What We Listening To: Revolution Music

Today is election day and while I wish I had some worthwhile to say to you guys as far as it goes, I really don’t. What I do know though is, this election and more so these times aren’t as unique as we may like to think. We may be on the cusp of the next change, but the ultimate goal of humanity will be a continual battle regardless of who becomes the President.

With that in mind here are some songs I think are fitting for the week’s energy.

Noname has been one of the more vocal artists during this year of civil unrest and being that vocal led to her making Song 33, a response to J Cole as well as a few others. Noname isn’t new to political leanings in her music but the issues around the song may have helped give us this particular gem.

Remember I talked about how these times aren’t necessarily unique? Well as far as celebrity political discourse. So let’s go back to 2004. I’m 12 and Eminem is 36 lol but George W. Bush and the Iraq War are in full swing and Eminem has come out with Encore. To this point of Eminem career, he was no stranger to politics or pissing off certain politicians. The song Mosh however was his hardest hitting and most direct shot at a Presidential administration until this latest one.

The artist formerly known as Mos Def who goes by Yasiin Bey now back in the last century broke down the mathematics to this political game on his classic album, Black on Both Sides. Some quick facts I’d like to point out. Twenty-one years ago minimum wage was $5.15, it’s currently $7.75 (pretty sure not googling), there were nine planets at the time, scientist currently have that number at eight and finally 40 percent of Americans owned a cell phone at the time and the number according to Pew research has it at a whopping 96 percent in 2011.

Strange Fruit, a song originally recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939 and written by Abel Meeropol two years prior may be one of the most iconic protest songs of all time. The song, which is a protest anthem against the lynching of black americans in the southern United States, has been covered and remixed by a host of artists for nearly 80 years. As the plight of black americans change, the impact and message in the song doesn’t change.

Some other songs that you may enjoy: 2Pac - Changes, Janelle Monae - Americans, Nipsey Hussle - Noah’s Ark/Sound of My Ceremony, Paul Robeson - Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child

Today might be a lot but play something to keep your spirits high or your mind ready.