Best of 2009: All Aboard the Real Talk Xpress

I'm gonna do my best to recap some goodies from the year that is quickly drawing to a close. The final year of the "decade from hell" and other miserable monikers associated with the first decade of the millennium. A lot of people died in 2009, most prominently Micheal Jackson, and it seemed like there was news of a celeb death every day (especially if you were on Twitter). The economy is a mess and unemployment rates spiked. We are still involved in an escalating and relentless war.

People say great art comes from great pain, and that struggle and strife creates powerful music. While most popular music generally steers away from political and social issues, Pittsburgh rapper and activist Jasiri X is commandering his Real Talk Xpress towards a head-on collision with these themes. It's not just beats and bullshit lyrics for the sake of being "conscious," he is thoughtful, snarky, clever and innovative. Check out his weekly video series, "This Week with Jasiri X;" each episode is a lyrical and visual response to a news story or trend. Check out two of my favorites both directed by friend of Goddesses Rising, Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan: one is a woeful love letter to BET president, Debra Lee, while the other addresses the abundance and acceptance of violence towards women in our society.

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