Uncle Sam Goddamn
Encyclopedia
"Uncle Sam Goddamn" is the second single from Brother Ali
's second full-length album The Undisputed Truth. The single was released on May 4, 2007 as a 12" vinyl
. There are three different editions of the single; a red version, a white version and a blue version each containing a different B-side
. The song features a blues
-influenced beat produced by Ant
to assist its "bitingly critical" lyrics. Its lyrics harshly condemn the United States
government for its past involvement in slavery and the crack cocaine trade
, and its failure to provide for the poor. Its music video contains controversial images of cross burning
, lynching
and police brutality
alongside images of American landmarks like the White House
and Capitol
building.
Brother Ali has been under pressure from the recording industry due to lyrics from this song, claiming creative interference from "somebody I don't wanna name, but some of you probably has their cell phones." The unnamed corporation ultimately withdrew its sponsorship of Ali, causing him to truncate parts of his current tour.[5][6] Furthermore, on the song "Second Time Around" with Benzi and Wale, Ali makes references to being kicked off a tour followed by the line "Verizon dissed me too, cuz I was too political." The song is notably critical of the United States government, with accusations that the political system is addicted to war.
The introduction, in which Brother Ali says, "The name of this song is Uncle Sam Goddamn. It's a show tune, but the show ain't been written for it yet," is an allusion to Nina Simone
's "Mississippi Goddam
."
Brother Ali
Ali Newman , better known by the stage name Brother Ali, is an American hip hop artist signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment.-Personal life:...
's second full-length album The Undisputed Truth. The single was released on May 4, 2007 as a 12" vinyl
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
. There are three different editions of the single; a red version, a white version and a blue version each containing a different B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
. The song features a blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
-influenced beat produced by Ant
Ant (producer)
Ant is a hip hop producer whose full name is Anthony Davis.He is best known as being one half of the hip hop group Atmosphere, but has worked with many other artists and projects, mostly with Rhymesayers Entertainment, such as Brother Ali, I Self Devine, Felt and The Dynospectrum...
to assist its "bitingly critical" lyrics. Its lyrics harshly condemn the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government for its past involvement in slavery and the crack cocaine trade
Kerry Committee report
The Kerry Committee report were hearings chaired by Senator John Kerry which found the United States Department of State had paid drug traffickers. Some of these payments were after the traffickers had been indicted by federal law enforcement agencies on drug charges or while traffickers were...
, and its failure to provide for the poor. Its music video contains controversial images of cross burning
Cross burning
Cross burning or cross lighting is a practice widely associated with the Ku Klux Klan, although the historical practice long predates the Klan's inception...
, lynching
Lynching in the United States
Lynching, the practice of killing people by extrajudicial mob action, occurred in the United States chiefly from the late 18th century through the 1960s. Lynchings took place most frequently in the South from 1890 to the 1920s, with a peak in the annual toll in 1892.It is associated with...
and police brutality
Police brutality
Police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially also in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer....
alongside images of American landmarks like the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
and Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
building.
Brother Ali has been under pressure from the recording industry due to lyrics from this song, claiming creative interference from "somebody I don't wanna name, but some of you probably has their cell phones." The unnamed corporation ultimately withdrew its sponsorship of Ali, causing him to truncate parts of his current tour.[5][6] Furthermore, on the song "Second Time Around" with Benzi and Wale, Ali makes references to being kicked off a tour followed by the line "Verizon dissed me too, cuz I was too political." The song is notably critical of the United States government, with accusations that the political system is addicted to war.
The introduction, in which Brother Ali says, "The name of this song is Uncle Sam Goddamn. It's a show tune, but the show ain't been written for it yet," is an allusion to Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
's "Mississippi Goddam
Mississippi Goddam
Mississippi Goddam is a song written and performed by United States singer and pianist Nina Simone. It was first released on her album Nina Simone in Concert which was based on recordings of three concerts she gave at Carnegie Hall in 1964...
."
A-Side
- "Uncle Sam Goddamn (Censored)"
- "Uncle Sam Goddamn (Uncensored)"
- "Uncle Sam Goddamn (Instrumental)"
A-Side
- "Uncle Sam Goddamn (Censored)"
- "Uncle Sam Goddamn (Uncensored)"
- "Uncle Sam Goddamn (Instrumental)"
B-Side
- "Palm the Joker (Censored)"
- "Palm the Joker (Uncensored)"
- "Palm the Joker (Instrumental)"
A-Side
- "Uncle Sam Goddamn (Censored)"
- "Uncle Sam Goddamn (Uncensored)"
- "Uncle Sam Goddamn (Instrumental)"
B-Side
- "Talkin' My Shit (Uncensored)"
- "Talkin' My Shit (Instrumental)"
- "Talkin' My Shit (Acappella)"
External links
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO18F4aKGzQ"Uncle Sam Goddamn" music video on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
]