The first video is the new Rick Ross song called, "3 Kings," featuring Dr. Dre, and Jay-Z. During what sounds like an improvised internal monologue (as opposed to a rhyming dialogic freestyle) Jay-Z, says, "It just feels different." Though he doesn't refer to what, "it" is, even his tone in describing, "it" is different than he has previously sounded when, "ramblin' off the mic."
The second video (that I just played is called, "New Day") by 50 Cent. The intro is a soundbyte from the classic (in case you were wondering classic is used here to describe any of a handful of movies that have held my attention, contained my restlessness, inspired me with wonder and/or amusement, and subsequently have seen several times over and treasured), A Bronx Tale,
Robert De Niro, whose pre-eminence is unparalleled, is speaking (he plays bus driver, Lorenzo. Please see summary below) and says, "It don't take much strength to pull a trigger, but try to get up every morning day after day and work for a living. Let's see him (here, "him" refers to gangster Sonny, played by Chazz Palminteri, whose one-man show predated the film to my knowledge and was the inspiration for Mike Tyson's foray to the stage) try that. Then we'll see who's the real tough guy. The working man is the tough guy."
A Bronx Tale summary:
Gangster Sonny is the big man in the Bronx neighborhood of an Italian small boy named Calogero. A shooting witnessed by the boy (nicknamed C) is the starting point of a lasting bond between the gangster and the boy. Father (bus driver Lorenzo), however, disapproves. C grows up under the wing of both men, torn between his own natural honesty and his fascination with Sonny. C's neighborhood cronies get involved in theft, use of guns, and racial fights. When C falls for an African American girl, things don't get any easier. C's leap to manhood is marked by tragedy, but also by his recognition of the many faces of love.Written by Horacio Abeledo <horabe@ipcabe.uba.ar> (source: www.imdb.com)
Those two voices both struck me as unexpected offerings from the artists (50 Cent and Rick Ross), but they both seem to speak to have reached another level in their critical conciousness/coming of age/ maturation if you will.
Besides finally getting Dr. Dre consistently back on the mic (a treat indeed), both songs and the verses put down by those involved show incredible growth and deviation from what this listener would have fore-heard.) By the way, it sounded like Alicia Keys, singing in, "New Day."
As, "visual pieces," both vids were very cool, too.
________
Sidenote: in reference to my past blog on agency/activity. It is far from lost on me that the passive voice has been/is used more than is considered conventionally appropriate/acceptable by certain writing standards.
Sometimes we are served well, to remove the "I", or at the very least de-emphasize/lowercase it, (i.e., "i". ) from our language/vocabulary and replace it with a you (or in internet shorthand, "u") to the dismay of classic grammaticians.
If you are unsure as to what is meant by active voice versus passive voice, here's an example:
"I call my mother." (Active)
"My mother is called by me." (Passive)
"My mother is called." (Passive - with aforementioned elimination that was discussed prior. Invariably, this elimination begs the question, which promotes dialogues, as to, "who," called my mother.")
Ironically enough this removal of the first person seems to be the trend in much of tech-based speak these days.
Furthermore, I translates as the word "Ego" in Latin. To mention I, is in some ways, etymologically (that means in terms of word history) and otherwise to ask for credit or a spotlight if you will to be cast upon yourself.
A wise man gives credit as a fool takes it.
Instead of asking for credit, give it.
ask. offer. repeat.
*** Credit must be given to Mr. Edward M. Gallagher III of the Belmont Hill School) whose impeccable character, as indicated by a telling segregation-era anecdote he happened to share one day in class) earned my affection and imparted a love of Latin that compelled the above exposition.
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