Terminator X's 1994 Album

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      Public Enemy member, Terminator X, put out a solo album in 1994 called Super Bad. Like "gangsta" rappers so often do, Terminator X boasts that he is the best rapper who raps true hardcore lyrics, and he uses violent imagery to support his claim. Terminator X and a rapper joining in constantly claim that they have influence. He promotes black identity and black nationalism by referencing Marcus Garvey, Rastafarianism, and "Mr. Wendal," a symbol from Arrested Development's song having the same name for its title. He praises the Bloods and CRIPS, as do other "gangsta" rappers who, in fact, speak openly about organizing the gang affiliations into squads that would stop black-on-black crimes, and that would perpetrate crimes against whites solely, and that would become the troops who would topple the US government.

      On the track called "Sticka," rappers Ice-T, Chuck D, Ice Cube, and MC Lyte join Terminator X to say that "Parental Advisory" labels, which warn about explicit lyrics actually represent "racism," represent "censorship like slave ships," and represent an attempt to take away their "freedom." The rappers say that the labels will not thwart the CD sales. Ice-T presents himself on the track as the one that "kill[s] cops, yoh, nigga, the one that got dropped [by Time Warner]." Ice Cube surmises that because the rappers' influence cannot be stopped, those behind enforcing the warning labels will decide "to kill a nigga, and that's when it's on."

      The black-identity message that hip hop is "black gold" and "ghetto steam occurs on tracks 5 and 13, and the message that hip hop is an unrestricted form of expression that can mold with any other from of art is said on track 9. Listeners should be true to their culture and "pass the baton" because hip hop is their culture and their music. ("Thumpin's Goin On.")

      The rappers boast that they have sexual relations with many women and that they make a lot of money. ("Stylewild '94.") Rap rhymers are told to constantly prepare and always be ready for challenges by other rappers. ("Learn that Poem.") Terminator X says that he makes great music out of very little, much like slaves made use out of chicken parts thrown away by their masters. ("Make Room for Thunder."). It is common for rappers to shout out city names as a way to recognize their listeners, and Terminator X does so. ("Put Cha Thang Down.")

      There are drug dealers in the 'hood because there is money to be made, and drug dealing is a way to get ahead. ("It All Comes Down to the Money.") Blacks should stop winding up in prison, should stop drinking 40 ounce beers, should stop smoking marijuana, and should build up the neighborhoods. Hip hop is worldwide, and the "brothers" in the United Kingdom are putting out a good sound. ("Herc's Message.")

      Guest rappers project violence at targets named by slang that typically designates whites, namely "demons" and "666." Rapping cryptically, The Flatliners say the following about themselves: "wanna, wanna, wanna slay that man tonight, with no fright. . . . it's a Flatliner domain. . . . I'm able to produce more pain, choking heads. . . . demons, I fought them; the 666, I caught them. . . . a superior disaster, moving faster, blaster, uprising, surprising, guising, analyzing, erasing your temptation, creating human inflation. . . . so you won't be dismissed; vanish black fist." ("Scary-Us.")

      The company that handles licensing for the GRAMMY Award winners Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, permitted samples from their song called "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else." In the CD pamphlet, Terminator X complains that hip hop artists have short fame while "those behind the scenes stay in the business--especially if they're white!" Because record companies have taken a "supermarket approach" to hip hop music, writes Terminator X, the role of the disc jockey is disappearing; but Terminator X's accomplished mixing of music on his album shows the need of DJ's, we are told. He writes that blacks must get control over economics, education, and enforcement in order to "lift black people out of the plantation state in which [they] still live."

References
Super Bad, Terminator X and the Godfathers of Threatt, 1994, Rush Associated Labels, Polygram, Philips.

Posted at http://home.att.net/~phosphor on June 30, 1999.

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