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| Retrieved from https://twitter.com/common |
About the artist
Common is a hip-hop artist from Chicago, Illinois who is inspired by the lives led by Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama. He is featured in will.i.am's rendition of Obama's "Yes We Can" speech, and moonlights as a social activist when off stage.
Obama is not the first president to gain the attention of Common. When former President George W. Bush was in office, Common was an artist who used lyrics and poetry as verbal weaponry. This incidence was brought up after the fact when Common was invited as a guest to the White House by President Barack Obama. Political news outlets spoke of controversy and saw Common's lack of support towards a former president to be enough to discredit his presence at a White House event. When the news stations found something new to rattle off about, Common followed through with his invitation and took part in "An Evening of Poetry"; a fitting event for him to attend considering he has an ingrained history in literature and poetry.
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| Retrieved from politico.com |
"Changes"
The influence that Obama's role as the nation's leader has had on Common is evident in this song's lyrics as well as in interviews. In his account of the White House event, Common described meeting the president, specifically the first black president, as an event he never thought would happen (Tanabe, 2011). "Changes" is influenced by a number of recognized greats who Common is sure to mention, but the influence these figures have provided is the intended message. He speaks of struggle, aspirations, and the acts that serve as the middle man between the two concepts. Here are two presentations of Obama's presence in Common's musical agenda:
"Got with four acres and a forest of words. Plant and grown them, for the young seeds to know them. Trees is blowing, we see change in the wind, it's a new day and I got to take it in. See a black man run, we need him to win."
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"Change is inevitable you can't stop it. Change is happening in everybody's life. Change is like a furious hurricane that you can't stop. What is change? Change is Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, Shakespeare, Assata Shakur, Barack Obama."
Tanabe, K. (2011, November 28). Quoted: Common on his white house visit. Retrieved from http://www.politico.com/blogs/click/2011/11/quoted-common-on-his-white-house-visit-041101
Hi! I love the idea of your blog. I've noticed the shift in hip hop and rap from music during times where having an African American president was a far-fetched dream to it being a reality. President Obama has become a muse of sorts and I also think that his presence in lyrics goes far beyond politics but his interaction and the implied/perceived cultural similarities he and artists may share. It's interesting for sure and I hope to read more of your blogs :)
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