Hi Steve:
That really is what it is all about, progressive rap is "classicalized" the process by which the issues and relivence of the community who writes the music is removed and the class intrest of those who promote the music is substituted. Sex and money is what is important to the owners of the record industry while peace and justice concerns us.
This is why I started the co-op. The struggle is that we live in a community where young musicians have grown up so influenced by the me generation, I keep getting members more concerned with how they can get more than the other guy out of the effort, deffend their turf, etc.
But, Bartholemue is right, you keep plugging cause there is nothing else to do. We live in a world that does not work, in a vilent and hateful nation, quick to kill and slow to foster. Most people are board with that message, because they profit from America's violent empire - Roman's didn't like to hear the truth about their wealth, so they threw folks to the lions. Well, what can ya do...
Remeber what Phil Oachs said? "Protest music is the stuff they don't play on the radio cause they say the words aren't good enough or the guy cant sing... while they are playing the shit they play on the radio"
NO longer singing the truth to power, but the truth to apathy...
Larry