Revolutionary Vol. 1: Immortal Technique

 "Every time I speak my mind I'm lyrically critical,

The pinnacle of being revolutionary pivotal."

 

- Immortal Technique in "Speak Your Mind"

 

Revolutionary Vol. 1 put Immortal Technique on the hip-hop map. Felipe Coronel, aka Immortal Technique, was arrested numerous times in his high-school and brief college years. While on parole, "Tech" set out to the Harlem streets, becoming famous for his freestyle skills and intellectual put-downs. He used the money from his freestyle victories to create and distribute this album, Revolutionary Vol. 1. The album is pure hip-hop. Tech samples several old hip-hop songs, shows off his MC skills with remixes in between songs, has dialogue before the beat drops, and even incorporates speeches from black leaders like Malcolm X in his music. Although all of this adds to great hip-hop, Tech separates himself by his political messages and intellectual lyrics. He talks of a revolution; specifically, a revolution against the bureaucrats, big business monsters, and corrupt governmental officials who make America racist and hypocritical. Two of his songs in the album,"Speak Your Mind" and "The Poverty of Philosophy," are not even Tech rapping, but instead are lectures by Tech about America's faults and sell-out MCs. Although he's criticized for his bland voice and lack of variety, I find Immortal's lyrics and style more than intriguing.

                

Immortal Technique

Malcolm X

One of the biggest topics I.T. preaches about is hip-hop sell-outs. Due to his heavy beef with sell-outs even in his very first album, it is likely that one of the reasons he felt the need to produce hip-hop was to voice his opinion on the losers who taint the reputation of all artists in the subculture. In "The Getaway," Tech has this to say about the sell-outs: 

And when I go to South America people'll be tryna hug me
Cause I talk about reality that effects them
And even though I blew up I could never neglect them
What kind of a revolutionary action would that be
I be categorizing practically every other MC

Unlike most rap artists, Tech states that he doesn't rap for the money and the fame, but instead for those whose problems go unnoticed to the public. Even after one of his albums reached Top 20 status in the US, he has held to the words he preached back in 2001; not once has he used a record label company to boost his revenue. He also makes a similar diss to sell-outs in "Dominant Species" with the rhymes "I don’t car about your link or your luxury car/ I shed light with more magnitude than all of the stars," saying that despite the fame and success of these rappers, his lyrics shed more light on actual issues than all of the greedy sell-outs combined. Immortal is real.  

Street Life vs Sell-Out

Tech speaks of reality as well. In the same song as above, he states that his style "is like a ten year old with a slit wrist / too much reality to make the hit list." Again not caring about his status on the top of the charts, he instead prefers voicing his opinions on the realities of life where he grew up in Harlem and in other black communities. Similar to NWA's problem with the Parental Advisory labels on their CDs, Immortal here states that the media and the upper class like to take advantage of the popularity of hip hop while covering up the reality of the topics discussed in the music, and those who do discuss these topics in full will never become famous and popular. 

According to Immortal Technique, "business giants and government officials" are largely responsible for the problems in black communities. He highlights this point in "The Poverty of Philosophy" and adds that "it's not you who changes the system; it's the system that will eventually change you," implying that those who think they can make it big in the rap world and still hold onto their original values and represent their communities nobly are greatly mistaken. The money-driven CEO's and government laws will ultimately squander any attempt of rebellion or revolution, even in hip-hop. These cynical thoughts of I.T. have stayed with him today. He is now a commonly known as a 9/11 skeptic (not conspiracy theorist) and a bitter rapper with a chip on his shoulder from his time in jail. Yet he hasn't sold out, and he remains an activist for the same social problems. 

Immortal Technique's most famous and most powerful song appears in Revolutionary Vol. 1. "Dance With the Devil" isn't Tech's greatest work because of his stellar rapping, but instead because of the potent message the song sends, easily the most powerful message of any song I've ever heard. *warning, graphic* He talks of a teenager in the Harlem streets named William. The kid always wanted to be famous and wanted to gain respect in the gangs. To prove his worthiness, he and gang-members abduct a woman in the streets at 2 am, proceed to violently beat her up and rape her on the roof of a hotel. After the deed was done, the gang members tell Billy to finish the job and kill her, but when the kid takes off the shirt that was covering the woman's face he realizes that the woman is his own mother. Billy immediately jumps off the roof of the hotel, killing himself. This is when I.T. reveals that he too was on that rooftop raping Billy's mom and saw the whole situation occur. Although the truthfulness to the song has been questioned, the emotional impact it has on anyone who listens is immeasurable. Tech likely tells the story to show kids who listen to rap that gang life can lead to horrific things and to immortalize the realities of street life into peoples' minds. In any case, the song is incredibly touching and a masterpiece in its rhythm, story-telling, and purpose. 

 

I.T. raps truth. He stays hip-hop in his beats, his style, and his honest lyrics. Whether or not you agree with his activist beliefs or his views on government and "the system," you have to respect the man for his honor to hip-hop. I strongly suggest everyone to listen to some of his music, as you might find it rather surprising in its intellectuality. 

"Cuz opening your mouth to question my validity 

Is like trying to contradict the theory of relativity"

- I.T. in "Dominant Species"