The Informed Drinker: In the Beginning, There Was Rum
Why We Don't Like You: Texas A&M Aggies
![Weekend Music Preview: Woven Bones Tour Kick-Off [Beerland / Friday]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2009/11/beerland_27nov2009_250-thumb-110x110-460924.jpg)
Weekend Music Preview: Woven Bones Tour Kick-Off [Beerland / Friday]
Thief Nabs $10K Flagship Trek Bike From Mellow Johnny's
Government Recalls Cars and Cribs [News Bits]
Today is also the official release date of {{{Sunset}}}'s latest, The Glowing City. You can read our review here, and if you'd like a sample, Autobus has been kind enough to share a track, titled "The World is Awaiting".
Back in October of last year, Nas announced at a concert in New York that the title of his upcoming album (originally slated for release in February '08) was "Nigger." Since that time, the release date has been pushed back, the title has changed, and various members of the black community as well as his label have had plenty to say a ton of crap has happened. The final result was Def Jam's eventual censorship of Nas' preferred title. Nas commented, "The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it." All along, he's used every opportunity to explain his motives, explaining his desire to desensitize the world to what we have come to believe the word means, and to shed light on what African Americans are really experiencing. This is a complex issue to say the least, but the ultimate goal for Nas has always been to unite hip hop and social awareness and change in absolutely unavoidable, revolutionary ways. In the digital liner notes, he compels listeners to understand. "You are all ni**ers as long as you stay ignorant and blind to what's really goin' on in the world and continue the sick behavior against other people based on your own stupidity." Needless to say, the hip hop community (well, people in general) had mixed reactions to this philosophy, but shit, he got our attention.
So, if it's not a gimmick, we can expect the Nas we already know to return, right? Well, mostly. He's still strongly urging listeners to accept the relationship between social issues and hip hop, and the new record does indeed make strides in this direction. "Black President" addresses the Obama campaign (he endorses Barack "not a ni**er" Obama in the liner notes), and "Sly Fox" calls out Fox News for their mistreatment of Jesse Jackson and other leaders in the African American community. There are more racially charged topics, and a lot more moments of rage, but with this verbal ammunition comes a (perhaps shockingly) peaceful message. Exploring the n-word and its ramifications on both the rest of the world's experience with African Americans and vice-versa leads him down paths as varied as diet and exercise to his hope for a world where the term "post-racism" exists. It's at times terrifying, and at other times hopeful, peaceful, even inspiring. And despite this writer's limited insight into the world through the eyes of a man so passionate about these issues, the work stands out as an intelligent, thoughtful and philosophical plea for understanding.
Nas @ Def Jam
Nas Official
Nas MySpace
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ABN: It is What It Is
Adele: Chasing Pavements (import single)
Bajofondo: Mar Dulce
Holly Golightly, Billy Childish: In Blood (reissue) [vinyl]
Blackmore's Night: Secret Voyage
Blind Pilot: 3 Rounds and a Sound
The Boy Bathing: A Fire To Make Preparations
The Cure: Sleep When I'm Dead (Mix 13) (single)
Cut Copy: Hearts on Fire (import single)
Damon & Naomi: More Sad Hits (remastered)
Danny Elfman: Hellboy II: The Golden Army (soundtrack)
Death to Anders: Fictitious Business
Del Fuegos: Boston, Mass. (reissue)
Del Fuegos: The Longest Day (reissue)
Del Fuegos: Stand Up (reissue)
Delta Goodrem: Delta
David Banner: Greatest Story Ever Told
Drakkar Sauna: Wars and Tornadoes
Dr. Dog: Fate [digital]
Einsturzende Neubaten: Jewels
Elisa: Dancing
Grascals: Keep on Walkin'
Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Tim Story: Inlandish
Herman Dune: 1-2-3 Apple Tree EP
The Hold Steady: Stay Positive
Hypatia Lake: Angels And Demons, Space And Time
Icy Demons: Miami Ice
Jay Reatard: Singles 06-07 (remastered) [vinyl]
Jet & Iggy Pop: Wild One: Tribute to Johnny Okeefe (import single)
John Mellencamp: Life, Death, Love and Freedom
Lucky Dragons: Dream Island Laughing Language
Madonna: Give It 2 Me (import single)
Madonna: Give It 2 Me (import single) [vinyl]
Metallica: Master of Puppets (deluxe edition reissue) [vinyl]
The Music: Strength in Numbers
Nas: Nas
Nas: Nas [vinyl]
Negativland: Thigmotactic
Nirvana: Unplugged in New York (import reissue) [vinyl]
O.A.R.: All Sides
PAS/CAL: I Was Raised... [digital]
Philip Glass: Glass: Music in Twelve Parts
The Presets: My People (import single)
Portishead: The Rip (single)
Radiohead: Nude (import single)
Randy Travis: Around the Bend
Recess Monkey: Tabby Road
Rocky Votolato: Rocky Votolato (reissue) [vinyl]
Rocky Votolato: Suicide Medicine (reissue) [vinyl]
Sunset: The Glowing City
Van She: Strangers (import single)
Various Artists: The Dark Knight (soundtrack)
Various Artists: High Voltage Box: The Ultimate AC/DC Tribute
Wire: Object 47
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NAS IS THE FUCKING TRUTH......I swear if hip hop stations played him and other "good" hip hop(The Roots,Tribe Called Quest,Little Brother,etc...)instead of the dumbed-down shit they do now,it would be a great improvement....I MEAN HONESTLY,HOW MANY SONGS CAN MAKE ABOUT HOW MUCH ASS YOU GET AND HOW NICE YO WHIPS ARE?!?!?! APPARENTLY ALOT CUZ THAT'S ALL THE FUCK I HEAR....JEEZ...
P.S....FOR THE UNINFORMED, WHIPS=CARS.
Radio stations don't play Hip Hop, they play rap.
TOUCHE Grape Ape....in my anger I didn't make it clear....rap is something you do,hip hop is something you live....respect due,homie