Customer Reviews

Lets Get Free

5 star:		(127)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

America and hiphop are not that far along that Public Enemy and voices of the african-american struggle no longer have a place. Dead Prez uses this album to push political messages that are being shunned in mainstream society and in hiphop itself. As the lyrics show, heads are"...sick of the same ol' thang, it's bigger than bling-bling." I'm sure people that do not identify with the black experience in america might find this album a little unsettling, too bad. Hip hop *is* universal and a form of entertainment, but it also is a powerful political medium that can serve a greater purpose. I believe Dead Prez has succeeded providing a great hiphop album comprised of banging beats, great flow, and a useful and pertinent message.

First of all, I have the album and it is great. Excellent production, lyrics with depth (at LONG LAST) and mainstream/underground appeal. Dead Prez has plenty to say...and hold similar views of people before them: Black Panther Party, Karl Marx, Mao Tse-Tung, W.E.B. DuBois, Lenin etc. BUY THIS ALBUM...forget ALL the negative reviews and use YOUR HEAD for a change!

Funny how blinded people are to the way America is REALLY run. No where within this album does Dead Prez blame WHITE people for the oppression of blacks, they are blaming the SYSTEM. The oppressive system of CAPITALISM. Funny how this is proven within the back album cover. American capitalism is AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN controlled by white people, explaining Dead Prez's use of the word "cracker" throughout the album, and the misguided impression that Dead Prez is blatantly racist to all whites.

White imperialism is a by product of the oppressive capitalistic system and CAPITALISM is the DIRECT relation to the enslavement of Africans and the constant oppression throughout the world of ALL African people.

In America, African descendants are placed at the bottom of the system and are SUPER-exploited while working whites are exploited. The white capitalists are the only one who TRULY benefit from the American system. Like DuBois, they look at their oppressive condition within an Afro-centric view, which is the Black nationalism that is prominent throughout the album.

In no way does Dead Prez restrict themselves to Afro-centric thought though...this is proven when they state how they read teachings of Mao Tse-Tung and study about other worker's revolutions.

Dead Prez is about REVOLUTION not "bitching" or "pointing the finger". They understand what is happening within America and a worker's revolution is only successful with the involvement of ALL of the workers class (white, yellow, red, black etc.) Listen to the album again folks! and those of you who don't have it...GET IT Let's talk about it: Hoth2001@yahoo.com

Amidst the flashy dashy, bling bling materialist, candy coated I wanna be a thug hip hop today, Dead Prez's call to action couldn't of come sooner. The hard hitting, crowd moving, millitary formation-like single "hip-hop" is a subtle lyrical tirade of mainstreamm hip-hop culture. Laced with a fiery political message, bangin base line, and revolutionary theme the single by itself is almost enough to kill opponents softly. I initially intended to order "Lets get Free" from Amazon but I couldn't wait. I went to my local record store only to find that the cover had been censored for its depiction of an armed African village. I couldn't wait to get deeper into the bulk of the album to see if it measured up to the first single and to my surprise there are even better tracks. Tracks like "Police state","Behind Enemy Lines", and "Assassination" are feeled with enough political content that at the right time, they could spark a revolution. "Freedom", another revoltuionary track is in my opinion a very vissionary track which outlines Dead Prez's main objective. And as a bonus, the hidden track "Propaganda", which takes a drastic turn away from minority oriented issues to a broader perspective, makes a convincing argument for government conspiracies from U.F.O.'s to Ron Brown and shows that Dead Prez is very capable of reaching a larger audience. Dead Prez invigorates many issues that have long been perceived as dead. They give them life. And just like a deceased loved one has risen from the grave, you start to believe again.

Creativity, coherence, talent, emotions. This album has it all. One of the best put together albums of any music genre I have heard in a long time. Many are offended by the message that Dead Prez puts out, in their condemnation of white supremacy, but they strike their message not out of hatred for a race of people, but out a hatred for injustice. They pick up where Tupac left off in speaking for the young and disenfranchised youth of color in this country through their lyrics. In a hip-hop world filled with absolute nonsense, filled with blatant ignorance and mindlessness, Dead Prez counter punches with an album full of explicit revolutionary blows that leave even the most open minded listener shocked. I hear critisisms that say that Dead Prez are contradicting themselves by signing to a white-owned label, Loud Records. What this and other critisisms fails to understand is that Dead Prez are using hip-hop as propaganda to spread their message. Sure, Loud records may be getting money, but Dead Prez dosen't seek money. Their payment is in spreading their views. They use Loud Records the same way Loud Records uses Dead Prez, and they use Loud to spread their revolutionary message across the globe. Its a powerful thing to see(as I have already seen)kids of all races and ages blasting Dead Prez's music in their stereos instead of Master P and Cash Money. Very good strategy, one that has nothing to do with music, and can be applied to many areas of fighting injustice. Power to the people.

From the opening words on "wolves" to the closing beats of "it's bigger than hip hop", I felt like I was holding my breath. Dead Prez' every track attacks the culture of white oppression. Did I feel personally attacked listening to this album? Yes. Did I want to listen again? Yes. Why would I want to listen to something that makes me feel uncomfortable, angry and offended? BECAUSE DEAD PREZ SPEAKS THE TRUTH. No, they don't need to call white people "crackers". No they don't need to claim that all white people are entirely racist. But the truth is, my white friends, we are all racist. This album confronts you with this truth, and it's difficult to take. But it's a musical trip worth taking. The best new hip hop album of the millenium.

I listened to all of Dead Prez, and I must say that this is one of the greatest cds I have heard in a while. Even though they somewhat bash my race I respect their veiws. They schools is a great song. My father is a teacher, so I know alot about schools. I also like Dead Prez's new album becuase it seems to be very controversial. I mean they censored the cover. I think it's good that they expressed something about the Sowedos. All in all this is a great cd. If you are a white man, that doesn't take kindly to people talking about all the problems with the white race and you don't like hearing the word Cracker, then this album is not for you. But if you are a white person, like myself, and you can handle that sort of thing, and can understand where these guys are comeing from and respect what they have to say, then this cd is definitely reccomended. Thank you.

In 1999, I asked a friend of mine about Dead Prez because I caught sight of them on a music video. He told me that they were pretty radical, but cool. I bought it, and although the language and the message is strong (maybe a little too strong for some), it is packed with meaning. I think it is really easy to make the mistake of not listening deeply to the lyrics and then assuming that the music is racist. DP is not about reverse racism! They are pointing out some serious problems in racist America, but if you feel like they are all about hating white people and committing petty crimes, YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT!!! I'm not much for profanity myself, but if you can, take the time to try to overlook it and listen to what they are trying to get across. You don't have to agree with every opinion they have to see the good in what they are trying to do. They are humans like anyone else, so if you notice errors in their album, just realize that they are trying like anyone else to make it through this messed up world. Love.

Someone reviewed this CD as "gangsta rap"; apparently, that someone wasn't listening! Dead Prez isn't "gangsta rap"-- it's conscious Hip-Hop. This cd presents intelligent perspectives, intelligent lyrics, and nice beats.

This album pushes the envelope with its unapologetic sociopolitical commentary on American society. The beats are very accessible/mainstream IMO but it's the lyrical content that make this album a classic. There are three tracks that stand out for me (not my favs tho) that deal with gettin to know a girl and how sex isn't everything, being a vegetarian, and a song based on an orwell book about animals on a farm. Other than those three songs - the rest are ferocious attacks on american society - mainly white oppression of blacks. For some reviewers on here who talk about the double standard of blacks using "crackers" and whites using "n****r" - you have to take into account the historical context of those words, how blacks as a "racial" group had to fight for civil rights and white's did not. Don't forget about "white privelege" and "passive racism" and "sphere's of oppression". I don't think dead prez hates white people - they have just simplified the complexities of "white heterosexual male domination of society" and "white as the norm" so that they can make an album that is both entertaining and also enlightening - as one sided and simplified their views maybe. Though I am asian, if I were white I would still love this album and would not find their lyrics offensive at all - but then again, i've had the privelge of being able to get a well rounded university education - so i understand the hows, whats, and whys of what they talk about in this album. CLASSIC. BUY IT.

I don't know what the hell some of you ppl are talking about. Blaming minority radicals for being racist is just so typical. I am white and not at all offended by the msg of dead prez. Why? Because i agree with them. Because they are not racist, but socialist. Because they are not blaming whites, but capitalism.And because it is a brilliant and important cd they pulled out - politically and musically!