Music to Explore: Paris: This Guy Could be The World’s Greatest Rapper

I have not been a huge fan of Rap or Hip Hop music for the last fifteen or so years. To me most of it seems to be people bragging about how much bling they own, how many people they have screwed in all the various definitions of the word screw, and at times how many crimes they have committed. I just do not want to hear about those things. In spite of this every so often a rap or hip hop artist comes along that does catch my attention. Recently, Paris caught my ear after seeing him in the documentary Sounds Like A Revolution. I feel that the messages in his lyrics just may make him the world’s greatest rapper. Sadly the messages in his music will most likely keep him from any sort of wide acceptance in the world of music as a whole.

Cover of The Devil Made Me Do It

Hailing from San Francisco California, Paris was born Oscar Jackson Jr., in 1967. Paris was once a member of the Nation of Islam but has since become an Agnostic. Paris has been controversial and has been getting more so since is debut release, The Devil Made Me Do It, in 1990. This first single was banned by MTV. Something that I only vaguely remember hearing about. He has worked fellow rappers Public Enemy and with the industrial band Consolidated. Again his involvement on these two projects failed to catch my ear.

Paris- What Would You Do?

For a time Paris became so disenchanted with the music industry he became a stock broker. One might wonder why a person who a couple paragraphs ago complained that rap was too much about bling would like a rapper who was a stock broker for a time. You see Paris writes about controversial subjects that make those at the top rather nervous. Paris attacks quite blatantly things like Christianity and The Official 911 story. He does so eloquently and intelligently in his lyrics while taking pot shots at those rappers who only rap about how much bling they have. In his song What Would You Do he points a figure directly at the likes of George W. Bush and Dick Chaney as being responsible for the 911 tragedy. In his song The Hustle he takes on Christianity, Christian leaders, and those who exploit that belief during the holidays comparing them latter two to street pimps.

Paris- The Hustle

After listening carefully to the lyrics of these two songs Paris has caught my attention in a big way. This two songs have been in constant rotation on my personal play list for the last month and a half after seeing the previously mentioned film that featured Paris. Even if one does not agree with his message they should respect his courage to put out such a product in spite the repercussions to his overall career. Also rappers like Paris who seek to elevate the medium of Rap back to its roots, with artists such as The Last Poets and Kurtis Blow, that were more about social change than acquiring bling do the entire medium a service.

Related Links

Music to Explore: Slapp Happy

Music to Explore: Zani Diabate and The Super Djata Band

Music to Explore: The Handsome Family

Music to Explore: Fela Anikulapo Kuti

Guerrilla Funk (Home of Paris)

If you would like to write for sites like this, and get Paid, please join me on Triond by clicking here.