The Stolen Legacy of Bush 41

Photo Courtesy of White House.Gov & Library of Congress

The Unknown by Mr. Cowan Amaye-Obu; Edited by Mr. Peter Commons

It is not popularly known that 60% of the surplus and economic prosperity of the 1990s, were implemented by President George H.W. Bush, not his successor, Mr. Bill Clinton. Although, Mr. Bush 41, reneged on his promise, not to raise taxes, because of his willingness to address hard economic issues faced by all Americans, white, black, and Latino, the wages and standard of living increased in the United States and produced a surplus budget, which was squandered in the early 2000's War on Terrorism, and further reduced by the tax-cuts of Bush 43.

So, who is Mr. George H.W. Bush? If, you were alive during the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's, you are well acquainted with Bush Senior, the Father of President George W. Bush. You may be aware of his record of high government positions as Congressman of Texas (7th District), Ambassador to the United Nations, the CIA Director, Ambassador to the UN, Republican Chair of the RNC, and Vice President to the very controversial, President Ronald Reagon, as well as the architect of the international coalition in the 1st Gulf War. He was the 41st President of the United States and a true committed public servant of the people in this country. However, if you were coming of age during the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, you may be amiss of who Bush Senior was and why he loss the Presidential reelection in 1992. You may have glimpsed popular controversial and well received documentaries like War on Democracy, and Dark Legacy I and II. The later American generation may associate Bush 41 with the government mismanagement and economic collapse of the tenure of President George W. Bush (43), which in a sense, can be attributed to the policies of both Presidents 42 & 43. While the connections between high government cabinet posts and Presidential Administrations are inextricably intermingled with domestic and international allegiances, militarily, corporately, and socially, the differences in governing agendas are real and complex. Those differences in governing agendas are the true examples of "trickle down economics," and are felt by the general population sometimes, months or even years later after their tenure.

In an effort to present a written record and acknowledgement of the various contributions to the United States by Bush Senior, and to separate his governing Administration from that of his son, George W. Bush, we present this installment of The American Experience dedicated to his life and journey. We also would like to feature a full length article in our upcoming publication,
 The Amaye-Obu on President George H.W. Bush, in a salute to his service. Feel free to email WestOaklandImports@gmail.com, any questions, concerns, or additional information that will be helpful before the release. Thank you.


The American Experience: Mr. George H.W. Bush (All Rights Reserved to American Experience 2016)

Works Cited: All Rights Reserved to the Following:
Library of Congress, White House Presidential Biography, THNKR 2012, ABC Network, Dark Legacy 2007, War on Democracy, A Portrait of My Father by George W. Bush, Youtube, Wikipedia,

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Our Beautiful Dark Fantasy: More than a Hero, Kanye West

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Kanye West 2016: All rights reserved to Mr. West

The Underdog to Legend

Before Kanye West was a signed artist, my friends and I followed his unreleased mixtapes and argued about his lyrical brillance and genius behind producing intoxicating beats for big name Hip Hop Icons of the day. It seemed, Kanye was destined to make the big time to us, but it appeared he needed more than style, fresh lyrics, and dope beats. Kanye needed "the juice," which only comes with street credibility and the right endorsement by Hip Hop's top echelon performers. Freestyling, line for line, with Common on local Chicago radio, featuring the Chicago Rap God, Twista on tracks, and rubbing shoulders with big name Rappers and celebrities was the sign. But to the common Hip Hop fan in the streets, it was baffling. It's hard to pick a favorite song made by Kanye West during this time as an underdog, under appreciated artist. From "Hey Mama," or "Two Words" featuring Mos Def and Freeway, "Apologize," "The Good, the Bad, the Ugly," and the original, "All Falls Down," featuring Lauryn Hill. So when Kanye, dropped the "Through the Wire," video, we all knew, he'd arrived. Regardless, of the politics behind the scenes and in the backroom deals of powerful record Labels like Rawkus, Sony, Def Jam, it seemed only right, that the people who benefited the most from Kanye West beats, Rockerfella Records, give him the shot he deserved. In show of support, my friends and I, pooled our pennies to check him out, alongside his piano player, John Stephens. We left the concert, fully convinced and wondering who was that piano guy? And thanks to fate, seizing the opportunity, and the Hip Hop Gods, they signed Kanye West. It's been Rock history ever since.

Top Five:
Ask any true Hip Hop fan, what is their favorite Kanye West album, and you get a variety of answers. College Dropout (2003) was classic and Graduation (2007) was cool, but my favorites are Late Registration and My Beautiful Dark Fantasy. Between the two, I can't decide, both are pure lyrical and timeless pieces of art. Ask any true Hip Hop fan where Kanye ranks in their top rapper category and most place him at least in their top 10. With all honesty, at one point (around the time of Graduation) Kanye West was Top Five, behind Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, and Common. The Hip Hop & Rock world went crazy over Watch The Throne (2011), the classic collaboration with legendary Jay-Z. who he arguably line for line, more than matched. It was like watching a tennis match between two great giants of Hip Hop and it was for lack of a better word, Ham. So where did he go wrong? We loved 808s and Heartbreak, which style marked the beginning of "rapper autotune singing," in the current After School Rap generation (2008 to present). Was it Yeezus? The album went platinum and even the flaky Hollywood producers who "love you when you hot and drop you when your not," featured songs from the album, "Black Skinhead," and "I am a God," on major movie productions. And lets be honest, "Black Skinhead," was needed by America, to explain the disillusioned by the status quo of injustice and white politics of Black America. The song is timeless and brillant. One of the reasons, Mr. West was awarded an honorary Doctorate, by The School of Art Institute of Chicago for his contributions to music, fashion, and art.  In one of his latest works, "Famous," the newly knighted, Dr. West, breaks every rule of decency and in the same vein of Leonardo Di Vinci's The Last Supper (1495), brings you into the bedroom of America's Socio-political scene, exposing the faces in the intermingling and backroom morality of ideas and life in post modern America. The Life of Pablo Album Tour, for which this single was created, is scheduled for late 2016.

Where Did It Go Wrong?
Where Kanye West went wrong can't be pinpointed. How about when Kanye West spoke up alongside Michael Meyers during the Hurricane Katrina Telethon and said, "George Bush doesn't care about Black people?" To White America, Kanye had instantly committed the original sin, publicly criticizing the then, President of the United States. To Black America, he was their voice, an unlikely hero and champion. So, as I ran out of the room in a hilarious burst of laughter and pure astonishment to the world, it was apparent that Kanye West had reached a level that no other Hip Hip rapper had ever been. He became larger than Hip Hop at that moment because in an instant, he represented Black America, and their feelings of distrust, injustice, and sorrow for their constant situation of oppression in the United States. This position is a two edged sword for Black leaders in the United States. To White America, Kanye became a symbol of an unspoken truth and a target. And as the political fallout for the statement ensued, and Hollywood, major Networks, and even friends began to distance themselves, Kanye continued to do what he did best, make dope music for Hip Hop fans to love. In this relentless drive to success and his ability to overcome in a situation, that would have ended the average rapper's career by sparing with a President, Kanye West became larger than life, destined for greatness. Again, this position for a Black American in America is a two edge sword. It is a position to be loved and hated at the highest public level and Kanye West weathered the fallout storm to continue to a destination of prestige and international celebrity. Almost like the the Colored Heavy Weight Champion, Jack Johnson defeating the Great White Hope, James Jeffries, to become the World Heavy Weight Champion in 1910. Or Joe Louis defeating James Braddock  in 1937 to become the World Heavyweight Champion in 1937,  it was a success in the midst of racial tension. And just like the old Harlem days of Joe Louis, Black America stood by the millions alongside Kanye West and his statement. President George W. Bush, wrote about the incident in his Presidential Memoirs saying,

"I faced a lot of criticism as president. I didn't like hearing people claim that I lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction or cut taxes to benefit the rich. But the suggestion that I was racist because of the response to Katrina represented an all-time low." -President George W. Bush

Kanye West became an American icon. So, again, where did Kanye West go wrong? Was it when he snatched the microphone from Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMA Awards Show and said "I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but... Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time?" Kanye was not lying, Beyonce did later receive the highest VMA award for the night, but at the time, it seemed like the largest Black American Artist in the world, or rather, the largest Artist in the World, was being cheated out of recognition. It was the feeling by many people in the moment, which later changed when Beyonce won the highest VMA Award for the show.  Again, I ran out the room in a burst of laughter and pure astonishment. Again, the political fallout and Hollywood, Networks, Fans, and friends distancing themselves. At the moment, it was the right thing to do as a champion and voice of Black injustice, but a little short sighted, as the obvious purpose of the VMA producers was to give smaller artist like Taylor Swift, a chance to shine, in the shadow of the more dominant spotlight of Beyonce, who otherwise in honest competition, would have sweep every award in her categories. Many artists understood by the end of the night. But by the end of the night, there was Kanye West, a symbol of the unspoken truth, and the two edge sword that comes with it. Publicly, no one wanted to touch Kanye, it was celebrity career suicide. And it was unfortunate, I mean, it was not the first time an award show had been interrupted by a Hip Hop Icon. Remember when Ol' Dirty Bastard from the Wu Tang Clan, feeling cheated by the Grammy's back when the Grammy's did not air Hip Hop Awards on television, interrupted the show and said the infamous phrase, "Wu Tang is for the children." In the words of the late Joker to his victims and public at large, "why so serious?" Kanye was vilified, crucified, and hung by the media. Southpark, the politically charged cartoon, even dedicated an episode to Kanye West. It was a bad time to be Kanye. It was hard to defend him as a die-hart fan, especially in circles where I intersected with White America. It seemed like everyone had abandoned Kanye West, except for his true friends and fans.

There was one moment that seemed to apex the entire situation both from the Bush statement to the Taylor Swift mishap. It was his appearance on the Jay Leno Show with Jay-Z to promote the Run This Town single (Blueprint III), a few days later, when Leno in an interview gave Kanye the opportunity, that no other show, radio station, or network would give to get both sides of the story. No one wanted to touch Kanye West with a ten foot pole for fear of the repercussions, but Jay Leno gave him the opportunity. Kanye rose to the occasion and perfectly explained what happened from his view. Only, one question by Leno gave him the opportunity to stop defending his statements, and finally reflect on the entire situation. You see, Kanye was grieving the recent loss of his mother, so when Leno dropped the question, I knew your Mom before she passed away, she was a great woman, and was always there to help you during all your success. How do you think she would've felt about your statement? And in his response, Kanye became human again, dropped the facade, defense, and his legitimate valid truth, and said his peace.

Too Late? You Can't Take Back Greatness...
Now, it was too late, even with the success of Jay-Z's Blueprint 3, which ultimately marks a distinct new era in Hip Hop, the After School Generation. Kanye West, the symbol, the voice, the champion, had gone too far in the eyes of White America and Popular Media. President Barack Obama called Kanye, “a jackass,” and sent a powerful sound bit through the media, which did two things, distanced the first Black US President from being a symbol of “Blackness,” to White America (a two edge sword), and publicly made Kanye West a trivial professional agitator on the highest level, not to be taken seriously. Again, the ordinary Hip Hop Artist would have folded under this level of criticism, but the opposite affect occurred for Mr. West. For the second time in history, a sitting President had to address the actions of Kanye West, who still as an ordinary 'extraordinary' American citizen, seemed to cause White America and the major established powers to respond. Kanye West, the Icon, was now, Infamous...

To Be Continued... For the rest of the double article, including sections Mr. Infamous and A Message to Kanye 2020, email Mr. Cowan Amaye-Obu at WestOaklandImports@gmail.com. Article written by Cowan Amaye-Obu, All rights reserved to West Oakland Imports Publishers 2016 

Post Obama: A Reason For Hope Again

Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress 1/21/2009

A New Dawn Approaches:
Since the historic rise of President Barack H. Obama, African Americans have been mesmerized by the symbolism of the first Black President. Rightfully so, throughout American History, American society has denied African Americans basic rights and during various eras, actively impeded the Black community's ability to seek life, liberty, and their pursuit to happiness. Thus, the monumental occasion and symbolism of a Black President represents an ideal, even greater than the Mr. Barack Obama, himself. The event and feeling represents a changing of the guard, a dynamic shift in the socio-political and economic glass ceiling, Blacks in America have generally reserved for the likes of White Men and to a lesser extant, White Women. When that, glass ceiling, of an American, from a background other than White America, was shattered, a new paradigm for what Black Americans could esteem to and what it means to be African American was revised and formed. President Obama ran his campaigns on slogans like, "A Change You Can Believe In," "Yes, We Can," and "Forward." In the last days of his presidency, one could see the hopes and aspirations of African Americans returning to the old feelings of helplessness and injustice. Yet, what should be recognized and disclosed about the symbolism of the Black President and President Obama, is the fact that in the wider terms of contemporary history, Barack Obama is not the first, nor the only Black President to ever govern a modern nation.

The Many Before & After:
Since the 1960s, Black Presidents have come to power in many nations across the world, in Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. Post-WWII, there have been many Presidents, whose rise garnered the same symbolism and feeling of a shift in socio-political paradigms. Some as famous as the late South African President Nelson Mandela, some less known like today's Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, and others revered like the former Zairian (Now Democratic Republic of Congo) President Mobutu Sese Seko or the infamous Haille Selassie of Ethiopia, both President and Monarch of his country. Many historians remember the dynamic ascension to power of President Kwame Nkrumah, and the political ramifications and international controversy of his vision for African Unity or Pan-Africanism. Thus, the symbolism of the "Black President," has always been a geopolitical shift in socio-political thinking, with real economic reverberations often feared by the dominate powers of hegemony. The end of the presidency of Barack Obama, instead of representing a "return to US politics as usual," should inspire a historical cultural revelation for African Americans that the socio-political glass ceiling, was never a ceiling at all. It was imaginary, a sort of psychological limitation imposed by the Black American community on itself, and more or less, an artificial barrier, that could be overcome by a simple history lesson.

Self Imposed Limtation:
This psychological limitation imposed by African Americans on themselves, can be seen in many highly esteemed professions, and is often celebrated with the rise to power of contemporary African American leaders in their field. In America, Blacks truly note that there is a real struggle to overcome barriers to economic, academic, intellectual, and political success. While, this form of celebratory notoriety of "Black excellency," is well received and often well deserved, it simultaneously casts a shadow on the proper reception of Black Americans, and Black leaders, as a community and their historical contributions to society ancient, modern, and post modern.

A Reason to Hope:
Thus, as the end of term for the first Black US President, Barack Obama, draws to nostalgic close, let us have reason to hope again. The reason is, that Black Americans and Blacks worldwide, have already achieved, whatever it is, they esteem to be. Let the paradigm shift of the Black American community be a rejection of the self imposed limitations and a realization that "we," have come very far, (from smelting iron in the Sub-Sahara 5000 BCE, Ancient Empire, to the current modern/post modern Slave Trade), and that there is still much distance to go. A reason to hope cannot be trivialized, for in its essence is a reason to live. Live on Black Brothers and Sisters, live.

Written by Mr. Cowan F. Amaye-Obu, edited by Mr. Peter Commons for West Oakland Imports Publishers 2016.
For more information, please email WestOaklandImports@gmail.com.

Where The Rabbithole Ends... by Mr. Cowan F. Amaye-Obu (Inspired by Mr. George H.W. Bush)

Photo Courtesy of Allegory of the Cave by Jan Saenredam 1604

"The problem with leaping into the rabbithole is it isolates you in a wormhole of confusion, from forward movement, until your curiosity has been satisfied. The more you remain in the rabbithole, many things can happen. You can become smarter, wiser, more foolish, annoyingly bias, or unbearably insane. Regardless, of what it makes you, undoubtedly, you will unknowingly develop a cynical sense of government, society, religion, and your country. This is because the rabbithole by nature is political and is somewhat the unclassified realm of politics, where you can find documents, video, and evidence of the most heinous truths and crimes of the world. All this cynicism is warranted, sometimes valid, but the real truth is, valuable only in service of the country. The cynicism of knowledge can consume and deteriorate the person, if left for too long or unchecked. The cynicism of Knowledge is useless, unless used for correction, and the betterment of your fellow community. As I exit the rabbithole, I exclaim that nothing is more important than service to your countrymen, forward movement, and the espousing of the importance of character. This is the final chapter of the rabbithole, and the last step in your reformation, if you are to make it out alive. For do not doubt, or be so unlucky to misunderstand, that the rabbithole consumes most who enter, never to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thus, armed with the knowledge that all injustice will not be corrected, and that all the enemies of decency may continue to win and never be vanquished. The lucky few, like Alice, or the allegory of the cave, finding that service of the fellowman is far greater than the simple judgement from the sideline, and that forward movement and the espousing of greater character, not to be confused with ideals and idealism demagoguery, but character, integrity, love, family, discipline for duty, not discipline for discipline's sake, manifest destiny, goals, and longsuffering is the light, the ultimate truth at which the tunnel and the real reality for which the rabbithole ends."

Written by Mr. Cowan F. Amaye-Obu -Inspired by Mr. George H. W. Bush (41)

Drink Champs: A Toast to Hip Hop

Photo Courtesy of Crazy Hood All Rights Reserved to Drink Champs Podcast

Recently, Hip Hop fans have been disappointed with the quality of music produced by the power house record companies, including Def Jam, Sony, Interscope, and the minor record Labels. Hip Hop fans from the 1980s and 1990s, were inspired by the plethora of Artists ranging from the Def MCs, Lyrical Assassins, Conscious Intellectuals, Jazzy Jiggie Party Crews to the West Coast Gangsta Rappers, all inspired by their local environments. In the era of Post Modern Hip Hop (The After School Generation), with the exception of the Giants in Hip Hop like Nas, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, Eminem, The Lox, Puff Daddy, and The Game, few up and coming Hip Hop artists have the "juice," to strike a cord that reverberates with most of the Old School, New School, and Post Modern Hip Hop schools (After School Generation) together, cultivating unity which coalesced into Annual Awards Shows, and profitable Tours, along with their advertising cousins, the local Hip Hop Radio Stations. One fact remains consistent for real Hip Hop to occur and one must have "The Juice," which is a background authenticating their legitimacy to be on stage to speak to the people of Hip Hop. And just when the Die Heart fans began to lose hope in what Hip Hop today has to offer... Drink Champs.

Hosted by the well respected NORE (Noreaga) and DJ EFN, this new podcast series now available on Play It, ITunes and CBS radio, gives a pure unadulterated dose of Hip Hop. With Legendary guests, each show, it provides an inside perspective on the music, Hip Hop fans have grown to love and cherish. With a touch of alcohol, and the growing marijuana movement, which are no strangers to the Hip Hop culture, and have provided lucrative advertising deals for many Artists and Labels from all genres of music (Rock, R&B, Country, etc), Drink Champs offers viewers real stories from real Icons in the music. The feeling of the Podcast is almost like the excitement when Doctor Dre and Ed Lover hosted Yo' MTV Raps or the early BET Rap City Shows, but with a foundation or history.

Underneath the surface of the Post Modern Hip Hop School, there is a growing rift between the various schools of Hip Hop. Nas stated that "Hip Hop was Dead," and Jay-Z alluded that "Autotunes," was killing the game. But neither statements were the final testaments to Hip Hop and how it has evolved over the recent years, nor what it will become in the time to come. What is certain is, those new Hip Hop Artists, who are not afraid to reach back into previous eras will discover a brilliance that reverberates through each school, and unlock the possibility of their very own longevity in the music, and the potential to become a real Hip Hop Icon, like those featured on the podcast, Drink Champs. Toast...

Written by Mr. Cowan Amaye-Obu and Peter Commons (email WestOaklandImports@gmail.com)

A Sample (All Rights Reserved to Drink Champs Podcast 2016)

Book of the Month: Candide by Voltaire

"It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revered."
"Those who can make you believe absurdities,can make you commit atrocities."
"It is dangerous to be right, when the government is wrong."
"The comfort of the rich depends on an abundant supply of the poor."

                                           - Francois-Marie Arouet, Voltaire
                                                               (Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Voltaire 2016)                         
 Reading is essential for the maintenance and evolution of honest character and values. It is possible to encounter many more experiences in life by experiencing stories of the past, present and future. Thus, each month, we'd like to recommend classic or vital readings, to stimulate our very own need to read and to expand our thinking out of the ordinary.

For the month of August, we give you Candide by Voltaire 1759. A classic experience we promise you will enjoy. We recommend beginning with The History of the Old Woman, Ch. 11-12, then going back to the beginning to get the best interest and traction in the story. Thank me later!

-Cowan Amaye-Obu