Comments on: Cornel West cuts rap album

Cornel West cuts rap album

raysmj — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 12:23:41 -0800

Cornel West cuts rap album He's the king of black studies. There is none better. Sucka MCs can call him . . . professor! Sorry. The phenomena of rock stars trying their hand at acting, and vice versa, has never been pleasant. Now, celebrity academicians want- or at least this one from Harvard wants - to diversify? Isn't this talked about in the Book of Revelation somewhere?

By: Witold

Witold — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 12:31:33 -0800

If the album is as silly as his rhetoric, I think I'll pass.

By: arco

arco — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 12:38:53 -0800

There are a couple of other articles about this...odd...development here and here.

By: skechada

skechada — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 12:44:47 -0800

Don't forget about the lead singer of the seminal punk rock band Bad Religion, who was an evolutionary history professor at UCLA (I think that's where it was).

By: Postroad

Postroad — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 13:01:04 -0800

I have not heard the record but I hope it is more sensible than many of the silly things West says from time to time (ex: OJ Simpson is innocent because I am his friend and know he would not kill).

By: eckeric

eckeric — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 13:22:52 -0800

Hey, I like West. Prophesy Deliverance! was one of the most interesting things I read in one of my Religion and Philosophy classes in college. I am looking forward to hearing what he does with this project.

By: milnak

milnak — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 13:32:24 -0800

In addition, [Bad Religion] singer/songwriter Greg Graffin is working on his Ph.D. in Paleoanthropology, which has become "a long term project, due to the fact that [he's] pretty busy with the band." Previously, Graffin taught Evolutionary History at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he currently resides. (link)

By: Ty Webb

Ty Webb — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 15:27:39 -0800

Cornel West is a giant. He says the occasional strange thing, true, he speaks off the cuff a lot of the time. His synthesis of different disciplines in his work and improvised speeches, though, is stunning. That said, I've not heard the album. Just speaking up for a man who could crush anybody on this list with a thought.

By: lotsofno

lotsofno — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 15:36:53 -0800

i would like to see a battle between him and gza (the genius.)

By: Hildago

Hildago — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 15:58:29 -0800

I'm shocked that no one has dropped a link to MC Hawking yet. Sheesh, what happened to giving props where props are due?

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 17:03:25 -0800

Actually, the earliest example of the academe-popular music connection would be Queen, all of whose members hold advanced degrees from Cambridge, I believe.(I'm sure someone out there will corredt me if i have the details wrong). Also, Dexter from the Offspring has some kind of degree in molecular biology. Could be a genuine phenomenon we got on our hands here or maybe they just turned to rock and roll when they realized that degrees don't get you laid.

By: atom128

atom128 — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 18:03:53 -0800

I'd rather listen to Saul Williams if I want hip hop with a conscience.

By: thirteen

thirteen — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 18:33:40 -0800

Causey from The Causey Way is an English teacher, and Gregg from the Angry Samoans is also a teacher. This game would be easier if it were librarians instead of teachers.

By: liam

liam — Tue, 06 Nov 2001 19:01:53 -0800

Hugh Cornwell of British punk-era band The Stranglers was doing academic biochemistry research in Sweden, when he formed the band, but I don't think he ever finished his post-graduate studies. Jazz trumpeter and music professor Donald Byrd put the group The Blackbyrds together with his students. They had a big hit with "Walking in Rhythm".

By: abelincolnjr

abelincolnjr — Thu, 08 Nov 2001 11:53:55 -0800

David Lee Roth (formerly of Van Halen) has a doctorate in philosophy as well.