Fight The Power
VH1 just counted down the top 100 hip hop songs. I thoroughly enjoyed the countdown and rapped along to most of it (despite serious omission of Eric B & Rakim). I speculated on what the top 5 or the #1 could be. Top contender in my mind was "Fight The Power" by Public Enemy.
When VH1 reached #1, it turned out to actually be "Fight The Power." I got chills. I felt like they actually got it right and recognized the power of and in that song.
To really understand the magnitude of the joint you have to know the lyrics, see the video, and understand the time and context in which it was released. This was a time when White kids generally did NOT listen to rap and it certainly wasn't played on the radio. When you heard "Fight The Power", you felt that confrontation. It was unquestionably rebel music.
The song came from the film, Do The Right Thing which sparked hella controversy. Looking back, it is difficult to even understand how or why a movie is controversial for depicting cops killing an unarmed Black man and the ensuing riot but it was. The song sure as hell scared White people. It even calls out Elvis and John Wayne!
I will never forget seeing Public Enemy shortly after on the 'Fear Of A Black Planet' tour.
When VH1 reached #1, it turned out to actually be "Fight The Power." I got chills. I felt like they actually got it right and recognized the power of and in that song.
To really understand the magnitude of the joint you have to know the lyrics, see the video, and understand the time and context in which it was released. This was a time when White kids generally did NOT listen to rap and it certainly wasn't played on the radio. When you heard "Fight The Power", you felt that confrontation. It was unquestionably rebel music.
The song came from the film, Do The Right Thing which sparked hella controversy. Looking back, it is difficult to even understand how or why a movie is controversial for depicting cops killing an unarmed Black man and the ensuing riot but it was. The song sure as hell scared White people. It even calls out Elvis and John Wayne!
I will never forget seeing Public Enemy shortly after on the 'Fear Of A Black Planet' tour.
posted by shane at 5:24 PM
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