Black History Month and Hip HopFive songs that stood out.
by Mike T. - http://pdxrap.com - Posted 29-Feb-08
Hip hop music has been influencing Black American history for over 30 years. PDXRap choose five songs that we feel strongly stood out.
In 1982, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five release "The Message" on Sugar Hill Records. The song peaked at #4 on the music charts. It was one of the first songs to describe the inner city life to mainstream America.
Public Enemy releases their debut album "Yo! Bum Rush The Show" in 1987. The group Public Enemy included Chuck D, Flavor, the "Minister of Information" Professor Griff and DJ Terminator X. PE came together around an Adelphi College, Long Island radio show. The song Fight the Power helped Black America recognize media control, subliminal messages and political corruption.
2Pac was born to Black Panthers and influence hip hop from the moment he grabbed a microphone. After some legal issues and jail time Suge Knight post Tupac's $1.4 million bail, Tupac signed with Death Row Records and made All Eyes on Me which featured the hit song Dear Mama. This song was very significant because of the message that many black men were able to relate to. Many Black American homes are single parent homes and when 2Pac released this song after the crack and aids outbreaks it made mainstream America see the struggle of single parents.
dead prez is an underground hip-hop duo of alternative rappers stic.man and M-1. They are largely known for their hard-hitting style and politically active lyrics, focusing on racism, critical pedagogy, religion, activism against governmental repression, and corporate control over the media, especially hip-hop record labels. dead prez made their stance clear on their first album, declaring on the lead song, "I'm a African" that the group is "somewhere between N.W.A. and P.E."
Its bigger than Hip Hop is the last song we picked as an influence with Black American History. Again, dead prez delivers a song that talk about Black unity, political involvement and self awareness.
As an honorable mention Voice of the Streets by Meezilini released in 2004 is a Portland classic, like our other five picks this song describes the inner city struggles, family, politics and activism.
Like I said, there are hundreds of songs that helped shape Black American history but these are some that really changed the ideology of mainstream America while contributing to Black American History.
Have a great 2008 Black History Month and remember to keep lifting as we climb.