Anyone who knows me well enough knows my love for music, and how I have always felt if people spend the time getting away from the Top 40 or the commercial side of what the "media" feels you should listen to. There is much bigger message, which especially now when the world is as screwed up as it is, can help the world heal and unite us. So though not many would care for this I have come up with a List of 6 modern artist, that I feel should be listened to more often. Not for their commercial tracks but the tracks that carry a message for us, to help inspire us to be better.
1. Wyclef Jean; though many know him as the artist from the Shakira - Hips don't lie video saying "Shakira Shakira". He is more than that, he has sung song with political statements such as "Sweetest Girl", "Hold on" and most recently he teamed up with Avicii to make a track called "Devine Sorrow" for the Coca Cola Aids Free Generation.
Lyrics Sample:
"Closed legs don't get fed, go out there and make my bread
All he wanna know is (where my money at?)
She ended up in a road car, bruised up, scarred hard
All he wanna know is (where my money at?)
She thought he'd call (where my money at?)"
2. Aloe Blacc; he has built a name for himself these past few years, and if you didn't know he is the Artist on the back of Avicci's wake me up track. Going through his discography I realised that he has much to say, Especially with tracks such as "Hello World", "Wake me up" (His Version Acoustic) Talks about Immigration and problems faced, Or even "Ticking Bomb".
Lyrics Sample:
"Hello world, the sun is rising
It doesn't matter who you are, the sun still sets the same
Hello world, undivided
Don't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game"
3. Rise Against; this band from its Inception has been using their music to champion different social issues from Bullying of Children, to the true casualties of war. Each song is challenging a different issue to make the world aware of the problems we face. Songs such as "Savior", "Hero of War", "Make it Stop", "Prayer of a Refugee" and most recently "I don't want to be here anymore"
Lyrics Sample:
"And too much blood has flown from the wrists,
Of the children shamed for those they chose to kiss.
Who will rise to stop the blood?"
No place is more shifty global
More pistols, Russian revolvers
We shootin' all that is normal
But it ain't just because we want to
We ain't got nowhere we can run to
Somebody please press the undo
They only teach us the things that guns do"
But if we know better than we probably deserve it
Jihad is not a holy war, wheres that in the worship?
Murdering is not Islam!
And you are not observant
And you are not a muslim
Israel don’t take my side cause look how far you’ve pushed them
Walk with me into the ghetto, this where all the Kush went
Complain about the liquor store but what you drinking liquor for?
Complain about the gloom but when’d you pick a broom up?
Just listening to Pac ain't gone make it stop
A rebel in your thoughts, ain't gon make it halt
If you don’t become an actor you’ll never be a factor
Pills with million side effects
Take em when the pains felt
Wash them down with Diet soda!
Killin off your brain cells
Crooked banks around the World
Would gladly give a loan today
So if you ever miss a payment
They can take your home away!"
The drive by s double
Cause the youth dem nah go war
And go fight with knuckle
The two sides scuffle
Vietnam nah go a war
With no more kung fu nun chuckle
Missile and shuttle
Huh
And the queen of england and uncle sam
Dem a flex dem muscle
The tribal hustle
Blood diamond poodle
Survival struggle"
1. Wyclef Jean; though many know him as the artist from the Shakira - Hips don't lie video saying "Shakira Shakira". He is more than that, he has sung song with political statements such as "Sweetest Girl", "Hold on" and most recently he teamed up with Avicii to make a track called "Devine Sorrow" for the Coca Cola Aids Free Generation.
Lyrics Sample:
"Closed legs don't get fed, go out there and make my bread
All he wanna know is (where my money at?)
She ended up in a road car, bruised up, scarred hard
All he wanna know is (where my money at?)
She thought he'd call (where my money at?)"
2. Aloe Blacc; he has built a name for himself these past few years, and if you didn't know he is the Artist on the back of Avicci's wake me up track. Going through his discography I realised that he has much to say, Especially with tracks such as "Hello World", "Wake me up" (His Version Acoustic) Talks about Immigration and problems faced, Or even "Ticking Bomb".
Lyrics Sample:
"Hello world, the sun is rising
It doesn't matter who you are, the sun still sets the same
Hello world, undivided
Don't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game"
3. Rise Against; this band from its Inception has been using their music to champion different social issues from Bullying of Children, to the true casualties of war. Each song is challenging a different issue to make the world aware of the problems we face. Songs such as "Savior", "Hero of War", "Make it Stop", "Prayer of a Refugee" and most recently "I don't want to be here anymore"
Lyrics Sample:
"And too much blood has flown from the wrists,
Of the children shamed for those they chose to kiss.
Who will rise to stop the blood?"
4. K'Naan; Another artist known more for his commercial tracks but not the tracks that matter. Most know him as the man who sang "Wavin flag" as the FIFA WORLD CUP Anthem, Yet the original song was a one of struggle and the effects of War. K'naan is a Somalian refugee his music focuses a lot on what he went through to get out of Somalia and what people still face today. Songs such as "Somalia" , "I was stabbed by Satan", "Strugglin" and from his most recent album "Coming to America"
Lyrics Sample:
"I'm from the most risky zone - ohNo place is more shifty global
More pistols, Russian revolvers
We shootin' all that is normal
But it ain't just because we want to
We ain't got nowhere we can run to
Somebody please press the undo
They only teach us the things that guns do"
5. Lupe Fiasco; Lupe fiasco in my opinion is what is missing from many a rap artist today. Rap and I have a very old relationship from the first time I heard my first Eminem Album (though now days we have no idea what has happened to him). Lupe Fiasco these day makes music about all issues from saying how politics has screwed up what we say or do, How freedom of speech is no longer free. Songs such as "Dumb is Down", "Words I never Said", "State Run Radio" and from his Food and Liquor II Album one of my favorites "Around My Way (Freedom ain't free"
Lyrics Sample:
"Now you can say it ain't our fault if we never heard itBut if we know better than we probably deserve it
Jihad is not a holy war, wheres that in the worship?
Murdering is not Islam!
And you are not observant
And you are not a muslim
Israel don’t take my side cause look how far you’ve pushed them
Walk with me into the ghetto, this where all the Kush went
Complain about the liquor store but what you drinking liquor for?
Complain about the gloom but when’d you pick a broom up?
Just listening to Pac ain't gone make it stop
A rebel in your thoughts, ain't gon make it halt
If you don’t become an actor you’ll never be a factor
Pills with million side effects
Take em when the pains felt
Wash them down with Diet soda!
Killin off your brain cells
Crooked banks around the World
Would gladly give a loan today
So if you ever miss a payment
They can take your home away!"
6. Nas and Damian Marley; Though I love both artist and their music individually is incredible. There is something about their collaboration in 2010's "Distant Relatives" album that didn't give them a nomination or award for best rap album. Songs such as "Africa Must Wake up", "Strong will Continue" or even "My Generation" and "Patience"
Lyrics Sample:
"Tribal trouble The drive by s double
Cause the youth dem nah go war
And go fight with knuckle
The two sides scuffle
Vietnam nah go a war
With no more kung fu nun chuckle
Missile and shuttle
Huh
And the queen of england and uncle sam
Dem a flex dem muscle
The tribal hustle
Blood diamond poodle
Survival struggle"
Guys have a listen to the tracks, and try taking the time out to listen to these artist and promote some of their songs that carry a heavy social message.
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