1980s Rap

Though the two are often worlds apart in our cultural consciousness, rap began as a form of folk music that provided artists a space to engage with political content. Before it was co-opted into hip hop by the music industry, rap allowed artists the freedom to create music that was not only self-indulgent in sexuality and violence but also political confrontation.

Systemic racism against Black Americans, the crack epidemic, and police brutality all informed the message of young rappers. Two similar yet vastly different politically minded groups emerged from the 1980s: Public Enemy and N.W.A.   

Both groups re-emerged in political news in 2020. Public Enemy performed at a rally supporting Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders in early March – sparking conversations about the limitations of socialism in the United States. Meanwhile, N.W.A.’s Ice Cube reached out to both major political parties seeking support for his Contract with Black Americans – facing controversy for entering into discussions with the Trump administration.