White boys spitting hot fire

See below the beginning of a recent diavlog (as it is known) between national security reporters Spencer Ackerman (The Washington Independent) and Eli Lake (The Washington Times). I have seen these guys before and normally they would spend time discussing the ins and outs of foreign policy issues from Iran to Afghanistan to Pakistan. They are full blown reporters (not just talking head pundits) with deep sources on all these national security issues.

Yet, they spend the opening of their recent discussion on hip-hop, specifically a new conservative rapper called Hi-Caliber. The ease with which the throw around references to Jeezy, Nas, 50 and Rick Ross shows their deep familiarity with the topic...



Now, what I find interesting about this is just how this crosses up so many stereotypical lines and how modern culture facilitates this sort of cultural sampling and cross-pollination such that it allows these 2 guys (of all people) to be both foreign policy wonks AND hip-hop heads without there being any real contradiction between the two identities.

Moreover, as they reference in the discussion above, they collaborated on their own rap regarding the Rod Blagojevich saga. See link below.

The thing is, I think it is really good. The production value is obviously low and their "flow," if you will, leaves something to be desired. But the rhymes are inventive and definitely "ill," as Eli would say.

My favorite:

I'm Axelrodding, be finishing this by Hanukkah
I'm jacking jews for they lists and their yarmulkas
You cut a check or I squeal like a Monica
Obama's collar getting hotter than Andromeda

Check it out, yo.... (Warning: NSFW)