It’s time to stand together in a unity cause. If not, then yo, we’re soon to be self-destroyed, unemployed, the rap race will be lost without a trace, or a clue, but what to do, is stop the violence and kick the science down the road that we call eternity, where knowledge is formed, and you’ll learn to be self-sufficient, independant to teach to each is what rap intended but society wants to invade. So do not walk this path they led. It’s self-destruction, ya headed for self-destruction. Self-destruction, ya headed for self-destruction…
I know how this may no sound the funniest thing to read to many of you here but I can’t help myself thinking how doubtful I am as far as tomorrow is concerned judging by the uniformization of our environment. Is there anything we can really do about it ? Nothing more here but a matter of individual acceptance as usual as it’s each of us’s prerogative to say yes or no and subsequently react as notoriously shown by those excerpts of a ‘Self Destruction’, a song written by a collective of rappers united around KRS-One and Hank Shocklee under The Stop The Violence Movement guise at the end of the 80’s. I know how some of you may say that those were just words as violence is still around the corner. But what about those people who made themselves a name in History while refusing what to many of their contemporaries stood as fatality at the time? Politicians, authors, scientists, artists… Not to mention those many anonymous people who’ve eventually left their lives on a battle field here or there in the name of an idea if not an ideal !!!
Quite interesting to have a look back at those lyrics written some 17 years ago and see how they may tragically apply to so many aspects on today’s reality. As if what we tended to consider as progress was nothing but a global regression at the end of the day. And the reasons to such a situation are numerous, like ignorance, misunderstanding when not indifference, with the blessing of the Power or the System (call it whatever you want), the glorification of individualism and the defense of hobbies or nations interests as opposed to humanity’s ones as a way of living.
This said, what’s be done along the last months to prevent US Pdt George W. Bush from allowing companies to launch new oil-wells in Alaska should be taken as a real sign of encouragement although a whole bunch of things remain to be done here or there such as convincing a Ukranian state company to give up building a channel in the Donau delta in regards to a plan which is reputed to be a real menace to the already fragile ecosystem of this site.
In the same state of mind, can’t help myself being more than sceptical when having a listen to what is currently said about the downloading. On one hand, you’ll have those people against the legalization of the free downloading – record companies execs for instance – claiming that they work for the interests of the artists. And on the other, you’ll have the others saying that the free downloading is the ultimate way to promote a song. As far as I’m humbly concerned, I would tend to think that both their positions are based on wrong arguments. Regarding the first of’em, because they’re justifying their existence out of said artists works and don’t give a single sh** of the individuals as long as they are potential sources of (huge) profits. As for the others, because they tend to think that the peer to peer platforms are the works of music lovers as opposed to nuttin’ but crackers living their obsession to push forward the limits of inviolation.
History once again prooves to be full of reluctant exemples on both sides along the years, should it be the commercialisation of the tape recorder which would happen to be the first tool allowing massive reproduction some 40 years ago, as the regular sacking of artists following the establishment of artificially decided new trends for most of them.
As for what concerns us here on IDMW.Com, you can rest assured of seing us pursuing our fight for the maintainence of diversity everywhere we feel this has to, by any (legal) means necessary.
Is there here as well any need for legislation, as demonstrated by this purposal from French MP’s to include a quota destined to the artists on the fees that that are paid to the access providers in exchange for the legalization of the free downloading ? Not too sure seing everyone being happy about this as it’s already the case regarding the current copyrights payment system courtesy of the existing dedicated companies from a country to another. The right solution for the internet community looks more to me like working on the establishment of a modus vivendi. Starting with the nature of the files that are currently freely exchanged which should me made unlistenable in proprer conditions elsewhere than on PC. This is as a matter of fact what we’ve always done here on IDMW.Com, due to the fact that what we consider as our freedom to inform has always found its limits where the artists' freedom to get the fruit of their work starts. MFSB
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