Ari Lesser

Ari Lesser is the king of radical political hip hop.  Ari says that Eugene is ground zero for the hip-hop revolution of conscious lyrics sweeping the nation.  Ari’s music is brilliant, attaining deep insight into hippy culture, as well as more recent American culture.   He often satirizes mainstream rap with “ignorant songs” that are profane, chauvinistic, hedonistic, and sarcastic in an attempt to lay bare the absurdity of popular themes of sexism, racism, violence and drug abuse.  Rhythm and parody are powerful tools.

Ari’s family owns The Funny Times newspaper, an ad free monthly that compiles short stories and cartoons, both political and nonpolitical, from writers and cartoonists around the country.  His CDs are available through The Funny Times.