Hip-Hop has been described and explained in an uncountable amount of ways throughout history and I have finally found the perfect way to define it. Hip-Hop is the expression of African American experiences, lifestyles, and ideas using AAVE (African American Vernacular English) and music.
Jermaine Lamarr Cole is the best example to use for Hip-Hop, because of the messages his music presents to the world. J. Cole was born in Germany, but grew up in North Carolina with his mother, and a lot of his music is a reflection of the life he has lived. He is moving Hip-Hop back to the way it used to be and he is doing this fearlessly and he is relentless.
In his song “Be Free”, he expressed his disappointment in the way that police brutality is being handled and his concern for why it continues to go without punishment. He says “all we wanna do is take the chains off, all we wanna do is be free, … can you tell me why? every time I step outside I see my niggas die…”. While giving tribute to the late Mike Brown he makes clear political observations he wants to be free and although we are free by law we are not free in this society and world we live in as African Americans. He made his position clear and he is demanding answers.
He is using his platform as a Hip-Hop artist to bring awareness to this issues we face in our communities and this is what every single black rapper should be doing. Justice will not be served until there are more J. Cole’s in the world. His music is not just being made to sell it is being made to fight for equality, peace and love and that is the origin f all music. His Hip-Hop challenges the rules and barriers placed on modern Hip-Hop, but he does not stop, in fact, he uses his setbacks as motivation. His work is opening doors for other artist like him and for people to fight for what they believe in without the fear of not being heard. Hip-Hop bring African Americans together, but Hip-Hop with Jermaine Cole brings us together for a cause.
A Woman, I am. 