me too. and i'm sorry my comment made anyone think I didn't. what did disturb me were the egotistical lyrics--nothin' new for Mathers (who I generally adore).
There's nothing wrong with leadership. There is something troubling about the way Mathers portrays himself as the one to lead through the darkness, asks them to put faith and trust in him, says he won't steer them wrong. I am the way, the light, and the truth! Or whatever the dead guy on a stick worshippers say. [1] (But I'm not gonna get in a tizzy about it!)
One of the things I thought was interesting was the scene where the soldier in camo walks past the snarling cops toward an ambulance. It's very obvious that the soldier doesn't identify with the cops. Woah! What a commentary. All I could think of was Carrol's discussions of the difference between cops and soldiers--and how the cops aren't likely to be on the side of the revo any time soon. Obviously, Mathers life experience would easily lead to that conclusion.
The lone guy in the audience at the concert reminds you of a skinhead. He's out of place at the concert, stoically standing, unmoved by the music. Then you learn he's married to a black woman. Which shouldn't be all that surprising to anyone who lives in poor/working class urban (even suburban) neighborhoods. What jarred me, though, was that the guy reminded me of a skinhead and I associate them with anti-racism. Did anyone else pick up on that?
k
[1] Compare to The Coup's Revolutionary Anthem:
everybody put/throw your lighters up tell me, y'all finna fight or what? everybody get your shit started
http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/C/thecouplyrics/thecoupeverythinglyrics.htm
"We live under the Confederacy. We're a podunk bunch of swaggering pious hicks."
--Bruce Sterling