Since its breakthrough in the 1980s, hip hop music has served as a medium for conscious discussion of socioeconomic and political inequality. Rap can truly serve as a form of activism because it allows disenfranchised people to both express and educate themselves about deep rooted issues.It is an art form that speaks to people of both urban cities and the suburbs. Being a predominantly black genre, rap oftentimes comes under fire and is generalized for some of its shortcomings. It is a vast genre of music, ranging from the highly intellectual to the incredibly ignorant–and this is entirely subjective. By focusing on the more sophisticated, socially conscious works of rap, and discussing these works’ implications in culture, one can begin to understand the power of this music. Works such as Kanye West’s “New Slaves,” A Tribe Called Quest’s “We The People,” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” are modern responses to the current political climate and turmoil within the African American community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUC_DOhfzwQ

Since its breakthrough in the 1980s, hip hop music has served as a medium for conscious discussion of socioeconomic and political inequality. Rap can truly serve as a form of activism because it allows disenfranchised people to both express and educate themselves about deep rooted issues.It is an art form that speaks to people of both urban cities and the suburbs. Being a predominantly black genre, rap oftentimes comes under fire and is generalized for some of its shortcomings. It is a vast genre of music, ranging from the highly intellectual to the incredibly ignorant–and this is entirely subjective. By focusing on the more sophisticated, socially conscious works of rap, and discussing these works’ implications in culture, one can begin to understand the power of this music. Works such as Kanye West’s “New Slaves,” A Tribe Called Quest’s “We The People,” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” are modern responses to the current political climate and turmoil within the African American community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUC_DOhfzwQ