From Rap To Rock: 10 Powerful Protest Songs About Police Injustice

August 22, 2014 - 6:06 pm by Keith Murphy

Six days after the Aug. 10 shooting death of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old college-bound kid who was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, rapper J. Cole released his emotional tribute song "Be Free." For many hip-hop fans it was a rare moment of socially conscious protest in this Instagram selfie era that has seen Rick Ross use the tragic murder of Florida teen Trayvon Martin as a lyrical punchline and "Anaconda" queen Nicki Minaj face widespread rebuke for including an iconic "By Any Means Necessary" photo of outspoken '60s freedom fighter Malcolm X for the cover of her underground track "Lookin' Ass Nigga."

Since Cole's statement, a number of acts from T.I. ("New National Anthem") and Lauryn Hill ("Black Rage") have stepped up to the plate to speak on the issue of police brutality, economic disparity, and rage that has engulfed Ferguson following days of protests and rioting. But as the dead prez song goes, it's bigger than hip-hop. VIBE has compiled 11 protest songs beyond N.W.A.'s 1988 landmark track "Fuck tha Police" that span diverse musical genres. All, in some form or fashion, speak on the realities of police misconduct and the bigger picture of racial injustice. Speak out!--Keith Murphy (@murphdogg29)

young jeezy recorded a song for trayvon martin

"It's A Cold War" (2013) - Young Jeezy After the shocking acquittal of George Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon Martin, Young Jeezy was inspired to hit the studio and record this somber tribute to the 17-year-old kid who was shot to death by a wannabe cop while walking to his father's home. A powerful, heartfelt message from an MC who proved once again that he could step outside his usual Trap-Or-Die confines. Lyrics To Fight For: "If nothin' else nigga, I'mma do it for Trayvon/That's on a stack of Bibles, least 2 or 3 Qurans." [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

Bruce Springsteen recorded a tribute to amadou diallo

"American Skin (41 Shots)" (2001) - Bruce Springsteen The Boss took some serious heat from longtime fans when he debuted this scathing song about the tragic 1999 police shooting death of Amadou Diallo. But it was during Bruce Springsteen's 10-night show run at Madison Square Garden in 2000 that the controversy over "American Skin (41 Shots)" truly bubbled over. The iconic singer-songwriter drew supportive applause for his protest record about the murder of an unarmed Bronx, New York immigrant. But Springsteen also drew visible criticism from the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association who called for a boycott of the gigs as many concert goers booed the New Jersey-born rocker. Bruce, like a G, played on. Lyrics To Fight For: "41 shots, Lena gets her son ready for school/She says, 'On these streets, Charles, you've got to understand the rules/If an officer stops you, promise me you'll always be polite/And that you'll never ever run away/Promise Mama you'll keep your hands in sight.'" [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

"Hurricane" (1975) - Bob Dylan Bob Dylan is no stranger to protest songs. During the '60's civil rights era, the folk giant turned rock prophet created a collection of endearing socially conscious anthems ("Blowin' In The Wind," "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll," and "The Times They Are a-Changing" just to name a few). But arguably his most incendiary statement was "Hurricane," a track that targeted what he believed to be the false imprisonment of middleweight boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. Many in the media questioned Dylan's objectivity to the case believing that the singer glossed over the pugilist's criminal history. Dylan responded to his critics by playing at several benefits concerts to raise money for Carter's defense. Carter--whose legal ordeal inspired the 1999 movie The Hurricane which starred Denzel Washington--was finally freed without bail in November 1985 after a judge found that the prosecution had been "predicated upon an appeal to racism rather than reason, and concealment rather than disclosure." Lyrics To Fight For: "The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance/The judge made Rubin’s witnesses drunkards from the slums/To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum/And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger/No one doubted that he pulled the trigger/And though they could not produce the gun/The D.A. said he was the one who did the deed/And the all-white jury agreed." [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

"Stand Up (The Sean Bell Tribute Song)" (2008) - Cassidy feat. Swizz Beatz, Drag-On, Talib Kweli, Maino, and Styles P At an initial glance, this straight-ahead tribute to slain Queens, New York native Sean Bell seems like a rag-tag statement. The artists featured on this project could have just as likely been arbitrarily picked from a hat given the randomness of its lineup. But somehow Philly spitter Cassidy, super producer and Alicia Keys' better half Swizz Beatz, Ruff Ryders refugee Drag-On, underground stalwart Talib Kweli, 'hood hitter Maino, and Lox member Styles P makes it work. Lyrics To Fight For: "And I'm thinking what a pity, every man is Sean Bell/Is a black man a bulls-eye? Just a moving target to 'em/Let it go, reload, we that much of a problem to 'em?/Judge let the cop go, we that much of a problem to 'em?/How your honor ain't got no honor to 'em?/Peace to the family of Bells/I respect how you're strong, may your family be well." --Styles P [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

Dr. Dre raps about the police on The Chronic

"The Day The Niggaz Took Over" (1992) - Dr. Dre Beyond his time with N.W.A., Dr. Dre has never been much for political commentary. But the West Coast hip-hop giant, influential producer, and headphone tycoon gave a heavy nod to his "Fuck tha Police" days when he recruited his Death Row Records inmates Snoop Doggy Dogg, RBX, and Dat Nigga Daz for this raw soundtrack to the 1992 Los Angeles riots following the shocking Rodney King police brutality verdict. Indeed, the pain, anger, nihilism ("How many niggas are ready to looooooot?") and fury heard throughout "The Day The Niggaz Took Over" could easily be mistaken for the visceral uproar that has gripped Ferguson, Missouri. The message: one's man's riot is another man's rebellion. Lyrics To Fight For: "Laugh now but cry much later/Ya see when niggas get together they get mad cuz they can't fade us/Like my niggas from South Central, Los Angeles/They find that they couldn't handle us/Bloods, Crips on the same squad, with the Ese's thumpin, nigga it's time to rob and mob/(And break the white man off somthin' lovely, biddy-bye-bye, I don't love them so they can't love me...)" [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

"The Ballad of Trayvon Martin" (2012) - Will Hoge Will Hoge took a more direct approach than Jeezy on this ode to the slain teenager whose senseless death galvanized a divided nation. But before he took on the polarizing event, the Nashville talent was known primarily as the co-writer of Grammy-nominated country hit "Even If It Breaks Your Heart." "The Ballad of Trayvon Martin" may have come as a shock to some of his loyal followers, however Hoge's gamble proved sincere. Lyrics To Fight For: "So Zimmerman goes free and the country cries/'Cause we're still shackled by the hatred and the lies/Now we've got to stick together to see justice done/March out of the darkness to the rising sun." [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

Boogie Down Productions takes on the police

"30 Cops Or More (1990) - Boogie Down Productions While this deep album cut may not be as celebrated as the Blastmaster's other middle fingers to the corrupt boys in blue that includes the classic 1-2 punch of "Black Cop" and "Sound of da Police," "30 Cops Or More" more than holds its own. The credit of course should go to KRS-One's distinct skill for connecting the historical dots of police brutality beyond the streets. Sobering stuff. Lyrics To Fight For: "Years ago a black man couldn't be a cop/They could only be great dancers/When the whole police department was white/Justice was The Black Panthers/We've been robbed of our religion/Our government and social position/And you won't see no quick solution/Until you see the black revolution." [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

"Mississippi Goddam" (1964) - Nina Simone Written as a response to the murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers, the Nina Simone penned "Mississippi Goddamn" also shines an illuminating light on the unjust police mistreatment and unlawful arrest of peaceful protesters, many of whom were barely out of school. The transcendent recording was banned by several southern states that feigned outrage that the song included a curse word in its title. But Simone and her supporters knew better. Lyrics To Fight For: "Hound dogs on my trail/School children sitting in jail/Black cat cross my path/I think everyday's gonna be my last/Lord, have mercy on this land of mine/We all gonna get it in due time/I don't belong here, I don't belong there/I've even stopped believing in prayer." [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

"Cop Killer" (1992) - Ice T Before becoming a television staple on Law & Order: SVU and making an unlikely jump to reality TV with Ice Loves Coco, Ice T was a hell-raising, censorship destroying badass. And nowhere was his infamy more amplified than his turn to heavy metal as the leader of the two-fisted band Body Count. More specifically, the bruising track “Cop Killer” transformed Ice and guitar-wielding crew into international outlaws. The rapper-turned-rocker claimed that the song’s violent lyrics (“I’m ‘bout to kill me somethin’/A pig stopped me for nuthin!”) was his answer to the widespread police brutality highlighted by the surreal filming of the Rodney King beating. Ice and executives at his home label distributor Warner Bros. received daily death threats from outraged opponents. Law enforcement organizations declared war on the groundbreaking O.G. Even President George Bush (!!!) publicly rebuked Body Count and its record company for even envisioning “Cop Killer.” The explosive cut was eventually removed from the album as Ice T parted ways with his longtime label months later. Just more proof of the visceral power of music. Lyrics To Fight For: "Fuck the police, for Darryl Gates/Fuck the police, for Rodney King/Fuck the police, for my dead homies/Fuck the police, for your freedom/Fuck the police, don't be a pussy/Fuck the police, have some muthafuckin' courage..." [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

"Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside)" (1990) - Ice Cube ft. Chuck D When it comes to making politically-minded, rebel rousing, rage-against-the-machine statements, Public Enemy would easily dominate such a list. So following Ice Cube's very public split with N.W.A., the future West Coast rap giant recruited P.E.'s inventive production crew the Bomb Squad for his inflammatory mix of gangsta rap and social conscious militancy. The dream pairing produced many stellar moments on Cube's game-changing solo effort AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, including "Endangered Species," an epic tag-team assault featuring P.E.'s mighty frontman Chuck D. Lyrics To Fight For: "Every cop killin' goes ignored/They just send another nigga to the morgue/A point scored--they could give a fuck about us/They rather catch us with guns and white powder...They kill ten of me to get the job correct/To serve, protect, and break a nigga's neck/'Cause I'm the one with the trunk of funk/And 'Fuck Tha Police' in the tape deck." --Ice Cube [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]