2 Black 2 Strong

John Mars, known as 2 Black 2 Strong, is an American rapper who recorded in the early 1990s.[1][2] He is perhaps best known for his song "Burn Baby Burn," about the right to burn the American flag.[3][4] He led a crew of rappers, MMG (Militant Manhattan Gangsters), who appeared on many of his tracks.

Early life

2 Black 2 Strong is the professional name of John Mars.[2] He grew up in Harlem.

Burn Baby Burn EP

"Burn Baby Burn,"[upper-alpha 1] recorded in 1990, features a guest verse from Chuck D.[2] The song, about the right to burn the American flag, was controversial. A pressing plant, Sonopress, refused to press it, and Musicland and Sam Goody refused to carry it.[5] The song was released on an EP of the same name by In Effect/Clappers. Robert Christgau, in The Village Voice, gave it an honorable mention rating, specifically highlighting "Burn Baby Burn."[6] Gregory Lee Johnson, an activist who had a flag-burning conviction overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States, introduces the song.[2][7][upper-alpha 2]

Doin' Hard Time on Planet Earth

2 Black 2 Strong, backed by MMG, released his debut album in 1991, via Relativity Records. Doin' Hard Time on Planet Earth received positive reviews from critics. Alex Henderson, in AllMusic, gave it a 4-star rating (out of 5), and called it "one of the strongest -- and most unjustly neglected -- rap releases of 1991 ... a riveting, gutsy work that makes its share of highly valid points when addressing social and political issues."[9] Henderson went on to write that "unfortunately, as the '90s progressed, 2 Black 2 Strong remained undeservedly obscure."[9] Christgau also praised the album, awarding it a B+ grade, and writing: "The music of this Harlem crew is loud beats anchored to spare guitar, the hip hop obverse of death metal if death metal didn't always strain for drama ... Without reveling in brutality for its own sake, they state the amoral facts as they understand them--or misunderstand them, if it makes any difference."[6] A track, "War on Drugs," addresses the possibility of the federal government's role in the crack epidemic.[10][11]

Discography
  • Burn Baby Burn EP, In Effect/Clappers, 1990[6]
  • Doin' Hard Time on Planet Earth, Relativity/Clappers, 1991[6][9][12]

References

Notes
  1. For other songs with the same title, see Burn Baby Burn.
  2. Parenthetically, in the United States, the Supreme Court of the United States has recognized flag burning as being protected by the First Amendment. On June 21, 1989, a 5-4 "deeply divided' court upheld the rights of protesters to burn the American flag in Texas v. Johnson, a landmark First Amendment decision.[8]

Citations
  1. Geller, Lynn (January 1, 1991). "2 Black 2 Strong by Lynn Geller". BOMB. bombmagazine.org. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  2. Harrington, Richard (August 8, 1990). "THE PUBLIC ENEMY DOCUDRAMA". Washington Post – via www.washingtonpost.com. ... takes its cues from the current battles over free speech and the recent Supreme Court decision upholding a citizen's right to burn the flag. "You gave me freedom of speech in the First Amendment/ so why the {expletive} are you trying to scold me/ when I'm torching the flag I'm only doing what you told me I could. ... See I made up this new rule and I want you all to learn it/ strike a match to the American flag and burn it."
  3. Vile 2018, p. 66.
  4. SPIN Media, LLC 1990, p. 30.
  5. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: A Togetherness Kind of Thing: 2 Black 2 Strong". www.robertchristgau.com.
  6. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: 2 Black 2 Strong". www.robertchristgau.com.
  7. Dubin 1992, p. 334.
  8. NCC Staff (June 21, 2019). "When the Supreme Court ruled to allow American flag burning". National Constitution Center. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  9. Henderson, Alex. "Allmusic listing". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  10. Perkins 1996, p. 154.
  11. Kelley 1996, p. 283.
  12. Christgau, Robert. "Relativity/Clappers".

Bibliography


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