Long Live The King: Dr. King’s Subtle Influence On Hip-Hop

We all know that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr has had a tremendous impact on the African-American community, and humanity as a whole. His ideals and commitment to justice and peace for all was unrivaled during his time. Still to this day, his message has made a lasting impact on American society, as evident to the national Holiday we have to celebrate his life and legacy. As we take this moment to reflect on Dr. King, I couldn’t help but to connect the dots on his influence to this Hip-Hop culture that we love so much. How you might ask? Sit tight, and I’ll explain.

Now, on face value, King might not get named-drop often in Hip-Hop as compared to say a Malcolm X. I have a theory on why that might have been the case. Maybe Malcolm’s earlier militant style seemed more appealing to more aggressive youth who were pioneering Hip-Hop in the early stages. Still King’s message has buried itself into Hip-hop’s ethos. You hear it when “Kendrick Lamar” emphatically shouts “Martin had a Dream, Martin Had a Dream/ Kendrick had a dream!’, on his track Backseat Freestyle.

Think about, King was a visionary, who was not satisfied with the current social climate that he lived in. He used his word to uplift his community and the world to create positive change for himself and others. Hip-Hop is virtually that. Most of us who grew up and connect with this culture, all come from challenging circumstances. Those circumstances maybe growing up in poverty-stricken neighborhoods, families separated from drugs and crime, or lack of quality education that could prevent one from attaining good-paying jobs, and eating unhealthy which leads to a range of health issues. Rappers use their voice in their music, similar to Dr. King, to uplift themselves and their communities through these circumstances.

Perhaps, the most significant way Dr. King has influenced Hip-Hop is sadly through his death. Dr King was assassinated in 1968, towards the end of a tumultuous decade that seen many black leaders, or anyone who spoke out for minorities suffer the same fate. The absence of leadership left a huge void in the community, as result the communities were plague with all the illnesses we highlighted earlier. Thus Hip-Hop was birthed, like a rose that grew from concrete! Hip-Hop filled that void, it picked up where Dr.King and other leaders left off. It gave a voice to the voiceless. It empowered the powerless.

Dr King had a dream, he had a vision, and he also had HOPE. The same hope that inspired a young Barack Obama, that same hope that inspired a whole generation to come out in masses to elect Obama as the first African-American President. The Hip-Hop generation. Dr. King lives through all of us. Maybe J. Cole was right… if he were alive today he probably would have been on Dreamville.

Related posts

GHOSTFACE KILLAH ANNOUNCES NEW DOUBLE ALBUM REMIX PROJECT ‘GHOST FILES’

adacreative

Canadian Rapper wins fight against interscope/universal for rights to Kendrick Lamar feature

adacreative

Respect for Dominican Women: Lapiz and the female power

adacreative

70 comments

3bazaar at 8:36 pm

1lifestyle

Reply
i need someone to write my paper at 7:07 pm

where can i find someone to write my college paper https://researchpaperswriting.org/

Reply
gay teens chat at 1:55 pm

good gay video chat site https://gayphillychat.com/

Reply
dubuque gay guys chat at 5:42 am

arab friends gay webcam chat https://gay-live-chat.net/

Reply
video chat for gay men at 2:52 am

gay phone chat line phone numbers https://gaychatspots.com/

Reply
westchester gay chat rooms at 5:35 pm

gay black chat – live gay black men https://gaychatcams.net/

Reply
free dating sites online at 3:38 am

browse free dating without registering https://freephotodating.com/

Reply
gay true dating site at 9:07 am

smooth chubby chub gay transsexual dating https://datinggayservices.com/

Reply
dating advice for gay men at 6:37 am

gay dating sites cape cod https://gayedating.com/

Reply
vpn for chrome at 11:49 am

cisco vpn client download https://ippowervpn.net/

Reply
vpn pc free at 6:42 am

best vpn for japan https://shiva-vpn.com/

Reply
gta online diamond casino heist at 1:12 pm

online casino canada real money https://onlinecasinofortunes.com/

Reply
online casino best payouts at 8:24 am

online casino with free sign up bonus https://download-casino-slots.com/

Reply
best dissertation writing service uk at 10:36 pm

writing your dissertation proposal https://writing-a-dissertation.net/

Reply
law dissertation writing service at 6:22 pm

dissertation writing services reviews https://accountingdissertationhelp.com/

Reply
1mitsubishi at 11:38 pm

1finishing

Reply
free atari slots at 1:51 am

ff7 cait sith slots limit https://www-slotmachines.com/

Reply
24 7 slots games at 8:12 am

charles town races

Reply
2quicksilver at 5:07 pm

3honolulu

Reply
essay header at 8:06 am

essay for high school https://windowsvpns.com/

Reply
topics for an argumentative essay at 5:32 am

thesis statement for argumentative essay https://vpn4torrents.com/

Reply
college application essay examples at 1:01 am

how to start a college essay https://vpnshroud.com/

Reply
argumentative essay counterclaim at 9:22 pm

ap lang rhetorical analysis essay https://thebestvpnpro.com/

Reply
what is a thesis in an essay at 3:05 pm

research essay outline https://choosevpn.net/

Reply
critical thinking book pdf at 9:22 am

individual critical thinking assignment (icta) https://criticalthinkinginstitute.com/

Reply
jake gay paris illinois dating at 7:25 am

gay dating sites active users https://gayprideusa.com/

Reply
writing argumentative essay at 11:48 pm

writing college admission essays https://howtowriteessaytips.com/

Reply
writing essay help at 12:28 pm

writing argumentative essay https://yoursuperessay.com/

Reply
sex games forcouples at 10:29 am

lesbian shower sex games https://cybersexgames.net/

Reply
writing cause and effect essay at 4:46 am

writing a reflective essay https://essaytodo.com/

Reply
analytical essay writing at 5:51 pm

writing college essay https://multiessay.com/

Reply
write an analytical essay at 7:38 pm

write an expository essay https://buy1essay.com/

Reply
how write an essay at 2:55 pm

write a comparison essay https://essaypoints.com/

Reply
academic essay writing at 8:47 am

writing a literary analysis essay https://essaywritercentral.com/

Reply
gay chat at 3:05 am

best gay dating documentaries https://gaydatinglosangeles.com/

Reply
gay indiana dating at 2:04 am

gay speed dating chicago https://gay-singles-dating.com/

Reply
gay men dating women at 8:09 am

speed dating nyc gay https://dating-gaym.com/

Reply

Leave a Comment

*