Music And We
We are organizers, and we love music. We love to talk about the joy that music brings, but also what lay beneath, beside, above and inside. We are not afraid to address the political, the spiritual, or the ideological. We examine what inspires us, and others. Thanks for joining us!
Episodes
Saturday Oct 05, 2019
Saturday Oct 05, 2019
(RECORDED SEPTEMBER 22, 2019) The authors of confusion have always been here. No longer 'hidden in plain site,' they are increasingly coming out of the shadows. Many figures posed as 'woke' are being hired to mislead the masses. There has even been a conversation about the term 'woke' on British television, co-facilitated by none other than Piers Morgan.
They say words evolve and constantly lose their original meanings, while intent still holds weight in the original. We must cease to hold on to 'wokeness' and learn to open our eyes, our brains and our consciousness to stay awake, for the authors of confusion still hide among the masses. To slightly take from Mr. Nelson, a huge part of us must die, in order to live. To take directly from Mr. Jackson, we have to stop existing and start living. These authors of confusion are counting on our fear of death, so that we may continue to hate true freedom, and only depend on an illusion of it.
Physical death (under a system of exploitation) brings world tours, holograms, package deals and fighting families. Ego death (under the same system) brings isolation and discouragement. 'Death' usually implies a transition of some sort; under a system of exploitation there is no consciousness, no karmic awareness. With no acknowledgement of karmic debt, it's easier to exploit one (financially or otherwise) who has physically transitioned. "Some say man ain't happy truly, until a man truly dies..." How one determines the meaning of death is how much one will define happiness.
Sign O' The Times.
Jesse and jamilah discuss how the 'authors of confusion' have come out to play out in various scenarios. Can we have a conversation about true liberation within a context of a system which does not acknowledge our humanity? And can we do it under the framework of 'cultural ambassadors' speaking for us?
Is there a way to honor cultural luminaries or beloved popular culture figures without stealing or not including their humanity (this also includes painting them in a 'perfect' light)?
Is there a way to honor a survivor's story (even if we do not agree with said story)? Does the image of a beloved figure always coincide with their actual actions? Do our perceptions of a beloved figure blind us from questioning the potentiality of them committing violence (even if only done once)? How do we question or hold one accountable without attacking their gender (or sex), mental condition or spiritual practice?
For questions, comments, etc. you can reach us here: https://twitter.com/musicandwejj
and here: musicandwejj@gmail.com
Tuesday Sep 17, 2019
Tuesday Sep 17, 2019
(RECORDED SEPTEMBER 15, 2019) This is a shorter episode; jamilah goes solo (Don't worry- Jesse hasn't gone anywhere, and he was okay with this episode going up)!!! jamilah wanted to take a little time out to focus on some news stories you may not have known. If you regularly listen to our podcast, you know we cover non-music/political news as well.
jamilah also speaks a bit about Leaving Neverland winning an Emmy award. If you listen regularly, we're sure you'll know where that conversation goes.
Though a solo episode, as usual, we hope the information presented was useful to you. Thanks for listening!
Ahjamu's blog: http://www.abetterworld.me/
For questions, comments, etc. you can reach us here: https://twitter.com/musicandwejj
and here: musicandwejj@gmail.com
Tuesday Sep 17, 2019
Tuesday Sep 17, 2019
(RECORDED SEPTEMBER 9, 2019) Obviously an extension of our last episode, Jesse and jamilah continue to look into the notion of the more recent wave of so-called 'edgy' (or even 'edgelord') comedy, and why it's being viewed as edgy... When it's ultimately a reflection of already socially acceptable mores. The majority of successful comedians are heterosexual, cisgender and/or white, and comedy is going to primarily reflect these cross-sections of experiences. There HAVE been comedians who hold privilege (be it physical, gender, ethnic or otherwise) and were able to successfully do comedy regarding marginalized groups... While the marginalized groups were NOT at the expense of the joke. This is possible to do, because it lends to pointing out societal absurdities or injustices.
Is 'edgy' comedy now a means of gaining a 'seat at the table'- especially if it is done by someone who historically (and in the present tense) has been marginalized? Is it a way to 'prove' you have now been accepted by dominant society? Is it a more nuanced, more socially accepted form of 'oppression olympics', while blaming others for doing the same? ('I as a Black man, am still out here getting shot in the streets; and you want ME to recognize TRANS women being murdered??!! You want me to acknowledge you as nonbinary??!! Stop it with this gay agenda!!!')
We also discuss a little more on 'cancel culture'; on Missy Elliot and Mary J. Blige (fortunately) not being appropriated; on Rapsody, women in hip hop and misogynoir; as well as the Jackson/DeBarge dynamic.
Thanks for listening!
Okayplayer piece on Rapsody: https://www.okayplayer.com/music/rapsody-eve-real-hip-hop-review.html
For questions, comments, etc. you can reach us here: https://twitter.com/musicandwejj
and here: musicandwejj@gmail.com
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
(RECORDED 1 SEPTEMBER 2019) Here's another overview of a seemingly 'controversial' visual work- 'Sticks and Stones'. While most people have defended Chapelle's work wholesale (because you know... It's comedy), there have been very few pieces (either critical or in defense) pointing to the nuances and consequences of 'controversial' comedy. Most responses have been reactionary. Jesse and jamilah dissect the full special (and its two epilogues- NOTE: MASSIVE SPOILERS).
Is it possible for comedy to be funny and not be at the expense of politically and socially marginalized groups of people? Is something truly 'controversial' when it's a reflection of already socially-accepted/mainstream ideas? In this context, is a view only valid when it's socially accepted by the majority? In the 'marketplace of ideas' (if you will), why are those who scream about advocating for 'free speech' ready to shut down any critique of specials such as 'Sticks and Stones' with cries to 'be less sensitive', or supposed pejoratives such as 'SJW' or 'PC'? Under a capitalistic framework, who truly has access to 'free speech'?
For questions, comments, etc. you can reach us here: https://twitter.com/musicandwejj
and here: musicandwejj@gmail.com
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
'Cancel Culture'- the not-so-new phenomenon...
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
(RECORDED 25 AUGUST 2019) WE ARE BACK Y'ALL!!! After a variation of life experiences that shifted much in our combined worlds, Jesse and jamilah have returned... With another setback- A RUSTY MICROPHONE SOUND. i guess the mic missed us as well, and was just paying us back for all the months of non-use. We apologize in advance for any bad sound, and hope this doesn't obscure the subject matter we aim to bring to you.
As we are in the midst of the 'era of mass exposure' (an inevitability in the age of mass information), where exactly do our priorities lie when moving to 'cancel' someone? What is the desired objective in canceling a public figure? If there is no common agreement and organized effort on who should be canceled (and why), is 'cancel culture' sustainable? If variations in 'cancel culture' have existed for centuries, why is it only being considered as viable in this day and age?
For questions, comments, etc. you can reach us here: https://twitter.com/musicandwejj
and here: musicandwejj@gmail.com
Saturday Apr 06, 2019
jamilah Watches Leaving Neverland
Saturday Apr 06, 2019
Saturday Apr 06, 2019
(RECORDED MARCH 10, 2018) First This Is It and now Leaving Neverland... We must note that this was recorded directly after watching the full four hours, plus the Winfrey interview... While we gather people would be aware of this, we must reiterate that the majority of the audio here is based on views/opinions. Just like a majority of the people who have something to say, neither one of us personally knew Michael Jackson. Anything we say is going to be based on personal perspectives, as well as our experiences in relation to him. You as a listener (ESPECIALLY if you personally knew the man) have every right to disagree. It must also be noted that, because the response was directly after watching the film, there were many points of discovery missed. There were many things jamilah wrote in her notes while watching it, and still forgot to discuss in this episode (major glaring example: when Safechuck's mother stated that she was willing to "share" her son with Michael Jackson. Even if you agree that these men were abused by MJ, that had to have sent some flags up).
From our first episode we stated that we would cover controversial matters; this may be one of the most controversial, given that the very existence of Leaving Neverland is leading people to blindly demonize or lionize Michael Jackson. This episode does neither, though it may be looked at as such... Depending on your views.
jamilah processed the film for weeks after watching it, and felt an alienating sadness. Jesse/Jester, while not having watched it, felt the same. While the film confirmed many critiques had about Michael Jackson (spoken about in several of out episodes- only amplified here), it does not take away our love and appreciation for him. In a society which supports/encourages reactionary behavior (on both ends) and idol worship, any nuanced conversation regarding Michael Jackson gets placed in the background. As of this writing, there are still major developments regarding the inconsistencies of the information disseminated in Leaving Neverland, thanks to director Dan Reed's consistent admission that he did no research on Michael Jackson (which he actually stated just as openly during the Winfrey interview); there are also public dated records which contradict the narratives of Safechuck and Robson.
Leaving Neverland ultimately was an Electronic Press Kit for Wade Robson, who (especially at this point) is seen as unreliable in the industry he's employed in. He needs a job. He is more or less 'joined at the hip' to Michael Jackson; the man defined Robson's whole life. Given that Michael Jackson is no longer physically here, he can no longer rely on that train to ride smoothly for him. It's as if Wade Robson never had to work for anything, because MJ provided everything for him. Now... he actually has to, and judging from his own writings, he had a nervous breakdown because the work was too hard for him. Given his requests to direct MJ-related projects were rejected, the end of his lifeline became evident. Thus, we have Leaving Neverland: The Wade Robson Story, with James Safechuck more or less as a guest star.
Narcissists (of which we think Wade Robson fits the description to a t) don't particularly like to work at anything. Not only was Leaving Neverland an examination of Michael Jackson's emotional and psychological state (in jamilah's view); it was also the examination of a narcissist. THAT is where the documentary lies.
As with all of our episodes, please listen with an open mind.
For questions, comments, etc. you can reach us here: https://twitter.com/musicandwejj
and here: musicandwejj@gmail.com
Tuesday Mar 12, 2019
'Leaving Neverland' in the Hot Seat: Response vs. Reaction
Tuesday Mar 12, 2019
Tuesday Mar 12, 2019
(RECORDED MARCH 3 & 4 2019) So now this 'documentary' entitled 'Leaving Neverland' is airing, as we have this conversation. Feelings are heightened. Opinions are divided. Those who were already convinced of Michael's guilt are more than convinced after watching it; many in the fan community have refused to watch it. We at 'Music And We' do what we can in order to present a more nuanced position on this particular situation. While we have not seen the film at this point, our position is to stick to the facts as much as we can. Given the manipulative angles the producers (and director) of this film are taking, it is crucial we take this angle. As this moment is fresh for us (both of these recordings were in the midst of everything happening) we could not grasp everything. One thing is clear- Being reactionary is not going to convince anyone to see a side other than the one they are firmly placed in.
Both Jesse/Jester and jamilah have been aware throughout this whole series of events that something is bothering us, and we do our best to figure it out. The statements from Safechuck and Robson have us feeling some kind of way:
"I got married and had a son. I continued to live in denial and secrecy. After my son was born in late 2010, my fear of exposure became worse as i realized that now other people were part of my life and I was dragging them into it. I began to see how innocent children really are and to worry that i would have pedophilic urges." -Safechuck
He mentions his son's 2010 birth as a turning point in his life (in terms of "fear of exposure"), yet he mentions that he had no awareness that he was abused until Robson's announcement in 2013. How would his child's birth in 2010 also be a point of awareness of being a survivor of abuse? His mother (in the film) also claims that she danced in her bed upon the news of Michael's passing (in 2009) because "he could no longer hurt a child." This would also chronologically be a mismatch from both of Safechuck's 'official' narratives.
"In March 2012, I had my second and final nervous breakdown which again included feelings of extreme stress, anxiety, fear and depression. I would look at my son and imagine him experiencing the sexual acts I did with Doe 1- which I did not yet equate with being sexually abused. And, for the first time in my life, I wondered if I needed to talk to someone about what Doe 1 and I 'did together'. I knew that I truly had no idea how I felt about it." -Robson
Robson's previous explanations for his nervous breakdowns were because of the stress of directing major productions; upon dropping out his writings lamented that he let Michael down.
There's a lot of plot holes in the story. It is always good to ask questions, and to do homework on ALL sides, regardless of what side you are on. Do not blindly follow a person, whether it's Michael Jackson, or the two subjects of a highly stylized film.
For questions, comments, etc. you can reach us here: instagram.com/music_wejj/
and here: musicandwejj@gmail.com
Wednesday Feb 27, 2019
'Leaving Neverland': Wade Robson, James Safechuck and 'Manufacturing Consent'
Wednesday Feb 27, 2019
Wednesday Feb 27, 2019
(RECORDED FEBRUARY 24, 2019) WEEEEEERE BAAAAAAACK!!!!
The term 'manufacturing consent' was inspired by a phrase coined in 1922 by Walter Lippmann ('the manufacture of consent'). It was originally the title of a 1979 book by Michael Burawoy; it was then popularized after the 1988 book (and eventual film of the same name) by Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman. It is identified through corporate media (in particular) dictating a particular perspective or ideology as a means of social control. Its goal is to persuade the public to side with particular views which would be advantageous to their profit margin. The greatest examples are the U.S.'s portrayal of the global south, the so-called Middle East or even Mexico (which is 1/3 of North America) as being 'undeveloped' and/or in serious need of 'democratization'... Despite many of these countries having had democratically elected presidents, or have fought for self-determination to the point where they have become sovereign. It is the media's job to do the bidding of corporations (who sit on the government's boards and who create and influence policies) and gear up excitement for militaristic invasions.
The consolidation of media has produced less and less opportunities for people to see informed debates, and more opportunities to experience sound bites. More and more mainstream media 'journalists' are reporting opinion pieces, versus findings from detailed assignments. While many have focused on the proliferation of social media being used as a 'new media'; corporate media recognizes this shift as well, and is utilizing whatever means they have to attempt to compete- be it through meme-inspired commercials, use of social media posts in commentaries, purchasing the rights to internet series, or taking cues from video streaming services.
This upcoming HBO feature, 'Leaving Neverland' appears to be inspired by all of this. Heightened by the cooptation of the 'me too' movement by Hollywood (leaving out the voices of Tarana Burke and those who the movement originally was speaking for), 'Leaving Neverland' not only follows the wave of celebrity docudramas that have been happening in the past couple of years (Michel'le, TLC, Whitney Houston, Aaliyah, New Edition, Bobby Brown); it also has kept a watchful eye on the sea of accusations that have been spreading (Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, Russell Simmons, Brett Ratner, Morgan Freeman, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Benny Medina). Almost ten years later, the executives at Home Box Office recognize how polarizing of a figure Michael Jackson still is, regarding the issue of child abuse. With the ratings popularity (and visceral reactions) to 'Surviving R. Kelly', the network clearly saw potential in their decision to pick up the documentary.
The title 'Leaving Neverland' has a couple of connotations. The first one is literal: Michael Jackson literally left Neverland, his place of residence from 1988 until the 2003 police raid. The other connotation is much more nuanced: 'Neverland' was a place representative of eternal youth. The raid prompted uncomfortable growth spurts, and Michael Jackson had to leave the place he called home behind. The other branch to this more nuanced connotation is what Robson and Safechuck are insinuating- that Neverland was a 'house of horrors' where childhood was snatched away.
While Michael Jackson certainly was not a perfect individual; and while we do not feel that, despite the intention, his being with kids as a means of dealing with his own trauma was the best method of healing- the research we poured into all of the cases pertaining to these accusations have not produced sufficient evidence to convince us of his guilt. Because MJ was never really comfortable (from our perspective) in dealing with difficult questions, this gave a lot of folks who already declared him 'strange' enough ammunition to emphasize his weaknesses. Sadly, there are some in his fan base who pathologize his vulnerability to the point where it gives further ammunition to those who aim to profit from said vulnerability. It is a slippery slope to claim a person does not have the capacity to harm someone just because of how you connect to or perceive their public representation. Anyone who was abused as bad as Michael Jackson has described has the capacity to hurt others. Whether or not they actually do is another conversation.
The comparisons between MJ and Robert Kelly make no sense to us. Even though both were found 'not guilty' at their trials, Robert Kelly was found 'not guilty' on a technicality (a full warrant also was not produced for a search; also, crucial witnesses would not testify), and the prosecution from Michael's trial was discovered tampering with evidence. If there was a wealth of evidence uncovered that Michael Jackson was indeed a predator, you can guarantee that we will be doing an episode about it, rescinding our defense of him. As for now, we have not seen this wealth of evidence.
The fact that statements of Wade Robson and James Safechuck are the primary ones, after years of opportunity of exposing his predatory behavior are suspicious to us. We recognize how insidious predators are- they are in our families, they are out here in these streets- but to defend people so hard for so many years, and to expose someone years later (and asking for large sums of money in the process) is suspicious. The addition of Adrian McManus (and her interview with an Australian network) is suspicious as well, given that she had a court order to pay Michael Jackson back (after stealing items from Neverland), and never did so. She claimed there were incriminating tapes, but actually never looked at the contents of the tapes. She was also found to be lying under oath. If you are going to state serious claims or accusations against someone, it is crucial you have all the evidence lined up. McManus worked for him for four years, yet did not report anything she claimed to have seen? Like many celebrities Michael Jackson notoriously made people sign NDAs; NO AMOUNT OF NDAs would make us stay quiet if indeed predatory insidiousness were occurring. If McManus saw this going on and did not report it, she should be charged with endangering children.
Also... As secret as Michael Jackson was, why would he leave incriminating evidence for any old person to see? If all of these claims are true, how were they missed in the years the man was searched by federal, state and local organizations? How did he have evidence of things lying around, but NOTHING in ANY of the computers they searched?
It is crucial to question everything. Because (once again) Michael Jackson is seen as 'weird' it's very easy to sway opinion in the favor of those who have not done research, thereby 'manufacture consent' to attack a guy who's long decomposed in his mausoleum.
Jesse/Jester and jamilah have another commentary on the various political situations occurring (connecting with the overall theme of 'manufacturing consent'), and of course we speak about this situation in relation to Safechuck and Robson. Honestly, we only scratched the surface.
We would love to thank Michael Dean, Purple Underground, Charles Thompson, Joe Vogel, Nightchild Ethereal, and the countless podcasters, bloggers/writers, vloggers and creators who came before us and beside us, doing this work sincerely, and with love.
For questions, comments, etc. you can reach us here: instagram.com/music_wejj/
and here: musicandwejj@gmail.com
Monday Jan 07, 2019
It's Okay To Smile: The Comedy/Parodies of MJ and Prince
Monday Jan 07, 2019
Monday Jan 07, 2019
(RECORDED DECEMBER 23, 2018) Despite being loved by many across the globe, Prince nor Michael Jackson were let off the hook when it came to people creating comedy skits and/or parodies around what was deemed their eccentricities. From Eddie Murphy's "Tito get me some tissue!" skit, Lenny Henry's satirical take on the Bashir interview (which, while still pointing to what was seen as MJ's 'strange' behavior) actually pointed to the insidious nature of Bashir's intentions) to Tommy Davidson reworking lyrics to 'Sign 'O The Times' about a fast food chain; both men were inspirations for laughs everywhere. Clearly, sometimes it was funny (with both men eventually developing relationships with some who had parodied them), and sometimes the intent of the comedian was clearly hurtful. Jesse/Jester and jamilah discuss the cultural significance of some of these skits, as well as the moments where comedy can actually be negatively impactful.
For questions, comments, etc. you can reach us here: instagram.com/music_wejj/
and here: musicandwejj@gmail.com
Monday Dec 31, 2018
We C Yo BS: Political themes in Prince and MJ songs (Part Two)
Monday Dec 31, 2018
Monday Dec 31, 2018
(RECORDED DECEMBER 16, 2018) Yes... Keep one eye open, y'all. It's better late than never that people are posthumously catching the crucial messages in both MJ and Prince's music; but for us, we felt a need to go deeper into our interpretations of the songs' contexts. And besides, Prince has about two billion songs, and we could not possibly cover them all in one episode. Or even two.
One of the things both Prince and Michael encouraged was to look beyond their music and study what was going on in the world, and just as we've covered a few non-music issues in other episodes to some capacity, we go even deeper here (as it is an episode dedicated solidly to political themes). If we are to respect their artistry and humanity, focusing solidly on music would be a disservice to them.
Jesse/Jester and jamilah take another look at the songs which have started flame wars in the respective fan/friend communities, the songs which have united bipartisan support for 'fighting indecency' and most of all... The songs which encourage and inspire people to think.
For questions, comments, etc. you can reach us here: instagram.com/music_wejj/
and here: musicandwejj@gmail.com