Member-only story
The Politic of Hip-Hop
As a 90s baby I grew up on hip hop. I’m talking about some of the greatest albums to ever come out. I was in the lines at record stores, pre-ordering the new CD coming from Aftermath, Def Jam or The Roc. I listened to albums start to finish from the very jump because my pops was an old school DJ after he came home from Vietnam. My father almost only exclusively listened to vinyl, so first listens were always so special. I also was blessed to experience limewire. Music was everywhere and lyrics were my therapist for more years than I can remember. These songs held my pain, my grief, my joy, and my motivation; these bars were laying the foundation of what I believed in as I moved through life. As I reflect on my politic currently I often see, actually hear, how these lyrics that helped me grow up also helped me grow my politic unconsciously.
“Gimme one shot I turn trife life to lavish
Political prisoner set free, stress free
No work release, purple M3’s and jet skis
Feel the wind breeze in West Indies
I’d make Coretta Scott-King mayor o’the cities and reverse feens to Willies…
I’d open every cell in Attica, send ’em to Africa.”
-Nas, If I Ruled The World
