Political hip hop, also called political rap or conscious hip-hop, is a type of hip hop music that began in the 1980s. It was created as a way for people to express their opinions and support causes they care about. This music often uses lyrics to talk about social and political problems, such as unfair treatment, inequality, or government issues. It was influenced by earlier artists like The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron, as well as groups like the Black Power movement and the Black Panther Party from the 1960s and 1970s.
Important early artists in political hip hop include KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions, as well as Public Enemy. These artists helped make political rap popular in the late 1980s with music that discussed social and political topics. Later, other artists such as X-Clan, Poor Righteous Teachers, Paris, and Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy continued this tradition, focusing on messages about politics and society.
Political hip hop has always been connected to activism. It gives artists a way to talk about issues like unfair police actions, racism, government dishonesty, and economic unfairness. Some famous songs that address these topics include: "The Message" (1982), "Fight the Power" (1989), "Fuck tha Police" (1989), "Changes" (1998), "Mosh" (2004), "Minority Report" (2006), "The Blacker the Berry" (2015), "Snow on Tha Bluff" (2020), and "The Bigger Picture" (2020).
Conscious hip-hop
Conscious hip-hop, also called socially conscious hip-hop or conscious rap, is a type of hip-hop music that addresses issues like culture, politics, society, and the economy. It often talks about problems faced by people in everyday life, such as poverty, race, and the environment. While it may not always focus on politics directly, the terms "conscious hip-hop" and "political hip-hop" are often used together because they share similar goals. Conscious hip-hop became popular in the 1980s, around the same time hip-hop as a whole grew in popularity. A term called "nation-conscious rap" is sometimes used to describe conscious hip-hop songs with strong political messages, especially those that highlight Black empowerment. Common themes in conscious hip-hop include social responsibility, religion, culture, the economy, and discussions about crime and violence. It also may include ideas related to African heritage. This type of music aims to help listeners understand social problems, often letting them form their own opinions instead of pushing for specific actions. Artists who make conscious hip-hop use their songs to share thoughts on many topics, such as politics, race, poverty, and the environment.
History of political and conscious hip hop
Before political hip hop became popular, the Black Power Movement and the focus on black pride in the mid-1960s inspired songs that included ideas from the Black Power Movement. Songs about black pride include James Brown's "Say it Loud (I'm Black and Proud)" (1969) and Billy Paul's "Am I Black Enough for You?" (1972). Early rap by Gil Scott-Heron influenced political and conscious rap, but most of his earlier music was part of the jazz, soul, and funk genres. After Ronald Reagan became president in 1980, life in inner-city African-American communities got harder, and hip hop artists began to talk more about problems like unemployment, police violence, poor schools, and inequality. One of the first hip hop songs with social messages was "How We Gonna Make the Black Nation Rise?" by Brother D with Collective Effort. A famous early hip hop song was "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, which described the struggles of poor urban communities. The 1985 film Rappin' showed a more political side of hip hop, including verses from Ice-T's song "Killers," his first political record. The many social and political issues before and during hip hop's development greatly shaped its creation and direction.
Early gangsta rap often shared ideas with political and conscious rap. Artists like Ice-T, N.W.A., Ice Cube, and the Geto Boys mixed the crime themes and aggressive style of gangsta rap with messages about social problems. They used common gangsta rap themes, like crime and violence, to discuss issues in poor communities and society as a whole. These artists were influenced by books like those written by Iceberg Slim and by hip hop groups such as Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions, which combined strong, direct lyrics about city life with political messages. N.W.A.'s 1989 album Straight Outta Compton brought gangsta rap to the public, but it also included strong social messages, like the song "Fuck tha Police." Ice-T also made songs about free speech, drunk driving, and Nelson Mandela in later albums.
After leaving N.W.A. in 1989, Ice Cube started making music on his own. His 1990 album Amerikkka's Most Wanted and other early works included political and conscious rap themes. He also worked on the 1992 album Guerillas in tha Mist by Da Lench Mob, which was made after the Los Angeles Riots. While Ice Cube continued to include political messages in his music over time, he focused more on political and conscious rap in his 2006 album Laugh Now, Cry Later and 2008 album Raw Footage, which included the song "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It," discussing how music might relate to global issues like the Iraq War and school violence.
Underground rap, also called underground hip hop, is a type of hip hop that often includes political and socially aware messages. Unlike mainstream rap, which usually focuses on topics like money and fame, underground rap talks about serious issues like racism, police violence, and inequality. Underground rap artists often criticize the government and use their music to share their political views. Many songs address problems like police brutality or the effects of poverty on communities of color.
A main goal of underground rap is to challenge what mainstream media says and give a voice to people who are often ignored. In addition to political messages, underground rap is known for being creative and different from mainstream rap, which often follows a set pattern. This allows underground artists to express themselves in new and unique ways.
Underground rap is an important part of hip hop that lets artists discuss political and social issues while offering a different perspective. By sharing their views and experiences, underground rap artists can raise awareness about important problems and encourage others to act. Many artists who make conscious rap are considered part of the underground scene. However, some mainstream artists now include political messages in their music. Hundreds of artists make music that could be called political, and a list of political hip hop artists is available for more information.
Hip hop in politics
Hip hop has had a big influence on politics. Politicians have responded by sharing ideas and opinions, creating a casual conversation about difficult topics.
When hip hop began in the 1980s and continued through the 1990s, many politicians ignored or criticized it. In the 1990s, some leaders believed rap music showed a decline in American values, and this idea was supported by both major political groups. In 1992, Vice President Dan Quayle asked Interscope Records to stop selling the album 2Pacalypse Now because he called it "a disgrace to American music." This request followed an event in Texas where a young man shot a state trooper and said the album influenced him. In 2Pacalypse Now, rapper Tupac Shakur discussed problems like racism, teen pregnancy, and police violence. In the song "Trapped," he describes a fictional story where a police officer hits him without reason, and the officer is later shot. Tupac wrote, "How can I feel guilty after all the things they did to me?"
In the 2000s, hip hop became more accepted in mainstream culture and politics. In 2015, The Washington Post published an article titled "The politician's guide to how to be down with hip hop," showing how hip hop is used in politics. Criticizing hip hop, which was once seen as moral and patriotic, can now make politicians seem out of touch with younger voters. For example, politician Mike Huckabee was criticized for calling Beyoncé "mental poison" in his book God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy. In 2008, during Barack Obama's campaign against Hillary Clinton, he performed a dance move from rapper Jay-Z, and the crowd cheered. Politicians from both major parties have embraced hip hop. Republican Senator Marco Rubio praised Tupac and gangsta rap, saying rappers act like reporters who share stories about gang violence and racial issues. President Donald Trump used hip hop during his 2016 campaign, mentioning that rapper Mac Miller wrote a song about him with over 100 million views.
In the 2018 midterm elections, Antonio Delgado, a lawyer and former rapper, was elected to represent New York's 19th congressional district.
Ideology and views of political rappers
Hip hop is a music style that began and was mainly led by African-Americans. Many hip hop artists talk about Black liberation and the Black power movement in their music. Some songs, like "Where Is the Love?" by The Black Eyed Peas, express anti-racist ideas. However, artists who support more extreme forms of Black liberation have faced controversy. Artists such as Public Enemy, Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, Game, and Kendrick Lamar have included messages about Black liberation in their songs and poems. In Tupac Shakur's poem "How Can We Be Free," he writes about the sacrifices of Black political prisoners and the rejection of symbols tied to patriotism. In the 2010s, artists like Killer Mike and Kendrick Lamar released songs that criticized the war on drugs and the prison system from an anti-racist viewpoint. Hip hop continues to highlight the struggles of minority groups, using modern methods to connect with young activists. Kendrick Lamar and others have helped people discuss the meaning of "Blackness" through their music.
With the rise of gangsta rap, many hip hop artists come from poor or working-class backgrounds. Artists like Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, and Killer Mike have written about class inequality. Tupac Shakur included themes of revolutionary nationalism in his lyrics. In the song "Words of Wisdom" from the album 2Pacalypse Now, he wrote about refusing to accept unfair economic conditions and limited job opportunities.
Rappers often mention their religious beliefs in their music. Killer Mike has criticized organized religion in many of his political songs. Rapper Kanye West, who grew up in Chicago, included religious themes and personal reflection in his The Life of Pablo album. In January 2019, West started hosting events called "Sunday Service," where fans and guests can listen to choir versions of his music, gospel songs, and pray.
Conspiracy theories have appeared in hip hop lyrics for many years. Ideas from the Five-Percenter philosophy, which includes several conspiracy theories, have influenced hip hop culture. Rapper B.o.B is a member of the Flat Earth Society.
Hip hop's reputation and role vary globally. In Canada, The Dope Poet Society is a well-known political hip hop group. They support anti-racist and anti-war causes and criticize both liberal and conservative politicians. Their beliefs could be described as third-worldism or black internationalism. In the song "Bombay to Zimbabwe," the group's lead rapper, Professor D, mentions figures like Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, Mahatma Gandhi, and the Black Panther Party. These influences sometimes seem to contradict each other, such as Marley's support for socialism compared to Garvey's opposition to communism, or non-violence versus violence. However, together they show different ways to fight for shared goals, like uniting anti-racist and anti-colonial movements worldwide. Professor D and The Dope Poet Society also include artists from around the world, such as those from Nigeria and Colombia, on their albums. In other parts of the world, hip hop offers different views. For example, Lowkey and Iron Sheik have expressed anti-Zionist ideas in their music, while Golan, Pope Troy, and Subliminal have shared pro-Zionist perspectives. Pope Troy combines support for American conservative ideas with pro-Israeli beliefs, acting as a political advocate for different groups.
Political hip hop scenes outside the United States
Political rappers with Hispanic, Brazilian, or Portuguese backgrounds include Calle 13, Racionais MC's, Olmeca, Tohil, Immortal Technique, Rebel Diaz, Manny Phesto, MRK, Portavoz, Facção Central, Psycho Realm, Ana Tijoux, Bocafloja, Zack de la Rocha, Pablo Hasél (Spain), Los Chikos del Maiz (from Valencia, Spain), and Canserbero.
In the United Kingdom, political and conscious rap is common in hip hop and Grime music. Artists such as Lowkey, Logic, Akala, I & Ideal, Mic Righteous, Klashnekoff, Mic Reckless, Riz MC, and English Frank often address issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict and other Middle East topics.
Before the unexpected election on June 8, 2017, Jeremy Corbyn, the Leader of the Opposition, met with JME while campaigning for the Labour Party. During the meeting, JME explained that many young people feel politicians do not act in their best interests. He also said that some young voters believe voting has no impact. He told Corbyn that he is the first party leader he feels he can trust, because he is "so genuine it feels like I’m about to meet my mum’s friend."
In Australia, Indigenous rapper Briggs and his collaboration with Trials for A.B. Original are among the most well-known political hip hop artists. Other artists, such as Urthboy, Jimblah, The Herd, Horrorshow, and L-FRESH the Lion, are part of the Elefant Traks record label and often create songs that address political issues. These artists focus on topics like racism, xenophobia, climate change, gender inequality, and war. Quro’s 2007 EP Goodnight Mr. Howard includes direct criticism of the Howard government and its policies. Some artists also address domestic violence in their music, such as the all-female Indigenous hip hop group Oetha in their 2019 song Disturbing the Peace.
In Norway, music created by rappers often becomes part of public discussions, contributing to political conversations. This includes songs, lyrics, and performances within the hip hop genre. Hip hop is considered an important part of how people engage in democratic discussions.
In Iran, many rappers address current social and political issues through their music due to the country’s long history of human rights violations. Well-known Iranian political hip hop artists include Hichkas, Fadaei, Shapur, Quf, Yas, and Toomaj Salehi. Because criticizing the government is illegal in Iran, most of these artists live outside the country.
Rapper Toomaj Salehi, who lives in Iran, was arrested during the Mahsa Amini protests on October 30, 2022, for sharing social awareness messages on his social media and releasing two protest songs, Battleground and Omen, during the protests. On November 27, 2022, Iranian media reported that Salehi was charged with "corruption on Earth," a crime that could result in the death penalty. Salehi became a prominent figure in the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, which opposes the Iranian government’s repression. He has reportedly been in solitary confinement and subjected to torture.
In the Russian Federation and other Russophone countries, hip hop is becoming more political. Many hip hop songs criticize the government and the quality of life under Vladimir Putin’s leadership.