For a country kid from rural Georgia, hearing the Beastie Boys song “Fight For Your Right” for the first time was a bit of a culture shock, but whenever I hear it on the radio it brings back vivid memories of the late 1980’s.

Now, I will admit that “Fight For Your Right” was not an anthem of political power, but that doesn’t mean the Beastie Boys did not get political. They had lots to say and the strength of their musical career an iconic hip-hop group cannot be ignored even by those who disliked their brand of music. They are just the third rap group to enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after Run-D.M.C. and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

I even remembered the day the Adam “MCA” Yauch died.

This past Wednesday, December 21^st, the North Carolina General Assembly convened for its fifth special session of the year, reportedly to “repeal” the HB2 / bathroom bill in response to the city of Charlotte’s recent rescinding of its ordinance that supposedly started this whole mess, at least according to NCGA GOP stalwarts.

Yet, instead of any progress in repealing HB2, what happened was a waste of taxpayer money in a partisan display of undeveloped muscle mass.

Holding a super majority in both the senate and the house of the general assembly, the GOP could have easily passed whatever they may have wanted had they been united; however, Sen. Phil Berger literally could not wrangle his own party into consensus because he introduced the “split-question” and placed a provision for a “cooling-off” period.

Oh, please.

He sabotaged it. And the first song I thought of when the special session was adjourned to shouts of “Shame!” from the protesters? Yep. Beastie Boys.

So queue the record. Turn up the volume.

“Sabotage”

I can’t stand it I know you planned it
I’m gonna set it straight, this watergate
I can’t stand rocking when I’m in here
Because your crystal ball ain’t so crystal clear
So while you sit back and wonder why
I got this f***ing thorn in my side
Oh my God, it’s a mirage
I’m tellin’ y’all it’s sabotage

So listen up ’cause you can’t say nothin’
You’ll shut me down with a push of your button?
But yo I’m out and I’m gone
I’ll tell you now I keep it on and on

‘Cause what you see you might not get
And we can bet so don’t you get souped yet
You’re scheming on a thing that’s a mirage
I’m trying to tell you now it’s sabotage

Why; our backs are now against the wall
Listen all of y’all it’s a sabotage
Listen all of y’all it’s a sabotage
Listen all of y’all it’s a sabotage
Listen all of y’all it’s a sabotage

I can’t stand it, I know you planned it
But I’m gonna set it straight this watergate
But I can’t stand rockin’ when I’m in this place
Because I feel disgrace because you’re all in my face
But make no mistakes and switch up my channel
I’m buddy rich when I fly off the handle
What could it be, it’s a mirage
You’re scheming on a thing – that’s sabotage

 

There’s no doubt that “He’s Crafty.” The disaster this special session was beyond “Intergalactic” and just a day of “Pass the Mic.”

The best thing for we North Carolinians to do is to “Get It Together” this next election cycle and “Make Some Noise,” “Shake Your Rump,” and get your “Body Movin’” to the polls and “Fight For Your Right.”

So “Ch Ch Check It Out” or there will be “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.”

 

P.S. – The video for “Sabotage” is a classic.