Book Thoughts: (Song Edition) Don't Look Down by Tom MacDonald

Hey everyone, welcome back to another review.  We will be looking at another song, of course again by the one and only Tom MacDonald.  Don't Look Down is Tom's newest song, the video of which came out about a week and a half ago.  Watch the music video before getting into my thoughts and opinions, as it truly gives all of Tom's songs an added level of amazingness.  Buckle up kids, this is a 7 1/2 minute song/video.

Don't Look Down Music Video

Have you taken the 7 1/2 minutes to watch the music video yet?  Yes?  Good, now we can get started.  Let's take a look at each part of the song.  A lot of people (and by people I mean haters) don't like the song because they are saying that it is a song just about Tom's ego and that he's doing nothing praising himself, and about how great he is.  I don't believe that's what is going on with this song.  While, yes, I do think that Tom is flexing I don't think it's because he's got a big head.  I think that it's because he's finally gotten to where he has always dreamed of being and has done it all by himself (aside from his girlfriend Nova) and with all the haters screaming he's trash he wants to show them that's he's not, by showing them what he now has.

I can't hide my frown, my smile is hiding from my mouth

I can't lie, my mind keeps finding time to fight myself

I dive so deep inside, feel like I died and I'm in hell

Or I'm so high, my eyes can't see the ground beneath the clouds

Don't look down (Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down)

Don't look down (Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down)

I tried to keep it quiet, silence all my cries for help

As long as I am rising 'til I'm upside down, I won't look down

This particular song doesn't necessarily have a chorus, but it there were one I think this would be it.  As it is in the song a second time.  For those who know about Tom MacDonald's past know that he has, and still does, battle with mental illness.  This subject is something that Tom doesn't shy away from in many of his songs (which we will get to in the future). 

In this section I think this is partly what we are seeing.  His, "smile is hiding from (his) mouth." And he says his mind is fighting himself, and he silences his cries for help.  Even know with his videos getting millions of views, charting on the Billboard charts, and selling 10's of thousands of physical CD's when he drops them he still admits that he struggles.  This is because mental illness is not something that simply goes away just because you finally have money (your dream job, and whatever it is you are searching for).  The don't look down line sounds to me like he is saying to the him that has gotten to where he wants to be can't look back(down) at where he was before.

This a meteoric rise

Keep ignoring all the horror stories like

So-and-so, got way too famous

And ended up killing himself with some pills and a knife,

I am not the one who's gonna self-destruct

Got it out the mud

I came way too far to fail and screw it up

I ain't droppin' balls, I just blew 'em up,

I will never let my mental illness be the cause of my downfall

I will never lie to none of my fans, if I did, it would sound wrong

I will never try convincin' you dummies, this isn't a town hall

In this section what I see is him talking about the things that he has overcome.  As well as fighting with mental illness Tom has also struggled with addiction.  He says that he has heard "horror" stories of other rappers who got famous and where unable to handle everything that came with the notoriety.  He isn't going to let that fame get to him through the mental illness, that he brings up in this section, as he says it won't be his downfall.  All of his songs, including this one, are honest and at times brutally so.  He says that he won't lie to his fans, and what we see is a truth, and honesty, that most musicians are usually hiding.

My favorite line in this section is the last one. "I will never try convincin' you dummies this isn't a town hall."  A town hall is described as where constituents in a local, or national, setting can get together and discuss specific topics upcoming in legislature or to debate issues they have.  So, when the haters, and trolls, are flooding the comments sections of his socials or his videos and telling him how terrible he is and how he needs to stop doing this and change that...blah blah blah.  So, here he is basically saying is that who I am, and what I do and stand for, isn't up for debate...So, shut the hell up. 

Never look down, never look down, just look around, y'all

Ayy, all of my demons are here

All I can feel is fear

All I can do is keep bein' myself

And that's what I been doin' for 32 years

All of my haters came out, chasin' my name for some clout

What are they angry about?

They're climbing as high as their ladders can take 'em

And screamin' my name, but I don't look down

Here he says that all he can do his be himself, and that's what he has been doing his entire life.  Now that he has gained a following, a platform, and fame there are other smaller rappers, and YouTube reaction channels that use his name to get "clout", or views.  For some of them it feels like maybe they are only screaming the hate because it gets them noticed.  As Tom says, "What are they angry about?"

Hi, guys, remember me? I'm the white guy

Everybody wanted to cancel, nice try

Too sick, I might die right

Two fists full of middle fingers, I got no time for high fives

Too rich for a drive-by

Pay the pilot on my private jet to keep it low and do a fly-by

Take nine knives on a bike ride

Why nine? 'Cause I heard that a pussy has nine lives

Tom is a bit of a troll himself, and I'm all for it because he is completely trolling all of his haters who troll him first. That's what I'm seeing here in the above lines.  First he's laughing at all of the people who tried to cancel the white rapper, "nice try."  The next line feels like he's calling out the people who smile to his face than hate him behind their screens.  He's too busy flipping them off to give high fives to his fake friends.  

I'm the one that y'all hated

I'm the one who won the game, got paid and famous

I'm the one who laughed in all they faces

And became the greatest since old Slim Shady

I'm the one who don't care, I'm the one who goes where

No one goes 'cause they're scared

I'm the one who don't choke when the boat don't float

My throat gets no air

I can barely breathe all the air I need

Oxygen is very thin at the top

I can rarely sleep, stars I'm underneath

Shining too bright, and I can't turn 'em off

I'm high as the birds now

Flying too close to the sun, got a burn, wow

This section also feels like flexing, even when he is just talking about how he got where he is, and what he's willing to do and give up (even metaphorically) to get and stay there.  As he stats all the things that he is, and has achieved, it implies that these are the things that his haters have not done.  He's gotten "paid and famous" while laughing at all the haters.  The line I like most here is when he says "I'm the one who goes where no one goes 'cause they're scared."  That's one of the things that draws me to Tom's music, the fact that he's not afraid to write songs about the topics that the majority of people are afraid will get them cancelled.  Because you can't get cancelled if you don't care.

               I been turnin' up, and I ain't turnin' down

Maybe I should chill, but I ain't learnin' how

Ayy, I'm not afraid of success

I'm afraid of what happens if I take a rest

I'm afraid that I'll end up where I was before

In the hood, with no money or food for the rent

I'm scared if I look at the water, I'll drown

So I look at the sky and deny there's a ground

I'm not scared of the altitude up in the clouds

I'm scared of the fall, so I don't look down

Here we see some of what motivates Tom to the non-stop grinding that he puts into his music.  If you keep track of his socials, and the videos he puts out, your hard pressed to find him going more than a few days (week at most) were he's not working on something.  A new song, new video, album, new clothing line (which he and his girlfriend designed themselves).  Never stops, and I feel like this is what he is talking about here.  He doesn't stop because if he does it may lead to going back to where he came from.  And that is the last place that he wants to go back to.

Fuck you, every single mother fuckin' one of you

I can't even see you because I don't look down (Don't look down)

Hahahahaha (Don't look down, don't look down)

Yeah (Don't look down)

A lot of people who hear these lines think that he is telling anyone listening to him to a "F-You", and that's just not true.  People just want something to criticize, and find anything to complain about.  But I guess to be fair he is saying fuck you to all the people bitching and complaining.  For that's who it is for, the internet trolls.  

I can't hide my tears, I dry my eyes and more come out

I can't lie, my fear is suicide, not bank accounts

Keep my chin up, but my head weighs, like, a million pounds

Feels like my neck might break, I hear it crack, ignore the sound

Don't look down (Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down)

Don't look down (Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down)

I tried to keep it quiet, silence all my cries for help

As long as I am rising 'til I'm upside down, I won't look down

This a legendary climb

Stand on the edge of the ledge and it's very high

Think of the men who are dead

'Cause it got to their head at a cemetery time

I ain't the one who gon' throw it away

'Cause I'm feelin' too lonely up here

I ain't the guy who gon' break from the pressure

It's snowy, my pipes are not frozen up here

There are two parts to this section.  The first is where we see the dark thoughts that Tom lives with.  As I've mentioned previously Tom has never shied away  talking about his mental illness, and fight with suicide, which we see at the beginning of this set of lyrics.  You can almost feel the weight of what he's feeling in those first few lines.  The weight of the world presses down on you until you break, but you can't let it.  You have to keep fighting.  

The second part is Tom telling you that you do have to keep fighting.  He says that there have been others before him that got to the top and let it drag them down, and killed them.  But he says that he's not going to throw it away because it's hard.  He says, "I ain't the guy who gon' break from the pressure."

I don't wanna hear about these YouTube rappers

I am not in that bracket, punk

Billboard plaques all stacked in my mansion

A million cash for my taxes, punk

Call me trash while I produce anthems

Y'all attackin' with plastic guns

I'm the biggest independent rapper in the fuckin' world

You just live on my planet, punk

Got an acid tongue and massive lungs

Every single track I've done has packed a punch

Used to be an addict, yup, I crashed a truck in Canada

Goin' too fast, blackout, drunk

I was nice at the start, but the mood all changed

The reactors who trash me for views are lame

Don't ask me to help you remove no claims

If I see you punks, you gon' lose your chains

Here we see Tom calling out all the crap that he is being told in the comment sections of his socials.  He constantly gets called a YouTube rapper.  Now, while he does post his videos on YouTube, and that it's an enormous part of how he gets his music out, he isn't actually what is defined as a YouTube rapper.  Which is defined as a YouTube creator who creates content as well as music.  And that is something Tom doesn't do, e just does music.  That's not to say that there's anything wrong with that, if that's what works for them than they go for it.  Tom just doesn't want to be labeled that now that he's at the top of his mountain.

I am the one who they all called a liar

When I told 'em that I'd help my mom retire

They thought that I'd buy a new crib and a chain

And a ring, and a whip, and some rims for the tires

Guess what? Mom don't work

Sent a 100 grand in a LV purse

Made the album with Nova and Brandon

They own half the masters, I told 'em the fam comes first

Anyone who knows Tom's music knows that he doesn't usually talk about money, and the things that he has, unless it's in a negative light.  But here we do see him talking him money, and boy did the haters go crazy.  More talk from the trolls saying his ego is making him talk about all of the money he has.  Ummm?  Are we hearing the same song?  That's clearly not what I'm seeing.  He's saying that everyone, talking about him, said that he would get famous and buy himself all the stuff that he sings against.  But that's not what he says.  He says that he literally used the money he made to retire his mother.  He sent her money and a Louis Vuitton purse.  Doesn't sound like someone bragging about all of the money and expensive things he's bought.  But what do I know?

Still got the pills that the doctor gave me

To combat the depression and the panic attacks

I'm the type of person who won't even take a Tylenol

Even when I got a dozen knives in my back

They're callin' me wack, but I don't react

I don't have time to write raps, replyin' to trash

I'll meet a whole team, yeah, they're tryin' to cap

I'm concrete, but my demons hide in the cracks

Here is more of Tom's philosophy when it comes to the hating trolls.  They don't matter, and you shouldn't waste your time reacting to them.  "I don't have time to write raps, replyin' to trash."  If he were to take the time it would require to reply to everyone slinging hate around he would never get anything accomplished.  And at the rate that he gets music, and videos out, he clearly doesn't waste that time.  He uses it to fuel his music.  Such in songs like this one and "I'm Corny", another amazing song and video. 

I'm the one, I ain't bought liquor for months

And you're lucky I'm sober, I'm nuts when I'm drunk

Mix the whiskey with soda, the man I'd become

Would invite you all over, put drugs in your punch

When you pass out, I'll wrap you in plastic

And hit you with hammers and flatten your skull 'til it's crushed

I don't name names, I don't play games

I just aim, spray and throw out the gun

The rappers who hate act like family now

They're tryna jack my style like some hand-me-downs

They want a million views, I want a Grammy now

And the closest they'll come is they grammy's house

I don't even drink, but I'm plannin' how

I can make a brewery in a massive house

To give free booze out to these rappin' clowns

And they could die usin' that to wash Xannies down

I'm the most successful guy to hold a pencil

I've been great for so long, I'm bored of flexin'

I became a machine made of iron, check inside

Peel the skin off and let the metal shine

I've been the greatest for so fuckin' long

It feels normal for me to be special

So much clout, I could buy back the souls of these rappers

That sold 'em for cash to the devil

This part of the song is really just one big metaphorical take on what Tom will do to the haters if they don't stop trolling and hating.  He's going to use his music to destroy them.  That who part with the hammer is disgusting, in like the best way possible.    

Why is everybody always talkin' shit? Criticizin' how I'm doin' it my way?

If I'm so trash, why don't y'all release your videos on a Friday?

'Cause that's my day, comparing our numbers, you'd cook like some fried eggs

Pussy like wide legs, you only get views if you say my name

Angry I'm famous and not a great rapper, and you been workin' stupid hard

I don't have to rap fast to impress all my fans, I am a superstar, hahahahaha!

Here is one of my favorite lines from this song.  "If I'm so trash, why don't y'all release your videos on a Friday?  Cause that's my day."  It is the epitome of a flex, telling the haters that they're afraid to release their music on the same day as Tom because the know that he's video will get more views than them.  It's also so true.  Tom MacDonald Friday will always be when he drops music videos.  Doesn't matter what else is coming out.  He dropped his "Best Rapper Ever" music video the same day Eminem dropped an album.  That doesn't stop Tom.

Man, I'm built for this, I'd kill for this

Never get back for the blood that I spilled for this

I'm at the top, it don't even seem high enough

I need a couple more hills and some stilts for this

there ain't nobody around

The top of the mountain, I scream and I shout

Nobody up here but me is allowed

The VIP section is deep in the clouds

Go ahead and call me a clown

'Cause I cannot hear it, your sky is my ground

Here is about more of the same.  Talking about how far he's come, and all that he has achieved.  Metaphorically of course.  

To look me in the eye, you'd have to reach the summit

I won't see you comin', I don't look down

If I stepped on glass and my feet on fire

My toes turn black and my shoes melt off

And my bones touch ground, I will not look back, I cannot look down

I don't care about how hard it gets

I gotta be the fire in the dark, I guess

I got a beating heart inside an iron chest

If they're sleepin' on me, I ain't tryin' to rest

Hope they die in their sleep while I climb to the peak

And their eyes never see all the heights that I reach

I deserve it 'cause I took the stairs to the moon

I might die from exhaustion, but I like the view

I'm higher than planets, the average person

Would die from the temperature, bodies are burning

The oxygen needed for life is inadequate

I hold my breath until I'm turning purple

All my life all you did was doubt

And now my success gon' kill you now

Wish I could see and put you in the ground

But as bad as I want to, I'll never look down

This part I think is the most emotional.  This isn't just from the lyrics either, even though it might still be at the top even if I did just mean the words.  If you watched the video than you probably know what I mean.  You can hear it in his voice.  He has put so much passion into this song that he has literally screamed his voice hoarse.  That's what you can hear in this portion of the song.  Other artists would hear that and fix it, change it to sound "normal", but not Tom.  This is one of the things that I really love about Tom and his music.  The music that he makes is such a part of him that when these moments of pure, raw, emotion are put into his music it is something that you, as the listener, can both hear and feel.

Hahahahaha

You don't get it still? I am the one, hahahahaha (Don't look down)

You don't have to admit it to yourself, you don't have to admit it (Don't look down)

You don't have to tell the whole world that when you look at me

You have to look up to me, and I don't look down (Don't look down)

Everybody, please keep on talking

I am a fucking superstar

Hahahahaha

You are a superstar Tom.  He's one of my favorite musical artists, and I have yet to hear a song that wasn't good.  Obviously, there will always be some that I love more than others but that's to be expected.  I think this one is definitely near the top.  Top 5, maybe top 3, but can't be completely sure.  Let me know what you thought of my review in the comment section.  

Till Next Time Friends,

Words by Ali 

 

 

 

 

Book Thoughts: Unmasked by Andy Ngo

I'm back with another book review.  I just got finished reading Unmasked by Andy Ngo, about the realities of ANTIFA that you won't hear in the media.  So, I have recently been reading a lot more non-fiction than I have in the past.  I used to not be into non-fiction, except for military memoirs (absolutely love those).  But, here's the thing I honestly probably never would have heard of this book if it weren't the extreme left trying to cancel someone for having the audacity to read a freaking book.  

Several months ago a read a news article about how one of the musicians from Mumford and Sons told his social media followers about this book and how he thought they all should read it.  They than bitched and moaned about how him reading this book, and posting it on his social hurt their feelings.  I'm sorry what?  How does someone you don't actually know reading a book you don't agree with affect your life in any way whatsoever?  If reading a book hurts your feelings I think you really need to do some self reflection and think about what's going on in your life, and not someone else's.  

To be completely honest, I think it is the books about ideas, thoughts, and opinions that you don't agree with that you need to read the most.  Why do you need to read them?  To get a little f-ing perspective.  If all your reading, and listening to is telling you about the same thing, over and over, than you aren't capable of having an informed opinion.  You have to be willing to listen to the otherside of the argument or you will be incapable of debating you points.  So, to all of the Cancel Culture trolls who tried to cancel this book, thanks for letting me know it exists :D  Now let's talk a little about the book itself.

Ngo's book addresses what ANTIFA has been doing within our country for the past few years, but most especially during 2019, and the riots in 2020.  Including his own run ins with the group, that always seem to end violently, and the author ending up in the hospital, and with the group stalking his private residence and family.  This book highlights several instances of violent attacks by ANTIFA that I didn't even know had happened.  But how could huge things, like what is talked about in this book, happen and you not know about it?  Because the mainstream media doesn't want to talk about it.  Which is ridiculous.  If something horrible is happening: people are being attacked/killed, buildings burned down, police officers attacked, and public figures are calling for people to actually cause violence and destruction than it needs to be talked about.  It shouldn't matter who the agressores are and who the victims are, it should be talked about and condemned.

This book is also very well written.  The information is put in a way that keeps the readers interest, and entertains.  Not only do I want to find more works from Andy Ngo to read but I want to read more about ANTIFA.  Not because i suddenly want to "join" them, but because knowledge is power.  Knowing and understanding what's going on around you helps you to be a better person.  I highly recommend that you read this book whether you agree with the information or disagree.  It's a great read, and it has helped me to see what is going on around the country I live in.

That's it for this post.  Thanks for taking the time to read my review.  If there's any books you think I should read and review let me know down in the comments.

Till Next Time Friends,

Words by Ali 

When Did Debate Become Nothing But Hate?

This seems like a silly question but unfortunately in the world we live in this seems to be a real issue.  It seems as if we have gotten to a point where we can no longer talk to people about anything that they don't agree with, or may not understand.  Why?  Because we seem to have reached a point where debate has devolved into little more than hurling hate.  Whatever happened being able to disagree with someone and still respect them?  Nowadays it seems if you disagree with someone they feel like they now have the right to personally attack you and throw around hate.

When did it become standard that when someone hears something they disagree with they call offended and then label you some sort of bigot.  What kind depends on what you are disagreeing with them on.  It appears that facts are no longer important to an argument, and certainly not when the person you are talking to has had their feelings hurt for some nonsensical reason.  Truth, honesty, and facts seem to have become less important than feelings and taking offense.  In the words of Tom MacDonald, from his song Politically Incorrect:

We've become so ultra-sensitive and hyper-tolerant that, honestly, honesty gon' be illegal

It's crazy y'all get so shocked and bothered from people sayin' things that aren't responsible

If that seems logical, y'all are weak then

Unfortunately, the sentiments seen in these lyrics are what our conversations and debates have devolved into.  "We've become so ultra-sensitive and hyper-tolerant that honestly, honesty is gon' be illegal."  That's not to say that tolerance is a bad thing.  Quite the opposite actually, tolerance is a great thing.  As long as it is actually tolerance.  See, there are a group of people who see tolerance as "we should have tolerance for every single different person out there, unless you disagree with me on anything."  There is a difference between being intolerant and not agreeing with someone else's ideology or opinions.

I have seen so many people in conversations, and debates, come to the table with facts, statistics, and proof to back up their argument.  Then what does the otherside do?  Do they also have proof, facts, or statistics to back up their side as well?  No, no they do.  They scream about how they are offended and how the person's facts don't matter because they are "hateful" and "bigoted".  Ummm?  I'm sorry, what?  Facts don't have anything to do with your feelings.  Let me give a fictionalized example:

If I were to say here is this book it was written in 2010, and I can prove that by the Copyright page which shows the earliest publication date was 2010. Than the person I'm talking to would say how i'm wrong, that they got their book brand new in 2013, and horrible I am for saying otherwise.  Do you see the facts that were ignored?  They got the book in one year so the fact that I could prove when it was first published doesn't matter.

This of course is a made of example, but the sentiment is still true.  The facts don't care when their feelings disagree, and they find themselves offended because they disagree.  What has our world come to?  And why can't normal and reasonable people come back to the forefront of social media, and just the media in general. 

That's it for this particular rant.  Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.  I'd love to have a conversation.

Till Next Time Friends,

Words by Ali

Book Thoughts: (Song Edition) Dear Slim by Tom MacDonald

All right everyone, we are going to be doing something a little bit different today.  I want to start reviewing songs from some of my favorite musical artists, new and old.  It will be a bit like my book reviews however since songs are shorter we will be looking at the lyrics as a whole.  One of my more recent favorite artists, Tom MacDonald, has just dropped a new song on Friday.  That song, Dear Slim, is going to be the first one we take a look at. 

In the future we will do more Tom MacDonald songs, as well as other artists that I love.  Let's get started.  I have posted the music video below for you to give a watch before reading further.  When it comes to Tom MacDonald's music the videos that he makes with his girlfriend, Nova Rockafeller, always add an extra layer to the song.  So, give the video a watch and than head on back to find out my thoughts.

Dear Slim Music Video

Alright, have you watched?  You sure?  Well, than let's get started.  I have posted each Verse, and the chorus, separately to talk about.  Read through or scroll on down to the review itself.  

Dear Slim, I thought you mighta heard of me maybe
‘Cause lately everywhere I turn someone’s comparing us, crazy
I never woulda thought when I was bumping Biggie and Pac
That I would buy bleach in a box and become the product of Shady
But I’m here now, hi, my name is Tom MacDonald
People call me controversial, I’m the one that counterculture follows
Every song I drop’s a problem, I offend an awful lot
With topics commenting on race and politics, I’m pretty awesome
Dear Slim, I know we’re very different politically
Seems like some of your biggest fans are the victims I’m triggering
They’re convinced I don’t like you which ain’t consistent with history
I was picked on as a kid and they don’t know what Slim did for me
But I’m here now, and I fight the system just like you
Was addicted to pills and liquor and quit ’em just like you
People claim that you hate me, but Marshall, that can’t be right, dude
You’d have to hate yourself as well, ’cause Marshall, I’m you

 When Tom was first promo-ing this new video everyone was theorizing as to what the song would be about, and there were a lot of people that thought that he would be calling out Eminem with this song, or even dissing him.  But it is clear even within the first few lines that that isn't true.  To be fair, as a fan of Tom's I know that he has always been a huge fan of Eminem and he wouldn't actually diss him, because that has never really been Tom's style.  

"I never woulda thought when I was bumping Biggie and Pac, that I would buy bleach in a box and become a product of Shady." This is the first line where we actually see that this song is more of a tribute.  Tom is telling us that when he was a teenager and he first found the music of Eminem that he would bleach his hair to be just like him.  This is something that a fan would do.  They would want to be just like who they idolize.  

Tom then starts talking about the kind of songs that he puts, and how the topics he writes about even seem to offend people that are fans of Eminem, because they differ in their social and political opinions.  But clearly we see through his lyrics that these differences in opinions aren't something that stops Tom from loving Eminem's music.  "They're convinced I don't like you which ain't consistent with history..."  These lines show this point.  He's saying that just because I disagree with you doesn't mean that he automatically hates them.  And I think that's something that people should take to heart in general.  You can disagree with someone, and still be their friend or love them (depending on who the person is).

Marshall, remember back when
You became Eminem
You changed the world with a pen
Well, now I’m just like you
I don’t give a what saying what I want with my fingers up
Everybody triggered and they think I suck
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na na na na

 I particularly love the chorus, or hook, of this song.  It really is typical Tom MacDonald.  The way that he emphasizes that he doesn't care, "I don't give a what."  And the way he uses the "na na-na na-na", like he's taunting all the haters talking about how he sucks.  "Remember back when you became Eminem.  You changed the world with a pen.  Well, now I'm just like you."  We also see Tom saying he's like Eminem.  A lot of people will hear this line and say that they think Tom is saying he's Eminem, and he so conceited and egotistical.  But I don't think that's really what he means.  I think that what Tom is saying that Eminem burst out on the scene and was rapping about topics that were both extremely controversial but also relatable to the fans that are listening to his music.  This is what Tom is saying.  He's saying that his fans, the Hangover Gang, feel the same way about the music that Tom is writing.

Dear Slim, I thought that maybe ’cause you paved the way for me
You might relate to weight that Caucasian rappers are carrying
They’re constantly comparing us to you, it’s embarrassing
Never gaining their approval, it’s just hate we’re inheriting
But I’m here now, go ahead and hate, it don’t hurt
Call me culture vulture garbage, those are ignorant words
I kill a vulture, cook the poultry in a pan till it’s burnt
See, Marshall, I’m just like you, I’m flipping the bird
Dear Slim, I just wanna give you your flowers
I spent hours memorizing all of your songs in 2000
You were the reason I screamed at all of my teachers, a teen
I needed your CD on repeat and Shady’s face on my t-shirt
But I’m here now, they call me controversial just like you
We’re both white, both rap, both of our eyes blue
Screw any guy who tries to say you’ve changed and don’t like you
‘Cause in my mind it’s still ’99 and I’m you

 "They're constantly comparing us to you, it's embarrassing.  Never gaining their approval, it's just hate we're inheriting."  In these lines I think what he is talking about isn't just that he gets compared to Eminem but that every white rapper gets compared to him.  Not because they are necessarily like him but because they are both white rappers.  They are inheriting this hate because it's like they are saying 'oh your a white rapper?  Well you're not Eminem. 

"I just want to give you your flowers.  I spent hours memorizing all your songs in 2000...I needed your CD on repeat and Shady's face on my t-shirt."  This is just more of Tom showing his fans, and the haters, that he really is a true fan just like they are.  When he was a kid listening to this music he was doing the same things that everyone else was.  Listening to the songs so much you know the lyrics on repeat, and the t-shirts.  I had so many t-shirts with musicians faces or logos on them, actually I still do.

"They call me controversial just like you.  We're both white, both rap, both of our eyes blue."  When I hear these lines I automatically think that the comparisons are just silly.  While there are similarities between the music of Eminem that you listened to as a kid and the music that Tom creates now.  He's also saying that those comparisons are just superficial.  He says that they are both white rappers with blue eyes.  Well of course they must be exactly the same.

Marshall, remember back when
You became Eminem
You changed the world with a pen
Well, now I’m just like you
I don’t give a what saying what I want with my fingers up
Everybody triggered and they think I suck
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na na na na

 

Whether you love me or hate me or think I’m crazy
Dropped a hundred grand to get a beat from Shady
I really hope when I bought it he wasn’t angry
But I really had to tell him that he changed me
The truth of the matter is without you Marshall Mathers
I woulda committed suicide before I was a rapper
You showed me that I could do it, I didn’t need to be blacker
I know it’s stupid but I just had to do my best to say thank you

 I think the bridge is one of my favorite parts of the song.  It's completely real, and Tom is opening himself up for literally the entire world to see.  This realness of Tom's is one of the reasons I love his music so much.  He's willing to talk about anything, and he's not afraid to talk about the dark and painful parts of his life and past.  He's talking about why he created this song, and what Eminem's music meant to him than and now.  Tom spent $100,000 on probably the most expensive thank you letter in the history of the world.

The line that really stands out is, "The truth of the matter is without you Marshall Mathers I woulda committed suicide before I was a rapper."  Tom as talked about his addictions and depression in previous songs, and in his live streams with fans, and I don't think this line is just that.  I think that this is real.  That finding Eminem's music saved him, and inspired him to be a rapper.  And what a better place we have with his music in it.

Marshall, remember back when
You became Eminem
You changed the world with a pen
Well, now I’m just like you
I don’t give a what saying what I want with my fingers up
Everybody triggered and they think I suck
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na na na na

Marshall, remember back when
You became Eminem
You changed the world with a pen
Well, now I’m just like you
I don’t give a what saying what I want with my fingers up
Everybody triggered and they think I suck
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na
But I don’t give a what, na na-na na-na na na na

We won't discuss the chorus again, since I already went over it.  That's it for this post review on "Dear Slim" by Tom MacDonald.  Comment down below with your own thoughts, and opinions, on this song.  I can't wait to go through more songs with you.

Till Next Time Friends,

Words by Ali

 

What's Happening: We The People

 Not too long ago President Joe Biden held a joint meeting of Congress (or he claims that what it was).  During this speech he said that it was, "Time that we remember that 'We the People' means the government."  I'm not the only one that had an issue with this comment for many reasons.  Mainly because that is not what these words mean.  "We the People" means literally what it says.  We the people of the United States, that is every American.  Me, you, are families, are neighbors, and everyone in between.  If they had meant the Government I think they would have said that, and not what they did.

The Constitution of the United States was written in response to the Revolutionary War, were the leaders of America just fought a war with Britain for the freedom to rule themselves and not by the British Crown.  So, for a group of people who just fought a deadly war against the rule of a monarchy why would they then immediately write their Constitution saying that they will be giving the power to the "government" and not the actual people as it says?  I mean really think about that.  They disliked the government so much that they fought a war to get out from under it, just to give their hard fought freedom back to another government.

We the People means just that.  The people of America for that was who the war was fought for.  That is who the Constitution was written for.  That is who the government is supposed to be listening to when they pass laws, and legislation.  It is supposed to be for the people that they represent, and not for the government.  Don't let the Government take that away from you, it is something that everyone who calls themselves an American in entitled to.  There is little that I think people are truly entitled to, but the freedom that the Constitution provides is one of the few true things that you are entitled to have.

Till Next Time Friends,

Words by Ali

What’s Happening: Porn In Our Public Schools?

I think our society has officially gone too far.  I mean when I first saw this article I thought, "You have got to be kidding me."  How is this even real?  So, the article talks about the Leander Independent School District in Austin, Texas and how they were teaching their high school students (as young as 13) sexually explicit material.  The story doesn't even end there.  When parents found out about the material that was being taught to their teenage children they immediately complained to the school district, is as to be expected.  Those advocating this content being taught in the school's, upon hearing that parents were understandable upset, set out to harass these parents in disgusting and vulgar ways.  

Original Article Here

Let's take a quick look at a part of the article:

According to parent Emily Long, who has been at the center of the fight, parents were initially alerted to the problem in August of 2020 when children told their parents how uncomfortable they were in class. Unsurprisingly, parents in the district complained.  

According to one parent who spoke to The Daily Wire on condition of anonymity, their concerns were not received with tolerance by some involved in the process. Proponents of the pornographic content, allegedly including both teachers and parents, lashed out at the concerned parents, calling them “religious zealots, bigots” and “racists.” The harassment did not end at name-calling. There were also…“d**ks.”

“Some of the people speaking out have received anonymous cardboard penises in the mail with anti-Christian messages calling them names such as c**t,” one concerned parent told The Daily Wire. “Others have received dead animals on their porches,” the parent claimed. 

 Having gotten through all of this ridiculous nonsense, because that is completely what it is.  Let me just start off by saying that I'm in no way prudish when it comes to the books I read.  If you know me, you know that I will read anything as long as I find it entertaining and/or well written.  Sometimes I will take well written over entertaining, but that's for another post.  I love those monthly Harlequin Intrigue Romance novels.  I've read Fifty Shades, more than once, among other books that fall into that category of books.  

However, I think there is a time, place, and most importantly an age for books such as this.  Sexually explicit content does not belong in high schools, and yes a child's parent does have the right to decide what their child learns whether you agree or not.  At the very least material like this should not be taught until at least college, because then at least they are old enough to make those decisions for themselves.

If all that wasn't enough it's disgusting how these parents were harassed and bullied because they don't think it's appropriate for their teenage children to be reading this material.  These unnamed people who are sending mailing out the disgusting vitriol attacking these parents are essentially calling these parents closed minded bigots who hate books and need stop being phobic. Ironic isn't it that they are the ones that are literally being hate filled bigots.

That's it for this story.  I don't know how we could possibly top this one, it was disgusting, disturbing, and so ridiculous that it's hard to believe that anything else could happen that could be more.  But shit the way this year, and last, has gone I wouldn't be surprised.

Till Next Time,

Words by Ali

Book Thoughts: Genome by Sergei Lukyanenko

 Just read a book.  You're probably thinking, well obviously.  When don't I read books.  However, this one was exceptionally good.  Sergei Lukyanenko is a Russian author most known for his Night Watch series, which is also phenomenal.

This book gives its readers into a future that is inhabited by aliens, both allies and enemies of the human race. The humans race has relied so heavily on genetic engineering that normal humans are little more than inconsequential peasants. It’s a fun, mysterious, sci-fi adventure that brings up a lot of deep and even controversial questions, especially when looked at through the lens of Russian culture and perspective. 

Sergei Lukyanenko has always been a favorite of mine, in the Russian authors that I read. While at times the tone and syntax feels off I realize that may be more of a translation issue and not the writing itself.  He tells an amazing story, that holds the readers attention, and you won’t want to put it down to find out what happens next. 

 But don’t let the Cancel Culture Mob find it they may not approve. As there are some themes and plot lines they wouldn’t approve of. But if they want to know what specifically they’ll have to take the time to read themselves. However since the author is Russian and not American they probably won’t even give a shit 🤷‍♀️ That seems to be how it is.   Go read a book. 

Till Next Time Friends,

Words by Ali

Cancel Watch: Captain Underpants “Spinoff Series”

 The Adventures of Ook and Gluk is a graphic novel by Dav Pilkey, and a spin-off series of the widely popular children's book series Captain Underpants.  This series follows two caveman who travel to the future and learn Kung Fu from a Chinese Martial Arts Master named Mr. Wong.  Earlier this week Scholastic announced that they would not only no longer be publishing this graphic novel, would be having them pulled from bookstores but are urging school libraries to remove it from there shelves.  Now why is this children's book being cancelled?  "Passive" racism.  Here is the original article:

Ook and Gluk Canceled Article

The article says this:

Scholastic did not define “passive racism,” but Diversity Inc., a news organization that provides training on diversity, inclusion, and Critical Race Theory, indicates that “passive racism” refers to unintentionally harmful material that an organization or individual allows to exist, knowing the harm it poses to people of color.

Because of “Ook and Gluk’s” “passive racism,” Scholastic is going one step further than Dr. Seuss Enterprises did last month when it announced that it was ending the publication of six of the famous children’s author’s titles. Fox News reports that the publishing company has “decided to remove the book from its websites” but will also “stop processing orders for it and is seeking a return on all inventory.”

The definition of racism is:

Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.

Have really gotten to a point in our society where we don't just have an issue with racism (and rightly so) but with now this new idea of "Passive" racism.  I mean is this really actually racism?  If you look at the definition of racism, as shown above, it uses words that are active and gives the person who is being racist agency in their actions.  Now "passive" racism (which Scholastic never even defined) which is said to be unintentional, but others find offensive.  Someone either is or isn't racist.  Someone is either actively being racist or they aren't.  This idea that something is racist, not because the person creating the content is racist, but because someone somewhere might be offended is literally one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.

The fact that the author even went so far as to apologize for something that he didn't "purposely" do shows that the mere mention that something you say or do "may" be racist, even if it is literally not, has the masses running scared that they are going to be the next thing canceled by the Mob.  All I can say is that this "Wokeness" is going to be the downfall of literally the entire world as we know it.  No longer will anyone be able to have an opinion for fear that someone may, or may not, get their feelings hurt.  Honestly, if you don't like something don't listen to it.  Don't read it.  Don't watch it.   Just because you hate something, doesn't automatically make it hate speech.  Let's be adults.

Till Next Time,

Words by Ali

Another Look: Trump, Guns, And the Double Standard Hypocrisy

Remember in the last post when I said that these things are going to happen again?  Well, looks like I was right.  This post links back directly to the last post I did about Biden wanting to infringe on both the 2nd and 4th Amendments.  I'll link that post just here:

My First Post on Biden

After writing, and posting, the thoughts from the link above I came across another article.  This article shows the hypocrisy and double standard amongst the Left-Wing Liberals.  The Liberal Extremists are all about gun control.  They want to make it harder for law-abiding citizens to purchase guns, to ban certain firearms, and to make it illegal to have guns in more and more places.  If you read the previous article, link above, than you know that Biden was pressuring the Supreme Court to have the police come into people's homes and take firearms without a warrant for "safety" reasons.  Now to the new article:

Original News Article

This article is talking about how while President Trump tried to ban bump stocks, that turn rifles into essentially machine guns after a mass shootings.  Owning machine guns was already illegal, and Trump was trying to make it illegal to own a device that turns a legal firearm into an illegal machine gun.

The original articles says:

"The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals placed a hold on a federal ban on bump stocks on Thursday, ruling that the Trump-era regulation may be unconstitutional.

A panel of judges on the Sixth Circuit decided 2-1 that former President Donald Trump’s administration likely violated the Constitution when it banned bump stocks in February 2018. Trump issued an executive order banning “all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns” following a mass shooting in Las Vegas."

and:

"In response to Trump’s executive order, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) reinterpreted federal law that generally bans public ownership of machine guns. A machine gun under federal law is defined as any weapon that can automatically fire more than one shot per single pull of the trigger."

 

What we see here in this article is a double standard when it comes to Democratic Politicians and Republican.  Three years the Courts are now deciding that President Trump, in an effort to actually do something useful towards gun control, was infringing on Americans 2nd Amendment  rights by trying to ban bump stocks.  Yet, Democrats who are all about even harsher gun control laws, that truly do stomp all over our Constitution.  Biden not only doesn't care about the 2nd Amendment or the 4th, because he doesn't really think the police should need a warrant to come into your homes if you legally own guns.

Yet, we don't hear anything about President Trump wanting to ban bump stocks, and to make sure legal firearms can't become illegal firearms.  Why is it that all you were when it comes to Trump and guns all you hear is that he is fighting against the Liberal gun control agenda because its a Constitutional right.  We don't hear about these things from mainstream media.  All we hear about is that Democrats want more gun control and Republicans just want guns.  Come on people.  Let's look at all the facts before making decisions on what is going on in the world.  This certainly gives you something to think about.

Till Next Time, 

Words by Ali

What's Happening: Biden Wants To Step All Over the Constitution?

 You know it's interesting that I've never really been interested in Politics before.  Never really cared to watch the news, read about what is happening in the government, or really what was going on outside of my own world.  That is until recently.  With everything that has happened in this past year: from Covid-19 hitting the world, the U.S. Elections, and now everything that has been happening in this country since Biden took office, I've found myself learning more and more about what is actually happening.  Funnily enough it took the shit hitting the fan for me to actively want to be in the know.

The issue I will be talking about in this post comes from the article below.  Go ahead and head over to the original article and give it a read before coming back to find out my thoughts, and opinions, on the subject.

Original Article Here

In case you chose not to read the article, here's the main points.  Back in 2015, in Texas, the police seized a man's guns after he was made to go under a psychiatric hold when the man's wife believed he may be suicidal.  The thing about this was that the police had no warrant to search his home, and seize his firearms.  Let's look at a quick quote:

"Forbes noted that the Biden administration urged the Supreme Court to side with the police, saying “the ultimate touchstone of the Fourth Amendment is ‘reasonableness,’” and that official warrants should not be “presumptively required when a government official’s action is objectively grounded in a non-investigatory public interest, such as health or safety.”

Even leftist Justice Sonia Sotomayor appeared to take issue with what happened, noting, “there was no immediate danger to the person threatening suicide and no immediate danger to the wife because the suicide person [sic] was removed to a hospital.”

Sotomayor said that she did not have a problem with the man being forced to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and noted that the issue was police “going into the home without attempt to secure consent from the wife and seizing the gun and then keeping it indefinitely until a lawsuit is filed.”"

What Biden is is pressing the Supreme Court to do is not only wrong, but a literal violation of you 4th Amendment rights.  Do you know what your 4th Amendment rights are?  Let me inform those who aren't aware, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."  This means that the police are not legally allowed to enter an American's home, without a warrant, and seize their property.  This still means guns.

Biden wants police officers to be able to, under the idea of public health and safety, to be able to go into an American's home and take their firearms.  The fact that the President of the United States wants to infringe on not just one, but two, of our Constitution Rights is more than just disturbing.  This man is supposed be upholding the Constitution and protecting the rights of the American people, and this is anything but that.

The funny thing is I'm not really a gun person.  I don't own any.  However, that being said if that I 100% behind Americans lawfully owning firearms if that is their choice.  The thing that people don't realize about this kind of Constitutional infringement is that once they attack one they will come after another, and another until there aren't any left.  Just look at this article, in the name of gun control President Biden wants to infringe on both the 2nd and the 4th Amendment.

Well, that's it for now.  Honestly, I could probably go on and on about how much this kind of Political Power BS pisses me off.  But we will save that for another day, and another article.  Because clearly the way that everything is going we will most definitely will see more of this kind of thing happening.  You just wait.

Till Next Time,

Words by Ali