From Curtis to Kanye...

-J. Ball

I just saw the new Kanye video for Touch the Sky. Before people trip… this is NOT a Kanye dis. I simply thought it interesting to note the shift in focus from Curtis Mayfield’s (his most legendary honorableness) Move On Up to the new West track. Same exact beat – Kanye just slowed down the original – and the video perhaps offers a similar periodic aesthetic, but both the extended groove and the original focus are gone. One is about spurring collective uplift, the other about personal achievement. We ALL move up to “I’m sky high…” Movements make the difference, this is just further evidence of our need for one. Lyric for lyric…

Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up (1972) Hush now child, and don't you cry Your folks might understand you by and by Move on up towards your destination You may find from time to time Complications Bight your lip and take a trip Though there may be wet road ahead You cannot slip Just move on up for peace you will find Into the steeple of beautiful people Where there's only one kind So hush now child and don't you cry Your folks might understand you by and by Just move on up and keep on wishing Remember your dream is your only scheme So keep on pushing Take nothing less - not even second best Do not obey rumors people say for you can past the test Just move on up to a greater day With just a little faith if you put your mind to it You can surely do it…

Kanye West – Touch the Sky (2006) I gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra fly For the day I die, I'mma touch the sky Gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra fly For the day I die, I'mma touch the sky Back when they thought pink polo's would hurt the Roc, Before Cam got the shit to pop, the doors was closed. I felt like Bad Boy's street team, I couldn't work the Lox (locks). Now let's go. Take 'em back to the plan... Me and my momma hopped in the U-Haul van. Any pessimists I ain't talked to them, Plus, I ain't have no phone in my apartment. Let's take 'em back to the club. Least about an hour I would stand on line, I just wanted to dance. I went to Jacob an hour after I got my advance. I just wanted to shine. Jay's favorite line: "Dog, in due time" Now he look at me, like "Damn, dog, you where I am" A hip hop legend. I think I died in an accident, cause this must be heaven. [Chorus] [Hook 1 (P. Diddy)] Now let's take 'em high-igh-igh-igh-igh-igh la la la la la la la (Top of the world, baby. T-Top of the world) Now let's take 'em high-igh-igh-igh-igh-igh la la la la la la la (Top of the world, baby. T-Top of the world) Back when Gucci was the shit to rock, Back when Slick Rick got the shit to pop, I'd do anything to say "I got it". Damn, them new loafers hurt my pocket. Before anybody wanted K-West beats, Me and my girl split the buffet at KFC. Dog, I was having nervous breakdowns, Like "Damn, these niggas that much better than me?" Baby, I'm going on an airplane, And I don't know if I'll be back again. Sure enough, I sent the plane tickets, But when she came to kick it, things became different. Any girl I cheated on, sheets I skeeted on. I couldn't keep it home, I thought I needed a Nia Long. I'm trying to write my wrongs, But it's funny these same wrongs helped me write this song. Now, [Chorus 2] I gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra fly For the day you die, You gonna touch the sky (You gonna touch the sky babygirl!) Testify, come up in the spot Looking extra fly For the day you die, You gonna touch the sky Yes, yes, yes guess who's on third? Lupe still like Lupin the Third. Hear life here till I'm beer on the curb Peach fuzz buzz but bit on the verge Hold it down like we're on the serve Bottle-shaped body like Mrs. Butterworth's. But, before you say another word, I'm back on the block like a man on the street. I'm trying to stop lying like a Mum-Ra, But I'm not lying when I'm laying on the beat. Engarde, Touch© Lupe cool as the Unthar, But I still feel as possessed as a gun charge. I come as correct as a porn star, In a fresh pair of steps and my best foreign car. So, I represent the first. Now, let me hear my verse right where the horns are like [Chorus 2] [Hook 2 (P. Diddy)] (We back at home, baby) Sky high I'm, I'm sky high I'm, I'm sky high I'm, I'm sky high I'm, I'm sky high I'm, I'm sky high Sky, Sky high I'm, I'm sky high Yeah! (Keep it rollin) (Feels good to be home, baby! Feels good to be home!)

Jared Ball is an educator and journalist in Washington, DC. He teaches both African American and Media Studies at Frostburg State and the University of Maryland, College Park. He is founder/host of FreeMix Radio: The Original Mixtape Radio Show (voxunion.com); managing editor of Words, Beats and Life hip-hop journal; and co-host of The Blackademics, on Washington's Decipher Hip-Hop Politics Block, Pacifica radio.