how do you sell soul to a soulless people who sold their soul?
commentary by chuck d
published between 17 october and 16 november 2002
 
advanced notions | volume 1 • number 6
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published since January 2003 | Advanced Notions (formerly Bonus Writings, a well-received section of patsymooreDOTcom) consists of engrossing 'think pieces' by friends and favorites.

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Alan J. Lewis (Web site • eMail) is a caricature cartoonist with many years of experience drawing cartoons for parties, events, guests and family. (all rights reserved)
 
 
 

 
 
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How do you sell soul to a soulless people who sold their soul?


The answer is that you don't sell it; you will probably have to give it away. The fact is: Today there are folks that could not recognize 'soul' if they tripped on it. This, perhaps, is the result of the diminishing return of black music knowledge and connection with its past. Gospel is moving stronger, but RandB and Hip Hop are more beat-oriented, thus losing a little soul in the process. The topics have been less connected to the people's wants and true needs, while the music has been chopped and stripped down to one music maker instead of a team of musicians, each going for broke with their collective magic, creating what couldn't be done individually. Beat, in the past, was just an aspect of soul. James Brown used every instrument in a moving percussive fashion. Today, cats stare at a James Brown groove. How in the hell can you not feel that? Just like cats not getting Sly, or a solo by Miles. Hip Hop was an introduction of all the music before—especially in the black forum. Now, Hip Hop is cosmetically identifiable by a certain beat. This is crazy. It's almost how our history gets rewritten in much the same way. I'm from the '60s and I remember the soul years, when blackfolk made chains outta soda can tops—something outta nothing—and still were proud. I recently posted a slice of soul off the top of my head on my eBoard. Soul used to be often imitated, hardly duplicated. Especially gut-bucket-screaming soul. Now, it's hardly recognized but has the soul of blackfolk sterilized, packaged and homogenized for the sake of ameriKKKan assimilation and acceptance. You be the judge. Soul is not quiet...


Soulful strut/Holt, young unlimited/Soul man/Sam and Dave /Ain't nothing like the real thing/Marvin/Tammi/Escapism and anything by James Brown/ Ask the lonely/Four Tops/ Walk on by/ Isaac Hayes/Mr. Pitiful/ Otis Redding/Thank you for lettin me Sly/Anything by Gladys/Aretha pre-'76/1% of what I choose to listen to and what I hear in my head/Al Green


I can't get out of the '60s and early '70s...because there was reeeeeeal soul. It's very hard for me to find real soul past 1976.


Before that...blackfolks changed their own car tires and we didn't have thousands of millionaires amongst us showing off. We spread love and $. That's been gone.


Even the real pimps and players, back then, encouraged young folks to go to school and be better.


I consider myself a 'soulman'.


The '90s offered 'beats' but very little soul. Singers merely mimic what little soul they have over loops and beats with little changes.


Whoever got real soul is a 'classic' with me.


Rap has to really bring it to have 'soul'. Beats with no soul need millions of dollars to make it a hit.


But how do you sell soul to a soulless people who sold their soul?


That's the second PE album title in the trilogy.


Bootleg proof (not that I mind) because it's still a thought. Can u dig it?
 
 
 
The leader and co-founder of Public Enemy, CHUCK D is best known for his booming, powerful vocals, his congenial yet forceful personality, and his ability to rap about issues of race, rage, and inequality. Spike Lee has called him "...one of the most politically and socially conscious artists of any generation..."
 
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