I may be drained from the drudge of being at work for a 16.5 hour shift, but I have a head swarming with fantastic words! During my breaks I finished up Saul Williams‘ The Dead Emcee Scrolls and I’m still resonating. Wow! There went any lingering doubt that Saul’s the greatest living poet we have.
The book is a collection of poems and journal entries related to a find of scrolls tucked into an empty spray can by some time-lost graf artist, and are holy channelings of hip hop. Saul’s words are mesmerizingly full of fluidity, interplay and exquisite beauty. But there’s no denying the gritty realness of many of the passages; it’s rarely gentle. Saul’s steeped in hip hop and something utterly timeless; he’s a mystic of the sort Rumi was.
themselves as the new day for today we are
determined to be the channelers of these
changing frequencies into songs, paintings
writings, dance, drama, photography, carpentry,
crafts, love, and love.
We enlist every instrument: acoustic, electronic.
every so-called race, gender, and sexual preference
every per-son as beings of sound to acknowledge
their responsibility to uplift the consciousness
of the entire fucking World.
Any utterance un-aimed, will be disclaimed,
will be maimed. Two rappers slain!
– Saul Williams, “Co-Dead Language”
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7 comments on “The Dead Emcee Scrolls”
Wow-one of the greatest poetic genii since Ginsberg ! I’ve saved that to mull over and sift his myriad ideas at my own snail’s pace…
He has plenty of material to sift though: movies, albums, books, dialogs. All of it is richly exciting.
I watched the video several times while at MSVU’s library yesterday, and further researched his lyricisms. I’m wild about him. His delivery is perfect.
ex: “and by Mother-fucker I mean…”
And he has a lot to say about why contemporary hip-hop is suffering a decline in popularity.
I’m pleased to see an artist with a brain.
I’m pleased that I don’t see one more clone singing a pop hit that someone else wrote, accomplanied by an instrument he/she can’t play.
Saul is astounding. His delivery, whether acting, rapping, reciting or just talking is so deft.
I wouldn’t say hip-hop is declining in popularity. I haven’t seen that, at least.
If you want to hear some of his songs or borrow this book, you’d be welcome to. His first film, Slam, is also wonderful.
More Saul, from the Integral Naked crew:
If none of the larger plans in my life change, December is supposed to be a slow month for me.
Two essays, one exam, all done near the beginning of the month. I have one class, and that’s it. No job, no bus pass.
So my goal is to read 10 books during the month, and The Dead Emcee Scrolls is on the list of 10. You may not get it back until 2007! 😀
Sorry, I have not got in touch with you yet. According to my bill I’ve used up too many minutes this past month and my parents want me to use the house phone for longer phone calls. However, by Sunday, I should be able to text you once my family leaves so you can call my house and we can talk. I miss talking to you and will look forward to it. Take care.
I have Sunday off, so I should be available to talk then. 🙂 I’ll be looking forward to it too.