JOUR 420: B#9

The Motivations of a Sports Fan

Everybody knows those hardcore sports fans in their life. We all have family, friends, and acquaintances who devotedly follow their favorite sports teams and athletes. 

You know that one guy (or girl)...the one who watches every game of their team. The one who knows every player on the roster of their favorite team. The one who competes in fantasy sports leagues with friends and with total strangers...the one who loudly yells and cheers for their team while watching the game on TV or online, even though their team cannot hear them.

Trust me, I know that person, because I am that person...

I am a sports fan...a sports fanatic some might say. I share this common interest with many friends and sports fanatics. I do not share this interest with many other friends, who don't understand why so many people get riled up for sports, because after all, it's just a game.

I admittedly call myself a hardcore sports fan, especially with my favorite sport, American football. But why is that exactly? How did I become a sports fan, and why do I watch sports? Why do people watch sports at all? What motivates the average sports fan? 

In chapter eight of Sports Spectators, author Allen Guttmann goes over the motivations of the sports fan. Guttmann claimed that it's difficult to determine every sports fans motivations as to why they are a sports fan, 

He determined that the sports fans average motivations include economic/money (betting), political motivations, and religious. The most influential and complicated motivation however, is identification.

"As considerations of inclusion in or exclusion from talks about sports suggest, there is also a psychological component at work. Beneath the religious, political, economic, and social motives, all of which have appeared historically with varying intensity and in various forms, there is the need of the observer to identify with the actor," Guttmann wrote (Sports Spectators, 180).

Although all of these motivates are true for many sports fans, I would have to agree that identification is the most powerful motivator.

Why is that? Because sports serve as a representation of the fan -- You represent the team, and the team represents you. When a fan wears an athlete's jersey, they are representing that athlete. When a team wins a game, their fans feel a tremendous amount of pride, because that win represented who they are, represented the city/state they play for (or university if college sports).

So how do we get to that point? How does identification with a sports team come to be anyways? The answer depends on the person, as everyone has their own unique story.

For example, my favorite sports team is the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL). I have been a Steelers fan since I began watching professional football in 2005. So how did a young California kid such as myself, identify with a team across the country that I knew nothing about at the time? I identified with them. Here's how:

1. Family Influence: I had family members who were also Steelers fans. They grew up witnessing the Steelers dynasty in the 1970's, where the team who was known as the "Steel Curtain" helped lead the Steelers to four Super Bowl championships. Watching them root for this team naturally got me more interested in the sport, while growing closer with family.
2. Athletes: Many sports fans become fans of a team after their favorite athlete goes to a certain team. There were many players that I enjoyed watching in that 2005 season for the Steelers...players such as Jerome "The Bus" Bettis, Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Joey Porter, and Aaron Smith. The player that caught my eye the most was Troy Polamalu, a young and explosive safety in the NFL at that time. Being that I am from California, I was a USC fan, which is where Polamalu played college football. This immediately made him my favorite athlete and was very influential in choosing my favorite team.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu and future NFL Hall of Famer.

I identified myself with the team through family and the athletes. It became part of me. In 2009, I would attend my first NFL game -- Pittsburgh Steelers at the Denver Broncos in Colorado -- and the experience was phenomenal. One of the most amazing things about this experience was actually meeting other Steelers fans that weekend...fans who had traveled from California like us, many from Pittsburgh, many from other states all around the country. Even a few Steelers fans from Canada. Even though none of us personally knew each other, there was a sense of family and belonging. Wearing team colors and the same jerseys connected fans together; complete strangers struck up conversations and showed so much love to people they had never met because they were simply part of the "Steelers Nation." We all identified ourselves as Steelers fans and with each other. These are moments that I will always remember.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans during a game.

As time went on, I taught myself the rules of the game. I learned the history of every NFL team. I began collecting football trading cards and sports memorabilia. I started creating my own NFL mock drafts. And I began to play fantasy football three years ago.

This weekend alone, I watched the 2017 NFL Draft. I have been watching the entire draft for years...all seven rounds, since 2008 now. Many fans would have no interest in that, but I do. On Thursday, I had watched the first round at school with a few classmates...my fellow sports friends were in the room, watching intensely with me, while a few other friends who are not football fans, wondered how we could possibly all watch such a boring sporting event for over three hours.

Fans making their way to the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia.

Then I looked at the fans in attendance of the event in Philadelphia this year. The passionately booed and cheered for hours on end, from one day to the next, for hours on end (probably around 10-12 hours total for the three day event). 

Some may call us crazy, but I say that we're just dedicated and loyal sports fans to our favorite team. When I really do reflect on it, Guttmann is right, identification is a powerful thing, and that is the strongest motive that a sports fan can possibly have...take it from me. Hopefully you can understand what may drive the mind of a sports fan a little more now.

JOUR 420: B#7

Lions and Tigers and Bears, (and Dogs and Cocks), Oh My 

I can tell you right now that I'm definitely not talking about Kansas. And this isn't Oz either. Nope, I'm gonna take you back, way back...back into time of England and Great Britain.

Within the first two chapters of Sports Spectators, Allen Guttmann explained the violent world of blood sports, where athletes would fight for survival rather than just fame. All of this would be done in a coliseum as a form of pure entertainment. Some would be put in a ring with lions and tigers. The more bloodshed the better. These sports were simply barbaric.

In chapter three, Guttmann discusses Englishmen and more modern times in sports. One of the sections in this chapter that I am going to focus on most is animal sports. Compared to the book's beginning chapters, we see a sharp change in sports and what was considered moral...we made a change for the better...kinda...well not really.

Bloodsports for entertainment remained, just not as much with humans. Instead of people finding excitement and pleasure in seeing other people murder each other, they found it in watching animals murder each other...which to some people, may actually be worse than people vs. people violence.

Some of the most popular sports in England from the 1600's-1700's included dog-fighting, cock-fighting, bull-baiting and bear-baiting. Although know what dog-fighting and cock-fighting is, as these activities still exist today, bull and bear baiting was the act of capturing either a bull or a bear, and then sending dogs to attack the captured predator. The end result of each of these sports was a fight to the death.

Even Queen Elizabeth was a noted fan of the barbaric animal death rings. "All in all, it was a rude and dirty past-time," Guttmann writes. "Although the middle classes were the first to turn away from the 'butcherly sports,' there were plenty of middle-class Englishmen who relished them." (Sports Spectators, p. 55).

Yeah, this wasn't a whole lot better from those barbaric Roman gladiator days.

The view of these sports have changed greatly since. What used to be entertainment and sport for kings, queens and royalty, is now considered animal cruelty and is an illegal activity.

Seeing anyone take part in vicious activities such as this are rare to hear nowadays. One of the most controversial stories involving dog-fighting and a celebrity athlete happened about a decade ago.

Former Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick

Former Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick was indicted in July 2007 on federal offense and state felony chargers, for his involvment in an illegal interstate dog fighting ring known as "Bad Newz Kennels." Vick was involved with the criminal enterprise for six years.

Vick, at the time of his dog fighting scandal, was one of the most explosive and talented athletes in the NFL.

Vick's 15-acre property in Virginia, which housed over 70 pit-bull terriers, was seized. Vick pleaded guilty and spent two years in federal prison before making his return to professional football.

Vick walking with his lawyers during the 2007 trial process.

The now recently retired QB seemed to have come out of prison as a changed man, deeply regretting the activities he took part in beforehand. However, people never forgot about his actions. Some quickly decided to forgive Vick for his actions, believing that the QB deserved a second chance. while others, such as animal right activists, protested his return to pro football. Many still have not forgiven Vick for his actions to this very day.

Unfortunately, these activities continue to happen all of the time today, not just for entertainment, but for greed and money which comes from betting on certain animals. In the same way how one can find ISIS and graphic terrorists video's online which include blood and death, there are also many video's and photographic evidence of dog fighting, cock fighting, and bear / bull baiting. 

Although these "sports" may not be talked about much today, they still exist, and that's one of the saddest things to know, that so many people continue to participate in these activities. There are many athletes and spectators who dispute the violence in today's professional sports, but they do not compare whatsoever to the brutality of any bloodsport.

JOUR 420: B#6

A Love for Sports or Violence?

Times have changed greatly compared to the old mid-evil times and the gladiator days where Rome ruled all. One thing that has stayed the same since then is the popularity of sports, which were often violent and involved death. Crowds from all around would gather to see sport and death for entertainment. Although we are not as barbaric now, we still enjoy to watch violent sports, and as fans, can get violent if provoked enough.

So what factors separate sports and how we view them today compared to gladiator times? Here are the three main factors:

1. The Sports That Are Played

Sports sure have changed over the years, and thank God that they have. 

Ancient depiction of two Roman gladiators fighting.

In ancient Rome, the only sports that there was were "blood sports" which basically meant that there was some form of mortal combat, where the athletes participating had only one goal -- survive. Common sports back then included chariot races, gladiator duels (a fight to the death between two individuals), and survival rings against wild animals such as lions.

Today, sports are well-organized and highly respected. More than ever before, the health and safety of athletes is a concern and is taken into consideration for violent sports such as American football, hockey and boxing. Helmets and shoulder pads were created to protect both football and hockey players, and a boxing or MMA match is ended with a knockout, not death. As injuries such as concussions have arisen, people have been driven away from contact sports, fearing for the health of themselves or loved ones.

2. What Athletes Play For

Why do athletes play sports? The answers are simply. 

In the old days, athletes played for their life. It's as simple as that. Either kill to win and survive, or lose and die...those are some tough odds.

Clemson football teammates celebrate after winning the 2017 NCAA National Championship.

Clemson QB Deshaun Watson kisses National Championship trophy after victory over Alabama.

Today, high school and college athletes play for many things. They play for pride, for their team, for their family, for trophies, they play to be the best, and they play to win. For professional athletes, many play for a hefty paycheck, while others still do passionately play the game that they love.

3. Why We Watch Them

With all that said, do fans still enjoy violence? Of course they do! Are today's sports still violent? Of course they are! They just are not as barbaric as they once were.

In the mid-evil days, fans would gather around to see blood and death. If death was not involved, they would be disappointed and angered. Now, we watch sports for the stories, the players and the teams that we love most. 

However, as time as passed, new ways have been created to watch and follow sports, such as written articles, radio, television and social media. We are the spectators, and even if we can't attend the game or the event, we can still watch it and know what's happening.

According to Allen Guttmann of Sports Spectators, his definition of a sports spectator is "anyone who views a sports event, either in situ or through visual media such as film or television." (Guttman 5).

It is important to note that watching it at home compared to being at the actual game brings a completely different experience.

Whichever way we view it, one thing that sports has always been is entertainment.

Although we may have cleaned up our act as fans of sport over the centuries, we still are not very innocent. Thankfully, most sports fans do not want to see the death of an athlete, but do enjoy watching the brawl that may occur.

The whole premise of watching a boxing match is to watch people beat each other up; and many of us are attracted to fights. For example, that's why so many students make a big deal out of a school fight -- it causes excitement and an adrenaline rush for the spectator. Even if they are not actually fighting, they are involved in the fight. 

Many people watch football for the big hits and tackles, which are always exciting. And many watch hockey for the fights that commonly take place in between games after two opposing players get into a dispute.

To many, organized violence for sport is just a great form of entertainment. As a huge sports fan, I'm not innocent of this either, but I also have no regrets.

W#3: Live Band Review

Living with the Blues -- You Never Know What You're Going to Get

On March 21, 2017, I took a visit to Matt Denny's Ale House Restaurant in Arcadia, CA, to listen to their Songwriter Serenade, where many local small-name artists perform in front of a full sized crowd every Tuesday night.

People listen to an artist perform during the Songwriter Serenade at Matt Denny's Ale House Restaurant.

Throughout all of the performers on the night, one caught my eye (or rather, my ears) that night. He stood out from the rest of the artists in both his style and charisma.

Thelonius James "TJ" Sullivan has been playing the blues his entire life. While the other artists on the night went with the country, bluegrass and folk music route, Sullivan stayed true to his own unique style, the only style that he's ever known.

TJ Sullivan (left) performing with a band at a small night club.

He showcased his style without any shame by beginning with a song called "Chicken Pie." Combine these songs with a natural-guitar player, and the rough and raspy voice needed to be a blues singer, and you have TJ Sullivan.

At 63-years old, TJ has been playing for about 50 years in the industry, making albums and performing all over the country. He has been a resident of Los Angeles and Burbank since 1976, and has had many projects with bands and other musicians from the Southern California night club scene.

Taj-Mahal

He describes his music as blues, with jazz and southern rock influence. Sullivan also named artists such as Taj-Mahal, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Alvin Collins as some of his biggest music influences.

B.B. King

He also thought back on the history of the artists that came before him, and reflected on those artists. He stated that it took for people like Ray Charles and Little Richard to come around and have an impact on the industry of rock, soul, jazz and blues. Before that, people didn't make much money in the industry, and he's fortunate to be in the position that he's in.

His influences can easily be seen and heard in his music. However, that does not mean that he carries the exact same style as his influences.

Unless one was a devoted and close follower of Sullivan's music, you really would not know what to expect next from Sullivan -- one song could be about food (like chicken pie), while the next could be about drugs, love, life or any other idea that Sullivan is inspired to write about.

Sullivan shared that he is always inspired to create new music -- all he needs is an idea to be planted.

"Inspiration comes everyday. I always have a notebook with me," Sullivan said. "The most important thing for me in writing a song, is the premise, an idea. Let's talk about all the lies that government is giving us everyday. Just get me something to write about, and BAM!"

Sometimes those inspirations include conspiracy theories and other issues that may be considered controversial, or stories from the music industry that American has yet to hear of.

Sullivan even shared how some famous musicians had ripped off other's without getting caught:

"Led Zeppelin's first album ripped off all of Willie Dixon's songs, and he got rich off of it," Sullivan stated.

Whether the claim is true or not, it adds to the intriguing personality of Sullivan, which was one of the most likable traits that he has.

Is he crazy? Maybe a little. Is he different? In every way imaginable, and that's what makes a good entertainer. Is he predictable? Not at all, and that's what's great about artists such as Sullivan -- you never know what you are going to get.

JOUR 420: B#5

The Death of Laurel Canyon, and the Everlasting Influence in Music

Every good thing eventually comes to an end...

It can be argued how much "good" came out of the drug, sex and rock infested Laurel Canyon, but the influence, importance and impact on future music in undeniable. 

As time passed in the Canyon, rock stars died off and new musicians with new music began to rise. The '60's and '70's era was coming to an end.

In the final chapters of Michael Walker's, Laurel Canyon, he talks on the decline of the era; as the generation that followed after the hippies and the baby boomers, known as "Gen. Y."

Buffalo Springfield

Walker went on to explain that after The Beatles', The Byrds', The Doors', and the Buffalo Springfield's and the performers of peace, love, sex and anti-war began to fade away. More simple and heavy rock songs replaced music about war and peace, and then hip-hop began to make its impact in the music business.

While these Laurel Canyon rock classics began to diminish, there is no doubt that the music made in Laurel Canyon during the 1960's-70's greatly influenced music forever...and that is a great thing. This may be the best part of Laurel Canyon, because its music continues to influence us today.

"But Brandon, I don't like any of that old hippie music?! How could it possibly influence me and the music that I like?!?!"

The answer is simple: All of the artists that you and I enjoy listening to were simply influenced by classic music, especially the music from Laurel Canyon, and without that music, we would never be able to hear the same songs or artists that we enjoy today.

For example, I may not like listening to the Beatles, but other artists that I enjoy listening to may have never existed if it wasn't for The Beatles.

A great connection that I have to this is hip-hop and rap. Not only do I love hip-hop and rap music, but from the 1980's to today, it has been the most influential music genre since rock n' roll from the 1960's-70's.

From the rhythm and poetry aspect, to the art of storytelling through music, hip-hop has had a tremendous influence on modern society and culture.

But anyways, how can you tell if an artist was influenced by certain musicians or artists?

One answer is "sampling." When a musician samples a song, they take a portion (or "sample") of an older song recording, and use that in some way for their own music. For some, it can be used to create a dope beat, and for others, it's a way to pay homage to older artists.

Here are some examples of classic songs that were sampled in hip-hop:

1. Ray Charles' I Got a Woman (1954) was sampled in Kanye West ft. Jamie Foxx's Gold Digger (2005).
2. Aerosmith's Walk This Way (1975) was sampled by Digital Underground ft. 2Pac's Same Song (1991) and was re-covered by Run-DMC in 1986. [Compare and contrast the similarities between the 3 songs...link to video of Same Song in song name]

3. Otis Redding's Try A Little Tenderness (1966) was covered by Kanye West & Jay-Z's Otis in 2011. [Once again, compare the two and spot the similarities; link to Otis music video in song name].

As a matter of fact, here are some very famous rock songs from the Laurel Canyon era, that have been sampled heavily in hip-hop [Comparisons to original song are in song titles]:

• The Beatles, Come Together has been sampled in over 30 hip-hop/rap songs.
• Queen's, Another One Bites the Dust (1980) has been sampled in 51 hip-hop/rap songs.

• Queen's, We Will Rock You (1977) has been sampled in 105 hip-hop/rap songs.
• Examples include: Till' I Collapse by Eminem ft. Nate Dogg; We Will Rob You by Raekwon; When Will They Shoot by Ice Cube.

• Mountain's, Long Red (1972) has been sampled in a total of 497 hip-hop/rap songs, and is currently the 11th most sampled song in history.
• Examples include: 99 Problems by Jay-Z; Wouldn't Get Far by The Game ft. Kanye West; The People by Common; It Ain't Hard to Tell by Nas; Love Yourz and Fire Squad by J. Cole; Chain Smoker by Chance the Rapper; and Shut Em' Down by Public Enemy

For these reasons, the influence of music in Laurel Canyon was one of the best things to ever happen in music. Even though I am not a rock fan by any means, I am a fan of it's influence, and am truly grateful for its impact in all other music genres and in American culture.

So to all those classic rock n' roll groups....thank you. I'll still probably never listen to your music, but nonetheless, thank you.

JOUR 420: B#4

The Drug Life

Drugs and music -- they seem to go hand-in-hand...or at least that was the notion in the early days of rock music. 

Everybody has heard the expression Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll. There's even a TV show on FX with that same title. And beginning in the late 1960's into the '70's was the hippie belief that all of these elements, when brought together, created the perfect mix. Almost all musicians in the rock industry, and then in the music industry as a whole, realized that drugs were part of the normal way of living, and for many, it didn't have the best ending.

They might have functioned thinking: "I didn't choose the drug life, the drug life choose me." But this quickly led to addiction for many, and eventually their downfall.

As Michael Walker describes in his book, Laurel Canyon, "Whenever cocaine actually arrived, there is universal agreement that it leeched whatever charm and innocence, real or imagined, the canyon scene still possessed. Whereas pot and acid were seen as tools of enlightenment...(Walker 156)." 

Drugs such as cocaine, LSD, heroin had become the "preferred refreshment" in the industry.

I am not going to include marijuana in all of this, because it is not a lethal drug. Weed was very popular back in the hippie movement, and remains very popular today, but there has not been a single musician who has lethally died or overdosed on marijuana (just ask Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg).

Jimi Hendrix

In the 1960's, there were only three drug-related deaths to famous musicians. In the 1970's, the drug death toll skyrocketed. Some of the famous names that died from overdosing included Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison (The Doors), Gram Parsons (The Byrds), Elvis Presley, and Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols).

There were certain old school artists that I enjoy listening to up to this day, which include musicians such as Rick James and David Ruffin (The Temptations). 

David Ruffin

After rising to stardom as the lead singer of the Temptations, Ruffin gained a large ego and eventually was kicked out of the band. Part of the reason for this was because of the drug addiction that he had gained. In 1991, Ruffin was found dead with cocaine in his system. James on the other hand did not hide his love for drugs. He was one of the first artists who created a song entirely about weed (Mary Jane). Over time, interesting stories would surface about James' drug-life with loose women and other crazy factors. In 2004, James died of heart failure, and his autopsy revealed that he had up to seven drugs in his bloodstream at time of death, including cocaine.

There hasn't been much slowing down in drug-related deaths. From the '70's into the 2000's, there were many lives taken due to overdosing. This undoubtedly had an impact on the average music listener. For the people who loved certain musicians so much, that they wanted to be like them or relate to them as much as possible, even if that meant through drugs. With that said, there is no denying that drugs influenced music and pop culture forever. 

So where do we draw the [white] lines?

Well, first we have acknowledge that not every musician was a drug addict. Some had risen above the peer pressure of the industry and took a stand against the culture. The group Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five for example created the song White Lines (original music video) to warn against the dangers of cocaine.

Artists such as Eminem was once heavily involved in drugs and alcohol, but eventually came clean, and writes about his addiction through multiple albums, most notably Recovery. One of his biggest motivations was not only his health, but living a better life for his daughters. He tells this story through the song Not Afraid, where one of his rhymes includes:

It was my decision to get clean, I did it for me

Admittedly, I probably did it subliminally

For you, so I could come back a brand new me you helped see me through

And there were artists that were completely anti-drug: As mentioned many times in the book, Frank Zappa was beloved by the hippies, but never used drugs himself. Artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Gene Simmons, Rod Stewart and even Tyler the Creator have all identified themselves as anti-drug musicians. 

Although there has always been some kind of a voice against the drug movement, I think that as time has passed, today's music industry is still filled with drug-addicts simply due to the peer pressure and the constant stress of the industry. Maybe not as much as it once was in the 1970's-1990's, but it's still there. This doesn't just include cocaine, heroin, or LSD as mentioned in Laurel Canyon, but more than ever, there seems to be deaths related to prescription drugs.

The most recent example of this was the death of Prince in 2016. He was never addicted to drugs such as cocaine or heroin. But rather, he died from an overdose on Fentanyl, a very strong yet highly addictive pain killer.

Prince

Drugs have influenced the culture of music, and that influence still remains today, as more and more drugs come from the streets and the pharmacy. Hopefully, the voice against life-threatening and addictive drugs can grow stronger as well.

A Tribe Called Quest makes a Powerful Return

A Tribe Called Quest makes a Powerful Return

The new 2016 album from A Tribe Called Quest, "We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service."

The legendary hip-hop group that fused the sounds of jazz and the street so well in the 1990's is back, and clearly, the Tribe does have it from here. Their first album since The Love Movement in 1998, the announcement of their new album, We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service, was released on November 11, 2016 and happened to catch many by surprise. 

The album was announced by Tribe member Q-Tip over social media. He posted the following letter on Oct. 27, 2016:

Many ATCQ fans, and lovers of old school hip-hop were more then excited about the news of the release, but also realized that the Tribe were focused on more than just music: In 2015, the group performed together for the first time in 18 years on the Tonight Show...however, it was also on the same night as the Paris bombings (Nov. 13, 2015). This event would greatly influence the ground work for We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service.

This "final album" announcement was dedicated to honor loved ones, social injustice and political influence.

Something Old, Something New

The original members of A Tribe Called Quest:
Jarobi White (left), Q-Tip (back), Phife Dawg (front), Ali Shaheed Muhammed (right).

A Tribe Called Quest had always stood out from the crowd; original and unique in their sounds, lyrics and beats, they avoid the mainstream music avenue. In this album, ATCQ combines a interesting mash of sounds, mixing old school hip-hop, jazz, R&B, rock, east coast influence and a plethora of new beats that give a futuristic sound. This combination, as odd as it may be, mashes together nicely, making the listener feel like they are somewhere in between the past and the future.

In Memory of Phife

Making this album more emotional for the group and for their fans was the sudden death of group member Malik Taylor, most commonly known as Phife Dawg. Taylor had passed away on March 22, 2016 from complications of diabetes at age 45.

Phife Dawg

"It was all coming together nicely and as you may know, we lost our brother, may God rest his soul on March 22nd. But he left us with the blueprint of what we had to do," Q-Tip wrote in his announcement of We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service.

Although Phife Dawg had passed away eight months before the album's release, his contributions to the album were all new. Q-Tip went on to write that the lyrics from Phife Dawg were not "just recycled Phife bars;" they were pure, untapped Phife Dawg.

Phife Dawg came up with the name of the album, and although the other group members didn't fully know what it meant, they stuck with the title to honor their "partner in rhyme."

The song "Lost Somebody," was dedicated to the life of Phife Dawg. It's hook repeats the message:

Have you ever loved somebody?

Way before you got to dream?

No more crying, he’s in sunshine,

He’s alright now, see his wings.

Jarobi White and Q-Tip admitted that it was one of the most difficult songs that they ever had to record.

Tribe Collaborators

Busta Rhymes

For the new ATCQ album, not only did all of the original Tribe members come together, but brought in some very strong power from the rap industry to contribute on the album. The most obvious contributors are Busta Rhymes and Consequence, who's music were heavily influenced by the Tribe.

Consequence

"So we collected ourselves and along tribesmen, Busta (Rhymes) and Cons(sequence)...we completed what will be, obviously the final A Tribe Called Quest Album," Q-Tip wrote.

In addition to Busta Rhymes and Consequence, the album also includes vocals and raps from Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Anderson Paak, Andre 3000, Kendrick Lamar and even Elton John.

The Deeper Message: Politics and Social Injustice

Yet of course, before the death of Phife Dawg, this album was intended to target social injustice, racism, inequality, and politics. Throughout the album, there is a sense of a revolt or a revolution that is bound to occur. This is heard very clearly in their song called "We The People."

We The People may be the most political song on the album, pointing out police brutality, racial and religious discrimination, equality and threats of deportation. The main hook sung by Q-Tip states:

"All you Black folks, you must go,

All you Mexicans, you must go,

And all you poor folks, you must go,

Muslims and gays, boy, we hate your ways,

So all you bad folks, you must go."

The first song on the album, The Space Program sets the tone for the rest of the album, claims that there's a "Mass un-blackening" in America at the moment.

Whateva Will Be is a very dark-toned song with a great beat, detailing that only the strong survive in this world and how each member of the group describes the world being stacked against them as black men.

The Killing Season, which includes the vocals of Consequence, Kanye West and Talib Kweli, discusses social injustices such as police brutality and the discrimination of American solders. One of Jarobi White's lines in the song says, "Connection to the sun so strong the relationship is lusted for

Causes men to suffocate, I can’t breathe no more," which is a direct reference to the death of Eric Garner, who was suffocated to death by an NYPD officer. Another lyric from Consequence states:

The old lady saw us on the lawn with the Henny,

Turn the pool party into the one from McKinney,

Might've been racist like the waitresses up in Denny’s,

Swore we had twelve gauges, automatics, and semis,

Now they wanna condemn me for my freedom of speech,

'Cause I see things in black and white like Lisa and Screech,

Presidents get impeached and others fill in the throne,

But veterans don’t get the benefit of feelin' at home.

The track Conrad Tokyo which features Kendrick Lamar, outlines economic and political issues with influences the 2016 race for president of the United States at the time. Phife Dawg delivers the following lyric on the track:

Rather watch the Nixon shit than politicians politic,

CNN and all this shit, gwaan yo, move with the fuckery,

Trump and the SNL hilarity,

Troublesome times kid, no times for comedy.

To close out the album, the last song is titled "The Donald" which is both a political reference to newly elected President Donald Trump and what also happened to be one of Phife Dawg's nicknames within the group.

Overall Review

The album as a whole gives different themes and emotions: From humor to serious issues, from politics and injustice in America, to the life and death of a close friend or of family. Amazingly, the lyrics that Phife Dawg provides in terms of politics and social justice issues somewhat foreshadowed the election results of the presidency in America. Then there are other instances where the legendary rapper's absence from the group is clearly felt. We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service is a great album for both old school hip-hop veterans and fans of today's rap and the futuristic sound, uniting multiple generations of rap and hip-hop, and proving that hip-hop music can still provide meaningful messages with deep meaning. This album can definitely have an influence in the industry and in America for time to come.