The Black Dystopia Of Free The Robots
The Black Dystopia of Free the Robots
Capital Steez's song Free the Robots is a tune that's been haunting my mind for the past few years. Everything from the lyrics to the vocals and rhythm is perfectly carried out. I never got to listen to any of Steez's music while he was still alive, mostly because I was still in elementary school when his career started and had ZERO interest in hip-hop at the time. Even now I'm still pedantic about the rap I choose to listen to. Capital Steez however blew me away with his 2012 masterpiece.
First thing first: I have to get credit to the producer responsible for the music, free the Robots. The original song is called Dear Diary and was released in 2007. Steez would later rap over the beat when he “borrowed” it for his single. The reason for the quotations is that the music producer Free the Robots never got properly credited for the song and many people attribute the beat to Steez rather than them. With that said, the music has an ominous and foreboding vibe to it that pairs well with Steez's cynical lyrics. It immediately lets listeners know they're in for a spooky ride.
Steez uses his lyrical wit to paint a grim picture of American society, particularly, the reality that many black Americans have to face. They also reflect Steez's deteriorating mental health and growing disillusionment with the world. Let's get started with the first verse:
"Illuminati tryin' to read my mind with a eagle eye
And the haze got me thinkin', why
We killed Osama and plenty innocent people died
We should see the signs, but we Stevie blind"
This is a blatant attack on America's war-mongering attitude. Osama's death was greatly celebrated, but the countless people who lost their lives in the name of war were treated as just a statistic. There is no glory in war. It's just senseless murder and yet people treat it as a noble cause. Wake up and stop the violence.
"No disrespect to the man or the legend, but
I'm sick and tired of askin' my brethren if
It all ends in 2011
Would God come through or would he actually forget us?
Cause, apocalypse is getting closer
But they're more focused on that lil youth sippin' soda
Fuck the sugar act, n*ggas out pushin' crack
And I lost my father figure because of that"
There used to be a common conspiracy that the world would end in 2012 and perhaps this weighed on Steez's paranoid mind. It's been noted that Steez had a very warped view of reality fueled by an eclectic blend of spiritual beliefs so it wouldn't surprise me if he genuinely believed an apocalypse was coming. Ironically, Steez ended his life two days after the world was predicted to end. He then goes on to call out how the government would rather tax the poor instead of dealing with the serious issues plaguing communities. The last line is especially brutal if you know that Steez lost his dad at age 3 so he basically lost two father figures in his short lifespan. Even though Steez acknowledges that drugs destroy communities, he himself was a very casual drug user and that only worsened his already crumbling mental state.
"So can I live? or is my brother tryin' to gun me down
Scuffle a couple of rounds 'til we hear the thunder sound
No lightening, clash of the titans
And after the violence a moment of silence
Cause I want mine the fast way
The ski mask way, lookin' for a fast pay
And instead of stickin' up for each other
Pickin' up guns and stickin' up our brothers
So fuck 'em all, I'm comin' through ragin'
And I won't stop 'til Reagan is caged in
Mom tell me I should let the Lord handle it
The arm of the law is tryin' to man-handle us
A man's world, but a white man's planet
And the doors are slowly closing while we fallin' through the cracks of it
It's a shame that flippin' crack will be
The best alternative if you don't make it rappin'
These crack houses and trap houses are trappin' us in
And in the end we're gonna remain stagnant
I ain't havin' it"
There's so much to digest with the second verse but the general idea is that the black community is self-destructing while also being under attack from white patriarchal society. Black On black violence is a topic often used as a tool to justify racist hatred, but here, Steez expresses genuine empathy. All too often are black people getting killed by their own members, by people who are supposed to have their backs. A life of drugs and violence is treated like the only option afforded to black people if they don't make it into the entertainment or sports industry. Steez is practically urging the listener to not become another statistic and to do something more with your life. This is your wake-up call.
12 years later, Free the Robots has a message that remains relevant even today. There are many people who are slumbering, completely blind to the poisons rotting society. Steez made it clear that the responsibility of changing the world lies upon those who are aware it needs to be saved. It's a shame that he lived such a short life, but it's clear that there was incredible acuity in his soul. Rest in peace.
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Blood Blockade Battlefront is New York at its Finest
NYC often gets a bad rep. Most people either see it as a smelly hellhole filled with crime and crappy attitudes or a breeding ground for hipsters and vapid socialites. People only see what they want to see without looking at the whole picture. This makes Leonardo's all-seeing eyes of God all the more important. Instead of lumping NYC into a box, he sees it for what it truly is; a chaotic blend of volatile elements.
The storytelling of Blood Blockade Battlefront is pure chaos from beginning to end. Leonardo is thrown into a world of highly deadly scenarios with very little breathing room in between. Each episode focuses on a moment in the character's life. One episode will focus on Leonardo befriending an amnesiac monster who loves burgers and another will feature a brigade of Charlie's angels-esque spies who happen to be invisible werewolves. It's the type of show that always keeps you on your toes because you never know what to expect. Some have criticized the show for its lack of an overarching plot and treat it as if that's inherently bad. Blood Bloockade isn't the type of show that needs a complex narrative. Its biggest appeal is simply seeing its eccentric cast interact with each other. Its episodic nature made watching it a breeze since viewers are never overwhelmed with too much information.
Worldbuilding is done at a casual pace where background lore is only given when it's relevant to what's currently happening. Since most characters are already well familiar with the lore, they usually cut the small talk and get straight to the action. In this way, the narrative mirrors New Yorker's aversion to beating around the bush. Show don't tell at its finest. We need more shows that just get to the point. Rie Matsumoto, director of season 1, feels a bit different about the story than I do, though. She inserted two original characters, Black and White, a pair of siblings who share a character arc that Intersects with Leo's. Under normal circumstances, this would have been an incredibly bad move. Filler in anime tends to feel pointless and just detracts from the story. Luckily, Rie Matsumoto made sure that the filler didn't feel like filler. It was fun watching the mystery surrounding the sibling duo unravel with each episode. It eventually culminated in a finale that was nearly an hour long. Matsumoto took a huge risk with her bold decision, but she definitely stuck the landing.
The production values of the show are also top-notch. Pretty much every episode is a reminder of why studio Bones is such a beloved company. They seriously put their key animators to work in both seasons. The fluidity of the fight scenes always left me impressed. Character designer Toshihiro Kawamoto did a great job at bringing Yasuhiro Nightow's art to animation with his iconic style. I love how even when Toshihiro is adapting someone else's character design, his style still shines through.
Special mention needs to be given to composer Taisei Iwasaki because he really killed it with this soundtrack. It's an eclectic blend of jazz, RNB, hip-hop, rock and more genres that perfectly captures the vibe of a busy New York City. Each track is a different flavor of the city and made me feel at home. The soundtrack truly embodies the chaotic feel of the show and captures its occasional serene moments perfectly.The true musical highlights are the openings and endings. BBB is one of those shows where you feel compelled to watch the full episode because the opening and ending are too good to skip. They're all incredibly upbeat songs that make you wanna stop everything and dance. Sugar song and bitter step is one of my favorite anime endings because of it's colorful animation and cheerful aura.
Blood Blockade Battlefront is the type of show that can really resonate with native New Yorkers. We see all the highs and lows of the city almost every day and you have to be just a little bit crazy to appreciate NYC for what it is.
One Piece Film Red is Cinematic Gold
The latest one piece film is a visual and musical feast for fans old and new alike. The center focus is on Uta, a childhood friend from Luffy's past who is none other than Shanks' (adoptive) daughter. She uses her talented singing skills to charm the audience and usher in a new era of peace. But at what cost will she manifest her dreams?
Uta is an exemplary example of an anti villain done right. She grew up seeing how much despair pirates cause with their mayhem so she set out to make songs to soothe the hearts of their victims. She genuinely wants what is best for the world but goes about it in the worst way possible. I loved the dynamic she had with Luffy. It started out as a cheerful reunion between two distant friends before their clashing ideals results in conflict. Luffy embodies the idea of freedom while Uta uses forceful measures so everyone follows her version of happiness. This contrast makes the drama all the better. Seeing Uta devolve from a high spirited girl to a broken martyr was so gut wrenching to sit through. I truly feel that she's one of the best female characters in the entire franchise from just one movie alone.
The animation and music were also stunning throughout the entire movie. Uta's musical numbers were vividly animated and full of detail. Character designer Masayuki Sato elevated Oda's designs to the next level and brought them to perfection. I wish he was the main character designer for the anime, but the art has improved ever since the Wano arc began so I'm content. The animation goes full throttle during the final battle against Tot Musica where all the straw hats and Shank's crew team up, albeit indirectly. One piece has never looked so eye catching before. Luffy briefly tapping into gear 5 in the final battle was icing on the cake.
Ado absolutely killed it on this soundtrack. I've been a fan of her since discovering usseewa and she doesn't disappoint at all. Each song captures how Uta feels at the current moment in the film and sheds light on her character. My favorite songs are the victorious sounding "Backlight" and the captivating haunting " Tot Musica", which is also the name of the ultimate villain in Red. Fun fact, Tot Musica was composed by legendary composer Hiroyuki Sawano, the same guy who worked on titles like Promare and blue exorcist. He's not the only high profile name on the list either. New Genesis is composed by Yasutaka Nakata, a man who played a pivotal role in the 2000s J-pop scene. I'm hoping these ambitious musical collabs become more common in one piece soon.
Overall, One piece film Red outshines all other films in the franchise with its gripping character drama and impeccable soundtrack. You can officially watch the movie on Vudu.
I recently finished the penguindrum novel trilogy and I have to say it was a pretty well down adaptation. It's a perfect supplement for fans who were confused by all of the surreal symbolism the anime is known for. The novels are primarily told from Shoma's perspective, but frequently switches to other POVS. Unfortunately, Kanba never got a POV section, which is a shame since I really wanted to delve into his morally dubious mind. Shoma ended up being a more engaging character due to extra focus he got , a nice contrast from the anime. I definitely recommend these books for any Ikuhara fans out there.
Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Perfection
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off went in a direction most people would've never expected. Instead of being a standard adaptation of the beloved comic, it instead deconstructs and remixes the source material into something amazing. I mean, the comic was already a good read, but the anime is undoubtedly Scott Pilgrim at its best.
As stated earlier, the anime isn't necessarily faithful to the source material. The first episode ends with Scott Pilgrim being killed by Matthew Pattel, causing the narrative to focus on Ramona in her quest to find out what really happened to Scott. This version of Ramona is way more engaging than the aloof jerk she was in the movie. She's forced to confront her past and the toxic influence she played in her previous relationship. It was honestly heartwarming to see Ramona reconcile with her exes instead of them being beaten by Scott. The audience gets to see Ramona grow from a Mysterious loner to a woman on the path to redemption.
The anime also does a good job of giving additional screen time to most of the characters, especially since all of the exes are alive in this version. We get a better look at their daily lives and interactions with each other. By the end of the show it's pretty clear they all would've been good friends if they hadn't let their obsession with Ramona consume them in the first place. I also like how Young Neil gets better characterization here since was a mostly quiet background character in the original. He becomes a loveable idiot wannabe writer that I can't just get enough of. Roxie was the ex I felt most sympathetic for since from her perspective, Ramona was some straight girl who used her for a sexual experiment and discarded her once she was done. Her trauma is unfortunately an experience many gay people can relate to. My favorite character overall is probably Lucas Lee for constantly being himbo beefcake fanservice.
The true highlight is without a doubt the animation. Science Saru brought out their A-game and their passion for the show is evident in every frame. Bryan Lee O'Malley's simple art style translated perfectly to the colorful and fluid animation fest Saru provides. The comic’s already over-the-top energy gets taken to the next level with almost everyone having high-octane anime battles that need to be seen to be believed. The art style is also a perfect blend of anime and western aesthetics. This results in a show that looks starkly different from the standard Western or Japanese cartoon. Fans have been hungry for a Scott Pilgrim cartoon for well over a decade now and the wait was definitely worth it.
Reflecting back on ATLUSxP5
How often do you listen to playlists?
Not official soundtracks but rather a selection of songs to fit a certain mood or theme. Maybe you wonder what kind of music the next game in your favorite game series will have and one day you stumble upon a playlist that answers that question.
That's the scenario many persona fans found themselves in when they discovered the persona 5 imagining project by atlusxp5. The playlist in question was made a while before Persona 5 was officially announced so some fans thought it was a genuine look into what Atlus had in store for the future. There were even cryptic hints of a story hidden in long-since deleted videos. What atlusxp5's intentions were are ambiguous since they have never confirmed nor denied the several theories surrounding the project. Some people have said the playlist has inspired them to make a persona fangame but nothing came out of it. That's one thing that Danganronpa fans have over persona fans: when someone says they're gonna make a fan game, they typically follow through with it.
My memories of how exactly I stumbled upon the project are a bit fuzzy but I'm pretty sure it happened from listening to a jet set radio fan playlist. Yeah, that's right. I discovered a playlist by listening to a completely unrelated playlist. Playlistception! I've been a huge fan of the Jet Set radio soundtrack since 9th grade despite never playing the game so it's no surprise I'd want to listen to music similar to it. I literally typed in " music similar to jet set radio" on YouTube one day and was met with an evergrowing YouTube list of eclectic songs.
I hardly knew anything about persona at the time but that didn't matter. The mesmerizing psychedelic pop music had my ears completely captivated. It was easy to see why considering it was a fusion of all my favorite genres. It even introduced me to an obscure genre called Shibuya kei that deserves a post of its own.
Some of my favorite tracks include Rockin' My Way and Rising Core by the band COPTER4016882. The lyrics are jabberwocky nonsense just like the band's name but both songs have this upbeat electronic sound fused with high-tempo guitar work. They certainly fit the tone of persona 4 rather than p5. Another valuable mention is Freak by MEG, an energetic pop song that invokes the vibe of a girls' night out in the big city.
Talalala by dj deckstream has all the hallmarks of being a glorious final boss theme. It begins with a somber piano tune before shifting to a triumphant melody about preserving and overcoming hard times. The lyrics also do a good job of reflecting the themes of the persona franchise as a whole.
" Don't close your eyes, don't wave good-bye, just take a chance
And take a look inside your heart
Then you will find that down beneath there's a dream you've always had, so
Don't close your eyes, don't wave good-bye, just take a chance
And take a look inside your heart
See that therе is more to life than what you've been through before"
That isn't Deckstream's only noteworthy contribution. His cover of Tom's Diner is a chill jazzy tune that invokes the vibe of exploring the city while his Whatever cover by Oasis has a calming atmosphere that's perfect for the end of a long journey.
The p5 imagining project is a prime example of how important music curation can be. Even if the songs aren't original pieces, they still do wonders to solidify the vision crafted by the project's creator. It's intriguing how a well crafted playlist can create such a vivid image of what Persona 5 theoretically could've been. I've always envisioned p5 as an experimental psychedelic acid trip type of game. Imagine an alternate universe where Studio Shaft was a videogame developer that made a JRPG with Kunihiko Ikuhara as the director and suda51 as co-writer that combined the aesthetics of the world ends with you, the Monogatari series, punk rock dadaism, and panty and stocking. That's the kind of atmosphere atlusxp5 laid out in my mind. It's the kind of game that's sadly far too ambitious to exist in real life. Maybe. One can only dream.
For additional info, I suggest going to the Imagining Project Tumblr page and watching Youtuber Blue's video on the matter.
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