What Happened to The Message in Rap Lyrics?
“Why do schools care bout your son’s braids more then they care for his grades?/ Why they hate our white T-shirts and hats turned backwards?/ And why is Jesus Christ never played by black actors?/…And why is Nas the best thing in rap since Chuck D?”– Nas “Why (Remix)” Jadakiss’ “Why” was a much needed breath of fresh air to the rap game back in 2004. The remix, which featured Styles, the ever-conscious rapper Common, the street-poetic Nas, and haunting vocals by Anthony Hamilton, raised awareness in a variety of issues going on today’s society. In the late ’80s, the powerful force of Public Enemy helped to launch a political uproar — both influentially and offensively. With Enemy’s second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, in conjunction with Chuck D naming rap “the black CNN,” the doors quickly opened for the crew to become subject to ridicule and finger pointing, for they were, needless to say, the epitome of controversy. Immortal Technique and only a handful o
