Regarding Jay-Z as “Black Republican,” and my recent Pitchfork column, Barton Bishop wrote a very interesting letter:
Loved your last column in Pitchfork.
Am also strangely obsessed with “Wind It Up.”
Though – And I could be going out on the wrong limb here, but – perhaps the “Black Republican” Jay-Z refers to isn’t the modern-day type, but rather the original “Black Republicans.” That was the nickname given to the newly formed abolitionist Republican party back in the day by Pro-Slavery Supporters, a take-off of Europe’s “Red Republican” revolutionaries.
A lot of Southern Dixiecrats vowed that if Lincoln and his Black Republican party won, seccession would begin.
I could be really wrong. That’s just what lept to my mind when I first heard the song.
It’s easy to forget that the roots of the Republican party were formed when the Whigs dissolved over slavery debates. The pro-Slavery side became the American Party (the “know-nothing” party), and progressive abolitionst group formed The Republican party, led by the likes of Abe Lincoln.
How sad that things have changed.
Barton Bishop
Astoria, NY
I cannot confirm or deny, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Jay went that deep with it. Thoughts?
Also, I am thrilled to have such intelligent history-steeped people reading my column, which I just realized has an inordinate amount of cursing this time around. The word “FUCK” as expression of joy. Wash out my mouth.
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Jay says: “I feel like a Black Republican/ Money I got comin’ in/Can’t turn my back on the hood, I got love for them”
I don’t know if he’s trying to give a history lesson here. I don’t think he’s saying he’s a republican either. He seems to just be saying that he can relate to someone who comes from the hood, gets rich, looks out for their finances, but still feels the urge to resolve that with their allegience to their people (a conflict that modern day Black members of the Republican party are surely faced with).
PS: you need to step your ‘target=”_blank”‘ game up with the links.
It’s a nice thought on behalf of Bishop, but I think your analysis makes too much sense. My criticism of Kingdom Come centered around the “old man” vibe–not that rapping about being old was bad, but that Jay-Z was approaching it in a boring, dishonest way. Now that I’ve read Interrobang, I realize now that it’s totally a bourgie vibe. Not so much a retired, but rather a resigned lifestyle.
I keep contrasting the beginning of Nas’ verse, “I feel like a black militant / takin’ over the government,” with Jay’s, and it’s like “oh, that IS the difference.” It says more about Jay than Nas–“black militant” is more or less standard hip hop speak, while Jay’s choice of “black republican” seems much more significant/striking.