by vivrant thang on old school fridays

This week we’re featuring songs with a political/social-political themes.

Plenty of ways I could have gone with this. Immediately I thought of spotlighting James Brown and his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, specifically how he used his music to heal America after Dr. King’s assassination.

However, I just felt the need to keep celebrating the music of Issac Hayes.  I’ve also been listening to a lot of old school hip hop this week, getting hyped for The Legends of Hip Hop concert tomorrow night.  As we know, Ike was rapping before we even knew what we even knew what it was.  Seems fitting.

I consulted Kevin Nottingham’s list of songs that sampled his music and here’s what I came up with. Not all old school but they sure did pay tribute to the classics.

“Hood Took Me Under”, Compton’s Most Wanted (samples “Walk On By”)

Got another gang story to tell.
Peep, about how a black nigga was born in hell.
And right then and there it’s no hope
cause a nigga can’t escape the gangs and the dope.
Damn! And when its black on black, that makes it shitty.
Can’t survive in the Compton city.

“Me Against The World,” Tupac  (samples “Walk On By”)
Had to have some ‘Pac on the list. Should also mention “Souljah’s Story” from his debut album 2Pacalypse. It samples “No Name Bar” from the Shaft album.

When will I finally get to rest? Through this suppression
they punish the people that’s askin questions
And those that possess, steal from the ones without possesions
The message I stress: to make it stop study your lessons
Don’t settle for less – even the genius asks-es questions
Be grateful for blessings
Don’t ever change, keep your essence
The power is in the people and politics we address
Always do your best, don’t let the pressure make you panic
And when you get stranded
And things don’t go the way you planned it
Dreamin of riches, in a position of makin a difference
Politicians and hypocrites, they don’t wanna listen

“I Can’t Go To Sleep”, Wu-Tang Clan f/ Isaac Hayes. He appears in video. (samples “Walk On By”)

I can’t go to sleep, I can’t shut my eyes
They shot the father of his moms, killed him seven times
They shot Malcolm in the chest front of his little seeds
Jesse watched, as they shot King on the balcony
They spat at Marcus, Garvey cause he tried to spark us
with the knowledge of ourselves, and our forefathers
Ohh Jacqueline you heard the rifle shots cracklin
Her husband head in her hair, you tried to put it back in
AMERICA’S WATCHIN, BLOOD STAINED INK BLOTCHES
MEDGAR TOOK ONE TO THE SKULL FOR INTERGRATING COLLEGE
WHAT’S THE SCIENCE? SOMEBODY? THIS IS TRICK KNOWLEDGE
THEY TRY TO KEEP US ENSLAVED AND STILL SCRAPE FOR DOLLARS

Right on.

Electronic Village | Mrs Grapevine | Quick | Cassandra | Danielle | Lisa C | Chocl8t | Kreative Talk | MarvalusOne | Regina | LaShonda | AJ | Sharon | Invisible Woman | Believer 1964 | Dee |SJP | sHaE-sHae | Thembi