Feeling Poetic...
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Actually I'm not. But I was when I wrote these:
Bidrohi part 2
dedicated to Kazi Nazrul Islam
July '07
I am the epitome of a soldier
fighting to the end
I am that peak
that you struggle to ascend
my name is propaganda
feeding lies to your son
I am a Palestinian
living life under the gun
I am the path of obscurity
that seeks to confuse
I am the addiction
that you cannot refuse
I am that person
who you seek for inspiration
I am that thought
that gives you motivation
no matter the cost
I will not cease
no matter the loss
they will hear me speak
I am a rebel
and a rebel is he
I am a poet
I am Kazi Nazrul Islam
---
The Assassin
July '07
I tread softly within your midst
Carrying the world with me
At times I decree my force
Tearing everything that may be
Predictions do not stand
Questioned by the renaissance
The thunder and the waves
As I levy into my stance
Save Us is the Mantra
They speak only in tongues
There is none other
I am the only one.
---
Jay Sean’s new video...
Sunday, November 09, 2008
One thing I did intriguing was the use of a black model (rather than an Asian or a mixed race one) and her very strong presence in the video. From an image and marketing perspective, it seems to be a very logical and thought out decision; Jay, to further himself in the mainstream arena, needs to less push his Asian identity in order to minimise being sidelined as an "Asian artist". In an obscure way, the black model (and I'm sure the presence of Wheezy and co. in future videos) adds a level of authenticity to the song (it being music of black origin and all).
On the topic of Asian R'nB artists. I recently stumbled across Zee Kay (http://www.myspace.com/zeekaymusic). If anyone hasn't heard of him, I suggest they look him up; he seems to be a very promising Asian act. What defines him from the rest is that he is closely working with the founder of Big Brovaz (they had HUGE success a few years back), and also his music is very very approachable. Rather than going for an exclusively Asian sound/look in an attempt to build a base of desi fans before trying to tackle the mainstream, he seems to be heading straight in, head first. This not only makes it less likely for him to be categorised and pushed in the corner as just another Asian act, but also gives him a massive amount of credibility for the level of confidence. The added element of Mr Skills in the picture, with his proven track record, further perpetuates his likelihood of success.
I'm sure 2009 is going to prove to be an exciting year for Asian artists. Jay Sean, Zee Kay… and not forgetting Mumzy (wherever he seems to hiding!).
Bombs on UK train – But where is the media frenzy?
Friday, November 07, 2008
"A man has been charged with carrying two bombs on a train ahead of a planned terror attack."
Indeedy, you guessed it; the man in question wasn't Muslim. This yet another example of a biased media system, willing to give all their screen time and newspaper real estate to the smallest incidents involving "Muslims" caught up in the wrong side of the law, no matter how non threatening their so called actions were (anyone remember the 23 year old "Lyrical Terrorist’ who wrote “extremist poems”?).
A full article on the train incident can be found here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3394044/A-man-found-with-two-homemade-bombs-charged-with-terror-offences.html
…and it wasn’t easy of me to find neither (did a search for it after catching the tail end of a news piece on the BBC Asian Network).
So when people like Robert Cottage (found with the largest stock pile of weapons uncovered on British Soil) and Neil Lewington (above) have definite means and plans (and even caught in the process) to commit acts of terror, a tumble weed rolls by, the crickets chirp, and everyone smiles as if nothing happened. But when a Muslim covert, Nicky Reilly, who is diagnosed medically as mentally ill, attempts to bomb an Exeter Restaurant, it's plastered on the front page of newspapers from here to Baghdad?!
-- p.s. I did hope to keep my new spangly blog away from politics and religion...but hey.
