Wed Feb 19

Fez

Dead Prez means "Dead the Fucking President." On M1 and Stic.Man's newest release, Turn off the Radio (billed as DPZ, on the label Holla Black), machine-gun and warrior-holler skits intersperse between revolution-ready, hardlining bounce, as the duo indicts the president ("George Bush is way worse than bin Laden is"), the cops (on their collaboration with The Coup, "Get Up") and call out to the wealthy black community for resources (in the chorus of "Hit Me," they rhyme, "Dr. Huxtable! We need to build a hospital!"). The effect is rousing, rhythmic, and reaffirming. And, you know. Extra militant.

In the game entitled "Dead Prez or Dead Pres.?" see if you can identify who said the following quotes: was it from a speech made by one of our country's many deceased forefathers--or from a record by America's most revolutionary, vegan, black power hiphop duo? Read on and find out!

"I know you think I wanna fuck, no doubt. But tonight we'll try a different route. How 'bout we start with a salad, a fresh bed of lettuce with croutons. Later, we can play a game of chess on the futon."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"Cops drive down the streets and blow my friends away. I try to smoke enough lah to take my sins away."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"The ballot is stronger than the bullet."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"Uh, who shot Biggie Smalls? If we don't get them, they gon' get us all. I'm down for runnin' up on them crackers in they city hall."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"A house divided against itself cannot stand. This government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"No I wasn't born in Ghana, but Africa is my momma. And I did not end up here from bad karma."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"Ain't no hope in the streets, you broke you sell dope. All my young niggaz outside hustlin' coke."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"In charity to all mankind, bearing no malice or ill will or any human being, and even compassionating those who hold in bondage their fellow men, not knowing what they do."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"I don't believe Bob Marley died from cancer. 31 years ago I woulda been a Panther. They killed Huey cause they knew he had the answer. The views that you see in the news is propaganda."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?

"Yeah, I'm for peace, but I'll kill ya if ya fuck with my moms or my niece."

Dead Prez... or Dead Pres?