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Cornell West - Never Forget: A Journey of RevelationsAlbum Review by:
Jason Fleurant
Monday, September 10, 2007
 The only MC named West most Hip-Hop heads are familiar with these days is Kanye. Well if you’re a little more informed beyond the realm of your boob tube you may have heard of Dr. Cornel West. The fifty-four year old Professor (for the University Of Princeton) is legendary for his knowledge and efforts in Black America. Now he comes to the Hip-Hop to help guide it on home from it’s currently lost state.
Boosting a very impressive list of collaborators, varying from the likes of Prince to Talib Kweli. The good doctor offers a very unique and pleasant compilation. This is definitely not so much for the hardcore gangster Hip-Hop heads, yet not limited to the socially conscious either. It’s a great blend of various styles, more like a carefully crafted mixtape.
West knows his role, and doesn’t attempt to snatch the spotlight or become a rapper overnight. Instead he plays the role of a Poetry Slam DJ. Offering powerful pieces of spoken word that transitions smoothly with his guest. Such as witness on the album opener “Bushonomics” where he teams up with the BK MC Talib Kweli to tackle the negativity of George Bush’s reign as president. The track gives you the tribal fire feel as the flute dances in the background Kweli flows “Voter’s registrations/ with no scope of education/ is a waste of time/ with no hope, it’s just frustration/ it ain’t no choice/ when it your picking a voice of a nation/ your just contributing to the status quo’s preservation/ plus we ain’t got no universal health care/ and who the hell care/ about crack mothers on welfare”.
The aggressive "Fuck America" motto continues on to the following track, “America”. A five man deep collaboration of aggravation, the MC’s blast society for all the racism they’ve faced. Rah Digga returns, to the mike dropping some commentary saying “P. Diddy running marathons/ raisin’ dough/ that’s going to the schools, where the tax money go?/ Home Land Security, now there’s a phenom/ pacifying folks, by hanging Saddam/”. The husky voice of the singer on this track captures very well the emotional distain for the struggle, and Black Thought proceeds to murder the song citing “you got pawn shop, gun shots, liquor signs/ swat teams/ crack fiends/ unemployed lines/ daily, dollar short/ trying to buy time/ what we do to survive/ is to find, there’s a life of crime….if I’m a hustler/ then what’s more American?”
This album goes on and on to touch even deeper, stronger concepts with great conviction. Prince beautifully paints the fire in the belly to want change on “Dear Mr. Man”. A classic soulful ballad speaking on the only way we can see change, being through our own actions. Another letter of addressing is the Krs-One, M-1 featured “Dear President”. Dare I say that Bush got served? Dr. West opens up calling Bush out for his lies over the war, lack of effort during Katrina, and more. Over the clacking sound of gun’s getting cocked back, M-1 goes in “see to you, I’m a number/ and to me, you’re the enemy/ this is workin’ class related/ Black and Brown, you kin to me/ your shooters selling the crack/ but your lock in to my people/ you expect me to vote, for the lesser of two evils?”. Krs-One is no stranger to confrontation as well as speaking politics. So it goes with out saying he’d feel comfortable on this song. Krs-One starts of blazing “most of ya’ll afraid to talk/ two planes done blazed New York/ and still no one is caught?/ the middle class takin’ a short/ education, health-care, airwaves/ they all been brought/ don’t tell me bout equal opportunity/ and if I work hard at my dreams/ they’ll all become true to me/ that’s a fairy tale, I can point out/ ten black genius’s in every jail”.
This album is well rounded with the blues in various shades. From “Gonna Be Alright”, “Keeping It P.I.”, to the Chicago anthem “Welcome to The Chi”. My favorite track isn’t even a musical track, but more like a skit where Dr. West and Michael Eric Dyson discuss the controversy over “The N-Word”. This is with out a doubt a pick-up worth getting. You got to give respect, where respect is due. Dr. Cornel West doesn’t want you to forget, as he takes you on a journey of struggle, pain, on the road to success. And may I say, he sure does get the message through, loud and clear
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