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Songs Supporting Equality, Justice & Resistance, Vol. 1The 10 songs that appear on this particular playlist are heavier, supporting equality, justice, and the ‘resist’ movement. 

“There’s a lynching in the square / You will have to join us / Everyone’s going to be there / We’re setting up the truss.” Reading the aforementioned lyrics from Depeche Mode song “The Worst Crime” should make everybody feel uncomfortable to the nth degree.  The songs that grace this particular playlist are heavier, supporting equality, justice, and the ‘resist’ movement.  That resist movement refers to an ‘unexpected’ president, which many musicians have expressed their disdain for. A prime example via Kendrick Lamar:

“Homicidal thoughts; Donald Trump’s in office / We lost Barack and promised to never doubt him again / But is America honest, or do we bask in sin?”

Sigh, without further ado, here are Songs Supporting Equality, Justice & Resistance, Vol. 1.

[/nextpage] [nextpage title=”1. Eminem” desc=”‘Like Home'” img=”19571″]

1. Eminem, “Like Home”

Ft. Alicia Keys

Album: Revival

Interscope, 2017

Eminem, Revival © InterscopeAlicia Keys joins Eminem on “Like Home,” clearly an anti-Trump statement. It should be noted, this isn’t the first time the rapper has criticized a president (“Mosh” from Encore). Also, Eminem called him a bitch on his guest verse for Big Sean’s “No Favors.” Despite being critical of the president, this isn’t anti-American. Keys definitely confirms the pro-American sentiment on the chorus.

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[nextpage title=”2. Logic” desc=”‘America'” img=”14941″]

2. Logic, “America”

Ft. Black Thought, Chuck D, Big Lenbo & No ID

Album: Everybody

Def Jam, 2017

Logic, Everybody © Def Jam“George Bush doesn’t care about black people / 2017 and Donald Trump is the sequel so / Shit, I’ll say what Kanye won’t / Wake the f*ck up and give the people what they want.” “America” assembles a cast including Black Thought, Chuck D, Big Lenbo, and No ID. Like numerous musicians, Logic drops his anti-Trump sentiment:

“Fight the power, fight the power / Fight for the right to get up and say f*ck white power / Everybody come and get up, get on / And no matter what you fighting for I promise that it’ll live on / Like Make America great again / Make it hate again / Make it white / Make everybody fight…/ And everybody wonder, why the world insane.”

Expectedly, the support cast follows suit, criticizing the Trump presidency and his respective followers. Notably, Chuck D makes reference to the Flint, Michigan water crisis, in relationship to the larger problem of dirty politics.

[/nextpage] [nextpage title=”3. Lana Del Rey” desc=”‘God Bless America…'” img=”16088″]

3. Lana Del Rey, “God Bless America – And All the Beautiful Women in It”

Album: Lust for Life

Interscope, 2017

Lana Del Rey, Lust for Life © Interscope“God Bless America – And All the Beautiful Women in It” is a women’s empowerment record, written in anticipation of politics affecting women. Interestingly, it follows “Coachella – Woodstock in My Mind” in the sequence of Lust for Life, a record that is the catalyst for numerous social and politically-charged records. The melody on the chorus is simple, yet beautiful, while the messaging is pitch perfect for the current climate.

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[nextpage title=”4. YG” desc=”‘FDT'” img=”5648″]

4. YG, “FDT”

Album: Still Brazy

Def Jam, 2016

YG, Still Brazy © Def Jam“I like white folks, but I don’t like you / All the n*ggas in the hood wanna fight you.” “FDT” is politically charged and not the least bit subtle in message.  What does “FDT” stand for? Why “F*ck Donald Trump” – what else.  Really, is there any need to expound any further? Nah. Point clearly articulated YG.

[/nextpage] [nextpage title=”5. Joey Bada$$” desc=”‘Land of the Free'” img=”15064″]

5. Joey Bada$$, “Land of the Free”

Album: All-Amerikkkan Bada$$

Pro Era, 2017

Joey Badass, ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADASS © Pro Era“Trickery in the system, put my n*ggas in prison / All our history hidden, ain’t no liberty given.” On the valedictory “Land of the Free,” Joey Bada$$ isn’t playing around in the least.  Like the Dixie Chicks back in 2006, he’s mad as hell.  Racism is the focus of his anger, but he gets political shots in as well:

“The first step into change is to take notice / Realize the real games that they tried to show us / 300 plus years of them cold shoulders / Yet 300 million of us still got no focus / Sorry America, but I will not be your soldier / Obama just wasn’t enough, I just need more closure / And Donald Trump is not equipped to take this country over / Let’s face facts ‘cause we know what’s the real motives.”

[/nextpage] [nextpage title=”6. G-Eazy” desc=”‘Love is Gone'” img=”18920″]

6. G-Eazy, “Love is Gone”

Ft. Drew Love

Album: The Beautiful & Damned

RCA, 2017

G-Eazy, The Beautiful & Damned © RCAG-Eazy joins the ‘resist’ movement on “Love is Gone”, the seventh teaser track that was issued in advance of his third studio album, The Beautiful & Damned. In addition to stellar production work, and beautiful, distinct, soulful vocals from Drew Love (THEY.), G-Eazy addresses relevant social issues. Instead of the one-liners about stealing someone’s girl, he tackles the political climate of America, and unfair treatment of the marginalized.  That’s definitely new for the Bay Area rapper.

[/nextpage] [nextpage title=”7. Depeche Mode” desc=”‘Where’s the Revolution'” img=”14804″]

7. Depeche Mode, “Where’s the Revolution”

Album: Spirit

Columbia, 2017

Depeche Mode, Spirit © ColumbiaDepeche Mode is critical of the current state of affairs on “Where’s the Revolution.” The source of anger is government and the game of politics.  While Dave Gahan criticizes those in power, he points the finger at the people: “Where’s the revolution? / Come on, people / You’re letting me down.” By the bridge, the revolution ensues, characterized by repetition: “The train is coming… / So get on board / Get on board…/The engine’s humming.” The production work is intense, amplified by its minor key, matching the disillusionment and disappointment of the current state.

[/nextpage] [nextpage title=”8. Vince Staples” desc=”‘BagBak'” img=”15849″]

8. Vince Staples, “BagBak”

Album: Big Fish Theory

Def Jam, 2017

On “BagBak,” Vince Staples is amplified to the max – you betta ‘back, back.’  That’s the effect of the entire song.  He tackles numerous, heavy topics, including faith, material things, fake friends, injustices for blacks, and disdain for the government and President Trump.  He showcases immense black pride, evident from the jump: 

“This is for my future baby mama / Hope your skin is black as midnight / I’ll take you out that Honda / I can put you in a Benz.”

 

[/nextpage] [nextpage title=”9. Jack Johnson” desc=”‘My Mind is For Sale'” img=”16946″]

9. Jack Johnson, “My Mind is For Sale”

Album: All the Light Above It Too

Republic, 2017

Jack Johnson, All the Light Above It Too © RepublicOn “My Mind is For Sale”, Jack Johnson never seems to get bothered with the stresses of life; he’s even keel.  Even so, he tackles politics, painting a picture of every progressive musician’s enemy – President Donald Trump.  Throughout “My Mind is For Sale,” Johnson characterizes Trump as well as the fallout from his presidency.

[/nextpage] [nextpage title=”10. N.E.R.D.” desc=”‘Don’t Don’t Do It'” img=”19370″]

10. N.E.R.D., “Don’t Don’t Do It”

Ft. Kendrick Lamar

Album: No One Ever Really Dies

Columbia, 2017

“They tell you pull over, tell you get out the car / Don’t do it, don’t-don’t do it.” N.E.R.D. is one of the quirkier collectives around, led by the eclectic, supremely talented Pharrell Williams.  While “Don’t Do It” maintains the ‘left of center’ sound employed by the collective, more notable is a message of social justice.  “Don’t Do It” was inspired by the shooting of Keith Scott.

Even so, Williams cites other examples that resulted in the death of black men: “Whoa Ferguson, oh Baltimore / Raleigh, North Carolina / But you know, you’re gonna do it anyway.”

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the musical hype

the musical hype aka Brent Faulkner has earned Bachelor and Masters degrees in music (music Education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and a freelance music journalist. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.

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