I will analyze the song, The 4th Branch by Immortal Technique. I will also give details of the song and background details including the social context and genre in which The 4th Branch was written. I will also explain my reason for choosing the song and its meaning. Further than that, I will also state the ways in which The 4th Branch plays in the social setup of the society (ghetto). Finally, I will give my analysis of The 4th Branch and the role it plays in shaping the political game.
The 4th Branch is a symbolic song that has managed to rouse a number of controversial issues in his rap career. It is a rap song that depicts the evils in the society including; crime, murder, poverty, mystery, drug business, and hard life in the ghetto. It is a song addressing the young generation in the society who basically are the youth. It is a truck in the album, Revolutionary Volume 2. Technique manages to express all his socialist opinions which get him bitter-sweet reactions from the public. Immortal technique borrows some elements of Ras Kass for his mission to address the political influence in his country. Technique is not afraid to express opinions on certain socialists. The 4th Branch reflects his views on social injustices, and political controversies in his country (Kimball, 2006, p. 45).
His song The 4th Branch starts with the audacity of Obnoxious, which is basically a tribute to his unabashed attitude. It is a testament that embodies his fearless style, a principle that codes his ideal style of music and mind. Suggested by the title, The 4th Branch can be seen as offensive, though it is entirely harmless, as it sheds light on the absurdity of censorship. He has succeeded in turning heads and changing stereotypes. He is a self-professed lyrical rapper who relies on direct references for lyrical content. In his song The 4th Branch, he sings with a lot of passion in all verses sending a clear message of his discontent in social issues of the society.
Immortal Technique raps about the dark atmosphere in (Harlem Street) his hometown where he airs issues with the media, and questions the real nature of freedom of speech. He is able to deliver a massage with a very commercially pleasant hip-hop approach with limited nuance and tact. Ideally, The 4th Branch details his life in the hood brining up touchy subjects with a skeptical outlook. Growing up in Harlem Ghetto, Immortal Technique describes how he fell into crime wave self –admittedly. He further gives a chronological account of his hood life, by bringing up weighty subjects such as gentrification (rebuilding and buying parts in low income). These activities screw over pop and mom businesses, and other less fortunate families, police corruption, drug dealing, and gangsters who beat up and kill people to seeking a solution of the endless poverty in the hood (Wiggins, 2012, p. 82).
"The 4th Branch"
“[Talking]1. The new age is upon us2. And yet the past refuses to rest in its shallow grave3. For those who hide behind the false image of the son of man4. shall stand before God!!! It has begun5. The beginning of the end6. Yeah..7. Yeah yeah, yeah[Verse 1]8. The voice of racism preaching the gospel is devilish9. A fake church called the prophet Muhammad a terrorist10. Forgetting God is not a religion, but a spiritual bond11. And Jesus is the most quoted prophet in the Qu'ran12. They bombed innocent people, tryin' to murder Saddam13. When you gave him those chemical weapons to go to war with Iran14. This is the information that they hold back from Peter Jennings15. Cause Condoleeza Rice is just a new age Sally Hemmings16. I break it down with critical language and spiritual anguish17. The Judas I hang with, the guilt of betraying Christ18. You murdered and stole his religion, and painting him white19. Translated in psychologically tainted philosophy20. Conservative political right wing, ideology21. Glued together sloppily, the blasphemy of a nation22. Got my back to the wall, cause I'm facin' assassination23. Guantanamo Bay, federal incarceration24. How could this be, the land of the free, home of the brave?25. Indigenous holocaust, and the home of the slaves26. Corporate America, dancin' offbeat to the rhythm27. You really think this country, never sponsored terrorism?28. Human rights violations, we continue the saga29. El Savador and the contras in Nicaragua30. And on top of that, you still wanna take me to prison31. Just cause I won't trade humanity for patriotism[Hook]32. It's like MK-ULTRA, controlling your brain33. Suggestive thinking, causing your perspective to change34. They wanna rearrange the whole point of view of the ghetto35. The fourth branch of the government, want us to settle36. A bandana full of glittering, generality37. Fighting for freedom and fighting terror, but what's reality?38. Read about the history of the place that we live in39. And stop letting corporate news tell lies to your children[Verse 2]40. Flow like the blood of Abraham through the Jews and the Arabs41. Broken apart like a woman's heart, abused in a marriage42. The brink of holy war, bottled up, like a miscarriage43. Embedded correspondents don't tell the source of the tension44. And they refuse to even mention, European intervention45. Or the massacres in Jenin, the innocent screams46. S. manufactured missles, and M-16's47. Weapon contracts and corrupted American dreams48. Media censorship, blocking out the video screens49. A continent of oil kingdoms, bought for a bargain50. Democracy is just a word, when the people are starvin'51. The average citizen, made to be, blind to the reason52. A desert full of genocide, where the bodies are freezin'53. And the world doesn't believe that you fightin' for freedom54. Cause you fucked the Middle East, and gave birth to a demon55. It's open season with the CIA, bugging my crib56. Trapped in a ghetto region like a Palestinian kid57. Where nobody gives a fuck whether you die or you live58. I'm tryin' to give the truth, and I know the price is my life59. But when I'm gone they'll sing a song about Immortal Technique60. Who beheaded the President, and the princes and sheiks61. You don't give a fuck about us, I can see through your facade62. Like a fallen angel standing in the presence of God63. Bitch niggaz scared of the truth, when it looks at you hard[Hook]64. It's like MK-ULTRA, controlling your brain65. Suggestive thinking, causing your perspective to change66. They wanna rearrange the whole point of view in the ghetto67. The fourth branch of the government, want us to settle68. A bandana full of glittering, generality69. Fighting for freedom and fighting terror, but what's reality?70. Martial law is coming soon to the hood, to kill you71. While you hanging your flag out your project window[Talking]72. Yeah..73. The fourth branch of the government AKA the media74. Seems to now have a retirement plan for ex-military officials75. As if their opinion was at all unbiased76. A machine shouldn't speak for men77. So shut the fuck up you mindless drone!78. And you know it's serious79. When these same media outfits are spending millions of dollars on a PR campaign80. To try to convince you they're fair and balanced81. When they're some of the most ignorant, and racist people82. Giving that type of mentality a safe haven83. We act like we share in the spoils of war that they do84. We die in wars, we don't get the contracts to make money off 'em afterwards!85. We don't get weapons contracts, nigga!86. We don't get cheap labor for our companies, nigga!87. We are cheap labor, nigga!88. Turn off the news and read, nigga!89. Read read read “ (Williams, 2008, p. 76).
I chose this song because its content is very relevant to the society today. Ideally, it details underlying social issues that are present in the society today. It talks of activities that screw over pop and mom businesses, and other less fortunate families, police corruption, drug dealing, and gangsters who beat up and kill people to seeking a solution of the endless poverty in the hood as stated in lines 13, 34, and 37(Williams, 2008, p. 76). In my view, I find the song very informative and driving home a clear message of the ill situation in our society today. It is quite significant in my life as it addresses real issues that have been abandoned by the State, government, and authorities who instead, are expected to address them.
The 4th Branch is about alarming issues in the society particularly in the ghetto. It is advocating for real change in the society since the society is uncivilized. Social advocacy describes a social message that is advocating for a civilized and peaceful world through social justice.
When analyzing this song, I have learned that music sends a message in a special way. The 4th Branch by Immortal Technique has addressed real issues in the society and the pain they have caused. It has comprehensively depicted underlying issues that drain the society to deep ditches. This song has really changed my perception in a couple of ways. One, I will now listen to songs keenly to understand the lyrics and the message conveyed. With such truth and deep meaning, I will be keen enough to understand and interpret the message conveyed in songs.
In this paper, I have analyzed the song The 4th Branch by Immortal Technique and given an analysis of its content, and its meaning as well. It is a symbolic song that has managed to rouse a number of controversial issues in his rap career. It is a rap song that depicts the evils in the society including; crime, murder, poverty, mystery, drug business, and hard life in the ghetto. It is a song addressing the young generation in the society who basically are the youth. It is a truck in the album, Revolutionary Volume 2. This details underlying social issues that are present in the society today.
References
Kimball, C. (2006). Song: a guide to art song style and literature. Hal Leonard Corporation.
Williams, P. (2008). Twenty-first-century jeremiad: Contemporary hip-hop and American tradition. European Journal of American Culture, 27(2), 111-132.
Wiggins, E. H. (2012). Depicting Artist and Viewer: Performed Aesthetics in Kālidāsa's" Śakuntalā". International Journal of the Arts in Society, 6(6).
