Suppose someone writes a song commenting on our president and some of the politics in America today, and it's so controversial and edgy that Michael Moore doesn't want it on the soundtrack of his incendiary documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. For Michael Moore to be put off by it, it's got to bring new meaning to the phrase controversial, right?

That's what rapper Grand Scheem wants the world to think about his single "The Greatest Scheem Ever Sold" which did get pulled from the soundtrack of Fahrenheit 9/11. The trouble with the song is that it's not as much political commentary as it is mainstream, big-talk rap. The fact that a few lines in the song mention President Bush and America's "scheme" is coincidental and if anything is an attempt to jump on a bandwagon and get airplay under the guise of an insightful social message. Think of it as Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" song but coming from the other side. The biggest difference is Toby Keith didn't take any time in his song bragging about himself. The song's lyrics are a percentage political commentary, the most noticeable in the beginning when he calls Bush a threat to Middle Eastern immigrants and says that Bush has "got the whole world dying over Al Qaeda." It's important to know that Grand Scheem himself is a Pakistani-American from Karachi originally.

Grand Scheem has stated in interviews that he feels there is a stigma towards Middle Eastern immigrants, and on his Web site he even says that he feels the treatment of immigrants is "reminiscent of what African-Americans felt in the 1960s." This statement makes a connection that is entirely inaccurate from a historical perspective - the problems Middle Eastern immigrants endure in this day and age is nothing compared to the sort of problems African-Americans faced during the Civil Rights struggle.

The point of this song is to get Grand Scheem on the map, and do so easily. What easier way is there to storm on the scene than to be outspoken and edgy, especially with what he's being outspoken against? So a few political song lines, paired with an advertising claim of being "banned' from the soundtrack of Fahrenheit 9/11 naturally compels people to listen out of sheer curiosity.

Terrorism is the buzzword in today's society, and is certainly more prevalent today than it was 10 years ago. Terrorism, which used to be an afterthought on the news now takes center stage because America has been personally involved in the struggle. Car bombings in other nations used to be back page filler on the news, but now it could be Al Qaeda, so the American public wants to know.

Also increasingly in society people are becoming doubtful of the nation's motivations in Iraq, and more and more people are asking why. A small number of people feel that America is in Iraq to control oil money. Grand Scheem is directly courting them, because he mentions oil and blood in the song. However, the few political commentaries that appear in this song are wrapped heavily in typical mainstream filler. If you were to count how many times Grand Scheem mentions himself (either by saying I or my) in his song, you would count 35 occurrences in four minutes. Most of it comes in the form of bragging - about being a gangster with a cold criminal mind, lots of connections and wealth, and of course, blessed genitalia, to put it nicely. Perhaps Michael Moore pulled this song from the soundtrack of Fahrenheit 9/11 because he felt Grand Scheem was using his political vehicle to ride to fame. After all, how much political barnstorming could one do in five minutes while referring to oneself 35 times? If you want something truly political - and frankly, scary - listen to the song lines that are conveniently left off the lyrics published on his Web site: "You know the real deal, **** a skyscraper, I'll package this and sell it to your little daughter. She'll love me for it, she'll **** me for it, she's got to pay for it, you'll hate me for it..."
What could be heard in these lyrics is a clear intention to pursue a terrorist goal in a different way. It could be saying that he'll get to people not by destroying a skyscraper, but by getting into the mind of children and influencing them, and that sort of influence lasts a lot longer than sorrow over fallen towers. Whether that's how Grand Scheem meant it or not, it's ominous that this message can be found. According to an interview Grand Scheem did with a Web site called Pop and Politics, the reason his song did not make the Fahrenheit 9/11 soundtrack is content. Scheem said to the interviewer that he felt Moore didn't want the song because "Michael Moore is controversial, but he's not Osama bin Laden controversial." Grand Scheem's song has gotten approval in high levels at college radio stations, and music directors are hailing it as "the truth." The truth about "The Greatest Scheem Ever Sold" is that Scheem himself is selling a scheme to listeners. Riding on a horse of anti-war edginess and righteousness against an evil, greedy America, Grand Scheem is hitching a ride on the bandwagon, onto the radios of colleges all over the nation, pretending to sell politics and instead giving the listener the same kind of rap that can be heard from Ludacris or Lil' Jon. Listening to his song gets him the exposure he wants, so if you choose to take a listen, his mission has succeeded and his name is out there. However, he's getting popular on something he knows will get him popular, and whenever people laud "The Greatest Scheem Ever Sold" as a daring political commentary, they're buying into his scheme.