Repost from 2015 Hip-hop singer Frank Ocean is well-known to march to the beat of a different drummer, and nowhere is that more apparent than in We All Try, a lovely and plaintive existential humanist[…]
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Category: Philosophical Music
Black Music As Philosophy: We Invented the Remix, Part I
Hip-hop music is unique. It has been multiracial from the start, and it has been embraced and naturalized all over the globe, and yet it still retains a basic, unbreakable connection with its natal black[…]
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Not Playing the Background
Out of all the great black American talents, the ones who have arguably fared the best are the singers and musicians. While it may only be a fraction of what they deserve, they have at[…]
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Stevie Wonder: Philosophical Music
It occurred to me recently that in my survey of philosophical music I had too long overlooked perhaps the premiere philosopher of transcendent pop music, Mr. Stevland Wonder (an artist I had the exquisite pleasure[…]
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A Prince Among Men
As with so much of the art that has had the most impact on me, it took me a while to warm up to Prince. I was still a kid during the “Purple Rain” era,[…]
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“Hotel California” – Philosophical Music: Rock
In memory of Glenn Frey, please enjoy this repost of an examination of one of his most beloved songs Many mysteries surround the Eagles’ popular classic tune Hotel California, from the warm smell of colitas[…]
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Philosophers Epic Rap Battle
It’s a visit to the lighter side of philosophy in popular culture this week with a look at the recent “Epic Rap Battle” production “Eastern Philosophers versus Western Philosophers.” The popular YouTube franchise ERB built[…]
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Panis et Circensus and Nietzsche – Philosophical Music
What does it mean when I draw a connection between one of my most favorite songs and one of my least favorite philosophers? Have I misjudged the philosopher, or the song? I’ve been obsessed with[…]
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Don’t Shoot – Original Music Video
Part II – Birth of a Protest Song I already spoke about what this video means, and why I think it’s meaningful/valuable, over at my friend Katelin’s blog (on race and religion) By Their Strange[…]
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“Reality Used to Be a Friend of Mine”: Philosophical Hip Hop
The trippy alternative hip-hop duo PM Dawn is a footnote in musical history, but for a brief time in the 90’s they were on top of the charts with their blend of new age dream[…]
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