“Videojacking: Action of stealing a music video, an audiovisual work, even before the artist asked for itself, ordered, undertook, realized, and even thought about it.”

Ni**as in Paris is a track off their collaboration album Watch the Throne courtesy of the current kings of Hip Hop; Kanye West and Jay Z. It’s a pretty great track as far as commercial hip hop goes, and some people did their own take on a video. An unknown trio of graffiti artists went crazy on the streets and below ground Paris tagging the lyrics of the song in a stark, visceral black and white video that is timed perfectly to the track, and gives new meaning to the lyric; “Got my Ni**as in paris, and they going gorillas“.

And if you thought a couple of kids tagging the streets and subways of Paris was subversive, check this next video out. Mos Def covers it with his trademark social thought provoking commentary. Renaming the track “N**gas in Poorest”, he absolutely nails it with lyrics that harkens back to the day when hip hop was street poetry that made you think. It’s a riveting track that closes with the plea to kings and queens “don’t get caught up in no throne”, perhaps a gentle jab at Kanye and the Jiggaman, but more importantly at greed, power and corruption in general.

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As if the song wasn’t heavy-handed enough, the video suggests some pretty damn controversial beliefs.  Can’t say I blame Bey for being a little bitter about real hip hop getting lost amongst rappers these days talkin’ bout money and bitches, though.  Lyrics are on the screen, and also below.  What ya’ll think?

Mos Def – Niggas In Poorest Lyrics

[Intro]
Live from America
Yasiin, Yasiin, Yasiin
N.I.P, sing it

[Verse 1]
Ball so hard, clean clothes look grimy, pretty women don’t mind me
So what’s fifty grand to a young nigga like me? More than my annual salary
Ball so hard, this shit crazy, fought my side, the whole world hate me
Nervous stares hit the third affairs, Savannahs can of police tracing
Ball so hard, this shit weird, we be home and still be scared
There’s grief here, there’s peace here, its easy and hard to be here
Psycho, liable to turn Michael, take your pick, Myers, Myers, Myers, same shit
Ball so hard, got holey socks, dope block on my stove top
Jumbotrons for astronauts, high at all but no planet rock, say
Ball so hard, this chopper too, we starving Marvin, you hot food
There’s birds of prey, no escape, open-air prison, no pursuit
Ball so hard, who getting faded? Little Maurice in the sixth grade
No mama, no father, role model the dope game, say
Ball so hard, bitch behave, standing behind the deuce-deuce-trey
Ice-cold, heat blow, closed casket, cold case

[Hook]
Ball so hard, that shit cray
that shit cray, that shit cray, that shit cray
that shit cray, that shit cray, that shit cray

[Verse 2]
These young bloods is looking scary at the mall
They wearing pants, you can still see they drawers
They rob a nigga in the bathroom stall
They took his life cause he ain’t want to take it off
Singing, ball so hard, that shit cray, ain’t it, Bey? Diabetics, fish filet
Ball so hard, your hustle cold, nigga it ain’t spring
Every winter and I ‘em with my heat again
Bourgie girl, grab your hand, show you how to do this ghetto dance
Fuck your French, we ain’t in France, I’m just saying
Prince Williams ain’t do it right, if you ask me
If I was him, I’d put some black up in my family
Fake Gucci, my nigga, fake Louis, my killa
Real drugs, my dealer, who the fuck is Margiela?
Doctors say I’m the illest, I ain’t got no insurance
It’s them niggas in poorest, be them rebel guerillas, huh

[Interlude: Malcolm X]
I don’t worry. I tell you, I am a man who believed that I died 20 years ago
And I live like a man who is dead already. I have no fear whatsoever of anybody or anything

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
To the kings and queens and everyone in every place, yo
Don’t get caught up in no throne, don’t get caught up in no throne
Don’t get caught up in no throne
Towers of Babylon rise up and so they shall fall
As it was written before, amen, the show goes on
Don’t get caught up in no throne, don’t get caught up in no throne
Don’t get caught up in no throne
These devils out here lying, acting like the people ain’t dying
They silver and they gold, ain’t never saved a soul
Don’t get caught up in no throne, don’t get caught up in no throne
Don’t get caught up in no throne
Shout-outs to the earth and to the heavens, lunar, solar eclipses
We seeking for forgiveness and safety for our children
Don’t get caught up in no throne, don’t get caught up in no throne
Don’t get caught up in no throne, Allah is in control

xo, Stacie

Paz,

Antonio Cortez Appling