aware. Growth is imminent in a worldly education; to refrain from seeking the bigger picture is to stunt the glorious potential we still have yet to fulfill.
13th century mystic and poet Rumi said, “If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?”

It’s among the most pitiful of human sins to refuse to budge from our safety nets and keep our minds closed off.

So after all of this frustration, I guess I can’t say I’m completely fed up. From politics to art, philosophy and God—the continued search for enlightenment and growth is what sustains us, and it is my inspiration.

-Ev

“As far as ‘The Fire’ is concerned, we wanted to balance the record out also, with a sign of hope, a ray of hope. ‘The Fire’ is almost an anthem, if you will. It’s like a hang-on-in-there, if you will, for us.”

-Roots drummer and co-producer ?uestlove on MTV News

The past few Roots albums have been pretty dark, almost depressing, which I tend to lean towards in my personal outlook. From 2pac speaking addressing urban economics, Blu rapping for the blue-collar workers, or even Kanye's bitterness towards college on his first album, I like when artist try to stand for something with an opinion. While we have whiny rich guy sleepy rap (Drake), emo scream over horrible production (Eminem), and overly exaggerated thugtastic music (too many to list), my choice for album of the year is The Roots-How I Got Over. It's dark, rustic, and moody, while not compromising with overly synthesized sounds, auto-tune, and club bangers.

"The Fire" at first glance sounds like the standard fare of a Do good and things will be ok" song. However when you listen closely its more in vein of "Stuff sucks, but you still gotta try hard" .The music video itself doesn't pull any punches back, its violent and unforgiving, in the same theme as M.I.A. - Born Free Video.

While the video may seem like a just a sad fare of prisoners being executed and used for food as the bad guys win at the end, the empty box leaves an ambiguous ending for interpretation of the viewer. While there are no right answers to what the box symbolizes, maybe it has something to do with the line "you don't say good luck, you say don't give up."

So Jimmy Fallon isn't cancelled yet, so thats good for The Roots to still have a day job. However it hasn't stopped them from making records

"How I got Over" sounds a lot more positive than their last album. It's something we need in this F'd up 2009 year..