Feb 2, 2015

I don't roll my eyes at everything, please. I have a career, and have spent my professional life on a variety of campaigns and public policy issues, so you're out of your depth, frankly. In fact, it's that very lack of experience on your part that makes me not take your stances on things like racism seriously. Maybe it is my own work talking, but I don't feel compelled to be a liberal foot soldier, or cheer lead for whatever pandering bs has gone viral. And keep in mind that I'm a Democrat, so it's not as if I'm some heartless moron conservative. But if my perfectly reasonable intellectual distance makes me seem contrary at times (ironic) then so be it.

I also think you should tread carefully with racist labels given you make your living critiquing black music.

 

Feb 2, 2015

You said that preemptively because you know you served up some cockamamie crap instead of acknowledging you don't have a rhetorical chair to stand on. You're 22 and you believe the s--- you read on DailyKos (or whatever)

 

Feb 2, 2015

because i...don't work on pr campaigns? i'm not allowed to call lil dicky's schtick kind of racist because i don't read industry journals?

also, since you keep talking about "paul's politics"...what's my "stance on things like racism"? what are you criticizing of mine? i am not some hippie evangelist, i'm a pragmatist who doesn't like white people being more obtuse than they can help being

but this is like you being so snarky about that ALS ice bucket whatever. like, what bothers me about you occasionally (and we've talked about this at length, i think) is that your repulsion at the "vapidity" of things that the masses do renders the benefits null? like, that ice thing was incredibly stupid and also raised an incredible amount of money, and i think it's so haughty of you to act like you're way above it. you too often seem to speak from a position where you think everyone engaged in these causes are doing it with absolutely zero self awareness. maybe they know it sounds and looks and is dumb and just are having fun and doing something good, i don't know. if it inflates their sense of self worth...what doesnt?

i never said that. as the wise andy hoglund once said to me, "it's all tone." i seldom disagree with your actual policy beliefs, i just think you are dismissive and kinda elitist at times

yeah thanks i'm unaware

 

Feb 2, 2015

I think Lil Dicky would be against this white on white crime

 

Feb 2, 2015

Paul going to bed but quick thought: how much did you high five the air when coke did that #makeithappy commercial during the super bowl?

I'm going to take the high road here #likeagirl

 

Feb 2, 2015

We're still having this argument? Geesh.

Hyped for the album. I assume he'll probably release a third single soon since White Crime (omg that f---ing racist) didn't really take off

 

Feb 2, 2015

i don't know what any of these words mean

 

Feb 2, 2015

i don't know if dicky was "playing a character" or whatever in that interview, but if he wasnt, he did sound like a pretty confused individual lol

 

Feb 3, 2015

I'll be frank - I honesty get why you'd think Lil Dicky is guilty of cultural misappropriation. My issue here is that you're being, in your own words, dismissive and elitist toward artists who don't fit within your narrow criteria. Like not everyone can read Ralph Ellison and mime Aesop Rock like your pal Billy Woods. My main objection , however, was your characterization of me always being unserious- particularly toward political issues. As I think I've demonstrated I've work on PA and PR campaigns on a variety of issues, so I think I'm at least -- well the word isn't more sophisticated or seasoned-- well-versed. Like, when I was 22 I went to Deval Patrick's first rally for governor, attended immigration rallies etc. so while you aren't a hippie dippy political fool... Not sure if I'd use the word "pragmatist" either. Your politics, from what I can glean, amount to social media activism... which as we've discussed before, I find to be silly, vacuous and dumb. Wait, Paul, you're against Eric Garner's murder?! #brave

Since you bring it up, I do find it a little ironic you write off Lil Dicky while seemingly ignoring the fact you earn a living as a tastemaker in rap. Didn't notice too many black hip hop writers while doing my silly list, ya know? Like, why are so many of you critics some breed of hipster living in places like Brooklyn? Just strikes me weird, tbh. Get your money though-- just not sure it's okay to lambast Dicky for doing essentially the same thing... I'm sure you have a rationale which is fine.. although I personally try to avoid such self-justifications.

 

Feb 3, 2015

you only have ever seen me on social media platforms, of course all you can glean about my life exists on social media lol. you literally do not know anything else about my life. which is why i am not criticizing you for doing or not doing anything concrete (i'm sure our actual substantive political beliefs are almost indistinguishable)--i'm criticizing your tone on those same platforms.

the lack of black rap critics is pretty real and pretty troubling. (i think you and i have actually talked about this re: rap genius/ angel investors/ general fuckery.) but me to lil dicky is a false equivalency. i'm not talking about his very presence in hip-hop as being racist. i'm talking about two things: 1) what he has specifically said about his role as a white rapper, and 2) his characterization (and caricature) of black rappers.

i'm also not really a tastemaker/gatekeeper. i'm just a critic. email shake.

 

Feb 4, 2015

So wait, a. i'm not going to tag you here so you eventually find it hours later and hopefully feel disinclined to respond. but b. so you're claiming i'm not "serious" bc i don't pontificate on facebook about political issues? that is the definition of naivete. to clarify, im at fault for not taking in earnest the glib postings of generally privileged, inexperienced white kids on social media? im saying, with the benefit of actual real life experience, i find these mini-arab springs (more like palm springs hehe) to be occasionally comical. (edit -- yeah i mean, my criticisms may come off as dickish to you, to be sure im guilty of that.. but how about a little benefit of the doubt, eh? i find your tone on eminem, etc to be haughty and grating at times too, but i also generally acknowledge you spend your time polishing your mind on this... so your criticisms are received if not always accepted 100%)

you and dicky aren't a to b, yeah, but in the collective, its the overall trend of educated, safe white twentysomethings co-opting black culture. this is a very broad trend obviously, every generation has experienced it on some level since jazz. but i don't think you can remove urself. i'm sure there's -- somewhere -- an as talented black writer as you. the question is how do they get your opportunity.

 

Feb 4, 2015

no, not at all, this is 0% what i'm saying. i think your attitude toward people who engage in things in social media is unnecessarily haughty.

 

Feb 4, 2015

Can't we all just get along? Or have we forgotten the words of the Reverend King?

 

Feb 4, 2015

Engagement is one thing. Confusing it with real political action, or something more meaningful, is another. I have no problem with white girls posting about, say, f---ing Julian Edelman. I do think its obnoxious to compare clicking a button to marching in Selma-- it is possible to be callow and political afterall.

Not all forms of communication is created equal, bruh.

 

Feb 4, 2015

2015 TOUR

 

Feb 4, 2015

My goal this semester was not to skip class due to partying

April 9 that goal will go to s---

 

Feb 4, 2015

i never once have ever ever ever compared the two things though. this is why i made that snarky post about strawmen.

 

Feb 4, 2015

Ugh, I know you didn't. And, please, someone whose defending social media's tendency for groupthink and opinion-mongering can't object to a few strawmen, lol.

"But I'm not defending that."
WHAT ARE YOU DEFENDING PAUL
"The, um, my right to, err, black people-

 

Feb 4, 2015

no, i'm just saying that when you b---- and moan about how 19-year-olds posting facebook statuses might not be ready to work campaign strategy, you sound like you're telling them to get off your lawn.

 

Feb 4, 2015

@captain awesome

Loving the discussion tbh so reply m8