The Friday Random/Genius Ten

Known endearingly as the “Lion of the Senate,” Ted Kennedy backed enough meaningful legislation in his 47 years in office to qualify as a revolutionary by the milquetoast standards of the U.S. Senate.

If anything, Kennedy proved you didn’t have to be a punk to be a progressive.

It’s a lesson some liberals might do well to remember as they prepare to tackle the issue Kennedy often referred to as the “cause of my life.”

With that in mind, PostBourgie humbly submits 10 songs for this week’s not-so Random Ten to light a fire for the fight ahead. Because as Common says, “The revolution ain’t a game/it’s another name/for life fighting”:

Umi Says (Live at Dave Chappelle’s Block Party) – Mos Def (slb)

My People – Erykah Badu (Shani-o)

Fight the Power – Public Enemy (Belleisa)

List of Demands (Reparations) – Saul Williams (Universeexpanding)

It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop – Dead Prez (Jamelle)

Wake Up Everybody by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (Belleisa)

Holy Mountains – System of a Down (slb)

You and Whose Army? – Radiohead (Quadmoniker)

Stand to the Side – Talib Kweli ft. Novel and Vinia Mojica (G.D.)

Revolution – Arrested Development (Blackink)

Peace, brothers and sisters. And don’t be looking for the revolution on the tee-vee.

Joel

Joel Anderson —blackink —  writes about sports, politics, crime, courts, and other issues far beyond his competence at BuzzFeed. He has worked at media outlets in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Atlanta and contributed to a number of publications, including The Root and The American Prospect, among many others.
  • Just want you to know that I used Fight the Power to help PK (who thinks he doesn’t like rap–he’s more of a blues/funk man) that hiphop is some good stuff.

  • List of Demands is such an angry song, and you can actually listen to it, unlike so much of Saul Williams’s stuff.

  • blackink12

    Also, for the record, Shani tried to slip another Lupe Fiasco song – “American Terrorist” onto the list. But I wasn’t having it. Not two weeks in a row. 😉

  • *shakes fist*

  • slb

    i have always loved Arrested Development’s “Revolution.” I remember when it cued up as the credits rolled on X (which i saw for the first time on a school field trip, of all places). we were already angry at malcolm’s assassination. that song made us want to tip the school bus. lol

    “you don’t want to us to go get a gun, now, do you? you don’t like to see people runnin’ around now…”

    i used to love Speech.

    “are you doin’ as much as you can for the struggle?” (NO!) “am i doin’ as much as i can for the struggle?” (NO!) “then why do i cry when my people are in trouble?”

    great, great stuff–especially when i was in eighth grade.

  • Put some house in your list – for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmoiYoRsBgM

    i’m just saying.

  • ladyfresh

    here! here!

    If anything, Kennedy proved you didn’t have to be a punk to be a progressive.

    they need to stop flinching dang it!

    to add to the revolutionary zeal

    Mos Def – Quiet Dog Bite Hard

    Peaches – Take You On

    Blaze – Revolution Poem

    Franck Biyohng – We Shall Overcome