The piece says in the end that it doesn’t want to single out Kendrick Lamar but whenever he is mentioned in a revolutionary context the photographs of him with Dronebama flash before my eyes.
He says white people don’t have singers and comedians as their leaders. I think there is a kernel of truth to that. But the current crop of trailblazers for whiteness includes people like Joe Rogan and a bunch of other podcasters. I cannot think of any example in this genre of demagogues that is not heavily invested in podcasting. They are not comedians nor singers. They are not even fit to be called clowns. But they are at least deeply unserious. I don’t know how that fits in with his argument but it is something to think about.
I kind of understand the people that do this, projecting their own hopes and dreams over famous people or things. I’ve seen countless times how seomone mentions X show or Y person “has an anticapitalist message” and later down a discussion they regrettably have to admit it really isn’t, getting their hopes up just to be disappointed. It’s like there’s a need to have one’s ideology reflected in the media one consumes or parasocial relations where one can just fill in the gaps (which doesn’t happen with closer interpersonal relationships where replies to questions is what fills the gaps).
After more than a century, it should be clear that no tiny bit of revolutionary culture can get through the capitalist mainstream. It should be automatic even, the fact these are completely incompatible (by the active work of the press, shareholders, CEOs, managers, or even direct government action if need be). Revolutionary culture shouldn’t be confused with passing remarks, slogans or subtle nods, which inevitably leave huge gaps that can, like with media or people, be filled with one’s imagination. Same with mild messages of support, which are nice, but could never amount to anything more.