Search - Last Poets :: Real Rap

This Album Has NOT Been Sanctioned By Last Poets

11/10/2002

(1 out of 5 stars)

"...if it had, it would have received a much higher rating. "Real Rap" is a collection of many Last Poets classics, but because it is unauthorized, I would not advise its purchase. I presented the CD myself to Abiodun Oyewole [who is incredibly down to Earth and maddeningly cool] to have it autographed, and he told me himself he had never seen it before and was unaware of its production. Can you say, "piracy"?That stated, the track titled "E Pluribus Unum" is definitely unique and a favorite, and as is typical of Last Poets music, it is very consciousness-elevating. It is one of the few songs on this album I had not heard outside of this album. But my advice is to find it on a legit Last Poets album. Nevertheless, I would be remiss to not share some of the lyrics of this particular track..."SELFISH DESIRES ARE BURNING LIKE FIRES
AMONG THOSE WHO HOARD THE GOLD
AS THEY CONTINUE TO KEEP THE PEOPLE ASLEEP
AND THE TRUTH FROM BEING TOLD
RACISM AND GREED KEEP THE PEOPLE IN NEED
FROM GETTING WHAT'S RIGHTFULLY THEIRS
CHEATING STEALING AND DOUBLE-DEALING
AS THEY EXPLOIT THE PEOPLE'S FEARS [hmmmmm...]
AND NOW DOW JONES OWNS THE PEOPLE'S HOMES,
AND ALL THE SURROUNDING LAND
BUYING AND SELLING THIER HUMBLE DWELLING
IN THE NAME OF THE "MASTER PLAN"
'CAUSE PAPER MONEY IS LIKE A BEE WITHOUT HONEY
WITH NO STINGER TO BACK HIM UP
AND THOSE WHO STOLE THE PEOPLE'S GOLD
ARE DEFINITELY CORRUPT

NOW THE U.S. MINTS ON PAPER PRINTS
MILLIONS EVERYDAY
AND USE THE EAGLE FOR THEIR SYMBOL
'CAUSE IT'S A BIRD OF PREY
NOW THE LAURELS OF PEACE AND THE ARROWS OF WARS
ARE CLUTCHED VERY TIGHTLY IN THE EAGLE'S CLAWS
FILLED WITH GREED AND LUST
AND ON THE BACK OF THE DOLLAR BILL
IS THE WORDS, "IN GOD WE TRUST"
BUT THE DOLLAR BILL IS THE ONLY GOD
AND THEY DON'T EVEN TRUST EACH OTHER
AND FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE
THEY'D START A WAR
TO EXPLOIT SOME BROTHER'S MOTHER AND OVER THE PYRAMID HEIGHT
IS THE DEVIL'S EYE THAT STOLE FROM THE TRUTH
AND CREATED THE LIE
NOW "ANNUIT" MEANS AN ENDLESS AMOUNT
STOLEN OVER THE YEARS
AND "COEPTIS" MEANS A NEW EMPIRE
OF VAMPIRE MILLIONAIRES
AND "NOVUS" IS A LATIN WORD
MEANING "SOMETHING NEW"
AND "ORDO" MEANS "A WAY OF LIFE
CHOSEN BY A FEW"
"SECLORUM" IS A WORD THAT MEANS
"TO TAKE FROM ANOTHER"
KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, AND UNDERSTANDING
STOLEN FROM THE BROTHER NOW ON THE FRONT OF THE DOLLAR BILL
TO THE RIGHT
OF WASHINGTON'S HEAD
IS A SMALL SEAL IN THE SHAPE OF A WHEEL
WITH A SECRET THAT'S BEEN LEFT UNSAID
THE SYMBOLS IN THE MIDDLE REPRESENT THE RIDDLE
OF THE SCALES, THE RULER AND THE KEY..." A timeless piece, indeed. Rather than recommend this album however, I would recommend instead, "Chastisement", "Holy Terror", "Time Has Come" and any additional albums blessed by Last Poets."

The Best Collection of Tracks by the Last Poets

douggie do | BC, Canada | 03/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This set collects the greatest tracks from the first three Last Poet lp's, as well as the better efforts from their later sets. If you wanted to gets all of these tracks elsewhere, you would have to purchase about six separate cd's. It also contains the complete hard-to-find lp "Hustlers Convention", with backing tracks by Kool and the Gang. It is supposedly the greatest blaxploitation film never made. The liner notes are detailed and informative. This set is certainly a gift from the gods of commerce, particularly for those interested in the roots of today's rap and hiphop sounds."