(Hed) Planet Earth

Since the beginning of (hed) Planet Earth’s career,

lyricist Jahred Shaine has used his role as (hed)pe’s front

man to celebrate male sexual dominance, and dehumanize women.

(Hed)pe’s first self-titled release, offered such lyrical

gems as, “Dee-eye-see-kaye/Spells ‘relief’/Bring

all your daughter to me.”

And the band’s second release, Broke, continued the

misogynistic trend (surprise, surprise) with lyrics such as,

“You think you all that, till I lay you on your back, with

your legs spread/Ha – Boom! How you like that?/How you like

that(3x),” “Come into your house make love to your

spouse/Fuck her in the mouth then I’m out what,”

“I’m a fuck that honey from behind/This is until she

screams/Oh yeah Hell yeah/There’s a party over here party

over there/Rebels throw you fist in the air/Bitches throw your tits

in the air” and “See all my ladies shake they hips and

wiggle they tits.”

Finally, (hed)pe’s latest offering, Blackout, although

somewhat toned down compared to their earlier releases, still

serves up the same stunning imagery: “Up in the middle of yo

face/What a disgrace/You a trik-ass bitch/How my dick taste –

motherfucker.” And on Sunday, April 6, when (hed)pe took the

Big Easy’s stage as co-headliners of the Jägermeister

tour, they proved that their misogynistic morals don’t end in

the studio.

In between (hed)pe’s raucous guitars (with newcomer,

former Snot guitarist Sonny Mayo), scanty scratches from DJ Product

and Shaine’s guttural growls, Shaine addressed the audience,

sadly confirming what we already know.

Shaine proceeded to tell the audience that he met a female in

Boise who led him to believe that all women aren’t

“vicious two-face whores.” And here comes the shocking

part: the women in the audience actually uproared in squeals and

screams of approval.

But, just to set the record straight, Shaine assured his

cheering female fans, that there existed only a small minority of

females that weren’t “vicious two-faced

whores.”

Later in the evening, Shaine requested that the females get off

the floor entirely. All of this while many adoring young fans (both

men and women) cheered incessantly.

The only moment during the concert that was halfway enjoyable

was when the band played a cover of Bob Marley’s “No

Woman, No Cry,” presenting the paradoxical question: How

could a band so bent on reducing women to sex objects cover a song

by a man whose music so adamantly preached peace, love and

unity?

After Shaine’s appalling behavior at the Big Easy on

Sunday, maybe the more appropriate Bob Marley song (hed)pe should

be singing is “Redemption Song.”

So, before you invest your money into a band’s pocketbook,

you ought to think about what kind of messages your money will be

supporting and perpetuating.

A recent review of (hed)pe’s latest offering, Blackout, by

Rolling Stone begins, “Even within the intentionally

brainless world of rap metal, (hed)pe are dumb, dumb, dumb. And by

that, we mean dumb-bad.”

Although some fans may see the review as a little harsh,

I’m confident that it’s not harsh enough.

After all, (hed)pe just may have the skills and solid

underground fan base to put out a decent rap metal album, and put

on a good show. But until they stop degrading women, I’m not

buying.

 

Lauren Consuelo Tussing, Commentary, The Arbiter

Related Posts:

1. (hed) Planet Earth lands in Boise
2. Planet Earth: who really cares?
3. Sting and Phantom Planet present evening of crossovers in Nampa
4. The Big Easy gets “Bizzy D” onstage
5. Arts & Entertainment Bonus