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Dear Mr. President

by Jackson Whalan

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Music video here: youtu.be/OrBb2LmfyBs

Emcee/Producer Jackson Whalan continues his prolific run of eclectic hip-hop releases with the blistering single “Dear Mr. President”, a furious-yet-focused response to a culture in crisis, and a scathing indictment of the so-called leader of the free world. Riding the high of several recent Jackson Whalan Live Band releases, and a smattering of successful concerts with the group, the rapper returns with a vengeance, steadily pushing the status quo with thought-provoking subject matter. The evolution continues with the October 4th, 2019 release of “Dear Mr. President", a bold example of the Massachusetts-based wordsmith using his voice to affect change, redirecting his own attention, and ours, at once inward and towards the nation’s capital.

The track is right on time with regard to current cultural events and the upcoming 2020 presidential election, but aesthetically it’s a throwback to a simpler time in hip-hop. A smoky piano chop dances atop boom-bap drums, a combo that calls back to mid-90’s era DJ Premier or classic Boot Camp Clik, Jackson settles in to speak his mind, he gets serious and leaps into the verses with a patient, golden-era cadence. The longtime activist is just motivated and exasperated, while the song’s title is intentionally direct, the lyrics reveal a nuanced style of messaging that communicates clearly but does not come off preachy.

“It’s what I would hope to say if I was in the room with him. It’s been very tough for me to put how I feel into words regarding the current administration, but the mood of the beat really prompted the character of my rhymes and the subject matter; the anger that’s been welling up inside of me just kind emerged, and I allowed it to go there.” Jackson Whalan

“Dear Mr. President’s” first verse finds Whalan addressing the culture at large with observatory metaphors galore, while the second verse is a more direct breakdown of how this particular president is swimming in his own narcissism and selling lies to the citizens while climate change and communities continue in despair. The sum of these parts is this sign of the times, and Whalan delivers an artistic statement that is cut from the same cloth as politically-charged hip-hop heroes like Public Enemy, Dead Prez, X-Clan, and Immortal Technique.

“In a more direct sense, the lyrics are meant to shed light on climate change, misinformation, freedom of speech, immigration, and how narcissism prevents a leader from dealing with any of these issues.” explains Whalan

- Written by B. Getz

lyrics

Lyrics:
You think it’s all about you
But what about me?
You think it’s all about you
But what about me?

Calling out but ain’t no body really hearing me
Sometimes I think it’s all just a conspiracy
But I’m still living fearlessly
Even in this age of tyranny
I spit another stanza in the face of propaganda
With my face up in the camera full picture panorama
These days things are not what they appear to be
Post another selfie on the gram acting cheerfully
Behind closed doors you on all fours
Washed up like all shores distracted by the war lords
Infiltrating every corner of your mind
Taking up your energy and all your precious time
Selling all your data like Cambridge Analytica
If you speak out then be sure they’re gonna finish ya
Tarnish your whole image and then diminish ya
If you an evil person then it means you’ve never been in love cuz

You think it’s all about you
But what about me
You think it’s all about you
But what about me

You just a profiteering narcissist
Telling everyone you’re marvelous
But the opposite is obvious
The reason that you’re prominent cuz ignorance is dominant
Just cuz I do not agree does not mean I’m a communist
Building up a movement like Yugoslavian Partisans
Topple your whole conglomerate I’m not moderate
Think it’s all about you? that’s why you’re going extinct
Without a moment to blink this is all gonna sink
I only got a couple moments to get it in
Yeah you really lead the people, like Flint Michigan
That’s the reality we’re living in
We’re getting tired like Michelin
Soon it’s the streets that we’re fishing in
But you’re busy giving gifts to your constituents
And still holding ties to all your businesses
And separating families from their kids
Now the whole world wonders what America is

You think it’s all about you
But what about me
You think it’s all about you
But what about me

credits

released October 4, 2019
Produced by Jackson Tynan Whalan and Ian Christopher Evans
Mixed by The Arcitype
Mastered by Bob Macchiochi

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Jackson Whalan

Recording artist and producer from the woods.

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