“If we are to be the guardians of our culture, we must understand that everything that is produced is a cultural product. It is important to note that the sounds and images are either liberating or enslaving. Our children are programmed to yearn for the overpriced junk of the exploiters. But it is the music, the jams, the rapping, fast-paced dancing and revolving foolishness that is injected straight into the brain of the victims.” Del Jones, Culture Bandits (vol 1)
Today, most of our musicians speak of nothing that is directly connected to African Liberation. Our early rappers of the 70s and 80s would give us lyrics that inspired but did not educate. Our talented rhythm and Blues singers; also continue to write songs of love and relationships, but they absolutely will not sing about revolution, self-reliance, and Black Umoja. Today’s songs are a direct result of the collective mindset of the Black masses.
Today, Black artists simply feed the Black masses what they want to be fed
There are very few African artists that are willing to make records to educate and mobilize our people into a collective force that upholds our African culture. To Black artists, studio time, just doesn’t make sense if their musical Kuumba won’t receive air-play, reach platinum status, or nominations, for a Grammy.
Artists and groups like: KRS-1, Public enemy, X-Clan, Lauryn Hill, Angie Stone, Dead Prez, Sister Souljah, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Brand Nubian, Poor Righteous Teachers, Paris, Black Star, and even Ice Cube (post-NWA-Pre Hollywood) were the Griots we needed to maintain our traditions of resistance, self-reliance, and self-confidence.
Some Black artists have been able to find a balance to create conscious songs and still not be deemed a threat to white supremacy. The fact that our brilliant brother Kendrick Lamar is performing on racist Saturday Night Live is an example of this balance. Our brothers, Black Thought and Quest-Love, have also maintained that delicate balance for decades.
Rappers and singers that have a cult-like following have the potential to positively change Black culture and the way our African youth think within 24 hours. They could accomplish this feat in the production of one thought-provoking song or even a powerful statement.
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