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August 6, 2005

Kanye West Video: The Return of Conscious Hip Hop?

This is probably old news for plugged-in readers of this blog, but I just saw the new(?) video by Kanye West entitled, "Diamonds from Sierra Leone". I gotta tell ya, I was so excited...consciousness returns to hip hop! I felt like it was the '90's all over again.

The video is part James Bond/ part PSA. Car chases, diamonds with flowing streams of blood, rather healthy-looking faces of African youth. The video even ended with a plea to the bling-bling generation not to buy "conflict-diamonds". Only one problem...the lyrics to the song have NOTHING to do with the international issue...AT ALL. Apparently, Q-Tip (of Tribe Called Quest fame) hipped Kanye to the probable history of the diamonds he so stylishly flaunts -- picture military dictators and young African kids with amputated limbs. Hence a quick change in the song's title and the theme of the video. Way to go Q-Tip!

Hip hop may not be conscious, but at least it seems to be awakening from its Courvoisier induced stupor.

If you prefer to get your facts from places other than music videos, visit the United Nations site or check out an amazing video "Diamond Life" over at GNN.

Posted by Jason at August 6, 2005 12:43 AM