In XXX., Lamar addresses so many social injustices that he has faced during his life. He is originally from Compton, California and has grown up being surrounded by police brutality, gang violence, as well as many other horrible things. The lineage I would like to create for both government corruption and racial injustices is:

“Mississippi Goddam” by Nina Simone > “Fuck Tha Police” by Straight Outta Compton > “Reagan” by Killer Mike. 

These three songs address many issues, including government corruption and racial injustices that Lamar mentions in his songs such as, injustices on a political level and within police forces. These artists are using their platforms in order to find peace, spread awareness to their audiences, and seek the much needed change in America. These songs are a call out to the government that there are necessary changes that still have to be made.

In Mississippi Goddam,” created in 1964, Simone sings:

“Oh but this whole country is full of lies
You’re all gonna die and die like flies
I don’t trust you any more
You keep on saying ‘Go slow!’
‘Go slow!'”

She is mentioning that our government has always been corrupt and racist. As you are probably more than aware of, we have an extremely long history of racial inequality and forced labor. This relates to XXX. because Lamar calls out the government for being corrupt. Simone shows that these issues have been going on far longer than we think. We must admit our faults and seek change!

In “Fuck Tha Police,” Straight Outta Compton don’t hold any of their anger or frustrations back. Created in 1988, they are able to clearly call out police brutality and the unlawful treatment that young black men were facing during the ’90s and still facing today. This song was definitely a turning point when thinking about protest music. I think it started to inspire other artists to be honest about the struggles they face within themselves and surrounding them. Straight Outta Compton were definitely trail blazers. Lamar is able to create music where he fulls expresses himself and his views without fear.

When looking at “Reagan” by Killer Mike, we see another trail blazer that isn’t afraid to confront the social injustices that were happening at a government level. In this song created in 2012, Killer Mike addresses the war on drugs, police brutality, government corruption, and terrorism. Lamar also comments on these issues as well. In my opinion, both Killer Mike and Lamar are political artists. Their work focus much on injustices and spreading awareness of these issues. Killer Mike is apart of a rap duo called Run the Jewels with an artist named, El-P. This duo creates politically charged heavy rap that addresses many other social injustices like Lamar. They are also unafraid to share their views and speak their minds in order to find justice and change just like Nina.

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