Sunday, November 4, 2012

Food Stamps


While I was doing research for a song that had some type of racial code (thesis topic) in the lyrics, I stumbled upon a website the lead me to a video by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (never heard of them). The song “1rst of tha month” is a single from the E.1999 Eternal album. It made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 list and was actually nominated for a Grammy in 1996. The website site I am referring to is Voices from a free America…PJ Media. The article “The Food Stamp President” and “1rst of tha Month” by author Seton Motely founder and president of Less Government organization explains his inspiration for referencing the video:

      It resonated — and stuck — because in letter and spirit it’s true
     And why wouldn’t it resonate?  It was already resonating before Obama’s inauguration —     
     when one woman famously declared: “I won’t have to worry about putting gas in my car.  I
     won’t have to worry about paying my mortgage.  If I help him, he’s going to help me.” I have
     all along the way thought of a 1995 melodic rap hit. Obviously, it resonate with a great
     number of people. The song’s lyrics describe what some people do with their food stamps and
     welfare checks.

[Birds singin', snorin', roster crowin', and an alarm clock]

[Chorus: Layzie & Bizzy (repeat 4x)]

Wake up, wake up, wake up it's the 1st of the month
To get up, get up, get up so cash your checks and get up

[Krayzie]
Hey my nigga we havin' a wonderful day and I won't fuck with me. Why?
'Cause it's the 1st of the month and now we smokin', chokin', rollin' blunts
And sippin' on 40 ounces thuggin' come come we got the blessed rum
From jumpin' all nights we high
Hit up the block to where? East 99
I get with my nigga to get me some yayo
Double up nigga what you need?
We got weed to get P.O.Ded
Fiend for the green leaves
Give it up it's the foe sure you better lay low
Cause the po-po creep when they roll slow
If you can't get away better toss that yayo
Keep your bankroll
Yeah we havin' a celebration, I love to stay high
And you better believe when it's time to grind
I'm down for mine crime after crime
Fin to creep to the pad cause mom's got grub on the grill
If we got the food, you know it's the 1st of the month
and my nigga we chills foe real


The video plays into the stereotypes of black men and how they use food stamps. The lyrics are strong…even painful for me to read. I find it interesting and disturbing that the author/or an individual would use the song to cling to such ignorance. I guess it shows how the power of music can moves us to dance, love, or hate.




http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bonethugsnharmony/1stofthamonth.html




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