The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 8, 1995 -15
BOOKS
Continued from page 13
Sister Souljah
No Disrespect
Times Books
If one were to honestly review the
events of his/her life, (s)he would
quickly come to see the soap-opera
like appearance it would take - the
sheer number and variety of new
friends, lost loves, "sinful" acts and
surprise consequences would seem
almost unreal. However, to see all of
k this requires the one thing that too
Q many of us are afraid to give, honest
self-reflection and self-evaluation.
This is what rapper/author Sister
Souljah gives us in her book "No
Disrespect." She has produced an
honest storybook of her life, from
birth through high school to today.
She isn't out to lecture the world or
preachabout right andwrong. Rather,
she wants to share her experiences as
a Black woman in America with us in
k the hope that someone somewhere
will take her words to heart.
Souljahwon'thideherexperiences
from us - neither the heartwarming
northeheartwrenching. Sheisn'tyour
everyday "ghetto girl" who "puts a
Band-aid over the broken pieces of
her heart, puts Revlon on everything
else, and faces the world like perfume
on shit with a fake smile and a false
sense of security ... Souljah won't
hide. I won't hide because the Bible
says to whom much is given, much is
expected, andI already told you Iwas
blessed with spiritual eyes."
Read with unbelieving (or per-
haps your very-able-to-believe) eyes
as she takes us through her
rollercoaster ride of a life complete
with a mother, once a proud, strong
Black woman, who eventually sunk
into the bottomless pit of drugs and
poverty, relationships with gay, mar-
ried, sell-out and emotionally-abu-
sive men, a weak-minded sister, con-
stant struggles against racism and sex-
ism and an incredible heart, will, sur-
vival instinct and knack for speaking
her mind in the most blunt and realis-
tic way.
And, when you are done reading,
and your shock at the specifics of her
life (and her willingness to tell them)
subsides, stop and examine yourself.
Look for the points where your life
and hers agree and differ. You, too,
will see that her story is not so unique,
not so special, because many of us
have lived lives with as many twists
and turns as hers. Only denial and a
need for that "false sense of security"
keeps us from reflecting, remember-
ing and rea=ing.
- Eugene Bowen
RECORDS
Continued from page 13
Subway
Good Times
Biv 10 Records
So, Michael Bivins has finally re-
leased another act offhis Biv 101abel.
Frankly, though, I don't get all the
hype over the four Chicago-born
brothers who like to be called Sub-
way. Call me shortsighted, call me
strange. But people, these guys can't
sing.
Granted the first two singles off of
this, their debut release, are decent:
"This LiL' Game We Play," a duet
with the 'all female group, 702, and
"Fire." However, the other songs on
"Good Times" prove beyond any
doubt that Subway sucks. Though the
cuts sometimes carry some nice beats
and decent lyrics, Subway's vocal
executions are often times off the
mark ... way off.
However, the title track, a tribute to
the group's hometown of Chicago, is
another song comparable with "Fire."
Still, Subway is no Jodeci in the har-
mony department. To its credit though,
Subway does soundbetterthanXscape.
Then again, that's not saying much.
- Eugene Bowen
J.D. Walker
The "Career" Criminal
Jammin' G Records
Continuing in the fast-growing
tradition of pathetic, wannabes be-
ing signed by equally pathetic record
labels we have the self-proclaimed
"career criminal" J.D. Walker. Sport-
ing a hairstyle popular among 7-year
old girls complete with braids and
hairballs, Walker shows his real col-
ors quickly: dopiness, idiotic ten-
dencies and sorely lacking rap skills.
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