Sonic Jihad

producers: paris

guests: dead prez, public enemy, kam, capelton

year of release: 2003
"Upset by the cover? You should be, but for the right reasons," says Paris on his website (www.guerrillafunk.com; check the site out, it's full of important information). But the version that'll make it to the stores, will have a carton box cover it up. The image of a plane approaching the White House, ready to crash, must be too much for the political correct hoopla 'I love you, you love me, we're one big happy family.' Okay, don't get me wrong: this is not the place and I'm not the person to endorse the killing of anyone. But when the plane approaches, you wonder who's sitting behind the steering wheel and what he's thinking. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.
Now think about it: as long as the leaders don't have to bear the consequences of war and combat, as long as the generals are directing the war from a video game control center in a different country, if not on a different continent, as long as they are not held responsible for sending in people, what do they risk? Napoleon at least was on the same battlefield. So what do they risk? That's the bizarro version of the question: who benefits? Who benefits from 9/11, war on terror, war on Iraq, getting rid of the Bill of Rights? Who? You, me, our one big happy family? We don't. But as a wise man once said: no problem on this planet exists if it wouldn't be good for someone. If no one would benefit from a problem, it would be solved. The solution is prevented by the person that benefits. Now think about that for a minute.

tracklisting
1. Ave Bushani
2. Field Nigga Boogie
3. Sheep To The Slaughter
4. Spilt Milk feat. Capelton
5. Tear Shit Up feat. dead prez
6. Freedom feat. dead prez
7. Ain't No Love feat. Kam
8. Lay Low
9. Life Goes On
10. You Know My Name
11. Evil
12. AWOL
13. Agents Of Repression
14. What Would You Do?
15. How We Do
16. Freedom (The Last Cell Remix) feat. Public Enemy
And in the mean time, we can talk about this album. Don't worry, we'll get back to the discussion later. With the lyrical part of "Sonic Jihad" being almost covered already though. As Paris speaks about such issues. He's asking the same questions. And despite everything that's going on, he's not afraid to do so: "Call me unpatriotic if you like, but that would be a blind assumption. Know that it is more unpatriotic to not question the government and it's actions, especially when our rights are being violated and so many people are adversely affected by what it does. Understand that when our government acts like this, the whole world loses. The first casualty of war is the truth." And in all fairness, to offer a fair and balanced (ha) view on things, obviously Paris is at war too. So you wonder how he treats the truth.
But right here and now, that's not just important. Because we already got theory A established. The mass media and the elite did that for us. Now, let's talk about theory B. Even when Bush went to the UN to ask 'em never to even consider theory B. Man, he must be really afraid if he does that in public, because if B would be so ludicrous, why even bother to mention it? But anyway, Paris' "Sonic Jihad" is full of theory B. On sixteen tracks, he speaks on all the evils he sees. And with dead prez, Public Enemy, Kam and Capelton, he finds willing comrades for his fight. No sugar coating, no hiding behind bushes (where else?), just a black and white: this is how it is. With the soundtrack coming in somewhat expected Paris mode, with the funk being thick, thus the production is similar to what Paris did on his first few albums, while at times it's a little keyboardy.
In the ivory tower of spoiled brat's presidents, not even pure facts can touch him. And the pure facts are out there, and they are not too flattering for Bush. His supporters just stick their fingers in their ear and go 'na-na-na'. However, the facts will still be there when that finger leaves the ear. Facts that Paris also picks up, while he mixes it with a lot of anger, and, well, possibly a little bit of promotional sensationalism (with this cover). But once again: will those hear it that agree or disagree? Probably those that agree. What takes a lot away from the purpose of this album. Because it's time that those that don't agree are convinced. And for that, the initial image of the cover is probably too brash. It's not cute enough. To reach the scared soccer mom's that vote for Bush, you need something cute. Therefore, and only in that respect, the album fails horribly. But it's nevertheless courageous. Heck, in times like these, even such a review is courageous. Homeland Security is listening. We all got a Big Brother now.
review: tadah
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