The curse of Uncle Sam refers to the negative consequences that can arise from the influence and actions of the United States on international affairs. Uncle Sam is a personification of the U.S. government and its policies, often depicted as a stern, authoritarian figure. While the United States has been a major global power for much of the 20th and 21st centuries, its actions have sometimes been seen as problematic and detrimental to others. One of the main criticisms of Uncle Sam is the idea of American exceptionalism, which asserts that the United States has a unique role in the world and is entitled to exert its influence and impose its values on other countries.
“He comes in and the last song we play was ‘Black Superman.’ After it goes off, he says that’s the single. He never picked any of our singles. He said the reason why ‘Black Superman’ is the single is it explains what the whole album is going to be about.”
With their third full album, the collective continued to prove that they understood and could articulate the hopelessness that poverty spawns better than most rappers. From the eerie yells of a prison crowd straight out of the 1994 television drama Against The Wall to the sinister Zapp-inspired drum beat of Return of the Real expletive and I was mesmerized.
One of the main criticisms of Uncle Sam is the idea of American exceptionalism, which asserts that the United States has a unique role in the world and is entitled to exert its influence and impose its values on other countries. This belief has led to interventions in foreign conflicts and the overthrow of foreign governments, which can lead to destabilization and resentment. Another aspect of the curse of Uncle Sam is the perception of American imperialism.
‘Uncle Sam’s Curse’ didn’t slow Pomona’s Above the Law
From the eerie yells of a prison crowd straight out of the 1994 television drama “Against The Wall” to the sinister Zapp-inspired drum beat of “Return of the Real (expletive)” and I was mesmerized.
I still remember when Pomona’s Above the Law released its now classic West Xoast gangsta/political album “Uncle Sam’s Curse” in July 1994 and purchasing it during its first week at the Long Ear record store in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (which is thankfully still around).
The group’s mix of funk-drenched bass thumps, explicit vocals and content that ranged from racist government politics to lyrics about pimping made me feel like I was riding around with Cold 187um (now Big Hutch), KMG (Kevin “KMG” Gulley) and DJ Total K-Oss in my 1978 bronze Ford Mustang.
“To me it’s a pinnacle album of my career,” said producer and artist Big Hutch about the album he helped create. “The album we done was gangsta and political at same time. As a producer and a writer, it’s No. 1 for me.”
After “Return,” the release then flows into classic tracks like “Set Free,” “Kalifornia” all the way to “Gangsta Madness.” I could play the album all the way through.
It was intentional, said Hutch, whose real name is Gregory Hutchinson.
“It’s our personal views going through the ghetto based on what he government put us through as young blacks,” the 1985 Pomona High School graduate told me during a recent interview. “That’s how we came with that record.”
The album, which was released on pioneering gangsta hip-hop artist Eazy E’s Ruthless Records, is out of print now but can be found on YouTube. Hutch would like to see it remastered, but the rights are owned by Ruthless Records, which currently has a non-functioning website.
“Uncle Sam’s Curse” also features some of the best rhyming from Tone Loc I’ve ever heard on the song “Who Ryde,” which has entertaining lines like “When I attack/it’s like a swing of the baseball bat.”
“We’ve always been good friends with Tone Loc,” Hutch said, adding the “Wild Thing” artist wrote his own verse for the Above the Law track. “We hung out a lot together, like when the West was on a roll together. We wanted him on (our 1993 album) ‘Black Mafia Life,’ but he was touring or whatever. When it slowed down, we were cutting ‘Uncle Sam’s Curse.’ I wanted him because I was partially a fan and it was out of respect for a talented guy.”
The group also wasn’t shy about letting people they know they were from Pomona.
“I got to give a shout out to Pomona,” Hutch proudly recalled, referring to one of the opening lines to “Kalifornia.”
For me, growing up in Idaho, my first exposure to Pomona was Above the Law and as a then 18-year-old I wanted to see if it matched up with their entertaining yet sadly tragic stories about gang banging, partying and keeping your head above water despite challenging economic conditions.
The biggest hit was “Black Superman,” which is still played on the radio station 93.5 KDAY today with lyrics from KMG that go: “So I stumble as I slide to the Chevy/Yeah, my eyes kinda teary and gun kinda heavy/I’m a walking, dead man is what they call me” as well as a hook with “Black Superman” over and over.
“Sonically it’s a bumping record,” Hutch told me. “I think the content is timeless. People can relate to it if they’re young or old and gray. That’s what ‘Black Superman’ does. It’s kind of crazy because I didn’t realize how long it’s been since we cut that record. It’s 20 years.”
Hutch said Eazy-E selected the song to be the single.
“He comes in and the last song we play was ‘Black Superman.’ After it goes off, he says that’s the single. He never picked any of our singles. He said the reason why ‘Black Superman’ is the single is it explains what the whole album is going to be about.”
So where does the title come from? Hutch had an answer for that as well.
“Me and KMG were talking about how we want to make a record ghetto and political. We wanted our record to be called ‘The Ghetto,’ but we always put together something to make people think. I said, ‘Well the government is considered Uncle Sam, and the ghetto is considered to be the government curse on poor people — and that’s how we came up with it.”
The group, without KMG who died in 2012, is scheduled to perform on Sept. 6 at KDAY’s Fresh Fest in Los Angeles with Kokane and Total K-Oss. In the meantime, fans can check out the album “The Big Hit,” which Hutch dropped in April.
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The group’s mix of funk-drenched bass thumps, explicit vocals and content that ranged from racist government politics to lyrics about pimping made me feel like I was riding around with Cold 187um (now Big Hutch), KMG (Kevin “KMG” Gulley) and DJ Total K-Oss in my 1978 bronze Ford Mustang.
Critics argue that the United States has sought to expand its power and influence at the expense of other nations, often through military force or economic coercion. This has led to resentment and anti-American sentiment in many parts of the world. Furthermore, the curse of Uncle Sam extends to economic issues. The United States is the largest economy in the world and as such, its economic policies have global ramifications. The actions of American institutions, such as the Federal Reserve, can have significant impacts on other countries and their economies. This can create instability and inequality on a global scale. The curse of Uncle Sam also extends to the United States' role in international institutions and organizations. The U.S. government has often been accused of using its power and influence to shape the agenda of these institutions in ways that benefit its own interests. This has led to criticism and calls for reform to ensure a more equitable and inclusive global order. In conclusion, while the United States has been a major global power, the curse of Uncle Sam refers to the negative consequences that can arise from its actions and influence. From interventions in foreign conflicts to economic policies that impact the world, there are many criticisms and concerns about the actions of the United States. These issues highlight the need for a more nuanced and balanced approach to international relations, one that considers the interests and perspectives of all nations involved..
Reviews for "The Curse of Uncle Sam's Consumerism: America's Obsession with Materialism"
1. John Doe - ★☆☆☆☆
I was really disappointed with "The Curse of Uncle Sam". Firstly, the plot was extremely predictable and lacked any depth. It felt like a generic horror movie with no originality or unique elements. The characters were shallow and one-dimensional, making it difficult to connect or care about their fates. Additionally, the pacing was off, with long stretches of dull dialogue and slow-moving scenes. Overall, I found "The Curse of Uncle Sam" to be a forgettable and uninspiring film.
2. Jane Smith - ★★☆☆☆
"The Curse of Uncle Sam" had potential, but it ultimately failed to deliver. The concept of an ancient curse tied to the iconic Uncle Sam character could have been intriguing, but the execution was lackluster. The screenplay felt disjointed and poorly constructed, leaving numerous plot holes and unanswered questions. The acting was mediocre at best, with some performances feeling forced or unnatural. The special effects were also subpar and often took away from the already weak atmosphere. Unfortunately, "The Curse of Uncle Sam" fell short of being a captivating horror film.
3. David Johnson - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "The Curse of Uncle Sam" based on the intriguing premise, but it ended up being a letdown. The storytelling was muddled, making it difficult to follow the narrative. The scares were predictable and relied too heavily on jump scares, lacking any genuine suspense or tension. The film also suffered from poor visual effects, which made the supposed scary scenes laughable instead. On top of that, the characters were poorly developed, and their motivations were unclear. Overall, "The Curse of Uncle Sam" failed to live up to its potential and left me wanting more substance and scares.
4. Sarah Thompson - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "The Curse of Uncle Sam" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The plot was cliché, offering no surprises or twists. The pacing was painfully slow, with long stretches of nothing happening. The characters lacked depth and were uninteresting, making it difficult to invest in their struggles. The film also suffered from a lack of atmosphere and failed to create a sense of dread or tension. Overall, "The Curse of Uncle Sam" was a forgettable and unremarkable horror movie that I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on.
5. Michael White - ★★☆☆☆
"The Curse of Uncle Sam" had potential, but it missed the mark. The concept could have been engaging, but the execution fell flat. The film suffered from a lack of character development, leaving the audience with unlikable and unrelatable individuals. The pacing was slow, and the plot felt disjointed. Additionally, the scares were underwhelming and failed to create any genuine fear. While there were a few interesting moments, they were few and far between, making "The Curse of Uncle Sam" overall disappointing and forgettable.