Black Nasty

I have been desperately searching craigslist for a reasonably priced ticket to Spoon's sold out show at the Scoot Inn this Tuesday, not because I have to see Spoon, though Spoon is an amazing band but, rather, to see the opening act - a guy who is reserved, intellectual, artsy, and the most vulgar rapper in the universe - Black Nasty.

The dichotomy of personality that is Black Nasty is what makes his music so compelling in the first place and, yes, he has the skills to boot. His latest album - Shark Tank - is guested by indie music heavyweights such as Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Jana Hunter, Ariel Pink, as well as his sister - Pink Nasty. If there was ever an artist that needed a Parental Guidance Advisory sticker on his albums, it's Black Nasty, but to dismiss him as a moronic, white-boy rapper completely misses the point. We seem to welcome vulgarity with comedians, but condemn it otherwise. And we wouldn't even bat an eye if Black Nasty were a character in a movie, yet somehow this character, figuratively and literally speaking, who is rapping about things he doesn't take seriously is abhorrent?

Who's right and who's wrong and who should be the ultimate judge when it comes to free speech? I don't have the answers to that, but I am against censorship and I must say that I am fascinated by the fact that Black Nasty is pushing those boundaries while not taking himself seriously from his home base in the politically correct town of Austin, Texas.
P.S. I scored tickets!(4/20/2009)