N.W.A-Fuck The Police

Top right to left: Dr. Dre, Dj Yella, Ice Cube, Eazy E, MC Ren

As I mentioned in the previous post,  police harassment  was at  peak in the hood and a major source of inspiration for songs dissing the police.

There are many songs that target the police, like KRS’s “Sound of the Police,” Geto Boys’ “G Code,” and Big L’s (Rest In Peace as MC Guru would say), “The Enemy,” but none of these songs is as brutal and hostile lyrically towards the 5-0 as “Fuck The Police” is. Click here for the lyrics.

Eric B. & Rakim-Paid In Full

Eric B. & Rakim

While reading some stuff online about when hip hop meant something, i came across this post about the hip hop duo Rakim and the DJ Eric B. and i couldn’t agree more. Rakim is considered as one of the best lyricists in the hip hop industry and without doubt this title is rightfully his. His delivery and style were something new at the time since Rakim’s voice sounded deep and serious, creating thus a synergy with his lyrics which were down to business.

The Message-1st Song To Speak Out

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

The year was 1982, some 34 years ago when Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five released The Message. Up until then hip hop was about the beat, the rhythm, and the flashy dancefloor moves with lyrics like “I said a hip hop hippy, hippy to the hip hip hop you don’t stop the rock” by The Sugarhill Gang in 1979.  Hip hop crews of the time were focusing on the fun someone can have, excluding explicit lyrics and the hardships of living in the ghetto.