Can't Stop, Won't Stop - Ch. 3 Analysis

In a March 1968 memo, J. Edgar Hoover had laid out the objectives of the FBI COINTELPRO operation against "Black Nationalist-Hate Groups", including the Nation of Islam and the Black Panthers. Hoover’s last goal was to "prevent the long-rang growth of Militant Black nationalist organizations, especially among youth". (Can't Stop Won't Stop, pg. 46)

In my opinion, Chang fails to elucidate how the Black Panthers planned to win the hearts and minds of Black and Brown youth. To know would really give one a different perspective on what the Panthers were like. What I recall seeing in documentaries about this era was a group that was livid with the White power structure, and so they used a lot of fiery rhetoric to get their point across. End of story. Those types of documentaries painted a distorted picture of this organization, and these skewed perceptions still permeate the minds of young Black people today.

But do you know the real reason why J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI made the Black Panthers enemy #1? It wasn’t for their scary militancy and their black berets and fatigues. It wasn’t even their call for Black Power. From the best of my knowledge, it was the galvanizing effect that their social services would have on the poor Back and Brown youth. In particular, their feed-the-hungry programs were of the utmost concern to Hoover. He understood that people seldom bite the hand that feeds them, and so such a program would translate into extreme loyalty to the Panthers, which would be nearly impossible to undue. With that kind of loyalty, the Black Panthers would have been a real force to reckon with.

One of our pious predecessors in Islam once said: “Give to whomsoever you wish and you will become his master; ask from whomsoever you wish and you will become his prisoner; and do not seek help from whomsoever you wish and you will be his equal.”

-Verbal

Hip-Hop Observation 1: Loon

In The Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

"Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." (The Holy Qur'an, Ch. 2, v. 277)

Peace Be Unto All of You,

I'm dedicating my first blog to my dear brother, Amir Junaid Muhadith, who is also known as Loon. Once a side-kick to P. Ditty, he wrote the lyrics to many songs including the hit, "I Need a Girl", Part 1 & 2. His career in Hip-Hop seemed to be taking off like a space shuttle to the moon. But in 2008 while on tour in Dubai, he did something his peers or his fans never imagined. He migrated from the Hip-Hop cipher known for its "blunts and broads, tits and bras, menage-a-tois", and entered the cipher of Islam, beautified by its Salaat and Zakaat (the 5 Daily Prayers and Manditory charity for the poor), and its Siyaam and Qiyaam (Fasting and Standing in the late night hours in prayer).

Some may wonder, "Why would he do such a thing"? From all of the interviews he's given since his conversion in 2008, his answer to that has always been along the lines of ,"Because I've finally found the peace and happiness I was searching for in the music business, which in actuality is purely a mirage". Emcees go on and on about wealth and how many women they have, and yet Loon informs us how everything that glitters isnt' gold.

Today's commercial Hip-Hop is deluding a lot of our youth into chasing after this material life, promising that it will bring about happiness beyond their wildest beliefs. However, trying to acquire happiness this way is like trying to catch one's shadow. The more you run after it, the more it runs away from you.

-Verbal

"What is the life of this world but play and amusement? But best is the home in the hereafter, for those who are righteous. Will ye not then understand?" (The Holy Qur'an, Ch. 6, v. 32)



(See Loon's Interview on Al-Jazeera)

My First Post

Hi,

I'm doing this blog for a university-level "Intro to Hip-Hop Culture" course. We intended to post our thoughts weekly on issues in and around hip-hop. We'll delve into the subject matter in order to learn more about this music genre, and also about the hip-hop "headz" that contribute to this art form.