Silence The Riot

Dream big. Share your story. Silence The Riot.

[silencetheriot]

Pen>Pad>Booth: Michael Brown and More

In a hip-hop industry dominated by black male artist, it was only a matter of time before we saw opinions being voiced through their crafts. While many used various social media platforms to express feelings, an underwhelming number have actually released music touching on the subjects that many of us see all over the news. With the current media cycle and the tumultuous climate of the country, I’d find it hard to believe that the topic of racism hasn’t been addressed in some form at dinner tables across the country.

One of the beauties of music is the ability for an artist to express feelings, opinions, and life exploration while having the listener relate. Relatability, it is one of the things I appreciate and respect the most about an artist. Many of us are thinking or going through the same thing, yet hardly any of us have the bravery to voice it. For guys like J. Cole, Derek Minor, and Trip Lee, they have put pride and fear aside in order to express themselves through song.

The first A-list rapper to have released a single on the topic of Michael Brown and Ferguson was North Carolina native J. Cole.  Merely just days after Michael Brown’s shooting, Cole released “Be Free” on August 15, 2014. This single is not in traditional format as it includes excerpts from witness interviews, and J. Cole emotionally releasing his thoughts. The structured chorus of the song sings:

“…All we want to do is take the chains off/All we want to do is break the chains off/All we want to do is be free/All we want to do is be free…”

The excerpt from the interview is Dorin Johnson, friend of Michael Brown, recounting what ensued on that fateful day. While the accuracy of his account has been brought into question, this story clearly struck a nerve with Cole. J. Cole was the first one to release a song on the subject. Cole has since visited Ferguson to express condolences as well as participating in New York (where he attended and graduated from St. John’s University) marches for the most recent decision to not indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo after illegally choking Eric Garner ultimately leading to Mr. Garner’s death.  

https://soundcloud.com/dreamvillerecords/j-cole-be-free

Although many aren’t familiar with Trip Lee, his latest single “Coulda Been Me” allows rapper William Lee Barefield III, to express some of his current fears. Fears that now many young black men wonder: it could have been me who was shot and killed. In the song, he tells stories of several unfortunate realities he has been faced with, simply because of his color. In one of the verses, Trip Lee tells a story of being once again profiled:

“…The cashier looking at me, then he screams

Points at my hip and tells me I’m seen

But hold up, I ain’t know that I was that scary

And I ain’t know that I could shoot you with a blackberry

Very odd, that he saw me as a thug

When I’d never caught a case, never stole or bought drugs...”

Buzz has been surrounding Trip Lee since this release and he has received mostly positive feedback from the song. Trip Lee is currently signed to Reach Records with other label mates that include Grammy-winning artist Lecrae as well as Andy Mineo among others.

https://soundcloud.com/builttobrag/trip-lee-coulda-been-me

The last one that we wanted to take a further look at was former Reach Records artist, Derek Minor’s “Stranger”. Although the lyrics have already been called controversial, they are as honest as any artist can get when expressing him or herself. At the end of the day, each one of us is entitled to our own opinions. However, a question to be begged, shouldn’t men of color in a position of influence be allowed and accepted to express from their point of view?! Probably the most controversial lyrics come in the first verse as Minor raps:

“…See America left our right we still hanging from the rope

And I promise

Wanna leave it in the past, but it's hard

Cause I just seen an unarmed teen shot down like a dog

I just pray you hear my heart

Cause it's heavy when I'm writing

See the reason for this song, is that i'm aching…”

Minor’s song also has a catchy hook with a soulful female voice asking the listener to “walk with me”. Many of us do have different opinions on what occurred August 18th and the mess that has become nothing short of tragic in our country. However, Minor’s hook repeats several times to walk with him. How many of us actually know what it is to be a young black man in our world today? A tough pill to swallow, yet a question that can truly put things into perspective.

https://soundcloud.com/rmgcloud/stranger-ft-roz-2

How do WE respond?

Man. This is a tough question. I think whichever side of the spectrum you are on, we often feel that our opinions and words are rational and valid. Many of us also carry preconceived notions that influence our conclusions and opinions. Too often we put our pride at the forefront of an argument an opinion and end up hurting people. Why hurt someone that is already hurting? We need to be quick to listen and slow to speak, quick to ask for forgiveness, and the first to offer a helping hand. We need to become people that mourn with those in mourning, and rejoice with those who rejoice.

My reality.

I am a 22 yr-old, 100% Puerto Rican, tattooed, brown-skinned man. I have been followed in stores, called racist names, and even pulled over and had my car searched. My record is clean, both of my parents have Ph.D.s, and in just a few short weeks, I will have graduated from the University of Central Florida. In the world we live in, I feel like that changes nothing. People will still have their thoughts, their opinions and on what basis? It sucks that fear creeps in at the thought of getting pulled over and not knowing how the officer will handle the situation. I am aware that there are a few bad apples in the basket but this is MY reality. In that reality, I am aware that I am called to grow. I am called to understand. Ultimately, I am called to love people.

Be strong and let us learn to love one another. Dream big. Share your story. Silence The Riot.

Photo taken by: Aaron Clark- Virginia Tech

[silencetheriot]

Earlier this summer, recent SRT TRBL signee Swade, dropped his debut album America The TRBL. Once again, Swade did not disappoint and came together with Cardec Drums, who seem to be a developing vicious duo. Both Cardec as well as Swade have spoken numerous times on the concept of bringing TRUE Southern Rap back to what it was. Immediately, the project does exactly that by embodying Southern Rap with tracks like The Introduction. In America The TRBL, Swade comes at us with a features lineup that is absolutely stacked, which includes label brothers SPZ RKT and L9 as well as Cali native, John Givez. The project includes songs that pay homage to his hometown in Polk County, acknowledging love for the people. The project further displays the fact that he is the same person despite moving away and graduating from the University of Florida. Entering the music scene as a producer first, Swade includes a slower-paced self-produced track ‘Everything’ that carries itself with melodic flows and is loaded with lyrics that tell a story. On other tracks of the project such as ‘County Zone,’ Cardec never ceases to amaze with his production, inlcuding his iconic bass bends and vocal inserts. Listening through the project, one might be able to catch samples he uses from artists such as Kanye and Outkast (whom Cardec has identified as influences to his music). Although an already established name in the producer world, through this project and projects on the horizon, he will be an industry titan before long. Swade and Cardec have given each song its own feel and its own story and still, the entire project seems to flow flawlessly. As the music industry has moved towards artists dropping singles one at a time, it is refreshing to listen to an album front to back without needing to skip a single track. In a live video chat Swade had the night of the album’s release, he described his music as a “conscious trap.” The album speaks truth and addresses some issues head on. Some songs may cause controversy, but Swade welcomes it, confident in the message he brings. With Swade and Cardec both residing in North-Central Florida, they have been able to put endless hours in the studio in order to release the ultimate product. In a recent sit-down STR had with Swade and Cardec, we asked Swade what has led to such great chemistry with Cardec: “We think similarly which allows us to push each other. In and out of the studio we have mad respect for each. So we don’t let pride get in our way.” Although not a professed perfectionist, Cardec talked about the many times that songs were written and recorded only to be cut, to allow time for lyrics and production to be revised. This speaks volumes (pun intended) of the quality of music they not only want to make, but share with all of us. Here at STR, we have been anticipating a project from Swade for quite some time now. With early releases such as ‘Broken Keys’ and a feature on L9’s ‘Reckless Living,’ he left us hungry for more. He brings a sense of aggression and conviction in every word that he writes and ultimately lays on a track (skills that many artists in today’s industry lack). Now one of the faces of STRT TRBL, Swade will be releasing music that guarantees some blown speakers. His conscious trap is intended to leave the listener thinking, challenge cultural norms, and ultimately, edify a generation in need of some good music. Dream big. Share your story. Silence The Riot.