“How many mics do we rip on the daily?” Lauryn Hill as part of The Fugees, “How Many Mics”, The Score, 1996.
BALANCE, HARMONY, RECIPROCITY. The “Red Intro” on The Fugees The Score is followed by a song called “How Many Mics”. “Red Intro” is a befitting set-up because it describes a perspective on the how these three urban youth (Wyclef, Pras, and Lauryn) view their neighborhoods and what they need to do to make the situation better. Calling them cowboys, they point out the gangsta mentality of youth who rob one another, but fail to confront police brutality. Calling them zealots, they point out the corporate system of record companies and vow to never compromise their integrity to satisfy the industry’s greed. Back in 1996, The Score gave hip-hop culture an album that was well-balanced with beats, rhymes, and content – perhaps the reason why it is STILL one the most popular albums in hip-hop history. If only MCs took the same approach, and record companies took the same risks to support more conscious content. Heck, if only WE as a community took the same approach and the same risks, and demanded more of ourselves and others. How much more of a beloved community would we be?
For example, on “How Many Mics” Wyclef Jean says in a low yet commanding voice “Pick up your microphones” – sort of like the statement “pick up your guns” – before asking “How many mics do we rip on the daily?” The “mic” is therefore the weapon. And instead of spewing hot lead, it spews hot lyrics. Lyrics that can make someone or break someone. Lyrics that can motivate positivity or cause mass destruction and misguidance. And from this logic, we can see that the power of the VOICE has the more power than the GUN. Just as the pen is mightier than the sword.
The DDR: Proverbs 18:21 says that life and death are in the tongue. When Wyclef ask the question “How many mics do we rip on the daily?”, Lauryn answers “Say, me say many money. Say me say many many many” before talking about how frustrated she gets when she rhymes because she’s “thinkin of all them kids that try to do this for all the wrong reasons.” Are you using your VOICE for all the wrong reasons or all the right reasons? MC means “Move the Crowd” or to be a master/mistress of ceremony. Really we are ALL MCs because we all have a VOICE. And with that VOICE comes RESPONSIBILITY. So, today I’d like for you to think about when you are in the position to MC, or should I say “Move the Crowd”, are you speaking truth to power to uplift your audience? Teachers, when you are in your classrooms, are you instilling encouraging and inspirational thoughts into your students? Politicians, are you implementing policy that chips away at social injustices or are you using your microphone to line your pockets for personal gain? As everyday people, we must make sure that we use our voices to speak life and love into our families, our friends, our colleagues, our communities, and our children. We must also hold those who do the opposite responsible. Because surely life and death are in the tongue. So I ask, “How many mics do you rip on the daily?” Can you say “many many many?”
Isiah Coats, Jr.
2 June
As an underpaid, inspired educator, I live to rip mics. That’s all I have. The love and knowledge that emanates is sincere and intentional.
I truly love my students. I love them because they have trusted me. I love them for empowering me to offer what God has purposed in my heart to provide. I love them because our ancestors spilled blood together. I love them because they will save my world. They will teach my children with the same love I have given them.
I rip mics to end the debt of my community. I rip mics to share a sense of purpose. I hope my students feel what I intend in my work. They say they do.
Mic Check! Do you hear me?
dailydoseofrealness
3 June
I hear you loud and clear Isiah!!! Keep MCing
mike
2 June
as educators (cheers Mr. Coats), we have a duty to inspire, motivate and call out our young people through our words on the mic, our attitudes about life and our openness to the power of youth.
as a community it is our duty to do the same. if only we could heed the words of omega in “family business” as he says “where i was born, nothing is promised” and continue to invest to uplift our young people.
surely life and death, indeed are in the tongue and we are on the cusp of both. the question now is merely sartre-ian in nature: with this facticity, what do we chose now?
dailydoseofrealness
3 June
Thanks Mike,
Can you say more about us being on the cusp of both? Thanks
Peace
Minister Server
2 June
Peace and much Love!
Nuff RESPECT to Dr. Joyce, I appreciate your DDR, word!
Yes, I rip many, many, many Mics on a daily! I’ve been a MC for over thirty years ( yeah that’s right, I’m claimin’ my OG status), anyway, I wish that more people understand that there is a DISTINCT difference between a rapper and an MC! For the record, Rappers speak for entertainment corporations; MCs speak for people of the community the represent, WORD!
dailydoseofrealness
3 June
Minister Server,
I know you rip many many many!! And I love that you claim your OG status. Imagine how the community would be if more did.
Peace
Playaatdahouse
2 June
For the past 2.5 weeks, I have been in China – Shanghai and Hangzhou. It has been a wonderful experience. Most impressive are the similarities between people, amidst perceived distinctions.
Here, I reside on a university campus, around which there are several signs reminding students and visitors of social responsibility. Signs read words like: “It is our duty to take good care of public property”, and “Be patriotic and law-abiding, courteous and trustworthy, united and friendly, diligent and self-improving, dedicated and devoted.”
China’s total population exceeds a billion, and at any given time in Shanghai, I have been surrounded by thousands of people on foot, on bikes, scooters, and in cars, buses and trains. Despite what appears to be chaotic movement among these very many people, order prevails.
Are those signs of instruction, those “words” placed within the learning environment, cultivating “life” rather than “death” as referenced in the Proverbs? I contend that the intention is surely so. However, I am not so naive as to say that the Chinese people are angelic, and without human frailties. But, I am being convinced that the conscious efforts to influence positive behavior are effective.
America has a history of noble ideals and patriotic propaganda. The value of idealism stuck, but before President Obama, I like many others, found it difficult to embrace patiotism, fully. (I wonder, still, whether that that exists is fleeting and set to expire at the end of his second term.) Did our country’s efforts to inluence positively fail? Admittedly, some were successful. Did we stop trying? Which begs a question . . . Will China stop trying, one day?
As these people continue to exercise ideals of commercialism, and conspicuous consumerism, will their traditional values of honor and respect for fellow humans diminish?
My knowledge of history, economics, politics and business do not qualify me for a more than fairly decent conversation about these issues, let alone an informed analysis. However, I will put this out there – the choice is always with number one, me (you). These students see these signs everday. Are they reading them, paying any attention, actually embracing the ideal presented?
Some are, some are not. After all, there are people (mostly women) who sweep up after them, constantly. Although I have not been “studying them”, sufficiently, to reveal how well they take “good” care of public property, my observations tell me that the effort put forth to inspire love and respect has begotten after its seed. My smile elicits a return smile and greeting from persons that at first glance seem as if they are unfriendly and angry.
In fact, that is one of the striking similarities that I observe! The countenances of people like me, in America, ones who have experienced segregation, discrimination and downright oppression, are often hard set, mouths downturned, making them appear angry. (Actually, we are angry.) ;( Inside, we are loving, compassionate, happy folks, quick to sing, quick to allow a joy within to move our feet, and very expressive of the beauty that we observe around us.
It is our choice to continue to perpetuate that love.
I am glad that I have been able to share this time with these people. I am glad that I have been able to MC, and share these words with you. I choose to “live and not die”.
Peace
dailydoseofrealness
3 June
Playaatdahouse,
Thank you for these words. As I read them I thought it to be a very keen and compassionate analysis of the similarities and differences of people who live on different sides of the world. China has its culture and its complexities. I find it alluring when I’m around a culture of people who know exactly who they are and where they come from. It’s like when I was in Tanzania or Nigeria. To be around a gang of people who look alike, talk alike, and have norms and mores is a very different experience than when you live in a place where there is soooo much diversity – often competing diversity. I think it makes it hard to me a good MC amongst all the diversity to be quite honest.
Just some initial thoughts in response to your comments.
Peace
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