Top 5: Political Bay Area Videos (Curated by Chazz Shabazz)
2. E40 – Practice Lookin’ Hard
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avkToQqG1qw&hl=en_US&version=3]This song is near and dear to me specifically because it gets detailed about the whole demeanour of a Black man in America. After experiencing all of the problems that come along with being Black you start to develop the tough exterior in order to cope with life. Coming from a fatherless home, raising yourself while mom is at work struggling to make ends meet and always having to watch your back is stressful. Eventually a person becomes numb to it all and that’s where you get the mean mugging tough guys you see walking the streets, scaring women with purses and whatnot.
If you feel like your situation won’t ever improve it makes sense that you would be walking around angry at everyone living the sweet life. The mug also saves you from others thinking they can test you in these situations. I like how he shows the vulnerability, as if to show that under the gangster persona he is still a good guy that just wants to enjoy life, like when we were children.