i'm not familiar with the song this is parodying, to the point of not even hearing of it, but there's a valid point hidden in here. it doesn't attempt to rebut the message in the original song (which i can construct pretty easily without having heard it - the original song must be about media stereotypes about blacks being less than flattering), it rather points out that the social block is a two-way interaction. it doesn't even necessarily have to do with skin colour, either, it's just a question of the cool kids rejecting the uncool kids. that doesn't mean it's valid to suggest all people of colour are gangsters or treat people that way (this is the definition of prejudice, of course), but it does mean that maybe the two-way social block is a component of the continuing segregation we see around us. part of getting out of the ghetto means reaching your way out of it. if enforced social attitudes (through peer pressure, media imaging (both in terms of inclusive and exclusive stereotypes) and class attitudes) continue to maintain the separation, the separation will continue to enforce itself.
this is really al's continuing genius. the parodies are a mixed bag in terms of humour, but al is really only a comedian on the surface - he's a punk rocker at the core, presenting a wide array of deep social commentary.
it's something that no doubt exists within hip-hop itself. perhaps somebody like sole, or even eminem, might have something to say about experiencing what al is talking about.
you could use big words like "gramscian" to describe this, but let's try and keep the discussion more accessible.
Leon Cook
I went from Ty Segall to Weird Al... AND YOU'RE THERE BOTH TIMES! WHO ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU STALKING ME?....no wait.... AM I STALKING YOU?... I'm going to watch On the Road Again by Canned Heat, DON'T BE THERE!
deathtokoalas
canned heat sucked. don't worry about that one.
