South African racists and their fruit metaphors in the search for that mythical lost pristine wholeness. Of course the fruit nmetaphor itself is rancid - assumes biological difference and a lack of history in the construction of difference, power being entirely nonexistent. This is a stark articulation of that constellation of racial difference Balibar and Wallerstein suggest we've left for newer models.



Meanwhile, from this week's Village Voice, The Downfall of Rawkus Records (but Mos Def's verse on "Respiration" is still one of the most brilliant pieces of hip hop music ever produced, and Soundbombing 2 was the shit) and Anya Kamenetz on Grad School as a road to poverty







I’m wrestlin with words and ideas

My ears is picky, seekin what will transmit

The scribes can apply to transcript, yo

This ain’t no time where the usual is suitable

Tonight alive, let’s describe the inscrutable

The indisputable, we new york the narcotic

Strength in metal and fiber optics

Where mercenaries is paid to trade hot stock tips

For profits, thirsty criminals take pockets

Hard knuckles on the second hands of workin class watches

Skyscrapers is collosus, the cost of living

Is preposterous, stay alive, you play or die, no options

No batman and robin, can’t tell between

The cops and the robbers, they both partners, they all heartless

With no conscience, back streets stay darkened

Where unbeliever hearts stay hardened

My eagle talons stay sharpened, like city lights stay throbbin

You either make a way or stay sobbin, the shiny apple

Is bruised but sweet and if you choose to eat

You could lose your teeth, many crews retreat

Nightly news repeat, who got shot down and locked down

Spotlight to savages, nasdaq averages

My narrative, rose to explain this existance

Amidst the harbor lights which remain in the distance