“The Devil Made Me Do It,” Paris
The list has to end with Paris’ “The Devil Made Me Do It.”
The militant nationalist was one of the most controversial figures in Hip-Hop during the late 80s and early 90s. His lyrics had no problem calling out “devils” that pushed Black and brown people into spaces that did not allow them to thrive in their best identities.
Straight out of the Bay-Area, Paris (whose real name is Oscar Jackson Jr.) was literally too hard and too conscious for the music industry. “Devil Made…” was very first single off his favorite single from his debut album of the same name.
“P-Dog comin’ up, I’m straight loc … Pro-black and it ain’t no joke … Comin’ straight from the mob that broke shit last time … Now I’m back with a brand new sick rhyme … So Black check time and tempo … Revolution ain’t never been simple … Followin’ the path of Mao and Fanon just … Build your brain and we’ll soon make progress … Paid your dues, don’t snooze or lose … They came with the masterplan that got you … So know who’s opposed to the dominant dark skin … Food for thought as a law for the brother man.”
Lyrics like these drew the ire of MTV execs and even the FBI, causing it to be banned from airing on the network. If you thought that NWA’s “FTP” and 2 Live Crew’s “Banned in the USA” were agitants to the government, imagine what these did to get under their skin!
His content – which unapologetically did not rule out violence as a way to end oppression – also scared his record label Tommy Boy that eventually dropped him.
“…Then spit on your flag and government … Cause help the Black was a concept never meant … N*gga please, food stamps and free cheese … Can’t be the cure for a sick disease…”