Racism has existed for ages, especially in the United States where slave work contributed to the power and wealth of few. Over the centuries we have largely moved away from laws that make racism legal, but a large part of the population continues to act out against black people and minorities. The recent death of George Floyed in Minneapolis gave way to a movement of protests calling for justice and an end to discriminatory and brutal acts by police. Thousands have marched in the U.S. and around the world, and now Hip-Hop artists are singing lessons of truth to share during these troubled times.
Here is a list of 10 songs about police brutality, racism, and the unjust system we all live in.
1. “2020 Riots: How Many Times” – Trey Songz
Inspired by recent events surrounding the murder of George Floyd, Trey Song is singing lessons why bandmates are playing piano lessons on the struggle for the black community. The song talks about the unfair treatment by police and the brutality promoted by systemic racism. He commented on the song saying: “With the words in this song I just wanted to speak to everyone’s hearts and acknowledge the pain and anguish everyone is going through right now.”
2. “Chains” – Usher
When Usher’s “Chains” came out in 2015, there had been a string of black murders including Trayvon Martin in 2012, Ramarley Graham, Rekia Boyd, and others. This was Usher’s response to the rising violence and prejudice towards blacks. The song also features Nas who famously rapped about the struggles of being black in his iconic album ‘Illmatic’.
3. “Baltimore” – Prince
This track was one of Prince’s last before he died in 2016 and talks about the death of Freddie Gray. Gray died at the hands of police at only 25 years old, and the news was followed by massive protests in Baltimore and around the U.S. Prince recorded the sound only one year before he died, and the track became a hit single on the album ‘Hit n Run Phase Two’.
4. “Alright” – Kendrick Lamar
While Lamar’s track details the difficulties of being black in America, the track is mostly positive and has become an anthem for the Black Lives Matter Movement. In the lyrics, he says despite the horrors of racism and injustice, “we gon be alright”. Pharrell Williams produced the popular track and can be heard in many protest marches and gatherings across the nation.
5. “Sweeter” – Leon Bridges
As a Texas-native, Leon Bridges is no stranger to racism, but despite this the murder of George Floyd represented a “breaking point”. Bridges wrote the song “Sweeter” about a man taking his last breath, a reference to the claim that Floyd took his last breath as he was asphyxiated by a cop. Although the song is part of a future album, Bridges decided to release it early as part of the nation-wide movement calling for justice and equality.
The GRAMMY-winning singer also shared his motivations for releasing the track: “It was the first time I wept for a man I never met,” he said. “I am George Floyd, my brothers ar George Floyd, and my sisters are George Floyd. I cannot and will not be silent any longer. Just as Abel’s blood was crying out to God, George Floyd is crying out to me. So, I present to you Sweeter.”
6. “They Don’t Listen” – Nasty C featuring T.I.
This song is about the helplessness black people feel living in an unjust society. “They Don’t Listen” talks about how this population has been largely ignored and discriminated against, and how deep down many can’t help but feel a deep sadness. The artists chose to donate all proceeds from the song to the Until Freedom & The Solidarity Fund.
7. “Be Free” – J. Cole
The 2014 shooting of Michael Brown inspired this song by J. Cole which talks about the need to “take the chains off” and “be free”. Cole joined in the protests in St. Louis, Missouri and shared his feelings on the incident in an online blog: “That coulda easily been me,” he wrote. “ It could have been my best friend. I’m tired of being desensitized to the murder of black men.”
8. “Rest in Power” – Black Thought
The iconic phrase “Rest in Power” comes from this song which served as the theme to a 2018 documentary produced by Jay-Z, “Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story”. The lyrics include words by the killer, George Zimmerman, and also from Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton.
9. “Status Quo” – C.KHiD
“This is why we act wild” is C.KHiD’s response to police brutality in his classic rap song “Status Quo”. The throwback track details the various ways the legal system has been unfair to black and hispanic people and includes a scene where Las Vegas Metro Police Department officer Dominick Cipriano stop the rapper and his friends while driving in an urban area. “You stopped me because i’m black, let’s be honest” he says, as the officer shoves a document in his face to sign.
10. “Glory” – John Legend
“Glory” is the result of a collaboration between John Legend and Common to create this track which was featured in the Oscar-winning film Selma. The timing couldn’t be more relevant- Michael Brown had just been murdered in Ferguson, and the nation was submerged in protests and marches. The song references the history of discrimination while speaking to the protests of our current day.
Racism is Still Alive
These songs give some context to what we see happening all over the U.S. right now. Waves of protesters are clashing with police, but we continue to see racism in videos uploaded to social media. One Twitter user uploaded this video with the headline: “LVPD TACKLING AN UNARMED PEACEFUL PROTESTER, 5 POLICE OFFICERS FOR ONE UNARMED BLACK MAN?”
For now, we’ll have to wait to see when the violence will stop. However, we are fortunate that Hip-Hop artists are singing lessons of truth to teach our society the realities many people face.And perhaps music will pave the way to justice.
