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Along with an influential musician such as Beyonce, countless other rappers and singers with just as big a voice and power have incorporated the movement into their lyrics. The most prevalent topic for rap lyrics is police brutality, involving the undue violence and misconduct by police officers towards other, usually minorities. This unjust action is an obvious sign that racism is still just as strong as it was generations before, it has just evolved. Lil Durk on HipHopDX radio explains that “Killing happens everywhere; it happens, but it’s not supposed to happen by the people who’s supposed to protect us.” Through all eras of rap and hip hop, the topic of police brutality has remained a common theme. As controversial as it may seem, using music and song as an outlet to spread the word is a beautiful, powerful, and wide spreading way to influence the public. These issues of police brutality and racism are something that can not be whispered about behind closed doors. The topic needs to be as commonly discussed as it is in these songs, spreading awareness and making it a more talked about issue that is harder to ignore for not only listeners and fans, but also the people against this type of music.
Kendrick Lamar “Alright”- “Ni**a, and we hate po-po/ Wanna kill us dead in the street fo
sho’/Ni**a, I’m at the preacher’s door/My knees getting weak and my gun might blow/But
we gon’ be alright”
Jay Z “Spiritual”- “I am not poison/Just a boy from the hood that got my hands in the air/ In
despair dont shoot/I just wanna do good”
Jay Z “A Billi”- “Shawn Carter, Sean Bell whats the difference? Do tell. 50 shots or 50 mil aint no
difference go to hell”
J. Cole “Be Free”- “Can you tell me why/Every time I step outside i see ni**as die/I’m lettin’ you
know/That their ain’t no gun they make that can kill my soul”
J. Cole “Crooked Smile”- “Hey officer man, we don’t want nobody getting killed/ Just open up at
that cell, let my brother out of jail”
Usher “Chains”- “I am Sugar Ray Robinson, Booker T. Washington/ W. E. B. Du Bois, I’m the
Modern one/Yelling at senators, presidents, congressmen/We got a problem that needs
Some acknowledgment/I am no prison commodity, not just a body you throw in a cell”
2Pac “Trapped”- “They got me trapped/ Can barely walk the city streets/ Without a cop
Harassing me, searching me/ Then asking my identity/ Hands up, throw me up against
the wall/ Didn’t do a thing at all…”
Ice Cube “The Predator”- “Riots ain’t nothing but diets for the system. Fighting with the beast, no
justice, no peace. If any, even if we f**k up Denny. F**k the police.”
N.W.A. (Ni**as With Attitudes) “F**k Tha Police”- “F**k the police! Co`min’ straight from the
underground. A young ni**a got it bad ‘cause i’m brown and not the other color, so police think they have the authority to kill a minority.”
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