Jasiri X Responds to UConn's Suppression of Free Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP76954GI_0&feature=youtu.beUploaded by jasirix on Nov 7, 2011
I was recently invited to perform at the University of Connecticut on November 4th as the principal performer for a "Political Awareness Rally". About a week before the event I got an email from the organizer (who ironically I met at Occupy Wall St) saying people were concerned about my performance, particularly the song "Occupy (We the 99)." I thought this was very strange because this is supposed to be an institution of higher learning that welcomes all types of ideas, plus the event was a rally for political awareness. The organizer said he would not censor me but if I performed it I might not get paid. Then I received an email directly from the comptroller of the University saying specifically I could not perform "Occupy (We the 99)."
I initially agreed to perform only a set of songs the University of Connecticut deemed "not political" because the event had already been advertised around campus and didn't want to disappoint my fans by not showing up. I also did not want to let down the organizers who did a lot of hard work in putting the event together. But when I arrived at the University of Connecticut for the event I had a change of heart.
As I looked around the crowd I began to think of all the people around the world occupying for a better tomorrow, being arrested and brutalized by police, sleeping in the cold and rain, sacrificing comfort for freedom. I knew at that moment I had to perform the song, "Occupy (We the 99)" as well as other "political" songs like "Real Gangstas" (about the Wall St bankers), even if it meant I would not get paid. At some point in this movement all of us are going to have to make sacrifices if we truly want to see real change. The 1% control the 99% with promises of money, access, and comfort; we have to put our own souls above all three.
Sincerely,
Jasiri X
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Occupy (We the 99) Official Video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Oxv9kIFJh5YOccupy (We the 99)
Uploaded by jasirix on Oct 18, 2011
Filmed live at Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Pittsburgh by Director Paradise Gray, Jasiri X reconnects with super producer Cynik Lethal to provide a soundtrack for this growing movement that has taken the world by storm. We gonna Occupy!
LYRICS
Verse 1
The Power's with the people don't let these cowards deceive you
and be the next mouse in the talons of a eagle
this country's wealth gap isn't unbalanced it's evil
we celebrate access while the people have less
in poverty abject madness
while the economy collapses add stress
that's the last straw
you want class war well give you what you ask for
the have nots at the have's door
we came to crash your party
and we aint leaving until we're even
the Constitution guarantees these freedoms
any one against that's committing treason
your not a real patriot unless you stand for what you believe in
and nobody got more welfare than Wall Street
hundreds of billions after operating falsely
and nobody went to prison that's where you lost me
but my home, my job, and my life is what it cost me
Verse 2
Remember when police beat the Egyptians who were defiant
even president Obama condemned the violence
but when NYPD beat Americans there's silence
it's apparent that there's bias
sticks for the people but give carrots to the liars
those crooked cops just for embarrassment should be fired
and if you want to see terrorists then look higher
they in them skyscrapers with billions from my labor
forcing people out of there homes with falsified data
so we either unify now or cry later
1% got the wealth but the 99's greater
so in every city we gone occupy major
cause nobody got more welfare than Wall Street
hundreds of billions after operating falsely
and nobody went to prison that's where you lost me
but my home, my job, and my life is what it cost me
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MP3
Free Download
http://jasirix.bandcamp.com/track/occupy-we-the-99