dead prez: propaganda

propaganda

In the opening verse, dead prez attacks the higher authority including the mass media and government claiming that they are misleading the public in order to maintain control over them. Dead prez states,

"You can't fool all the people all of the time

But if you fool the right ones, then the rest will fall behind

Tell me who's got control of your mind? your world view?

Is it the news"

They continue the verse by stating, "know what I'm sayin cause uncle sam got a plan", further attacking the government and supporting the idea of the United States government's plans to control the public. Using previous government actions, dead prez gains support for their skepticism of government intentions. The line, "Because I don't believe a word of what the president said, he filling our head with lies got us hypnotized" shows dead prez's mistrust in the government.

Dead prez continuously makes claims against government intentions, questioning what the government is hiding by censoring information from the public. For example, dead prez draws attention to Area 51 and alleged government cover-ups of UFO sightings and other alien related information. "No one knows if there's ufo's or any life on mars, or what they do when they up in the stars." Censorship is a tool the government uses to keep control over the people and regulate their lives.

"Every channel got some brainwashed cop shit to watch

Running up in niggas cribs claiming that they heard shots

It's a plot, but busta can you tell me who's greedier?

Big corporations, the pigs or the media?"

The lines above protest the media and the manipulative television shows that the broadcast to the public. Dead prez believes that these television shows like Cops portray the alleged good intentions of the government and police force. However, Cops is used by the police, media, and government to spread fear and ignorance through the public. The television show portrays minorities as criminal, allowing the public to believe all minorities are suspect to criminal activity which strengthens the police force's abuse of power. The police force abuses their power by telling the public their intentions mean well and they are solely there to protect us from these criminals. Dead prez argues that the government and media's use of confirmation bias is another tool used to manipulate the public and control their actions and lives.