13 Powerful Songs Where Black Lives DO Indeed Matter | Playlist

‘13 Powerful Songs Where Black Lives DO Indeed Matter’ features Springsteen, Jaheim, Lil Baby, Meek Mill, Mickey Guyton & Trey Songz.

“All I wanna say is that they don’t really care about us,” the iconic King of Pop, Michael Jackson sung on his protest anthem, “They Don’t Care About Us.”  Hailing from the most controversial album of his career, HIStory: Past, Present and Future – Book 1, the song garnered its own share of controversy, thanks to the lyrics, “Jew me, sue me, everybody do me / Kick me, kike me, don’t you black or white me.” Controversy wasn’t intended, of course, as the song is all about those suffering from racial inequality and racial injustice. Jackson even explicitly uses police brutality as an example.

Years before Michael Jackson would unleash this rhythmic, meaningful gem, the late, great Nina Simone speaks about all the black inequality going down in the south on “Mississippi Goddam.”  As catchy as this bluesy, civil rights classic is, the events the constructed are shameful.  “Alabama’s gotten me so upset / Tennessee’s made me lose my rest,” Simone sings, continuing, with the signature line, “And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam.” Mississippi, of course, has quite the checkered past when it comes to racism, including the assassination of black civil rights activist, Medgar Evers.

Of course, there are many, many more songs that protest racial injustice. Nina Simone would be one of many artists to cover the unsettling “Strange Fruit,” which references lynching. Of course, it was another icon, Billie Holiday who’s noted for her rendition. Prince, prior to his untimely death, packed a mighty punch with “Baltimore”, a social-conscious pop/rock record that references Michael Brown and Freddie Gray, two fatalities in racial policing issues. Of course, we could never leave out the unapologetic “Fuck Tha Police”, courtesy of N.W.A. (Straight Outta Compton, 1988).  YG, like the West Coast OGs has also been quite the unapologetic protester, whether it be “FDT” (Still Brazy, 2016) or his own “FTP”.

The point of the aforementioned intro is to highlight the fact that protest anthems, specifically in the black community, have been around for years and years.  Furthermore, many of the topics and emotions encompassed in these anthems are just as relevant as they were back then as they are today.  2020 has been a turbulent year all around, made even more turbulent thanks to the senseless deaths of black men and women, including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.  The death of Floyd, in particular, ratcheted up a movement that I can personally say I’ve never witnessed in my life.  The Black Lives Matter protests haven’t been without incident, but, the movement – standing up for years and years of police brutality, racial inequality, and racial injustice – is nothing short of incredible.

Though there are a few bonus songs thanks to the extended intro, 13 POWERFUL SONGS WHERE BLACK LIVES DO INDEED MATTER focuses on anthems that denounce racism and celebrate the importance of black lives.  Some of the songs make reference to specific incidents, while others focus on disadvantages suffered by the black community and rises above such adversity. There are far more than just 13 songs, but there’s a lot to truly feed the mind and reflect, how am I, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, or etc., going to enact the necessary changes.  How do I stand up? Musicians that grace this socially conscious list include Bruce Springsteen, Jaheim, Lil Baby, Meek Mill, Mickey Guyton, and Trey Songz among others. Without further ado, please embrace 13 POWERFUL SONGS WHERE BLACK LIVES DO INDEED MATTER.

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1. Trey Songz, “2020 Riots: How Many Times”

“2020 Riots: How Many Times” • Atlantic • 2020

“They say all I talk about is sex.” More times than not, we associate Trey Songz with sex, just as he asserts on the intro from “Unusual” from his 2010 album, Passion, Pain & Pleasure.  However, like so much of the world, Songz is perturbed and totally pissed off about the racial injustice which has really come to head in 2020, due to the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.  While there have been peaceful protests, there have also been violent, full-on riots.  On his ‘uncharacteristic’ single, “2020 Riots: How Many Times”, he superbly captures the frustration and the pain.

From the beginning, it is clear that Songz is opting for more of an old-school vibe with a dash of gospel sensibilities.  Rather than rely on the synths that characterized so much of popular music in the 2010s into 2020, he’s backed by keyboards primarily. Troy Oliver and Troy Taylor give him fuel for his fire, alongside the many troubling happenings themselves.  After providing some brief insight on the intro, Songz cuts straight to the chase on the somber chorus:

“How many mothers have to cry
How many brothers gotta die?
How many more times?
How many more times?
How many more marches?
How many more signs
How many more lives?
How many more times?”

That’s heavy to say the least. On the verses, he drives the narrative of injustices, referencing details that occurred to those slain (“Playin’ in a park, takin’ your jog…”) and calling for action.  One lyric that particular hits hard: “You got a problem, ‘cause the city on fire / But you quiet when niggas die…” Of course, Songz is more eloquent at times, such as, “It’s so hard to sing these words out loud / All these beautiful, precious black lives / Lost in the name of senseless white pride / Tears fallin’ from my eyes.”

I could write a book on “2020 Riots: How Many Times” but I’d rather you listen and take in all the heartfelt, thoughtful things that Trey Songz sings.  He does an excellent job in the vocal department (when doesn’t he?), and despite the devastation he sings about, the choral vocals definitely add even more excellence and power.  Sure, I mentioned how “2020 Riots: How Many Times” is a change of pace for the artist, but, it’s not even about that.  This is the time to ‘be about it’ and ‘stand up.’  That’s what Trey conveys.

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2. Meek Mill, “Otherside of America”

“Otherside of America” • Atlantic • 2020

“I’ve been tryna run from these caskets / All this pain built in me, nigga / You don’t want none of this action / Go get some money and feed your fam / ‘Cause this is a fuckin’ disaster, yeah.” Woo! Perhaps one doesn’t often associate Meek Mill with socially conscious music.  Maybe, just maybe we should acknowledge this side of the Grammy-nominated rapper more. He’s released qualifying gems including “Young Black American” and “Oodles O’ Noodles Babies”, and now, he adds “Otherside of America” to the mix.  Safe to say, he’s on autopilot – he goes TF in.

“Otherside of America” commences with a sample from an infamous Donald Trump speech, which is chocked-full of negativity, fear tactics, and utter insensitivity toward blacks. “58% of your youth is unemployed,” Trump asserts in the sample, continuing, “What the hell do you have to lose?” From there, Meek Mill dos the damn thing, over banging SHROOM and Butter Beats production. Set in a minor key, the beat is crazy, and the orchestral cues add dramatic flair and intensity (strings, bar chimes).  Even if SHROOM and Butter Beats hadn’t come through, I have a feeling Meek’s spark was already ignited by the incredible unrest that has come to head in 2020.

Meek Mill uses the first verse to share his life story – an arduous, dangerous childhood, and eventually experiencing his come up through rap.  Similarly, on the second verse, he reflects on rough-and-tumble times, including the trouble he’s faced, while also acknowledging his success story: “Started off in the basement / Now it’s rooftops and LeBron there / Still fightin’ open cases / Out on bail, nigga, but it’s my year…”  Of course, it’s the chorus that paints quite a portrait of the experience some blacks face that are far too often taken for granted, and that those who have privilege never face nor understand:

“...Mama at work, daddy, he dead, nigga we lonely
Stomach growlin’ like a AMG, goin’ to bed, we hungry
Uzi on me, all my friends are dead, nigga, we lonely
Reportin’ live from the other side of America.”

Mill also closes with a bang, sharing an excerpt from his CNN interview as he discusses growing up in “ruthless environments.” Meek tells Michael Smerconish, “You see seven people die a week, though you would probably carry a gun yourself, would you?” Smerconish responds, “Uh, yeah, I probably would.”  So much more could be written about this three-and-a-half-minute-plus gem.  Meek Mill absolutely slaughters, painting and excellent, unsettling portrait of “the other side of America.” No, it’s not a song some people might want to hear or even acknowledge, but it’s a song that everyone should hear.

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3. Mickey Guyton, “Black Like Me”

“Black Like Me” • Capitol Nashville • 2020

“Broke my heart on the playground, mm / When they said I was different…” Let that sink in.  2020 has been a turbulent year all around, with the world combatting COVID-19 and the United States specifically fighting racial inequality, racial injustice, and police brutality.  A number of black musicians have used their platform to celebrate blackness and fight for racial equality.  Mickey Guyton is a black female who is in a genre that lacks much black representation – country music.  Country has expanded to include more black artists over the years, but still it’s a historically white genre, and black artists often struggle for success, or gravitate to ‘urban’ genres.  That aside, Guyton drops an incredible country single, “Black Like Me”, that has massive crossover ability, but more importantly, exhibits pride for being black.

The theme and lyrics of “Black Like Me” are the crowning achievement, particularly given the climate of the country at this time.  Mickey reflects on the past, as the aforementioned lyrics confirm, and she moves on to the present, as an adult.  She laments the inequalities on the pre-chorus, and truly ‘brings it on home’ what it feels like to experience it, even as an adult:

“It’s a hard life on easy street
Just white painted picket fences far as you can see
If you think we live in the land of the free
You should try to be black like me.”

Guyton continues to provide details regarding her experiences and bringing to light the additional adversities faced by a person of color.  Besides the lyrics, there is so much more to appreciate about “Black Like Me.”  If the theme weren’t the crowning achievement, it would definitely be the high-flying, powerhouse vocals of Guyton – the lady has a marvelous, utterly sublime voice.  Furthermore, the production does a fine job of balancing the pop/urban sensibilities, while still being idiomatic of country. 

“Black Like Me” is a brilliant commentary on race from an unlikely source.  Mickey Guyton certainly doesn’t look like your typical country artist, yet she excels at it.  Furthermore, she uses her platform to open eyes about race and show her pride being black.  Ultimately, it’s quite the success.

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4. Bruce Springsteen, “American Skin (41 Shots)”

High Hopes • Bruce Springsteen • 2014

“41 shots / Cut through the night / You’re kneeling over his body in the vestibule / Praying for his life.” “American Skin (41 Shots)” is the heaviest moment of High Hopes, the 2014 album by Bruce Springsteen.  The chilling record was dedicated to Trayvon Martin, certainly among many, senseless tragedies involving unarmed black men. Martin was just 17 when he was shot and killed in 2012.  Even though “American Skin (41 Shots)” was dedicated to Martin, it should be noted, the song wasn’t brand new.  It was inspired by completely different incident, 13 years earlier.

You see, back in 1999, 23-year old West African immigrant Amadou Diallo was fatally shot by the NYPD sparking outrage.  Springsteen wrote this song protesting the wrongful death that same year. 41 shots is the amount of shots fired towards Diallo. “American Skin (41 Shots)” first appeared on his live album, Live in New York City from 2001, but wouldn’t receive the studio treatment until 2014.  Quoting myself, as stated in my write-up about the track on the curated playlist, Music to Atone to, “While the lyrics are tailored to Diallo, the studio version embodies the spirit of other senseless fatalities…” “American Skin (41 Shots)” certainly has a chilling, disturbing lyrical tone:

“Is it a gun, is it a knife, is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain’t no secret, it ain’t no secret, no secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin...”

Another set of lyrics that I highlighted previously from “American Skin” is about interaction with police when you are black in America.  Again, this was written in 1999, yet, ask yourself, how much has changed, when you read the lyrics.

“You’ve got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you,
Promise me you’ll always be polite
And that you’ll never ever run away
Promise Mama you’ll keep your hands in sight.”

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5. Jaheim, “Florida”

Appreciation Day • Atlantic • 2013

Jaheim spent the majority of his 2013 album, Appreciation Day ‘appreciating’ women. A prime example: “Pussy Appreciation Day”. Hmm, wonder what that one’s about exactly! Anyways, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer took a detour to go into a socially conscious direction, hence the phenomenal record, “Florida.”  Sure, the many sex-driven songs from Appreciation Day are great (I’m all about “Sexting”), but “Florida” is clearly more transcendent, and its theme still resonates today. It is another example of a song, inspired by a separate incident, that is very much relevant today.

So, what’s “Florida” all about? In this particular song, the connotation is negative to the nth degree.  No, “Florida” doesn’t paint that sexy beach scene comprised of hot women in bathing suits or hunky shirtless men living it up. Instead, it questions the controversial Trayvon Martin verdict.  Earlier, on this list, it was mentioned that Bruce Springsteen dedicated “American Skin (41 Shots)” to Martin, the unarmed, black teenager fatally shot.

“Oh, Florida something’s very wrong
Need to know, what’s going on?
Can we make this house a home
Oh, Florida can I talk to you?
Can we walk and have an interview?
Florida, this land is overdue.”

Here, Jaheim arguably sounds more powerful than when he’s singing about sex, as he captures the pain and repercussions of the case and the senseless deaths of blacks.  Of course, those senseless deaths continue to happen in a hellishly vicious cycle.  BLACK LIVES MATTER.

“He was standing outside his daddy’s home
He was all alone, on the cellphone
About 7:16 the call goes dead
Trayvon’s on the struggle now
He was lyin’ on the ground
Fighting to save his life, and as the gun went off
He got hit in the chest and the neighbor who shot him confessed
And the saddest part about this was he was only 17
He didn’t even live his dream.”

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6. Tee Grizzley, “Mr. Officer”

Ft. Queen Naija & Detroit Youth Choir

“Mr. Officer” • 300 Entertainment • 2020

“Mr. Officer, Mr. Officer / Y’all are killin’ us, Mister Officer…” It only takes a few seconds into “Mr. Officer” to see where rapper Tee Grizzley is going with the record. “Mr. Officer” is one of numerous musical reactions and responses to the racial turbulence that has come to head in 2020.  Racial inequality, racial injustice, and policing issues have been around for a long, long time, but numerous 2020 incidents – particularly the murder of George Floyd – served as the catalyst for a movement.  Grizzley, assisted by Queen Naija and the members of Detroit Youth Choir, express their emotions and frustrations with the racial issues plaguing America.

The chorus is performed by all three artists in some capacity, throughout the song. Melodically, of course, it lies in the hands of Queen Naija and Detroit Youth Choir.  It continues from the aforementioned excerpt, pulling at the emotional heartstrings, with a black gospel vibe:

“What if that was my brother?
What if that was my dad?
What if that was my uncle?
What if that was all I had?”

Tee Grizzley natural raps both verses.  He is heartfelt and honest about how he feels about the situation, with moments like “I see the police and it fuck with my nerves” or perhaps more powerful, “He can’t breathe and you still chokin’ him, man, why would he lie / Your knee in his neck, you ain’t gotta do all that…” Grizzley is definitely on-point in both of those first verse lyrical gems.  Perhaps I’m a bit less thrilled about a lyric like, “They brought us here against our will, now they ain’t happy with us / That’s crazy,” given it’s a bit counterproductive.  Still, as a black man, I totally get the sentiment.   I appreciate the passion that Grizzley brings, even if I sometimes the flow feels a smidge off-beat – nitpicking.  What’s most important is what he preaches in his rhymes – Amen!

All in all, “Mr. Officer” is another protest song where black artists continue to use their platforms to express their feelings and continue to propel the movement forward.  Tee Grizzley makes some great points, while also being raw with his feelings.  Queen Naija and Detroit Youth Choir definitely provide some power with their soulful vocals and a simple but highly effective chorus.  There are more potent protest songs I’ve heard in 2020, but don’t get it twisted, “Mr. Officer” definitely needs to be heard and bigger picture, changes must happen – we can’t go on like this.  Black lives, indeed, matter.

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7. Terrace Martin & Denzel Curry, “Pig Feet”

Ft. Kamasi Washington, G Perico & Daylyt

“Pig Feet” • Sounds of Crenshaw / EMPIRE • 2020 

“They shot him / They shot him, they shot him / Oh my god, he didn’t even have a gun…” And so, it begins, sigh.  Terrace Martin and Denzel Curry don’t waste anytime joining a growing group of black artists expressing their frustrations with racial injustice, particularly police brutality.  Contemporary protest record, “Pig Feet”, is a perfect musical means to continue to build the movement of not only awareness, but fuel systematic change.  Martin and Curry are assisted by gifted saxophonist Kamasi Washington and rappers G Perico and Daylight.

Following the tone setting intro by Britney Thomas (which features gun shots, police sirens, and Washington’s sax playing), Denzel Curry properly dives into the meat of the song on the first verse. There is no shortage of emotional, ‘heavy’ lines, starting at the top, honestly:

“Helicopters over my balcony
If the police can’t harass, they wanna smoke every ounce of me
Breath is alchemy, see how the life converted
You tell me life’s a female dog, well, I’m perverted...”

That doesn’t even account for the “Tragedy all over the screen like William Shakespeare plays,” or the fact that Curry believes, “They want us crucified with stones and hard rocks.” An interlude, featuring G Perico and Thomas follows, playing off the intro regarding police brutality.  From there, Daylyt takes the second verse which is absolutely wild – in the most artistic way possible.  Quite gifted lyrically, Daylyt delivers some sick wordplay that you definitely have to listen to a couple of times just to full process.  What is self-explanatory are lines like, “They gon pay for takin’ my brother,” as well as the powerful closing statement, “I’m here to remind niggas we kings.”

It goes without mention above, but Terrace Martin does a fantastic job with the production, which has more of that old-school, jazz rap vibe – for the win of course! All in all, “Pig Feet” is another powerful, contemporary protest record.  Denzel Curry and Daylyt do an amazing job rapping, while Britney Thomas and G Perico are superb on the interludes.  And Kamasi Washington – well – the man is just a beast on the saxophone.  Times are turbulent and ugly, but some truly great, meaningful music is arriving out it.

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8. G-Eazy, “Love is Gone (Remix)”

Ft. Drew Love & JAHMED

“Love is Gone (Remix)” • RCA • 2020

“It’s hard to sleep these days / The sounds of all the screams keep me awake / Love is gone, love is gone.” “Love Is Gone” ranked among the best and most hard-hitting songs from The Beautiful & Damned, the 2017 double album by G-Eazy. Sure, banger “No Limit” was the song to beat, but “Love is Gone” runs deeper.  Amazingly, the song is quite relevant in the turbulent times of 2020.  But before we get to that, purely from a musical standpoint, the production work (G-Eazy and Dakari) is a selling point, featuring dusty, old-school drums, and set in minor key.  Drew Love blesses us with his beautiful, distinct, and soulful vocals on the aforementioned, thoughtful chorus.

Rather than relying on the shallow, G-Eazy focused on relevant political and social issues throughout “Love is Gone.” On “Love is Gone (Remix)”, both of his verses remain untouched.  After hearing the song for the first time in a while, it’s easy to forget the amount of passionate, relevant points the rapper made about so many unfortunate and wrong things going down in America.  His first line definitely isn’t far-fetched: “Shit, the world is in flames.” His most powerful bars actually arrive on the second verse, led by ferociously denouncing President Trump:

“Everything not gravy, we can’t pretend it is
So I salute YG, fuck the president
‘Cause he a fucking racist supported by white supremacists
Fuck Donald, go back to just running businesses.”

Speaking as a black man, much of the black community feels that the president is ignorant, insensitive and uncommitted to the problems that plague the community.  Perhaps the language is rough by Eazy, but he actually captures the anger and frustration with incredible passion.  My favorite lyrics are the all-encompassing: “Until we all love each other, nobody benefits / Minorities and feminists, trans, gays, and immigrants…”

Again, the original song was already pretty sweet, but the remix adds rapper JAHMED, who adds more relevance to the record in 2020 given the police brutality, racial injustice, and protests.  “They’re tryna hide the truth and give the bail to these pork rinds,” he spits on the third verse, continuing, “The proof is in the footage you ignorin’, what’s online / Y’all only love a nigga when he ballin’ up, courtside / We crying for justice, how you don’t understand the substance.” Expectedly, JAHMED speaks against Trump as well, references Kaepernick, and ends with the powerful, “So try to understand before you fuck up my community.”

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9. Gary Clark, Jr., “This Land”

This Land • Warner • 2019

“Paranoid and pissed off / Now that I got the money / Fifty acres and a model A / Right in the middle of Trump country.” Uh oh – we see where this is going! “This Land”, the electrifying minor-key title track from Gary Clark, Jr.’s 2019 album This Land, reflects on the American plight of people of color.  Throughout the course of the song, the eclectic blues/rock singer/guitarist depicts the prevalence of racism within the world’s greatest country.

The most powerful lyrical statement that is made on “This Land” comes courtesy of the chorus, where Gary Clark, Jr. unapologetically states the mindset of racists:

“‘Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from, uh
Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from
We don’t want, we don’t want your kind
We think you’s a dog born’
Fuck you, I’m America’s son
This is where I come from.”

Following the utterly ridiculous statement made about the American-born black musician, who represents numerous African Americans, he packs a mighty punch on the post-chorus where he asserts, “This land is mine.”  Also, worth noting, Clark, Jr. delivers a totally badass guitar solo.  “This Land” previously appeared on the playlist, 13 Contemporary Protest Anthems.

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10. Janelle Monáe, “Americans”

Dirty Computer • Bad Boy • 2018

“Love me baby, love me for who I am / Fallen angels, singing ‘Clap your hands’ / Don’t try to take my country, I will defend my land / I’m not crazy, baby, naw, I’m American.” “Americans” concludes Dirty Computer, the critically-acclaimed, Grammy-nominated album by Janelle Monáe. Interestingly, as awesome as “Americans” is, in the context of Dirty Computer, it’s a bit more underrated compared to gems like “PYNK”, “Make Me Feel”, and “I Like That”.  Even so, considering how turbulent 2020 in particular has been regarding race, “Americans” may be the most important song from the album.

As the aforementioned chorus suggest, “Americans,” embracing 80s production cues, delivers the ultimate socially charged message.  Janelle Monáe expounds upon the all-encompassing, changing face of America, which embraces a multitude of different races (“Until Latinos and Latinas don’t have to run from walls…”), lifestyles (“Uncle Sam kissed a man”), and religions.  Monáe also tackles resistance towards equality for women (“…She can wash my clothes / But she’ll never ever wear my pants”) and guns (“I keep my two guns on my blue nightstand”).  She makes incredible points, all of which shouldn’t be a big deal in the least.  Unfortunately, it’s just not that easy.  Why is equality so hard to attain? “Americans” previously appeared on the playlist, 15 Must-Hear, All-American Songs and 13 Contemporary Protest Anthems.

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11. Lil Baby, “The Bigger Picture”

“The Bigger Picture” • Quality Control Music • 2020

Sometimes, you really don’t know where your protest songs are coming from. Grammy-nominated rapper Lil Baby has had an incredibly successful year. His 2020 sophomore album, My Turn, has lit up the charts – understatement.  Even so, he’s not the first artist that comes to mind when you expect a deeper, more insightful record, particularly given the trap style.  But guess what? Baby silences the skeptics, including myself, on “The Bigger Picture” a song that I certainly couldn’t omit from 13 POWERFUL SONGS WHERE BLACK LIVES DO INDEED MATTER.

“The Bigger Picture” commences with an intro, which sets the tone.  Naturally, the senseless death of George Floyd is the catalyst, as we hear a news clip about the protests in Minneapolis.  The intro fittingly concludes with “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe”).  From there, Lil Baby is on autopilot, blending conscious rap with his beloved trap flow.  Throughout the course of a couple of verses, he’s very honest, thoughtful, and quite insightful about the events that have turned the world upside down.  “I find it crazy the police’ll shoot you and know that you dead, but still tell you to freeze / Fucked up, I seen what I seen,” he spits on the first verse, continuing, “I guess that mean hold him down if he say he can’t breathe.”

There are countless instances where Lil Baby nails it.  “I see blue lights, I get scared and start runnin’,” perfectly captures the fears black men and women have of the police, based on an ugly history.  On the second verse, he supports the protest, but is also sensible, acknowledging that “Corrupted police been the problem where I’m from / But I’d be lyin’ if I said it was all of them.”  Also, incredibly ‘woke,’ on the third verse, he spits, “What happened to COVID? Nobody remember.” Dope!

Lil Baby brilliantly sums up “The Bigger Picture” on the chorus:

“It’s bigger than black and white
It’s a problem with the whole way of life
It can’t change overnight
But we gotta start somewhere
Might as well gon’ head start here
We done had a hell of a year
I’ma make it count while I’m here
God is the only man I fear.”

BOOM! BLACK LIVES DO INDEED MATTER!!!

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12. Run the Jewels, “A few words for the firing squad (radiation)”

RTJ4 • BMG Rights Management • 2020 

RTJ4, the fourth album by power duo Run the Jewels (El-P and Killer Mike), is another superb addition to their discography.  Furthermore, it’s one of the crowning achievements of 2020.  Throughout the album, El-P and Killer Mike deliver conscious rap, which is perfectly suited given the turbulent, unsettling happenings of 2020.  What I’m saying is, while “A few words for the firing squad (radiation)” gets the nod for exhibiting BLACK LIVES DO INDEED MATTER, it’s certainly not the sole instance on RTJ4.

So, how about a little rundown of the track first? “A few words for the firing squad (radiation)” concludes RTJ4 and is the longest record, running nearly seven minutes in duration.   Naturally, it’s jam-packed, with both rappers being honest, reflective, and true to self.  Their respective verses (four of them) don’t take up the entirety of the record.  There is a two-minute instrumental break, as well as an outro that relates directly to the opening record, “Yankee and the Brave (Ep. 4)”. Thee outro features vocals from Matt Sweeney and A$AP Ferg.

Since this is a protest-centered list, it’s important to highlight how that comes into play within the song.  We’ll turn our attention to Killer Mike, on the second verse of the record.  Here, Killer Mike suggests his wife worries about his life, given his prominence and potential to be an activist:

“Friends tell her, ‘He could be another Malcolm, he could be another Martin’
She told her partner, I need a husband more than the word needs another martyr.”

Shifting to El-P, on the third verse, he’s onboard with the fight to cease racial injustice:

“When you’re surrounded by the fog, treadin’ water in the ice-cold dark
When they got you feelin’ like a fox runnin’ from another pack of dogs
Put the pistol and the fist up in the air, we are there, swear to God.”

On the fourth and final verse, Killer Mike celebrates survival, the come-up, and of course delivering a big ‘fuck you’ to the haters.

“Black child in America, the fact that I made it’s magic
Black and beautiful, the world broke my mama heart, and she died an addict
God blessed me to redeem her in my thoughts, words, and my actions
...For the truth tellers tied to the whippin’ post, left beaten, battered, bruised
For the ones whose body hung from a tree like a piece of strange fruit
Go hard, last words to the firing squad was, ‘Fuck you too.’”

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13. Childish Gambino, “This is America”

“This is America” • RCA • 2018

Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) returned with a bang in 2018 with single “This is America”.  While the lyrical approach is simple on this record, the socially-conscious message that Glover makes is pitch-perfect – clearly relevant to the times. Throughout the course of this Grammy-winning record, he references policing in America and gun violence, important issues in the black community, as well as focusing on excess as a distraction from those truly important matters.

The intro of “This is America” is performed by a black choir.  Notably, there’s a hint of tropical, international flavor – clearly an ‘African’ influence, which seems intentional to say the least.  The tropical, international flavor is more pronounced on the bridge performed by Childish Gambino.  The tone of the chorus is an about-face from the extended intro/bridge section.  The sound is clearly darker, more pessimistic, and more serious in tone.  Childish Gambino raps, “This is America / Don’t catch you slippin’ up… / Look what I’m whippin’ up…”

The first verse settles into the darker, hip-hop driven sound introduced upon the chorus. Glover is the lead, but there are ad-libs inserted from a variety of rappers.  As aforementioned, Glover makes references to policing in America and gun violence, important issues in the black community. A contrasting refrain, performed by the choir with a response by Glover, embodies the exuberance of the intro with different lyrics: “Get your money, black man (get your money).” Once again, the minor key returns on the chorus, followed by the second verse by Childish Gambino.  Here is where the ‘excess as a distraction’ comes into play. Such excess includes material things, as well as referencing hustling.  Following another refrain that incorporates Young Thug for two lines, who provides the outro for this Grammy-winning gem. “This is America” has appeared on multiple playlists including 15 Must-Hear, All-American Songs and 13 Contemporary Protest Anthems.

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13 Powerful Songs Where Black Lives DO Indeed Matter [Photo Credits: 300 Entertainment, Atlantic, Bad Boy, BMG Rights Management, Brent Faulkner, Bruce Springsteen, Capitol Nashville, EMPIRE, Pexels, Pixabay, Quality Control Music, RCA, Sounds of Crenshaw, The Musical Hype, Unsplash, Warner]

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