Essene Rap? You heard it here first
Feb. 12th, 2021 01:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ecosophia
One of the many things I received by way of my friendship with John Gilbert was an old correspondence course in New Thought from the Order of Essenes, an American occult organization founded in the 1930s by a Florida businessman turned spiritual teacher named Burks Hamner. The order was long defunct by the time I was initiated by John, but its traditions and some of its teachings were taken up by the Order of Modern Essenes, one of the organizations of which John was the custodian. I found the course much more practical than I expected -- I shouldn't have been surprised, because Hamner was a very successful real estate promoter who taught classes in business to young people during the Great Depression, but there it is. When I had the chance a few years ago, I put the course up online here so that people who wanted to benefit from it could do so; as in Hamner's day, it's free of charge. Fast forward a few years. The young man on the left is a rapper who goes by Joe Limitless. He decided to study the Order of Essene course, and found it just as helpful as I did -- enough so that he's now putting ideas inspired by the course into his rap numbers. He sent a link to one of his pieces to Sara, who manages the Order of Essenes website, and Sara forwarded it to me. I'm not generally speaking a fan of rap -- I recognize its considerable cultural importance, not least as the most important form of poetry in our society these days, but I'm well on my way to being an old fuddy-duddy and it's not usually my style. I was astonished to find that Joe's work is extremely listenable. Check it out.
interesting
Date: 2021-02-12 07:28 pm (UTC)I forget now which comic described rap as sounding like a dictionary had been thrown into a popcorn maker.
Back in the late 80s when rap was first getting attention, my daughter, who was a young teen, got a 2 Live Crew tape for a birthday gift. I overheard her listening to it. She thought I would be upset since the lyrics were really raunchy (on your knees b****, etc.) but I told her I thought girls her age needed to know that that was how some young men felt about them. However I got the feeling she didn't really like the tape. At the time Tipper Gore was crusading against rap lyrics so I gave my girl the option of taking the tape back to the record store, claiming her mom wouldn't let her keep it and trading for something she liked better, which she did.
Rita
Re: interesting
Date: 2021-02-13 03:54 am (UTC)Re: interesting
Date: 2021-02-13 10:23 pm (UTC)Re: interesting
Date: 2021-02-14 08:48 am (UTC)- Cobalt Exogenous Eel
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-12 07:57 pm (UTC)Dear gods, Joe Limitless is good! Admittedly, I've always been a fan of rap, but he's now one of my favourites. I've subscribed on Youtube. Do you know if he sells vinyl records?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 03:55 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-18 02:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-12 11:07 pm (UTC)I too am something of a fuddy-dudder, am not used to listening to much rap, and I have to say, a lot of the lyrics (verse?) fly right by me. Did Joe Limitless happen to send Sara a lyric sheet?
From what I do hear, the piece sounds intriguing.
Thx,
FLOP
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 03:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-18 02:08 am (UTC)Where the Wind Blows lyrics from Joe Limitless
Date: 2021-02-21 09:34 pm (UTC)Posted with permission (by Sara)
Verse 1
The people on this planet have a lot of things they need to change,
the list is way to long to name them all so I'm just gonna say.
If it seems like its wrong then there's a big chance that it probably is,
you should only do the things that bring back love and happiness
Listen to these vereus I am giving you these words
if you wanna change the way you live you gotta do the work.
Putting a plan to action is the meaning of a verb,
you gotta think it out and write it down before you do it first.
Listen to the voice within that's telling to give to them,
even if it's silent it's just quiet because you're drowning it with ego to fit in
I've seen I did it.
Everybody wants to be the hero or the villain, never the victim
you gotta admit it you wanna be different
I'm making a point so don't get offended
you may need a joint to get my attention
I'm endless like void thats my dimension
here's my opinion make a decision.
Yeah. Everybody has a dream envisioned yeah.
HOOK
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes.
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows.
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes,
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes,
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes.
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows blows
yeah yeah ey listen to me now yeah.
Listen upx8
Verse 2
Yeah free throw feeling when I'm hitting nothing but the net,
connected to everything around me like I am the internet.
People need to talk about it but they are not ready yet
manifesting thoughts into my life like I'm on a jet
I'm on my way to make it big they know my name.
Wishing things were different in an instant makes that thought a thing yeah.
And that's the way that it goes, everything is simple
it just depends what you know.
Have a vision make a difference have a purpose have intention
have a way to do it all without a flaw that's called a mission.
I'm not kidding as I'm sending you these thoughts that made it out the box.
Play it back and then you'll understand how you are part of god.
HOOK
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes.
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows.
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes,
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes,
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes.
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows blows
Yeah yeah ey
Listen up×8.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-12 11:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 03:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 01:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 03:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 03:01 am (UTC)https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2l6JUNFAJ9o
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 03:58 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 04:16 am (UTC)"The truth doesn't damage points of view that are legitimate..."
I can just picture the pearl clutching. Heh heh
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 06:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-15 09:10 pm (UTC)I can report that he seems to very adeptly avoid that. He hardly even takes specific stances on political issues, he criticised both 'left wing' and 'right wing' attitudes, and yet he rips apart consumerism, empty political correctness, and numerous other key but relatively unspoken social issues. All the while, he staunchly maintains the core message that we need each other, we need to talk across political and racial divides, love your neighbour, and so on.
Judging from the comments, his fans are of literally every imaginable stripe and seem to be getting message, too—the message seems to be resisting distortion into some kind of alt-right thing like the almost nonexistent media coverage makes it out to be. Plus, damn— as a lover of poetry, some of the lines are spectacular.
~Bewilderness
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 04:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 06:26 pm (UTC)The is the ocean rolling back in
Date: 2021-02-13 05:56 am (UTC)Here comes the tsunami.
The "Fake Woke" lyrics are currently on Genius (https://genius.com/Tom-macdonald-fake-woke-lyrics), but in case they get taken down, here's a copy:
FAKE WOKE
By Tom MacDonald
I think it's crazy I'm the one who they labeled as controversial
And Cardi B is the role model for 12 year old girls
There's rappers pushing Xanax at the top of the billboard
But if I mention race in a song I'm scared I'll get killed for it
It's backwards, it's gettin' exponentially dumb
It's more difficult to get a job than purchase a gun
Eminem used to gay-bash and murder his mum
Now he doesn't want fans if they voted for Trump
We're ashamed to be American. You should probably love it,
Cause you have the right to hate and not get stoned to death in public
As children we were taught how to walk and talk
But the system wants adults to sit down and shut up!
Cancel culture runs the world now, the planet went crazy
Labeled everything we say as homophobic or racist
If you're white, then you're privileged-- guilty by association
All our childhood heroes got 'Me Too'd or they're rapists
They never freed the slaves
They realized that they don't need the chains
They gave us tiny screens
We think we're free
Cause we can't see the cage.
They knew that race war would be the game they need to play
For people to pick teams
They use the media to feed the flame
They so
Fake Woke
Facts don't care about your feelings!
They know
They won't
Tell me what to believe in
They so
fake woke,
same old safe zones
They so
fake woke,
facts don't care 'bout your feelin's
I think it's crazy all these people screamin' 'facts', but they fake woke
Hate their neighbor 'cause he wears a mask or he stays home
Has a daughter, but his favorite artist said he slays hoes
Picks her up from school, music slaps on the way home
Censorship's an issue 'cause they choose what they erase
There's a difference between hate speech and speech that you hate
I think Black Lives Matter was the stupidest name
When the system's screwin' everyone exactly the same
I just wanna spend Thanksgivin' Day with food and my family
Without bein' accused of celebrating native casualties
We got so divided, it's black and white and political
Republicans are bigots, libtards if you're liberal
There's riots in our streets, and it's just gettin' worse
Y'all screamin', "Defund the police", y'all are genius for sure
They're underfunded already, they're way too busy to work
Order food and call the cops, see what reaches you first
'Segregation ended', that's a lie in itself
That was a strategy to make us think they were tryin' to help
They knew that racism was hot if they designed it to sell
We buy up every single box and divide us ourselves
They so
fake woke,
facts don't care 'bout feelin's
They know
they won't
tell me what to believe in
They so
fake woke,
same old safe zones
They so
fake woke,
facts don't care 'bout your feelin's
We use violence to get peace and wonder why it isn't workin'
That's like sleepin' with a football team to try and be a virgin
Politicians are for sale and someone always makes the purchase
But you and I cannot afford it, our democracy is worthless
If a man has mental illness, call him crazy, say it silently
When country's goin' crazy, we accept it as 'society'
Get sick and take a pill, when the side effects get you high
You get addicted like these rappers dying fighting with sobriety
Censoring the facts turns our children into idiots
They claim it's for our safety, I'll tell you what it really is
Removing information that empowers all the citizens
The truth doesn't damage points of view that are legitimate
They're try'na change amen to a-men and women
How'd we let them make praying a microaggression?
Instead of asking God for the strength to keep winnin'
We cheat to get ahead, and then we ask Him for forgiveness
Feminism used to be the most righteous of fights
But these days it feels like they secretly hate guys
I don't trust anyone who bleeds for a week and don't die
(I'm just kiddin', but everything else that I said is right)
They so
fake woke,
facts don't care 'bout feelin's
They know
they won't tell me what to believe in
They so
fake woke,
same old safe zones
They so
fake woke,
facts don't care 'bout your feelin's
Re: Ocean Rolling Back In
Date: 2021-02-13 05:59 am (UTC)And here is my best stab at Joe Limitless' "Where The Wind Blows".
I know I missed a few but feel free to update the comment (if the software lets you) with corrections:
Where The Wind Blows
by
Joe Limitless
Yo.
Limitless. Yeah.
yeah.
Genuine Gemini.
Ey. Ey. Yeah.
The people on this planet have a lot of things they need to change
The list is way too long to name them all so I'm just gonna say
If it seems like it's wrong then there's a big chance that it prob'ly is
You should only do the things that bring back love and happiness
Listen to these verses,
I am giving you these words
If you wanna change the way you live
You've gotta do the work
Putting a plan (in)to action is the meaning of the verb
You've gotta think it out and write it down before you do it first
Listen to the voice within that's telling you to get to them
Even if it's silent it's just grab the pitcher drownin' it
With ego
Or to fit in
I've seen it
I did it
Everybody wants to be the hero
Or the villain
Never the victim
You've gotta admit it
You want to be different
I'm making a point
So don't get offended
You may need a joint
To get my attention
Limitless void
That's why imaging
Is my opinion
Make a decision
Yeah
Everybody has a dream and vision
Yeah
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
Blows
Blows
Yeah
Yeah
Ey
Listen to me now
Yeah
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up
Yeah
Free throw feeling
When I'm hitting
Nothing but the net
Connected to everything around me like I am the Internet
People need to talk about it but they are not ready yet
Manifesting back into my life like I am on a jet
I'm on my way to make it big
They know my name
Wishing things were different
I guess that makes it not a thing
Yeah.
And that's the way that it goes
Everything is simple, it just depends what you know
Have a vision, make a difference
Have a purpose, have intention
Have a way to do it all without a flawless call the mission
I'm not kidding
As I'm sending you these tasks
I may give out the box
Play it back and then you will understand
How you are part of God
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
Looking out the window as I wonder where the wind goes
I don't even know so I go where the wind blows
Blows
Blows
Yeah
Yeah
Ey
Listen to me now
Yeah
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up,
Listen up
- -
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 11:06 am (UTC)You mentioned (on the other blog, I think) that rap hasn't yet made its mind up what direction it will end up going in. While that's very true, I think we can already tell one of the primary traits that its first stable incarnation will end up coalescing around — political dissent. Rap is an unmitigated failure as another way to repackage warm-fuzzy love songs. That's why the industry vomits out such dreck — they're terrified of touching any real political dissent. Instead, they keep trying to camouflage love songs as edgy declarations of non-conformity. The result is endless songs about ho's and booties or endless songs about entitled rage.
The rap songs that really grab people emotionally are inevitably the ones that give anthem to the voiceless. That's how "Where the Wind Blows" makes the Order of Essenes teachings work as a rap song. It expresses those teachings as an act of political courage to fortify the lost and the discouraged, giving voice to the voiceless.
— Christophe
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 06:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-14 06:11 am (UTC)If the bootie-ho songs have to have another go round, I certainly hope I'm dead by then. They're bad enough now, and that's without being able to hold them up for comparison to a golden-age flowering of integrity and meaning in rap. I really don't feel any need to experience that particular disinterment.
Yet I am thrilled to be alive to witness the beginning of a musical renaissance. Rap will go through many iterations of the cycle you describe before settling down to give birth to the epic poems it will eventually leave as its legacy. Far off generations may end up regarding jazz and rock in the same way most people today regard motets and madrigals, as the awkward precursors to the full flowering of a new musical age.
— Christophe
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-14 06:43 pm (UTC)So by becoming a vehicle for dissent, rap is in many respects returning to its roots. It reminds me of punk rock in its heyday.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-14 10:10 pm (UTC)(That makes me think of a song by Saul Williams, a black American poet and rapper from the original hip-hop generation--who, remember, are in their late 40s and 50s now. It begins, "I gave hip-hop to white boys when nobody was looking," and has as its chorus, "Substitute the anger and oppression with guilt and oppression and it's yours!")
That ubiquity also makes "rap" less useful as a category. When JMG commented recently (something along the lines of) that rap is the poetry that will help imagine the culture and politics of the future, I had a long wonder. I think that's true as far as it goes, but it might not be much help in trying to identify just which ideas and images are getting to ready to take shape around us--just that those ideas are likely to be delivered in the form of rap. Other than that stylistic feature, they might have something or almost nothing to do with the original artform or its political, cultural, and spiritual orientation, which are probably what comes to mind for most older people when they think of rap.
Despite knowing the scene fairly well, I actually have a really hard time trying to say where in today's music I'd look for the sort of "upstream imagination" we're talking about. I started going through some candidates but this post is already long enough. And the conclusion I ended up coming to was really the same one I started with: rap may be the form in which today's poets will deliver the legistation, but that really tells us little about the spiritual, cultural, or political content.
Jonathan.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-15 04:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 09:09 am (UTC)It also has some similarities to the rap philosophique coming out of France like Fauve's "Nuit Fauve", or even "4,000 Îles" but with American Gospel providing the melodic ground rather than French men's choir.
Bravo, Keep up the good work! More of this, please!
— Christophe
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 06:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 06:39 pm (UTC)Comments
Date: 2021-02-13 08:34 pm (UTC)Re: Comments
Date: 2021-02-14 02:36 am (UTC)He has his comments turned on (in "Fake Woke"). It's fascinating to see the gamut of people weighing in.
- Cicada Grove
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-13 11:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-14 06:23 am (UTC)— Christophe
Order of Essenes
Date: 2021-02-17 01:46 pm (UTC)I'm intrigued about the order of Essenes link you placed here. Have you discussed how to approach these courses? I've read shallowly the first chapter, and it looks very very simple, but there are hints everywhere in the text suggesting it has to be 'studied' during a whole week, so it might not be that simple at all. I found the same use of indiscriminated use of hyphens, quotation marks and such, suggesting something is coded. Another hint that something is hidden is the use of repeated concepts, but here I don't find as much repetition as in CosDoc.
Is this a set of metaphores like the CosDoc, or how should I approach the courses other than treating it as an alchemy text?
An unrelated question, but since I'm late to the magic monday, I'd try my luck here. I might try some divination though I don't have trust or faith in this (just on the psycological aspect of being sure about things giving more chances to succeed). However, I want to keep it as secret as possible. I'm certain that my luck (in life) is not really bad, but whenever I throw dices or draw cards or try anything that has to do with chances, I get mediocre to really bad results. I fear that any random method of divination might not work, but they look like the best to keep in secrecy. Any suggestion?
Re: Order of Essenes
Date: 2021-02-17 06:05 pm (UTC)Re: Order of Essenes
Date: 2021-02-18 04:20 am (UTC)2) Please ask this during the next Magic Monday!
Re: Order of Essenes
Date: 2021-02-18 10:48 am (UTC)Somehow I knew what would happen if I tried my luck XD
Thanks
Date: 2021-02-20 01:14 am (UTC)