Saturday 21 July 2012

Malcolm X Lyrical References

Seated reflecting on Mandela Day (July 18), as the whole world wished the old man blissful 94 years on earth - we started thinking… who else has influenced the world of lyricism? Malcolm X 

The slain activist is one of the greatest inspiration to the hip-hop culture. Hustle takes a looks at 20 songs with Malcolm X lyrical references surprisingly not just in hip-hop.

20. Kendrick Lamar – HiiiPower
"Malcolm X put a hex on my future, someone catch me."

19. Drake - Forever
"Whoda thought a country-wide tour be the outcome/Labels want my name beside an X like Malcolm?"

18. Krs One - Ah Yeah
Other times, I had to come as Nat Turner/They tried to burn me, lynch me and starve me/So I had to come back as Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley/They tried to harm me, I used to be Malcolm X/Now I'm on the planet as the one called KRS."

17. Pitbull - Castle Made Of Sand
Just like most kids, a father I did it without one Come from the city/ X you like Malcolm, then you wonder how come I can move in the room full of wolves so swift so smooth."

16. The Maccabees – Right to Bare Arms
"I grab my strap, ride for the Hebrew Macks/Blackout on the president and the cop's presidents/CIA killed Malcolm X, lied on national news/Then flew out on a jet."

15. Lowkey – Blood, Swear & Tears
Who adjusted and found normality in the madness/Fight the power 'til I'm out of breath like Malcolm X/You empower the powerful, I empower the powerless."

14. Kendrick Lamar – I Am
"The way he piece up trooper, then round up shooters/Like Malcolm X did, I stand for what I believe in/Family, God and honor."

13. Fatal - Outlaws
"It's the merciless X/Like Malcolm/Black as a falcon."

12. 50 Cent – Many Men (Wish Death)
"I'm like Paulie in Goodfellas, you can call me the Don/Like Malcolm by any means, with my gun in my palm."

11. Killah Priest feat Nas – Gun for Gun
"I'll make Mussolini wear a Kufi/I talk like Dr. Ben but look like Malcolm holding his Uzi."

10. Pac - Words of Wisdom
“No Malcolm X in my history text, why is that? / Cause he tried to educate and liberate all blacks.”

9. Guru “Feed The Hungry”
“And I doubt we’ll see another Martin or Malcolm/Cause the rims and the blimps, have distorted the outcome/And how come, we’d rather floss than get our souls right.”

8. The Roots - Tip The Scale
"Lot of niggas go to prison/How many come out Malcolm X?"

7. Lupe Fiasco - Building Minds Faster
“I think I’m Malcolm X, Martin Luther, add an X add a Jr.”

6. Jay Z - Intro
I'm tryin to be calm but I'm gon' get richer/through any means, with that thing that Malcolm palmed in the picture."

5. Lil' Kim - Whoa
"Man I do's it in heels or a pair of crisp Nikes/Stand behind Martin Luther King, but I'm more like Malcolm X/Guerillas beatin on they chest, get it right on Malcolm X."

4. Nas
"What did Malcolm think split second before he was shot?/Did he think to hit the deck on the floor before he dropped?/Or did he just say "Fuck it" I'm ah die for my brothers?"

3. Kanye West – Good Morning
"Good morning, on this day we become legendary/Everything we dreamed of/I'm like the fly Malcolm X."

2. Jamie Green - Malcolm X
"Tears are no justification/But they flow nonetheless/And I'm sorry, Malcolm X/So sorry, Malcolm X."

1. 2Pac - Blasphemy
"while the preacher bein richer you say honor God's people/Should we cry, when the Pope die, my request/We should cry if they cried when we buried Malcolm X/Mama tell me am I wrong?"

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