Lupe Fiasco: Conflict Diamonds

Dead Prez: Radio Freq

We (a handful of) the People believe that a brighter global future starts with a better education today. With Behind the Rhymes, we hope to make easily accessible a better understanding of current events as well as the history that has led us to where we are now. We will try to do so by periodically featuring songs and lyrics of some of today’s more politically minded hip hop artists. We will take a step further than MTV by not only supplying you with sick beats and deliveries, but also with the stories behind the rappers’ lyrics. Please enjoy the video accompanied by its words. After that, we’ll offer our own interpretation of the song as well as numerous resources that will hopefully make it easier for you to make your own interpretation. These resources will include documentaries, other useful visual and audio media, and links to news articles from credible sources.
Of course, we welcome your feedback. Did you like what you saw? Did you learn something? Would you add more helpful information? Do you think our ideas are heading in the right direction? Please feel free to contact us at:

behindtherhymes@venceremosonline.org

The Dead Kennedys emerged released their debut album in 1980 called “Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables”. Their fast, raw and yet highly polished  hard core punk rock music brought together influences ranging from British punk rock, to the Ramones and quickly gained a large following throughout the international punk rock scene and are still popular nearly 30 years later.

 However, it was not only their awesome music that helped build their reputation and fan base but also their fearless lyrics attacking some of the most powerful sections of US Society: the military-industrial complex and other major corporate bullies, the politicians of

 both the Republican and Democrat parties (in particular the Reagan administration) and the right-wing Christian Fundamentalism movement and challenging the lethargy and political sluggishness of American (and Western) youth to “stop being so interested in beer”, to get off their asses and take on these forces directly. As a direct result of their fierce message, however, the band was also forced to engage powerful enemies. (Read more.)

Ahh! Remember the good ol’ days? 1983. Grandmaster Flash was at the forefront of a brand new genre, hip-hop. There were also several other artists in the mainstream at the time who composed cutting-edge music with a positive message. This song, entitled White Lines (Don’t Do It), said just that. At a time when hard drugs were entering the urban communities on a larger scale than ever, pop icons felt that it was their duty to be what Chuck D of the popular hip-hop group, Public Enemy, described as “the Black CNN”. It was their responsibility to inform the minorities of inner city America of the dangers and happenings in the world around them. (Read more.)