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Transformation Hip Hop: Progressive Social Change through Hip Hop Music!

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Youth Movements Promoting Transformative Hip Hop

Over the years, the poetry and rhythms of Hip Hop have served as an artistic form of resistance against inequality, racism, and oppression. Inspired by the Black Power movements of the 60s, Hip Hop has served as a means to empower youth of African American, Latino or Afro-Caribbean origin, especially from low income backgrounds, through its critiques of race and class inequality and oppression, and its visions of solidarity and resistance [click here for references and links to more information about transformative Hip Hop].

While Hip Hop culture has largely been patriarchal, popular Hip Hop artists like Queen Latifah and Sister Souljah, have tried to introduce ideas of feminist resistance to Hip Hop culture. For example Queen Latifah’s hit song “Ladies Only,” is woman-centered, pro-black, and feminist.

Commercialization has penetrated the Hip Hop world in recent years, and many prominent Hip Hop songs promote racism, sexism, violence and hatred in their lyrics, among young audiences of teenagers. Not every contemporary Hip Hop artist, however, expresses social frustration in an anti-social and negative manner. There is a wealth of positive hip hop, which uses this dynamic and exciting form of music to question social injustice and promote visions of liberation and equality. We feature these songs below, and invite you to submit your examples of transformative Hip Hop to us at transformationcentral@growingthegreeneconomy.org.

Examples of Transformative Hip Hop Songs

Click on the songs to listen to them and watch the music videos on YouTube.

  1. R. Kelly, “The World’s Greatest.
  2. Black Eyed Peas, “Where is the love.”
  3. Outkast, “Hey Ya”
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  4. Kanye West, “Diamonds are forever.”
  5. Talib Kweli “Just to get by."
  6. Nas “I can.”
  7. Lauryn Hill, “Lost Ones.”
  8. 2pac, “Changes.”
  9. Queen Latifah, “U.N.I.T.Y.”
  10. Common, “The Corner.”
  11. Anthrax and Public Enemy, “Bring the noise.”
  12. Salt n’ Pepa, “It’s a She thing.”
  13. Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five, “The Message.”
  14. KRS One, “Black Cop.”
  15. Michael Jackson, “Black or White.”

 

Examples of Hip Hop Songs with violent and oppressive lyrics

  1. Ludacris, "Pimping all over the world."
  2. 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg, "P.I.M.P."
  3. Rolling Stones, "Under my thumb."
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  4. Korn, "For no one."
  5. Marilyn Manson, "Cake and Sodomy."
  6. Marilyn Manson, "Get your Gun."
  7. Jay-Z, "Squeeze First."
  8. Limp Bizkit, "Break Stuff."
  9. Eminem, "Kill You."
  10. Eminem, "Stan."
  11. Ice Cube, "Bop Gun."

References for further information

Click here for a list of youth movements involved in promoting transformative Hip Hop.

Below are a links to articles that discuss the transformative potential of socially conscious Hip Hop:

  1. "How Hip Hop culture is changing the world" - Samy Alim
  2. "US: Mobilizing the Hip Hop Generation" - Jesse Cottrell
  3. "Constant Elevation: the rise of Bay Area Hip Hop activism"- Jeff Chang
  4. "Hip Hop activism: will they come to vote?"- Don Hazen