The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy | ||
| Allmusic Biography : An outgrowth, both musically and ideologically, of the San Francisco-based avant-garde industrial jazz collective the Beatnigs, the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy formed in 1990. Comprised of former Beatnigs Michael Franti and Rono Tse, the duo quickly established themselves among raps foremost proponents of multiculturalism and liberalism; pointedly attacking hip-hop tenets like homophobia, misogyny, and racism, Frantis narratives addressed issues ranging from "Television: The Drug of the Nation" to "Socio-Genetic Experience" (about his childhood raised by white parents) with clarity and depth. Opening slots for everyone from Public Enemy and Arrested Development to Nirvana and U2 attested to the nerve hit by the Heroes 1992 debut, Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury, although some members of the rap community dismissed the duo as an attempt to quell white Americas apprehensions over the violent world-view depicted in the grooves of gangsta rap records. Consequently, the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy never attracted the African-American audiences their music actively sought, and after joining beat legend William S. Burroughs on his 1993 release Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales, the duo disbanded; while Tse later worked with the Bay Area rap unit Mystik Journeymen, Franti formed Spearhead, a more roots-oriented concern. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 1 Title: Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury Released: 1992-03-17 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:06:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Satanic Reverses (04:45) 2 Famous and Dandy (Like Amos ’n’ Andy) (06:34) 3 Television, the Drug of the Nation (06:38) 4 Language of Violence (06:15) 5 The Winter of the Long Hot Summer (07:59) 6 Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury (03:47) 7 Everyday Life Has Become a Health Risk (04:54) 8 INS Greencard A‐19 191 500 (01:36) 9 Socio‐Genetic Experiment (04:19) 10 Music and Politics (04:01) 11 Financial Leprosy (05:30) 12 California Über Alles (04:13) 13 Water Pistol Man (05:54) |
| Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury : Allmusic album Review : The Disposable Heroes tackled every last big issue possible with one of 1992s most underrated efforts. Dr Dre and G-funk became all the rage by the end of the year and beyond, but for those looking for at least a little more from hip-hop than that soon-to-be-clichéd style, Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury did the business. The groups origins in the Beatnigs arent hidden at all -- besides a stunning, menacing revision of that bands "Television, the Drug of the Nation," the Heroes first single, the combination of Bomb Squad and industrial music approaches is apparent throughout. Consolidateds Mark Pistel co-produced the album while Meat Beat Manifestos Jack Dangers helped mix it with the band, creating a stew of deep beats and bass and a constantly busy sonic collage that hits as hard as could be wanted, but not without weirdly tender moments as well. On its own it would be a more than attractive effort, but its Michael Frantis compelling, rich voice and his chosen subject matter that really make the band something special. Nothing is left unexamined, an analysis of the American community as a whole that embraces questions of African-American identity and commitment ("Famous and Dandy (Like Amos n Andy)") to overall economic and political insanity ("The Winter of the Long Hot Summer," a gripping, quietly threatening flow of a track). Theres even a great jazz/funk number, "Music and Politics," with nothing but a guitar and Frantis fine singing voice, ruminating on emotional expression in music and elsewhere with wit and sly anger. Top it off with a brilliant reworking of the Dead Kennedys anthem "California Uber Alles," lyrics targeting the then-governor of the state, Pete Wilson, and his questionable stances, and revolutions in thought and attitude rarely sounded so good. | ||