Although Hip-Hop music has prided itself as the genre that most accurately speaks to and for the people, the art form has branched off into many subsets whose members don’t always seem to have the same objectives. Nonetheless, in times like these, it becomes clear that so many of our favorite artists share some of the same core values and are willing to use their platforms to speak up. Here’s a list of 7 recently released Black Lives Matter inspired singles — some from artists you may not have expected.
Juicy J – “HELLA FUCKIN’ TRAUMA (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH)”
Juicy J is a super solidified OG and that isn’t debatable. That being said, it might not surprise many that he’d be using his platform to speak out against injustice in our communities. Nonetheless, while the Southern Hip-Hop legend is more commonly known for his contributions to the Trap, Crunk, and Horrorcore subgenres, his latest drop, “HELLA FUCKIN’ TRAUMA (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH)” is a well-done and much needed single inspired by recent occurings of police brutality.
$not – Can You Help Me
Florida-bred rising star, $not, made a big splash in late 2019 with his single, “GOSHA”. Known for his alternative rap style featuring a laid back approach to the current trap sound, $not doesn’t exactly cater to the masses. However, his latest single, “Can You Help Me” inspired by the brutal murder of George Floyd is powerful, to say the least, and something that we can all appreciate.
Jim Jones – “The People” + Remix feat. Conway & Marc Scibilia
A few weeks back, Dipset’s Jim Jones dropped a heavy track titled “The People” inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement. Now, about a month later, Jim Jones has recruited Buffalo natives Conway and Marc Scibilia for the remix. “The People”, produced by Harry Fraud, couldn’t be more aptly named as everything about this song, from the production to the delivery, embodies the wide range of emotions currently being felt by ‘the people’.
Tee Grizzley – Mr. Officer feat. Queen Naija & Members of the Detroit Children’s Choir
Tee Grizzley is one of the more powerful young voices in the streets of Detroit and his latest single is an excellent use of that voice. Enlisting the help of fellow Michigan native, Queen Naija, and members of the Detroit Children’s Choir, Tee Grizzley sends a passionate message to America’s police force while also delivering words of hope to those who continue to suffer.
Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture”
With what may be the most popular BLM-inspired songs in the world right now, Lil Baby has absolutely outdone himself with his hit single, “The Bigger Picture”. It comes as no surprise that Lil Baby could make a banger; I mean, seeing he’s been doing it nonstop. Still, I’m sure that if you took a poll beforehand, not many would have expected to see the young Trap artist take such a different approach to his music and, beyond that, to do it so well.
Wale – “MOVIN’ DIFFERENT”
Wale getting insightful, introspective, or controversial doesn’t come as a surprise, especially when it comes to the justice for Black people. Still, when Wale dropped his 6-song EP, The Imperfect Storm, there was something refreshing about it. While featuring heavy commentary on today’s climate, the project is surprisingly upbeat at times as Wale grooves over bouncy dance beats, starting with its lead single, “MOVIN’ DIFFERENT”.
Dead Prez & GetoPros – “Together” [HONORABLE MENTION]
Back in 2001, the world-famous socially conscious Hip-Hop duo, Dead Prez, collaborated with GetoPros on the track, “Together”. Due to being originally released on a limited vinyl run, the song was never before available on streaming services — until now. “Together” is eerily relevant to the current social climate despite being released almost 20 years ago. On the other hand, being able to contribute to a movement with your 20 year old work shows that you have always been on the right side of history, and that’s pretty powerful.