Handcuffs and Rolex for Meek Mill and too many Black youth

Before the 2012 election, and Mueller is the most serious in recent memory storm hit the east coast in the middle, it is Philadelphia docile released his debut solo album, dreams and nightmares. Nas's release, although not an outstanding album is in terms of content, in the year, the RAPSODY published the idea, beautiful, life is beautiful, LUPE FIASCO launch of F & L II: the great American rap album first part closely concerned about the hip-hop culture will find more to celebrate rather than criticize.

That is to say, I am not here to review the album, but pay attention to the album cover - the Rolex and handcuffs powerful image. Absorbent material integration, Rolex watches, and mass imprisonment, Bakari Kitwana is defined as between the hip-hop generation: young blacks and brown, golden handcuffs symbol born in 1964, in 1985 - more or few years - Subscribe to the hip-hop culture, know they are there when Tupac and Biggie died, and the Los Angeles riots, 9/11, the to count civilians among the most important social policy after the police violence, mass incarceration and rights economic and political touchstone.

Due to bad luck or ironically, it is the gentle rolling mill have been arrested, but was not arrested, police in Philadelphia, November 1, 2012. Later, he tweeted to his nearly 2 million followers: "The crazy part is really a throttle and a Rolex Replica wrist yesterday ... really DreamsAndNightmares." Under normal circumstances, this type of artistic imitation of reality imitating art exactly what rap artists indelible mark in the collective consciousness of consumers, rap reality. There is no doubt that there will be a considerable fan base Meek Mill’s similar impact.

Meek Mill album a few days ago, I received a phone call from LUPE FIASCO. Now, I do not make calls to regular hip-hop artists of international reputation in the field, so I picked up the phone, excitement and anticipation. Lupe, after all, is the most sensitive political and social realized that one of the artists of our time. He told me that he had just seen a billboard album publicity Meek Mill’s in a landlocked region in the city of Chicago. Lupe, see the Rolex throttle the hood of the center of the image, is a powerful logo symbolizes the impossible predicament, we have too many young people to deal with. Why to Mick Mills is more powerful in the fact that the image should be to those who are most likely to understand the meaning of.

The cover of dreams and nightmares confuse any distinction between the inner city of late capitalism, materialism and the prison industrial park. It can effectively capture the lack of choice, too many young people in the city, living in a world where, the deep pockets Rolex face almost as much quality imprisonment affect their lives or their family and friends. Image material culture cleverly combined, representing our community in the United States over the prison. In this system, the "American" prison is no difference between a dream and a nightmare, especially for those who have limited choices and opportunities to reduce.

Scholars of Braxton James Peterson, director of African Studies at Lehigh University (Lehigh University), hip hop and black popular culture, a variety of online and regular commentator of CNN.

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