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For Us By Us

N

NipplesAndToes23

Member
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What is your favorite pro-black song? There are a ton out there and a good one of these just makes you feel good and feel good about being black. The pro Africa songs I'm also throwing into this as well as it comes from the same place. I think James Brown's "I'm Black and I'm Proud" was the first popular one to come out and it's still the jam. Lately Innanet James's "Black" has been my anthem.

For others here's a Spotify playlist I made full of blackness.

Tracklist

  1. James Brown - Say It Loud
  2. Nas - I Can
  3. Esperanza Spalding - Black Gold feat. Algebra Blessett
  4. Sammus - Perfect Dark
  5. October London - Black Man in America
  6. X-Clan - Raise the Flag
  7. Nicotine's Famous Honey - Braids & Bantu Knots
  8. Chronixx - Black Is Beautiful
  9. Jeezy - My President ft. Nas
  10. Solange - F.U.B.U.
  11. Innanet James - Black
  12. The Reminders - Africa on My Mind
  13. Sa-Roc - Black God Theory
  14. Blitz the Ambassador - Africa Is the Future
  15. Robert Glasper Experiment - Afro Blue ft. Erykah Badu
  16. Akua Naru - (Black &) Blues People
  17. Mos Def - UMI Says
  18. Hempress Sativa - Fight for Your Rights
  19. Rapsody - Black & Ugly
  20. Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted, and Black
 
A

Anoregon

The flight plan I just filed with the agency list me, my men, Dr. Pavel here. But only one of you!
I am very white, but I really love the Nina Simone version of Young, Gifted and Black.
 
A

Auctopus

Member
Kendrick Lamar's 'Complexion (A Zulu Love)'

It's not so much pro-Black as it is pro-racial equality/self-love but there's some great imagery in here...

Sneak me through the back window, I’m a good field nigga
I made a flower for you outta cotton just to chill with you
You know I'd go the distance, you know I'm ten toes down
Even if master's listenin', I got the world's attention
So I'ma say somethin' that's vital and critical for survival
Of mankind, if he lyin', color should never rival
Beauty is what you make it, I used to be so mistaken
By different shades of faces
Then Whit told me, "A woman is woman, love the creation"
It all came from God, then you was my confirmation
I came to where you reside
And looked around to see more sights for sore eyes
Let the Willie Lynch theory reverse a million times with...
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..and also Rhapsody's verse at the end...

Let me talk my Stu Scott, ‘scuse me on my 2Pac
Keep your head up, when did you stop loving thy
Color of your skin, color of your eyes
That’s the real blues, baby, like you met Jay’s baby
You blew me away, you think more beauty in blue, green and grey
All my solemn men up north, 12 years a slave
12 years of age, thinkin' my shade too dark
I love myself, I no longer need Cupid
Enforcin' my dark side like a young George Lucas
Light don’t mean you smart, bein' dark don’t make you stupid
And frame of mind for them bustas, ain’t talkin' “Woohah!”
Need a paradox for the pair of doc's they tutored
Like two Todd's, L-L, you lose two times
If you don’t see you beautiful in your complexion
It ain’t complex to put it in context
Find the air beneath the kite, that’s the context
Yeah, baby, I’m conscious, ain’t no contest
If you like it, I love it, all your earth tones been blessed
Ain’t no stress, jigga boos wanna be
I ain’t talkin' Jay, I ain’t talkin' Bey
I’m talkin' days we got school watchin' movie screens
And spike your self esteem
The new James Bond gon' be black as me
Black as brown, hazelnut, cinnamon, black tea
And it’s all beautiful to me
Call your brothers magnificent, call all the sisters queens
We all on the same team, blues and pirus, no colors ain’t a thing
Click to expand...
 
X

xKilltheMx

Member
Great thread.
Definitely hopping on that playlist.

____ said:
Kendrick Lamar - Alright
Click to expand...

I want to add this one to the playlist for sure. This song has been my anthem since Trump was elected and it keeps my head up something fierce. Highly recommended
 
D

Deuce Deuce

Member
It's not an uplifting song, but Black Star's Thieves in the Night is probably my favorite song FUBU. Mos Def goes off something amazing ans references biblical and earlier African American literature. An incredible talent:

Get yours first, them other niggas secondary.
The type of illin' that be filling up the cemetery.

This life is temporary but the soul is eternal.
Separate the real from the lie. Now let me learn ya:

Not strong, only aggressive cause the power ain't directed.
That's why we are subjected to the will of the oppressive.

Not free, we only licensed. Not live, we just exciting
cause the captors own the masters to what we writing.

Not compassionate, only polite. We well trained.
Our sincerity's rehearsed in stage. Its just a game

Not good, but well behaved cause the cameras survey
most of the things that we think, do, or say.
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This is a reference a quote in Toni Morrison's Bluest Eye.
 
B

Bronx-Man

Banned
In terms of more traditional uplifting stuff, Joey Badass - Save The Children.

But I really like Black Skinhead because it’s always sounded like a punk-rock Fuck The World version of FUBU to me.
 
?

____

Member
xKilltheMx said:
Great thread.
Definitely hopping on that playlist.



I want to add this one to the playlist for sure. This song has been my anthem since Trump was elected and it keeps my head up something fierce. Highly recommended
Click to expand...

Yessir! The energy is amazing. About to put it on now.
 
formasymphonic

formasymphonic

Member
I was gonna mention a few but they've already been mentioned (Murder to Excellence, a few Kendrick tracks etc).

To add a few more recent ones (a mix of pro black and some just about the struggle):

- Joey Bada$$ - Amerikkkan Idol (particularly the second half). That whole album is better turned out to be pretty good.
- Common - Black America Again (ft Stevie Wonder) / Letter to the Free
- King Los - War / God Money War / To Be Honest
- J. Cole - Change / 4 Your Eyez Only
- Michael Kiwanuka - Black Man in a White World
- Jay-Z - American Dreamin'
- T.I. - Warzone
- Nas (DJ Khaled) - Nas Album Done

Album/EP T.I.'s US or Else, Joey Bada$$'s ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ and some classics like Dead Prez's - Let's Get Free

EDIT: Maybe not as uplifting as you'd like - but these are playing for me when some ish has messed me up and I need to remind myself to keep it moving / can't let what ever is pulling on me stop me here.

anyways subbing this thread. Thanks for making it.
 
DOWN

DOWN

Banned
I’m confused at Formation being in the OP, but no Formation, Beyoncé, or Lemonade mentioned by OP or the thread. I think Lemonade as a film and album are both excellent, but I’d love to hear if it’s omission was intentional.
 
N

NipplesAndToes23

Member
DOWN said:
I’m confused at Formation being in the OP, but no Formation, Beyoncé, or Lemonade mentioned by OP or the thread. I think Lemonade as a film and album are both excellent, but I’d love to hear if it’s omission was intentional.
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Well for one I don't consider it one and second I don't like Beyonce. I just like that image and that fucking video.

ChubbyHuggs said:
No Umi Says?
Click to expand...

It's in the OP and the playlist.
 
A

Aizen.S.Kennedy

Banned
Fight the power- Public Enemy
Murder to Excellence- Jay & Kanye
Because I'm black- Styles P
The story of oj- jay z
Black n Proud- James brown
I'm black y'all- Dead Mike
 
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