Jackson Free Press

My most heartfelt thanks goes out to the controversial rock band Rage Against The Machine. Why, you ask? Simply because, if but for a moment, they've taken a little pressure off us poor rappers. We can take a break from being America's whipping boys as the rock world takes some heat in this crazy freedom-of-speech debate. It also speaks to the leverage that musicians and entertainers hold when it come to politics.

To bring you up to speed, a Rage band member made some disparaging remarks about President Bush at a recent concert. Actually, "disparaging" is cleaning it up a bit. To be precise, he said the "President should be shot." We don't know if he meant in the leg or in the head, but either way, Bush supporters and right-wing pundits called for their heads. The usual suspects—Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter and the like—got on Fox News and called the band and their fans "losers," though Coulter admitted that she's never heard the band.

I don't condone calling for anyone's murder. That's extreme. But I do call for more artists of all genres flexing their musical muscles to make political statements. Even though Rage probably earned themselves a visit from the Secret Service backstage at their next show, they have my utmost respect for standing by their convictions. Freedom of speech is one thing, but letting the establishment know that all major artists aren't money-hungry, self-involved prima donnas is another. I like it.

I got into a pretty heated discussion with a fellow artist recently who thought I was losing some fans by going on my famous anti-Bush rants at shows. A stage, he said, is no place for politics. Just do music and keep your beliefs to yourself, he said. I beg to differ. A stage is the perfect place for politics. The average person may never get the opportunity to stand in front of a captive audience. When you've got the undivided attention of hundreds, maybe thousands of people, the most potent catalyst for change is a microphone. With a mic in my hands, I have a weapon. At that moment, I have a chance to influence the crowd to act, or not.

Like Rage, I choose to say something. We want to incite someone to do something to change the world. And frankly, if a few folks walk away, fine. Perhaps they prefer their "rappers" to just rap. Sorry, that's not me, and that's not Rage Against the Machine. Hopefully, other artists will take on Bush. The fans are listening. And that's the truth ... sho-nuff.