15 Must Listen To Songs For The Black And Conscious
By: Tomiwa Moro
Revolutionary activist, James Baldwin was once asked what being Black in America is and he said:
“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost all of the time — and in one's work. And part of the rage is this: It isn't only what is happening to you, but it's what's happening all around you...”
It’s one thing to be Black, it’s another to be conscious. James Baldwin’s definition sums up what it means to be Black and conscious. Being Black and conscious is to be mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially aware of how you, your brothers, and your sisters are being treated as Black people. It’s caring about how Black men, women and children are treated in a world that favors all other races to the Black race.
Many music lovers use relatable songs as tools for connecting with their emotions. For the Black and conscious, songs about racism, Black excellence, injustice or simply being Black evokes strong emotions that might differ according to listeners and their personal experiences.
Below are 15 songs for the Black and Conscious:
1. Common - U, Black Maybe
Common - U, Black Maybe(Featuring Bilal)(Music Video)
In this song, Common — who is a very conscious rapper — raps about the Black experience. He begins in his first verse by saying, “I heard a white man’s yes is a Black maybe”. He continues by describing life in African American communities and how poverty, drugs and other issues influence the fate of the Black men, women, and children.
Quotable lyrics:
“When we talk about black maybe/ We talk about situations of people of color/
and because you are that color/
You endure obstacles and opposition”
2. Nas - Ultra Black
Nas - Ultra Black (Official Music Video)
In 2020, Nas released this anthem for all Black people titled, “Ultra Black”. The Hit-boy produced song is a celebration of Black Culture.
Quotable Lyrics: “To Africa, you say, ‘Go back’ / I stay pro-black, my Amex black/
Black like cornrows, afros/ Black like Kaep' blackballed from the Superbowls”
3. Janelle Monae - Django Jane
Janelle Monáe – Django Jane [Official Music Video]
“Django Jane” is an empowering song — especially for black women. Through her lyrics, she describes her rise to fame and success as a Black woman.
Quotable Lyrics:
“Black girl magic, y'all can't stand it/ Y'all can't ban it, made out like a bandit/ They been tryin' hard just to make us all vanish
4. Mick Jenkins - Padded Locks
Mick Jenkins - Padded Locks & Barcelona (Official Music Video)
There’s a lot to unpack on this song. In addition to Mick Jenkins’ rhythm and Ghostface’s aggressive bars, there are conscious lyrics sprinkled in many parts of the verses.
Quotable Lyrics: “Fuck the rulers, Donald Trump is a piece of shit”
5. Royce da 5’9 - Black Savage
Royce 5'9 - Black Savage ft. Sy Ari Da Kid, White Gold, CyHi The Prynce & T.I. (Official Video)
Royce is a bold artist who says whatever he wants to say. He doesn’t hold back on this one and let’s his lyrics about Blackness spray like bullets from an AK. He also pays homage to some legendary Black people in the entertainment industry.
Quotable Lyrics: “How much more do you want?/ You wanna send us back to where we came from 'Cause we just savages/ Well here's my ass to kiss”
6. Big Sean - Guard Your Heart
Big Sean - Guard Your Heart (Audio) ft. Anderson .Paak, Earlly Mac, Wale
“Guard Your Heart” is like fuel for the mind. Big Sean encourages listeners to keep their head up and stay grinding while Wale directs his lyrics at racist white people.
Quotable Lyrics: “Got tired of white silence, so the riots started/ And the robbers robbed, you wylin' 'cause yo' product gone?/ We mad that Eric Garner, Breonna, Gianna father gone”
7. J Cole - Before I’m Gone
J. Cole - Before I'm Gone
J Cole has a lot of deep and conscious songs in his discography. This one is one of the really good ones.
Quotable Lyrics:
“We tired of only having just a piece/ And fuck policing, they killing niggas what's the reason/ His daughter starving and she fucking freezing/ So no wonder why he fucking squeezing”
8. J Hus - Helicopter
J Hus - Helicopter (Official Audio) ft. iceè tgm
British rapper, J Hus can best be described as a conscious rebel who makes great music.
Quotable Lyrics:
“No man can ever put my life on pause/
They enslaved my ancestor, no remorse/ I bring knowledge to Europe, just like the Moors”
9. Black Milk - Could it Be
Black Milk - Could It Be (Official Video)
“Could It Be” is one of the best songs in Black Milk’s collection. This is a record for the Black dreamer. It’s a reminder of where we come from and where we want to be. Despite the obstacles thrown at us, we still have big dreams. Like Black Milk says in the song, “that American pie he just want a portion.”
Quotable Lyrics: “Black kid with dreams by any means/ to see himself foldin' keys to a black Porsche and/ That american pie he just want a portion”
10. G Herbo - All Black
G Herbo – All Black (From Judas And the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album)
A song that appeared on the soundtrack for Judas and the Black Messiah — an historical drama about the betrayal of Fred Hampton. Like the entire soundtrack, “All Black” is one for the culture.
11. Rakim - Black Messiah
Rakim – Black Messiah (Official Audio) [From Judas And the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album]
On “Black Messiah” Rakim pays tribute to Fred Hampton, the Black messiah.
Quotable Lyrics: “Like the barrel of a gun, crucified, he was only 21/ Look at all the things he did in a short time/ Imagine all the things that he could've done”
12. Sault - Foot on Necks
Sault - Foot on Necks
In 2020, British group, Sault outdid themselves. They released two albums that can only be described as protest anthems for Black people around the world. Although “Foot on Necks” appeared on their 2019 album, ‘5’ it makes the list because of the strong emotions it evokes.
Quotable Lyrics:
“You don't feel, what we feel, and it's evident/ That you shoot to kill, 'cause you know, you'll get away with it”
13. Pharrell ft Jay Z - Entrepreneur
Pharrell Williams - Entrepreneur (Official Video) ft. JAY-Z
Another song about Black excellence. One of the ways Black people can progress and fight oppression is by striving to be great by any means. Although the system doesn’t favor us, we can build something solid from the scratch by being entrepreneurs.
Quotable Lyrics:
“The brainwashed become hype boys/ Third eye dilate/ You ain't supposed to make it off Section 8/ Robbin' Peter just to pay Paul”
14. Jay Z and Kanye West - Murder to Excellence
Kanye West and Jay Z - Murder to Excellence
“Murder to Excellence” is consciousness at its peak. The sample amplifies the deep lyrics about the society and its relationship with black people.
Quotable Lyrics: “In the past if you picture events like a black tie/ What’s the last thing you expect to see? Black guys/ What's the life expectancy for black guys?/ The system's working effectively, that's why!”
15. G Herbo - Intuition
G Herbo - Intuition ft Sonta & 2Pretty (Official Audio)
The last song on this list, and the best way to end this piece is a quote from G Herbo’s Intuition.
Quotable Lyrics: “You can't separate or compare freedom from peace/
Because no one can be at peace unless they have freedom/ And we not even born free, at least that's where I'm from/ Everything I seen growing up was poverty strucken/ Shit was damaged, taken from us or taken advantage of already/
And this is what we exposed to all day, that's what damage does/ And if you don't understand what I'm talking about, you never been through it/ I guess you one of the people I'm saying this to and not for”
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