First J.Cole went down to Ferguson to meet with the people who lived there to speak on Michael Brown’s death, where he spoke on the topic of what hip hop used to do; his words “When the music changes, so will the people”. This is a fact because looking into the background of hip hop it has always been the voice of the people, speaking on the issues of poverty, gang violence, police brutality, gentrification, drugs, etc. Hip hop has always spoken on the issues of the black community regardless of the times. The rappers latest project “2014 Forest Hills Drive” is a great depletion of being black in a world where racism is still prominent. With tracks like “No Role Modelz” and “03 Adolescence” it is clear that this rapper has been paying attention.
Next, it was the California native Kendrick Lamar with the ground breaking album “To Pimp a Butterfly” where the gifted rapper spoke on the issues of being black in America to even how we as black people are never taught simple things as saving and investing our money. With tracks like “Wesley’s Story” where he speaks on how we as a people handle our finances using the story of Wesley Snipes and his bankruptcy and IRS issues. We have seen so many fall short due improper spending habits. The rapper spoke on an interview with XXL on how he taught himself how to do spend and save his money wisely. Also, with tracks like “Complexion”, “King Kunta” , “Alright” and “I” which is similar to Gill Scott Heron’s “Who Will Survive in America” where the genius Lamar single handily created the anthem for the next big moment for black people.
Then there was the DC native Wale who would do something else amazing, by going down to Baltimore during the riots and speaking with the youth of the area about the ways of this world. The rapper would surprise a group of students just to show that he stands up for his community. He also would drop the project to the “Nothing” series ‘” The Album About Nothing” where the rapper has tracks such as “The White Shoes” speaking on the issues of black youths dying over sneakers and trying to keep up with the “Jones’s” by trying to keep up with expensive gear by going to great lengths to obtain it. Other tracks would include “The Pessimist” where the rapper and J.Cole both speak on how we as a community thinks in some aspects, the idea of being broke but having nice cars, living in the hood but with expensive material things, black on black crime etc. Addressing issues that so many of us talk about all the time.
There would be some others but the one that would come to the surface next would be T.I. “Tip” Harris the “King” of Atlanta speaking on the conditions of this world, the killing of young black youth by Police Officers. His performance on the Triumph awards on Friday night would broadcast that hip hop is doing what it used to do and that is speak on the issues of the world. On his latest project Paperwork: The Motion Picture where his first single from the album “New National Anthem” feat. Skylar Grey speaks on the hardships that all young black men face whether they are famous or average they are still treated the same by police officers. The rapper speaks on how so many young people have died under the hands of police brutality…he would deliver this poem
“United we stand, because we created a hashtag for Sandra Bland,” Jumped off the front of the ship and dove into the internet waves swimming with DM’s, likes and comments. Not noticing how much that it makes us slaves..chained by a man-made device small enough to fit into the palm of out hand. Guess that’s what’s make it easy to swipe to the left, scroll to the next and forget about Sandra Bland…United we stand because we wore hoodies and t-shirts that read “Black Lives Matter” but, Wait homie take this flick..gotta make sure all my followers see this fresh fit, Are we really about the movement or more concerned with our follower count growing fatter…
We are Trayvon Martin, We are Jordan Davis, We are Eric Garner, WE are Tamir Rice, We are Walter Scott, We are Eric Harris…We are Freddie Gray and We are Sandara Bland. United we Stand”
T.I. would state the truth and ask the real questions. Are we really about the movement that we talk about? How many more times will only a handful of us continue to speak on the deaths of our people from the world and ourselves; only to have the rest simply hashtag and return to “free my nigga” the homeboy who really performed a crime but we are asking that he be free?. How many more times does it have to happen? Does it have to be a blood relative for us to care? Or do we just Pray and keep it at that?
What happened to the people who once prayed and then moved on the issues? By organizing, boycotting, and standing up for them. The people who walked out on their jobs and education to join the movement? We have become so individualistic, materialistic, egotistic, full of pride that we literally only care about ourselves. As a people we should treat each other as if we are all blood related because that’s what it’s going to take. In order to get the results we want we have to start moving, spreading more positivity and end the Jim Crow show we perform every day on social media for free. It’s time for us as a race to stop the continuation of stereotypes, complexion battles , “flexin” on one another, doing the things that society has taught us.
So many of our behaviors were taught by our oppressors but it is us who took those ideologies and ran with them. It is us who added more to the rules of how to treat each other. We assisted with bringing damnation to ourselves in a world that I considered “Free”.
“Home of the brave and free, free just to murder me”…it just may be our new National Anthem, T.I.
-A.C.T.
Aqueilla C. Terry, commonly known to many of her followers as “A.C.T” ; is a talented artists of this generation. Born and raised in Richmond, VA is truly a gem of her time. She has been writing for over 10 years as a young child to know a young woman in a world were “words” are her weapon of choice to achieve success. Often considered to be Erykah Badu’s daughter for her way with words, style, presence, music selections and overall persona. A.C.T. is definitely going to take over the world with wide range of creativity. Her ambition is driven by her will to succeed in reaching her goals, but by doing so by remaining herself along the journey. A.C.T. redefines the young black woman by sticking to her beliefs and who she is inside.
