This video caused quite a stir this summer. Tired of the booty shaking, bling acquiring, rim spinning, balla stylin’ music that had taking over hip-hop; Bomani Armah wrote a rap song; a pretty funny, positive, satirical rap song. Not the kind that your mom plays for her 5th grade class like the one Nas wrote a few years back – but the kind that you won’t be afraid to sing aloud with your friends, the kind that Aaron McGrudder, or in this case Tyree Dillihay might take and turn into a clever animated video – Read a Book, and man did it start a storm. Here’s the problem or the truth – however you want to look at it. The youngin’s are more apt to be able to tell you every single on T.I.’s latest CD before they could name three books JD Salinger wrote. And, don’t get me wrong, it’s not just the ones listening to rap – if it weren’t for their teachers most teens wouldn’t know that Beowulf was around long before 2007 and Angelina Jolie. So Armah got clever and took things into his own hands. But some people just didn’t get it. Jesse Jackson actually compared it to Don Imus calling the Rutger’s women’s basketball team nappy headed ho’s. Really, Jesse Jackson, really people? This song – this satire is pointing out the embarrassing state of the once artful flow of hip hop;showing how ridiculous and obscene it has become. Come on people. Encouraging people to get an education and to be somebody in a smart and interesting way is something I’d like to see more often – wouldn’t you?
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