Among other topics, the CBC Q Pop Culture Panel discussed pop and rap music mogul Jay Z's release of the track Spiritual, his contribution to the recent influx of musical responses to the shootings of black men by police (and vice versa).
I guess it must be kind of tough (in a very non-tough kind of way) for prominent black musicians like Jay Z, Beyoncé and the like. There is an unspoken expectation that they will make some kind of a statement on public affairs of this nature; not to do so would be an even louder statement in some ways. And, yes, people like Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar have always incorporated a political element into their songs, even if not to the extent of other second-rank rappers like J. Cole, Tef Poe, Killer Mike, etc (and even if Mr. Lamar chose to tone down his own lyrics for President Obama recently).
Interestingly, the panel presented two quite different views on the matter. One is that Jay Z (who is after all a multi-millionaire - very close to billionaire - media mogul, and not just a "boy from then hood" as his lyrics suggest) is merely doing what is expected of him in a purely self-serving, even vain, manner, and as his music is played in middle-class white suburban America (which, statistically, most of it is) this is not going to have any effect or cause any change. In which case, what is it for? Arguably, just cashing in on the zeitgeist.
On the other hand, goes the other view, although the lyrics are admittedly all about "I" (i.e. Jay Z himself), such is his reach and influence that listeners will put themselves into the song so that they then become the "I". White middle-class suburban America is exactly who needs to be thinking about these issues - there is no point in preaching to the choir - and Jay Z has the (corporate and artistic) reach to do so. It is further argued that invoking 19th Century negro spirituals, and incorporating quotes from historical figures like Frederick Douglas, makes the song legitimate and worthy in some way. Well, maybe, maybe not.
Personally, I find the former view better argued and more convincing, but then I don't have a great deal of patience with, or confidence in, pop megastars of any stripe. Or, alternatively, maybe it's just a song and we are all looking way too hard for depth and meaning and intention. Have a listen and see what you think
And the song itself? Well, it's OK, I guess, well-intentioned, even if not a masterpiece. The main hook includes the lines: "Just a boy from the hood that got his hands in the air in despair, don't shoot, I just wanna do good, ah" - not exactly earth-shaking stuff, not something that hasn't been said, better, many times before by others. And to suggest (if that is indeed the intention) that all, or even most, black men stopped by the police are just trying to "do good" is frankly puerile and duplicitous. As for the other part of the hook: "Just don't calculate us. Spiritual, yes it's spiritual", well, your guess is as good as mine. Maybe it's deep, maybe it's just a throwaway line.
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