Opine the opinion

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We decided to do something completely and utterly controversial this time around. We decided to respond to the lyrics of a Kanye West song. This particular song grabbed my attention in a way that I couldn’t ignore. It wasn’t the catchy beat, but the lyrics and how it was written and portrayed in a debate style. Kanye decides to get political and well, we all know his track record when it comes to his political opinions. Here we go:

[Verse: Kanye West & T.I.]
I know Obama was heaven-sent
But ever since Trump won, it proved that I could be president

(I agree to a certain extent. Yes, I do think that it’s great that we are opening the window of possibilities when it comes to presidency for the United States. However, this is a big however though. I want to see someone in office who has experience with foreign affairs and also someone who has experience in politics as well. Donald Trump doesn’t have that experience.)

Yeah, you can, at what cost though?
Don't that go against the teachings that Ye taught for?

(I love how Tip dialogue opens here, it illustrates how some will sell their moral code and everything they stand for just get a little power. Kanye, at one point used to preach against the Republican Party and was an advocate of standing up against the government. It seems now however, that his political opinions have shifted and what he taught others he certainly hasn’t taught himself. So in retrospect, Kanye is going against everything he once stood for and taught others to take a stand for.)

Yo, Tip, I hear your side and everybody talk though
But ain't goin' against the grain everything I fought for?
Prolly so, Ye, but where you tryna go with this?
It's some shit you just don't align with and don't go against

(Here’s where things start to get more interesting as the dialogue continues; don’t bite the hand that feeds becomes evident here. Kanye has turned his back on those who have supported him throughout his career. It leaves many wondering where is he going with this sudden shift in political view?)

You just readin' the headlines, you don't see the fine print
You on some choosin'-side shit, I'm on some unified shit

(I’m sorry Mr. West but that’s what your ass gets! Sorry, I had to throw in a song reference – but what makes this verse particularly interesting is that Kanye is saying something hypocritical. He was once one who would choose a side and bashed the opposite end, ala the infamous George Bush not liking ‘black people’ lest we forget? Unifying one end to divide another end is not unifying sir, that’s another way of dividing and conquering.)

It's bigger than your selfish agenda
If your election ain't gon' stop police from murderin' niggas
Then shit…

(I agree with this verse as it begs the question. What is your agenda here? You get on this platform and spew how much you support Trump. I understand that when it comes to politics we all have a difference of opinion, but what’s the point of you doing all this if  you aren’t going to stand up for what matters? Are you even standing up for anything? There are innocent people being killed by the police, who are being trained to be overly aggressive in situations that don’t require it. You have a platform and a voice that could inspire, why not use it for that instead of blowing steam out of your ass.)  

Bruh, I never ever stopped fightin' for the people
Actually, wearin' the hat'll show people that we equal

(Wearing a dusty ass hat isn’t going to show equality. It makes me so mad when I look at the political parties and how they are further dividing people. It would make more sense if you were to say I don’t believe in a political party because secretly they’re both in bed with each other?)

You gotta see the vantage point of the people
What makes you feel equal makes them feel evil

(The phrase ‘Make America Great Again’ isn’t really a unifying statement, especially since it supports building a wall between the borders of the United States and Mexico. The travel bans from Muslim Countries and also Trump calling many countries ‘shit holes’. Some people yes it will make them feel evil if they are supporting something like this.)

See that's the problem with this damn nation
All Blacks gotta be Democrats, man
We ain't made it off the plantation

(Again, instead of using your platform to boast your own agenda. Why not say it the way it really is? Both political parties are in bed with each other, both of them have their own agendas; and both of them are used to divide. It’s pretty hard to view the positives when a political party is rooted in discrimination and bigotry.)

Fuck who you choose as your political party
You representin' dudes just seem crude and cold-hearted
With blatant disregard for the people who put you in position
Don't you feel an obligation to them?

(This is a good point. It’s easy to say you don’t care who is placed in power as presidency when you’re on the side benefitting the most. Others who have to work hard every day feel shafted because the system is rigged for the rich and those who speak out against it are insulted and called uneducated. Both political parties have their cons, but in today’s society you’re either one or the other. Why can’t there be a political party that unifies and supports everyone as a whole instead of dividing between the rich and the poor?

I feel a obligation to show people new ideas
And if you wanna hear 'em, there go two right here
Make America Great Again had a negative perception
I took it, wore it, rocked it, gave it a new direction
Added empathy, care and love and affection
And y'all simply questionin' my methods

(What new direction are you giving it exactly? ‘Make America Great Again’ has some very discriminatory views. It can be seen almost as if it’s going against the grain. We are a country founded on immigration; people immigrated here to start a new life. It’s taking all that we stand for as a nation and throwing it in the garbage. There’s no love or compassion in calling a country a ‘shit hole’ or calling people migrating from Mexico, drug dealers and rapists.)

What you willin' to lose for the point to be proved?
This shit is stubborn, selfish, bullheaded, even for you
You wore a dusty-ass hat to represent the same views
As white supremacy, man, we expect better from you
All them times you sounded crazy, we defended you, homie
Not just to be let down when we depend on you, homie

(I’m not entirely sure who is depending on Kanye. I certainly wouldn’t depend on him with his political views because he just says whatever he feels and it could be the most bullheaded shit someone can say. I do agree though, when you first jumped on this political bandwagon and spewing whatever your little heart desired. People just looked at it as you being you and saying some shit just because. You’re trying to get attention out of shock value and it’s getting old. Get attention for doing something positive with your fame, why do we constantly allow people a platform for saying uneducated things?)

That's why it's important to know what direction you're goin' now

(Exactly, what direction are you going? Right now it just looks like you’re saying shit just to stay in the media.)

'Cause everything that you built can be destroyed and torn down
You think I ain't concerned about how I affect the past?
I mean, that hat stayed in my closet like 'bout a year and a half
Then one day I was like, "Fuck it, I'ma do me."
I was in the sunken place and then I found the new me
Not worried about some image that I gotta keep up
Lot of people agree with me, but they're too scared to speak up

(I’m so sick of people saying ‘new me’. The reason people are scared to speak up because they don’t have a platform like you to say whatever it is your little heart desires. I’m convinced you are in a sunken place because you’re saying some shit just totally out of the leftfield. It’s almost like you’re a puppet used to distract from what’s really going on in the government.)

The greater good of the people is first
Have you considered all the damage and the people you hurt?
You had a bad idea and you're makin' it worse
This shit's just as bad as Catholic preachers rapin' in church

(It’s one thing to preach for equality across the board and it’s another to preach for equality for the top 1% who are in charge of quite literally everything. I understand you support Trump and I’m not telling you whom you should and shouldn’t support, but think about who you are supporting and the people who had your back when you started off as nothing. It saddens me when people get fame and forget where they came from and slap everyone in the face that helped shaped their career.

Y'all been leadin' with hate, see I just approach it different
Like a gang truce, the first Blood to shake the Crip's hand
I know everybody emotional
Is it better if I rap about crack? Huh? 'Cause it's cultural?
Or how about I'ma shoot you? Or fuck your bitch?
Or how about all this Gucci, 'cause I'm fuckin' rich?

(Again, you can rap about whatever the fuck you want. The point I’m trying to make here is why not use your platform to promote education? I understand you want to unify people but your approach is all wrong. You’re going after shock value and miseducation.)

You'll deal with God for the lack of respect
Startin' to make it seem like Donnie cut you a check
Now you toyin' with hot lava, better be careful with that
What's it mean to gain the world if you ain't standin' for shit?
Okay I gotta say it, Ye, you sound high as a bitch
Yeah, genocide and slavery, we should just try and forget
And all that free thought shit, find a better defense

(I’m going to ignore the ‘God’ part and just say this; those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.)

But if Ye just stuck in his way, he can leave it at that
Fuck it

I’m going to stop right here. You see, Kanye when you make comments like this.

“When you hear about slavery for 400 years … for 400 years? That sounds like a choice … It’s like we’re mentally in prison.”

But then write a song saying that you are trying to ‘unify’ people. I don’t get the sense that you understand what ‘unify’ means. It angers me that you get on this platform say whatever you want and expect people to be on board with you. I’m seriously convinced that you are being used as a ‘distraction’ to keep us from knowing what’s really going on.