X Gon' Give It To Ya: Five Rap Songs That Shine Light On Malcolm X's Brilliance

If spitting is about moving the crowd, then Malcolm X is one of best MCs to ever rock the mic. Back in the day, you could find Malcolm posted in the slums of Harlem, Los Angeles and Chicago or at prestigious universities like Harvard, Oxford and Brown, blessing crowds with stirring speeches, civil rights metaphors and profound history lessons.

Through words and actions, Malcolm gave life to the hardest of thugs. Decades after his murder, X continues to impact the world, especially in bars. With Feb. 21 marking the 50th anniversary of Malcolm's assassination, VIBE plucked five songs that embody X's brilliance.—darryl @darryl_robertson

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