Change Has Come, Now History is Ours: Jay-Z, Obama, and the Hip-Hop Community’s Next Movement
Editorial By Michael Partis
What is Hov talking about on his new track “History” ? Is it about more than “History” and “Victory?”
There is always the tendency to feel as if we are thinking too much; that we are taking it too far. It becomes a feeling we have when looking at all forms of art: music, paintings, poetry, dance, etc.
But the great artist is the one that legitimates our search for something more. They make you see further, think longer, listen closer—they make you believe there is meaning to their work; beyond the surface; beyond the first encounter; beyond the first layer.
This ability is what makes Jay-Z one of the greatest rappers in Hip-Hop history: because his music makes us listen beyond the obvious.
“Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim through it?” Jay-Z-”Renegade”
In his new song entitled “History” Hov chronicles the search for “Victory.” The “Victory” though is spoken of in a context that, if captured, would become “History.” There is a historical element to the win he seeks.
The lyrics are filled with personification and symbolism. “Defeat,” “Death,” and “Success” are people that you encounter on the journey to meet “Victory” and “History.” When listened to closely it feels as if every adjective, every noun, every word could be understood in more than one way; that it could mean more than how we normally use it. Every usage of “agony” or “dreams” seems like… feels like… it could mean more than what it appears to be.
So what does it mean? That is our job as listeners, to form an understanding of the message.
Given the recent events, and the timing of the leak, the song seems to be a strong metaphor for the election of Barack Obama and the journey that the Black community has traveled to reach this achievement.
We can easily see how the “Victory” being sought is equal to Obama’s winning the 2008 Election. And that with this “Victory” accomplished history is made: the first Black person to become President of the United States of America.
By no means was this journey easy. “Defeat” and “Success” certainly exemplify the bitter, and the sweet, of the African-American experience.
The defeats have been trying, hurtful, and protracted: whether they be the failed Presidential campaigns of Black politicians like Shirley Chisholm or Jesse Jackson; the assassinations of Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, or other Black leaders; or the longer legislative battles to eliminate racist laws, end race-based discrimination, and obtain civil rights. It is an inescapable pain that accompanies Black life in America.
“her name is Defeat
She give me agony, so much agony
She bring me so much pain so much misery
Like missing ya last shot, and falling to ya knees
As the crowd screams, for the other team“
The successes have been fulfilling, joyful, and tantalizing: the largest Black middle-class in American history; breakthroughs in fields, careers, and positions that barred Blacks for so long; more Blacks with access to higher education.
The beauty of Jay’s message is that yes success is certainly better than defeat, and definitely a gain in the struggle. But success lacks longevity. It is not a victory, but only a gain. And while gains are historic in nature, victory is the end goal—victory is that which cannot be taken away, and so it lives in history forever:
“Ain’t in it for the fame, that dies within weeks
Ain’t in it for the money, cant take it when you leave
I wanna be remembered, long after you breathe
Long after I’m gone, long after i breathe
I leave all i am, in the hands of History
That’s my last will, testimony“
But is Obama’s win “Victory?”
Jay speaks of “Victory” as if it is in a relationship with “History;” they work together, to create something new: “Now Victory is mine, tastes so sweet/ She’s my trophy wife, coming with me/ We’ll have a baby, who stutters repeatedly/ We’ll name him History, he’ll repeat after me/ He’s my legacy, son of my hard work/ Future of my past, he’ll explain who I be…This is much more than a song, its a baby shower“
In using the metaphor of marriage and birth, we can understand that victory creates history but also create something new—something that continues through time. The birth of something new allows for the potential for remembrance, for legacy, but most importantly…to continue.
The 1st Black President of the United States is a tremendous victory of historic proportions that fulfills something many thought could never happen. It is victory because it can never be taken away. But it is not “Victory,” because the final victory has yet to be won.
There is still an economic inequality pervasively present along racial lines. There is still a criminal justice system that disproportionately incarcerates Blacks, Latinos, and people of color at exceedingly higher rates. Where’s fuller life for the victims of Hurricane Katrina? How can we help the under-told story of those heavily hit by Hurricane Ike? How can we fix the outrageous number of failing schools in Detroit, Atlanta, and cities across the U.S.? How the hell we will deal with the growing magnitude of the ever-growing current economic crisis?
We can look across the African Diaspora and see problems as well: in Puerto Rico, The Congo, Sudan, South African, Haiti—as a nation with a large immigrant population, and a huge global influence (as problematic as that is), these are things we can not take lightly. They absolutely affect us.
Liberation; equality; justice; that is the “Victory” we must seek.
The remarkable power of Barack Obama’s election to the highest office in the world, is that it fills us with the strength, belief, and joy that change is possible. Despite all the problems named above, Obama’s victory symbolized that we can do better. It drives you to say, “Yes We Can.”
Obama has often spoken about and built his campaign around this generation of hope, belief, and possibility. He’s calls us the “Joshua Generation:”
Jay-Z’s greatest is that he could convey the ideas of one of the greatest politicians in history using Hip-Hop’s voice. He poetically, skillfully, and thoughtfully has depicted the same message in a way that only Hip-Hop could; through Hip-Hop music. It is indicative of the power within this Hip-Hop community to seize this moment and turn it into our moment of history.
And just as Barack has fulfilled, and as Jay-Z has expressed, the Hip-Hop community and people from all over the world have been sharing what this moment means to them; to our history; and to our future. ColorOfChange.org has been gathering these stories since Election Night. The most poignant, and the strongest, came from Bronx rapper CATALYST:
What a political figure like Barack Obama expressed in speech; what a world-renowned artist like Jay-Z expressed in music; was just as articulately, just as knowledgeably, and just as eloquently shared by a little-known rapper from the Bronx.
That is our power. That is why we must seize this moment.
michaelpartis@gmail.com
www.michaelpartis.blogspot.com
http://my.rawkus.com/profile/ForeThought
Tags: Barack Obama, Jay-Z
Suggestion Box
November 13th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Good read and so true as well
more and more artists (artists in any form) need to think about what they say and do because they are in the spot light most of the time and have people looking up to them, i give props to jigga for the ‘History’ track because he speaks on a deaper level and speaks to a different crowed that Obama might not have reached and he expreses himself in an intelectual way giving other people a chance to look at what has just happened in a different light than what you see and hear on the news
November 13th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Is that essay a hiphop lessons for dumb asses???.. This man talkin like people couldnt decipher for themselfs the meanin behind jay-z history…
“Dumb it down for these nigg@s” smh
To me history is the return of the real jay-z, the jay-z whos double entendres within his lyrics where once as common place as a rapper using the “N” word… After Reasonable Doubt he just seemed to dillute his lyrics, just dumb everything down to gain recognition from the widest possible audience..
If people want to hear the raw jay-z go listen to Reasonable Doubt..
November 13th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I also think that “History” was a great song. However, I not sure that Jay was referring to Obama winning the presidency. I think one could connect “History” with the historic moment of Obama’s victory. If you follow Jay’s work, you will see that he always relate situations to his own personal experience, just like he did with American Gangster. However, American Gangster served as a portion of Jay’s motivation to create that album. I believe “History” reflects on the phase that Jay is going through in life. He has been the best rapper. His battle is now with history, his motivation is to be the best rapper ever, that is his passion, that is what drives him. He has spoken on that on several occasions. When he left defjam, he repeatedly said that he wants to connect with something that is going to make history. “Please rank me amongst the greats, either 1, 2, or 3 if I aint number 1, then I failed you victory. His goal is to be the greatest. This song caused me to reflect on my personal situation and my legacy after I’m gone.
Or, could Beyonce be victory that he has been in pursuit of, could success be the previous women that everyone’s had. Could history really be his child to come that cements his legacy.
Who Knows but Great song
November 13th, 2008 at 11:04 am
“Hova the god nigga, blaspehmy, I’m @ the trump international, ask for me/ I aint neva scared, I’m everywhere u aint neva there/ nigga why would I ever care, pound 4 pound I’m the best to ever come around…” Hova aka YUNG H.O
November 13th, 2008 at 11:16 am
This was a great article. And I think this song shows why Jay z is the greatest rapper of all time. The way he tells a story is second to none. His double entendres are EASILY the best ever. And how he always relates real life to his music. We all are looking to make history in our own way. The only thing rappers like lil wayne talk about are how much more money they have then us, or how many women they have slept with, or all the weed they smoke. Great song. Great article.
November 13th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Once again another great article by Michael Partis. Keep up the good work!
November 13th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Best material you ever wrote imo. Keep it up
November 13th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
^^^^ is that u micheal smh
November 13th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
yepp..who but hov?
November 13th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I WISH 2PAC WAS HERE
“although it seems heaven sent, we ain’t ready to see a black president”
FUCK GAY-Z… since when is that nigga a political rapper anyway? dude is no different from those billionaire corporations that favor mostly republicans, he’s the last person that should say anything about politics my word..people don’t realize that. Now that obama won, even people that never mentioned shit in their raps about politics wanna feel the need to do so; leave that to guys like nas, common, talib…real niggaz
gay-z is nothing but a wealthy nigga that exploits poor niggaz like me; what has he done for the community….the same goes with p diddy; dudes charging heads 100$+ for corny sean john jeans …. look at what marbury did, dude sold sneakers for like $10; fuck all those jay-z types cuz they’re the types that are gonna get punished by the new obama plan; jay-z should support republican, thats his field
November 13th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
HEY YO, THIS DUDE ABOVE ME IS MAD!!!! YO MAD A JAY CAUSE HE POOR. HOMIE GO GET YOU SOME DOUGH SO HOV WONT BE EXPLOITING YOU. YO MAD FOREAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 13th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
LOL,LOL, YO SAID “I WISH TUPAC WAS HERE”!!!!! YO WIPE YOUR WEEPING EYES.
November 13th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Its such a pleasure 2 see and hear artists extend themselves and talk about relevant and meaningful stuff instead of the same old same averge, ordinary, stereotypical hustlin’, ice, 24 Inch Rims, Gettin’ money, murder murder murder kill kill kill. I appreciate joints like this as well as “Black President” by NaS. Sometimes I wonder if other cats don’t write about stuff like this cuz’ they don’t have the skills. If its not about bullsh*t … they get “writers block” lol. Good read though 4 real.
http://www.myspace.com/understandingone
November 13th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Jay-Z sent more than $2,500 worth of designer street wear to the Spring Hill Campaign for Adolescent and University Student Empowerment (CAUSE) in appreciation of their community efforts.
His November 2006 concert in New York city raised over $250,000 for PlayPumps International.
On August 9, 2006, he met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the organization’s headquarters in New York. The rapper pledged to use his upcoming world tour to raise awareness of–and combat–global water shortage.
Also in 2006, he visited Africa and produced a documentary entitled Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life.
He pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross’ relief effort after Hurricane Katrina.
Jay-Z hosts and performs at charity concerts for organizations such as the New York City Mission Society (www.nycmissionsociety.org), raising funds for underprivileged city kids.
And Nas has a song on Hip Hop is Dead called Black Republican featuring Jay-Z…know what your talking about before you run your mouth off.
November 13th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
yoooo that dude “vigorous” is maaaad haha
obviously the time pac was alive and wen he sed “we arent ready for a black president” was basically wat it was…
wen he was alive there was a lot more exploitation of the african american community
although racism is still alive, as we can see since obama has become president elect, there are still a majority who wanna overcome it, whether they are black white hispanic asian
but wen pac was alive…that was how long ago?
it is a new generation and having obama as president in january will show jus how much america is willing to step up
we will always be criticized whether our president is black white or wat ever
i hate to sound cliche “its time for a change” but it is wat it is
if the world aint ready it better get ready cuz obama’s not goin anywhere
November 13th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
The blog came from Veracious to Vigorous. Vigorous need to slow his roll, thinkin too much about the article. vigorous thinking to rigorous. I’m a keep it 100, when Pac was alive, he had alot of great ideas, but dude was wildin out at the same time contradicting himself. God rest his soul though. he talked about it in the 90’s and there we have it a black president.( an interracial black president mixed with irish and english) just to get accurate with it.
November 13th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Jay said that this has nothin to do with the electionn or obama on hot 97….its about jay how he wants to be the greatest
November 13th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
i didnt even read 1 word off of that article…you kidding me? gay-z once again doing things jus to make himself look big.
remember that hot97 “takeover show” after nas ethered him? this dude thinks he’s sum kind of gawd, ne needs to STFU cuz nobody likes him…ye im mad !! umad?
November 13th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Yo number 18 is an angry guy. I MEAN I CAN SEE WHY PEOPLE DONT LIKE HIM THOUGH
1) HE BAGGED A BAD WIFE
STILL SPENDING MONEY SINCE 88 LOL
2) HE WORTH SOME HUNDRED MILLION
3)RUN A RING OF CLUBS AND BUSINESSES
4) PLATINUM SELLING ARTIST
5) SELL OUT THE GARDEN
6) 1 MILLION FOR HURICANE VICTIMS
7)WATER FOR LIFE IN AFRICA
SO I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEBODY COULD HATE ON THE MAN.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
vigorous, shut your pathetic crab in the barrel ass up. “i didnt even read the editorial, fuck gay z”. being ignorant isnt something to brag about lil man. you need to check yourself. if you don’t like the song or jay z period, then why even waste time posting these lil angry-immature type comments? “gay z”? how old are you, 8?
November 13th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
OMG, I love that summary. So true. Hov and Nas come to mind instantaneously…
November 13th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Verse 1-Hov is talking about the sweet taste of victory which he feels he comes in and out of his life, but he wants it to stay. Its been all success, but he wants that victory to make history, success isn’t good enough…
Verse 2-He talks about hustlin as a kid in the streets, he had success, but not victory…
Verse 3-He found victory (Bee) they had history (their son), and he will live on as a legacy to explain who he was…
November 13th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Vigorous is a jackass. On the reals my nigga, “wipe your weeping eyes”.
“I WISH 2PAC WAS HERE”
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHA
you sucka ass nigga!!! i’m dying laughing at you at work!!
November 13th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
vigorous understand your doing exactly what white people want us to do hate and pull each down “crab in the barrel”.You sound really ignorant talking bout “leave politics up to nas, talib, common and the real niggas” you got to be kidding me. Do you know we all should be talking politics not jus the people you name, thats why we won the election b/c we got involved. Thanks to hov, diddy & others campaigning for free we all got involved and now we made history. Get the hate out your blood and concentrate on the positive in people or shut the fuck up b/c your child like comments don’t help! Do me a favor and read the article and do some research on jay z charity work he does you might learn something, well I know you will b/c you don’t know much clearly (no diss)
November 13th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Yes, I feel that Obama’s presidency is historical and the crowning victory in the journey to Blackness in the White House.
But when will we Black people score a victory when we can overcome our hypocrisies?
I mean with the overwhelming 70% who voted Proposition 8, excessive homophobia (down low, saying “no homo” when it doesn’t justify anything); the N word, gangsta life, pessimism on success (hating), “swagger-jacking and not giving proper credit to those who influence us….(that one is mostly for the rappers and entertainers) etc……
We still have a long way to go that Obama can’t make for us. We as a people have to change it. We can’t preach “change, victory, and history” when we still restrict ourselves in grassroot instances and not acknowledging problems and issues in our communities. There are fears in our communities, which result is ignorant comments like Trick Trick and those who agree with him. I’m not saying what to think, but at least consider the other “small-scale” things that we all encounter (or wish not to) on a daily basis. Don’t expect Obama to simply make Black people invincible, we have to eradicate our own barriers as well.
Educate yourselves people! Jay-Z, Nas and Tupac are not and never were enough. They make good music, but that’s it. Much of it is very hypocritical imo. And I can’t bow down to people who think they know of my situation and try to relate to me so I’ll buy the record and then live the exact opposite life. Now Obama is someone else for every rapper to compare himself to, especially Jay-Z. And no rapper, or human being for that matter, is above anyone, PERIOD. Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, Common, Nas, and other presidential songs are nice and great, and if they motivate you, then that’s all good. But for me, they’re just a little too hollow.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
ya’ll do understand that “history” isnt about obama or politics at all right? he made the song a while ago and he said that he had one song on b3 that will be soooo undeniable the public will have no choice but to feel it. but since the obama win he felt he needed to release this song for the people, for the hiphop community. he called it a “gift”. and i’m glad he released it at this historic time becuz it means that much more. even without the election this song was hands down the most powerful song of the year
November 13th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
i think someone with a god-complex is feeling a little threatened. bow down to the obamatron.
thou shall know that money dont make you god, jesus was a poor man. pray to jesus kids, he actually loves you
November 13th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
I remember when you weren’t even a Jay fan like that, now you
re writing essays on him. Lol. Good shit. Dude from post # 2 said it best, though Jay is still the best he has definitely compromised his rawness and dumbed his sh!t down for mass appeal. I mean the man said it himself: If skills sold I’d probably be, lyrically Talib Kweli.
But they don’t, and as a result we don’t get as many clever double entendres, we don’t see as many perplexing metaphors, and we don’t see the type of personification we saw on Momma Loves Me often.
Well I’m the ghetto’s answer to Trump/
I’m cancer to the Hamptons/
20 Million a whop, ransacking mansions/
Increase the noise pollution soon as I land in/
Don’t even trust uppity white folk keep the cannon tucked/
N!ggas try to lean on jay-shots gon stand u up/
Glocks gon pop-y’all not understanding much/
I hustle for the duckets but now I hustle for the rush like fuck it baby,
I just love it/
Chicks now, say they like the way I thug it/
Since my album drop, my stock rose when up like I went public
Ladies I love yall, but I love my freedom more/
I love my n!ggas, love to see them ball/
I love Beans and Bleek/
Them n!ggas like my peter and paul
My disciples/
And that’s right, we comin for the title…
November 14th, 2008 at 12:15 am
I created avideo for the song the way i seen it. Realtalkny you can post it so people can see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jxuvlCNk00
November 14th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Fuk dat jigga is everything he’s ever been, but a 100 times better now! No one can change what they have done so they only can make things better and J has done the impossible and did it twice. And everyone deserves a chance 2 make a difference. He damn sure deserves the credit he deserves and some! But 4 the most part he gone be all he can be like anyone else! And right now he’s still the best rapper alive yet!
Big ups to Jay-Z keep doing yo thang, dont let the public criticize you. 4real keep pissing them off!!!!
November 15th, 2008 at 9:20 am
That was great bruh
November 15th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
vigorous said the truth thats why dick riding faggots lke his stans get mad, this camel has and always will be a follower and biter extrodinaire. nothing he has done is ceative and he sounds madd corny trying to sound political it dont fit him. he already type cast himself as an ugly nigga that talks about flossing and his friends lives hustling.he’s corny and alot of you people are so brainwashed to this biters bullcrap u can’t accept it. thanks to u ass wipes he just uses u as a tax writeoff for his benefit.he can;t even step in his old neighborhood cause he such a fraud. vigorous keep spreading THE TRUTH.
November 16th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this nigga and vigorous must be die hard Wayne and G-Unit fans. Go do the birdwalk and leave the real hip hop to the grown up pimpin
November 20th, 2008 at 6:41 am
lol… nigga’s gonna be mad when they find out the was lovin polyester when there was cotton all around them…lol!
Co-singin vigorous and G’zas (beware of false profits!)