I deeply regret endorsing M.I.A’s forthcoming release as something to watch earlier this year. I must have been smoking some particularly good green or maybe it was the promise of maturity and Rusko beats, a combination akin to Vodka and milk. In any case, Born Free is a mediocre attempt at punk-cred by a woman who married a millionaire. Though it may grow on me through repeated exposure, it’s nowhere near as rebellious as your local neighborhood mustachioed art student would have you believe. The same goes for its shock-porn video which at the least served a purpose in reminding me of how difficult it is to create a truly abrasive visual for a song these days.
Enterthe above Public Enemy video. Zoom-ins, zoom outs, cut up montage and an atom-bomb sized beat works far better than a context free massacre that addresses no real problems and offers up no real solution. Required viewing for both the current testosterone-free generation of acoustic-ballad rappers AND art school punks trying to tell the world that the system sucks maaaan, ya gotta fight the power. Pete Rock remix included bellow, because it’s awesome.
Download
MP3: Public Enemy – Shut Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)
