Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Although this group is long defunct, its one major recording will be fondly remembered for years--if not decades--to come. The Heroes consisted of rapper Michael Franti and percussionist Ron Tse; together, the San Francisco Bay area-based duo created a biting, politically savvy record that touched on both personal vulnerability and governmental venality. Franti used the microphone to preach about injustice, homophobia, materialism, and apathy. Although Public Enemy had long before established hip-hop's political potential, they never quite attained Franti's ability to translate black rage into universal themes. In the Heroes' best number, "Television, the Drug of the Nation," Franti raps, "Imagination is sucked out of our children by a cathode ray nipple / Television is the only wet-nurse that would create a cripple." Unfortunately, after extensive touring, the pair went their separate ways, Tse to a variety of solo projects and Franti to Spearhead. --Martin Johnson

Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury,Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy,Fourth & Bway / Pgd,Alternative Rap,Hip-Hop,Political Rap,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues

Tracks:

Satanic Reverses
Famous And Dandy (Like Amos 'n' Andy)
Television, The Drug Of The Nation
Language Of Violence
The Winter Of The Long Hot Summer
Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
Everyday Life Has Become A Health Risk
INS Greencard 1-19 191 500
Socio-Genetic Experiment
Music And Politics
Financial Leprosy
California Uber Alles
Water Pistol Man

Amazon.com

Although this group is long defunct, its one major recording will be fondly remembered for years--if not decades--to come. The Heroes consisted of rapper Michael Franti and percussionist Ron Tse; together, the San Francisco Bay area-based duo created a biting, politically savvy record that touched on both personal vulnerability and governmental venality. Franti used the microphone to preach about injustice, homophobia, materialism, and apathy. Although Public Enemy had long before established hip-hop's political potential, they never quite attained Franti's ability to translate black rage into universal themes. In the Heroes' best number, "Television, the Drug of the Nation," Franti raps, "Imagination is sucked out of our children by a cathode ray nipple / Television is the only wet-nurse that would create a cripple." Unfortunately, after extensive touring, the pair went their separate ways, Tse to a variety of solo projects and Franti to Spearhead. --Martin Johnson

Customer Reviews:

History is so kind.......2007-03-17

This is, objectively, a pretty bad album. The only reason people could possibly be mistaken about that is the general nostalgic quality of history. People look back at this ridiculous album and for some reason see it as a cornerstone of 'conscious' rap. In reality it's nothing of the sort.

Largely ignored on its release, treated as an oddity by those who knew about it, this album is not the great political or artistic statement some reviewers would have you believe. It's certainly different, and if you're one of those tiresome people who believe anything different is 'better', you'll probably enjoy it. At the time of its release the only real hype around the album was based around its odd percussive elements, which turned out to be much more interesting conceptually than sonically.

Really this isn't even a rap album. It's spoken word, a form of performance art that I find incredibly difficult to tolerate even on good days. It's Franti rambling - strangely without passion or any real cleverness - over admittedly bizarre beats. But that's really it. And although I'd probably agree with you if you started lecturing me about how profanity is too rampant in entertainment, etc, it's just odd - almost Raffi-esque - to hear an entertainer use the word 'poop' in a song.

Franti moved on to more structured songwriting with Spearhead, whose work is much easier to listen to and somewhat more mature. Nostalgia aside, this album is probably best forgotten along with Me Phi Me and the Fu-Schnikens.

Best Album of All Time.......2007-02-27

Today more than ever I find the messages contained in this album are spot on. And I am not joking that this is my favorite album of all time. The music itself is wonderful as well. I really do wish that DH could again saddle up to do another album.

sensationally underrated rap album.......2006-10-18

I got this record back when it first came out, me being a fan of stuff like Nine Inch Nails, Public enemy, Tackhead etc. That there probably defines the sound of the record which is something like an industrial rap album.

It's brilliant. What it does is give a great rap vocalist a platform to preach on - Franti has quite a heavy voice - a good one - and it needs a heavy soundtrack behind it. The music is clever, catchy and powerful, the lyrics are well thought through but it's a very good mix of sounds right through the album. 'television' stands out a bit, 'socio genetic experiment' is another but it's top shelf right through.

Only failing of the record is that it's not going to fit a lot of people's tastes. Is a 100% different thing to any of Michael Franti's Spearhead stuff, which I like also but it's nothing like that. And because of that it may be hard for many people to conceptualise. It's not a classic rap album and nor is it a classic 'industrial' album.

Is definitely worth a listen - at least to Television and Socio... just to get a feel if you're interested or not - it is really clever and enjoyable.

Oh enough already!.......2006-06-29

I linked to this CD after checking out what the talented Micheal Franti is up to. With Speaheard, Franti has made some good stuff, but this....I bought it back when it came out and it fell right off my stereo. It is wack Wack WACK! The overwrought name of this group alone should indicate to all that these guys take themselves WAAAAY too seriously.

They have plenty to say, of course, but that doesn't make their music good. On the contrary, the lyrics are so preachy that it's like having a sledgehammer hitting you over the head. Not that the lyrics have the force hip hop lyrics should. These guys drone out their whiny manifestos without a trace of rhythm or passion. And, on top of that, the beats are among the worst I've ever heard on a rap album.

I have no idea what the Amazon.com reviewer above is talking about (and clearly neither does he). I was into hip-hop back when this thing was released. It sank without a ripple because there were plenty of excellent hip hop artists speaking their minds AND making great music (try Public Enemy, Ice Cube, or even Arrested Development). This CD was not important back when it was released, and it had no impact at all on the development of hip hop or rap.

Buy this now.......2006-02-12

I bought this album in 1992 on the strength of one song(Television...) that I heard once on the radio. I had been a fan of Public Enemy for a couple of years at that stage. After one listen it became an immediate favourite of mine( rare.... only radiohead OK Computer has had similar success since). My sisters, then heavy metal buffs( metallica, megadeth, sepultura, etc..) simillarly took only one hearing to become hooked. It was unusual to have the same taste, as they were metal and I was rap but there you go, who knows....
The album was a socially aware rant at society back in the day, using spot on lyrics, fantastic beats, scratches and instruments such as angle grinders and chains, but it hasn't lost relevance because we still have so much to learn.
I realise that it's now 2006, but this is still one of my favourite albums of all time. While some of the songs have dated slightly others (esp. Winter of the Long Hot Summer about Gulf War 1991) are all the more significant.
There is not a bad song (lyrically or musically) on the album and if I could give it 6 stars I would.

Soul Music:

Soul Music

soul music

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