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10 Hip-Hop Songs About Police Brutality & Misconduct To Vent To

Eric Garner.  John Crawford.  Michael Brown.  Ezell Ford.  All these recent news stories about police brutality are heart-breaking and a painful reminder that, despite how far this country has come in terms of race relations, law enforcement and the justice system still have African-American males in their cross hairs. Moreover, there’s no damn good reason these humans are are dead.  It isn’t right and things need to change. And then, there is the media. Why is the mainstream media seemingly more concerned with relatively minor indiscretions surrounding a tragedy than the tragedy itself? These were human beings with families and loved ones. Never forget: The real tragedies were caused by the police.  And while not all police officers are bad, racist, or corrupt, Hip-Hop has never shied away from addressing the ones who are.  Here is a list of 10 Hip-Hop songs to vent to as we toil over the issue of police misconduct and pure brutality.  And don’t get it twisted, this isn’t about fanning the flames.  It’s about calling out those responsible for starting the fire in the first place sometimes. 10). “Constables” by O.C.: “Constables” confronts the issues of unjust suspicion and police brutality head on.  The track begins with O.C. explaining his feelings about how law enforcement is watching him like a hawk.  Then the song then gets heavier when, even though no crime has been committed for police to investigate, O.C. spits, “They clocking, shocking, and knocking me / Wanting a reason for whocking me.”  For those who think that everyone who runs from cops are criminals, sometimes they do it because criminals are cops. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEnWc41OkkI&w=420&h=315] 9). “Crooked Officer” by Geto Boys: While there are some violent lyrics in this record, it deserves inclusion on this list for other reasons.  The opening imagery in the song’s video is very poignant and with rhymes like, “Friend, do I have to move to River Oaks? / And bleach my f****n’ skin so I can look like these white folks? / Just to get some assistance / Because the brutality in my neighborhood is gettin’ persistent,” it reiterates the issue of police not being as responsive to crime in black communities as they should be. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNEyiuUsgjk&w=420&h=315] 08). “The Enemy” by Big L feat. Fat Joe: Track 8 from The Big Picture has Big L and Fat Joe criticizing overzealous cops who see them as guilty until proven innocent, instead of the other way around.  “Pulling me over to see if I’m drunk, but I’m sober / They wouldn’t f*** with me if I drove a Nova.” [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-829mzD0ro&w=420&h=315] 07). “Friendly Game of Baseball” by Main Source: This is a very clever and insightful song where baseball is used as an analogy for police brutality.  Instead of “runs batted in,” R.B.I. stands for “real bad injury.”  A “good batting average” means shooting lots of people. And the umpires are the government.  Obviously this is no game though and the songs ends powerfully with the cops being sarcastically called out for the damage that they do.  “Instead of innings, we have endings / What a fine way to win things.” [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRuAfOZBzr8&w=420&h=315] 06). “Who Got the Camera?” by Ice Cube: Cube is widely regarded as one of rap’s strongest storytellers, and this record strongly supports that argument.  With The Predator being released in the aftermath of the L.A. Riots in 1992, “Who Got the Camera?” finds Cube putting himself in the role of a motorist being harassed and beaten by cops, not unlike Rodney King.  It’s a great example of Ice Cube balancing social commentary with his hardcore attitude. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOfTgGp6tS0&w=420&h=315] 05). “Illegal Search” by LL Cool J: Before Mase and Kanye each borrowed the beginning of this song (“What the hell are you looking for? / Can’t a young man make anymore?”) to simply talk about how fly and successful they were, LL first came up with it to question police about their desire to search without probable cause.  Fortunately, on this song, it concludes on an uplifting note.  “Jail  is something that I can do without / Case dismissed, and now you wanna pout / You feel like trying it again, but you know it won’t work / Illegal search.” [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J69s7f5F_DA&w=420&h=315] 04). “Sound of Da Police” by KRS-One: The second single from Kris Parker’s solo debut is an amazing record.  It doesn’t just deal with police misconduct, but also institutionalized racism within law enforcement that African-Americans have had to deal with for generations.  “Yeah, officer from overseer / You need a little clarity, check the similarity….”  It’s one of KRS’s most memorable songs, and, after one listen, it’s easy to hear why. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VRZq3J0uz4&w=420&h=315] 03). “Invasion” by Jeru the Damaja: Atop haunting keys, the song starts with Jeru getting pulled over by police and then he goes into how as a young black male he is stereotyped and therefore targeted by police once he starts rapping.  He then takes it a step further and explains his plight of life in the ghetto.  Props to DJ Premier too for outstanding production on this cut, especially the Nas sample from “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” for the title. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0-ZHzPlFWQ&w=420&h=315] 02). “Claimin’ I’m a Criminal” by Brand Nubian: One of the standouts from Everything is Everything is definitely this record.  One of the most brilliant things about it is that the beat samples Luther Ingram’s “I’m Trying to Sing a Message to You” while Lord Jamar talks about being labeled a criminal for speaking out in order to make others aware about police corruption.  And then Sadat X tells listeners to reserve judgement on the penal system until they’ve been there themselves. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toUMQybyxI4&w=420&h=315] 01). “F*** Tha Police” by N.W.A: This iconic cut takes the top spot because it was the first time police were addressed so bluntly about their wrongdoings. This song is all about expressing the frustrations a community feels about being mistreated by the cops in three bold words.  When speaking on the song in a documentary […]

Sadat X Talks New Album “Love, Hell or Right”

(AllHipHop News) Founding Brand Nubian member Sadat X is celebrating 30 years in the Hip-Hop industry, with the release of a new album titled Love, Hell or Right. Love, Hell or Right is the ninth solo album from the New Rochelle, New York native, who is a member of the Five Percent Nation of Gods and Earths. In fact, the album’s title is taken from a degree lesson from the faith. “You have to go through hell in order to do right. It’s dedicated to the hardworking people and not about fame and glory,” Sadat X explained. “Hip-Hop spans the globe, its universal. It’s an art – it doesn’t imitate, it creates.” Love, Hell or Right features 14 tracks, along with production from DJ Spinner, Digging in the Crates members Showbiz, Marco Polo, Grant Parks and Scram Jones. Rappers like N.O.R.E., Smif n’ Wessun, Pharoahe Monch, Roc Marciano, Masta Ace, Dres, Jarobi and AG round out the album. Love, Hell or Right is in stores now on Canadian based label 6.8.2 Records.

Sadat X Preps New Album “Love, Hell or Right”

(AllHipHop News) Legendary lyricist Sadat X has announced a new album titled Love, Hell or Right. Love, Hell or Right will be released through Canadian label, 682 Records. The 14-track album (with a bonus track) features guest appearances for a variety of Hip-Hop veterans, including Pharaohe Monch, NORE, Masta Ace, Smif-N-Wessun, Mysonne and others. “I speak from experience. Love, Hell or Right, is about just that”, Sadat said. “You have to go through hell in order to do right. It’s dedicated to the hardworking people and not about fame and glory. Hip Hop spans the globe, its universal. It’s an art – it doesn’t imitate, it creates.” The first single off of Love, Hell or Right is “This Is Our Thing” featuring Pharoahe Monch and PHIL G. and will drop digitally on November 6. Love, Hell or Right will be released on December 4.

Brooklyn Bodega Announces 4th “Show & Prove Competition” For This Year’s Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

(AllHipHop News) Brooklyn Bodega, the producers behind the 8th Annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, have announced this year’s “Show & Prove Competition” where up-and-coming MCs can compete for the opportunity to perform at this year’s festival. The “Show & Prove” competition takes place over the course of three months and consists of three preliminary contests to be held on April 12, May 10, and June 14. The three preliminary contest winners will compete for an opening slot during the festival’s “Performance Day.” Wes Jackson, executive director of the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival had the following to say about the competition: “We conceived Show & Prove as a way for up-and-coming MCs to play New York’s biggest stage. Show & Prove is in many ways the heart and soul of The Festival. Amidst the hype and buzz, pure talent, professionalism, and artistic integrity are given an avenue to shine. Show & Prove has helped give a platform to a number of talented artists. I am excited to see what this year will bring.” According to Brooklyn Bodega, the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival is “New York City’s largest Hip-Hop cultural event. The Festival showcases the positive aspects of Hip-Hop culture by highlighting Hip-Hop’s legacy as an agent of artistic progression, community building and social change. 2012 events will continue to reflect the full range of Hip-Hop culture, which spans music, film, academics, grassroots empowerment and more.” Since its inception, the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival has featured such headliners as Brand Nubian, KRS-One, Q-Tip, De La Soul, Pharoahe Monch, Ghostface Killah, and Big Daddy Kane. For more information, visit BrooklynBodega.com.