"[Hip-hop] was that voice that America couldn't control ... it was that voice of the streets that they didn't know what the next line is gonna be and that scared them. Because we spoke our own unapologetic truth. We spoke about environments that were overlooked, that didn't have a voice, that didn't have a say, that didn't have pretty much anything." -Da Royce, 5’9

For decades, Hip-Hop was used as “the messenger” for the people, by the people, and to those who pretended as though they didn’t hear us. Whether we expressed our hatred and frustration about the government killing our children, others profiting from our community but treating us as if they were owed, mass incarceration, police brutality, the infamous slumlords, experimenting on us through our sound, putting drugs into our communities, Black men and boys graduating from street corners to grave sites over streets and blocks that aren’t owned by them, no fresh produce in our bodegas, just poison. Undocumented mental health patients, walking around hurting others and themselves because no one cares enough to get them the help they need because to the judge and jury your only cure is a prison cell when you aren't a reflection of justice system.

For decades, we have been asking the promised land to pay us what was promised, our 40 acres and a mule… I get it, I’m with Harriet, everybody can’t come… some of you will be left behind… Believe me, George Bush doesn’t know sh*t, and if I am on my Old Kanye sh... well.

I know you wanted Kendrick Lamar to perform his “hits” at the Super Bowl so you could “dance,” rap along, and nothing more, but luckily enough for the viewers across America, we were in for a treat. Thanks, UNCLE SAM & KENDRICK LAMAR…

As he forewarned us, YOU PICKED THE RIGHT TIME, BUT THE WRONG GUY

*And for those who misinterpreted what he said, it had nothing to do with the current President of our country but every bit about himself & what he was about to do…

THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED

I know Gil Scott-Heron, infamous for his record “The Revolution will not be Televised,” is on the other side of the rim smiling from ear to ear because he said it would happen “live,” and that’s what Kendrick gave us…

On February 9th, 2025, In front of 133.5 million viewers, not only did Kendrick Lamar make history by being the first rapper to headline a halftime show, but he also broke Michael Jackson’s viewership record of 1993. Kendrick Lamar dug back into the files of “To Pimp A Butterfly” and asked for 40 ACRES AND A MULE; in other words, Reparations, as he connected the dots back to what Hip Hop is known for, getting the word out about how we really feel, what we want and what we deserve and no one could control him, not even Uncle Sam… This performance was not just a show, it was a cultural moment, a powerful statement, and a call for justice.

THE HISTORICAL BOOGEYMAN

Urban dictionary: Uncle Sam -The federal government.

I am from an era where Uncle Sam wasn’t anyone to play with. He was as close to the boogeyman in the Black community. You don’t take anything from him, never trust him & no matter how GOLDEN it sounds, you don’t allow him to give you anything because the price of paying him back will cost you double. His only goal was to control and give you enough to stay within his reach. His avenues cut into places he knew the children of the ghettos needed, like housing and food. Uncle Sam made his way into our community to promote propaganda for the war, and he started one within the music industry; he realized that’s where the money was and wanted in. He tells you to be successful”, you have to “Play the Game,” and he’ll give you whatever you want, the fame, the cars, as long as you “Don’t color out the lines,” not too loud, nothing challenging or else... He’ll Welsey Snipes your ass before you turn 35…

I know you’ve probably read or watched what most individuals said about what happened at the Superbowl, whether from Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, or Threads...you get my point. Well… I’m glad you enjoyed those spaces because this space isn’t here to talk about “the beef” because the winner is running consecutive victory laps with grace. And let’s not forget Gloria…

S/O to those teenagers from the Bronx who didn't know what they were doing at those house parties. They unwrapped gifts our ancestors had already gifted us. Your creation shifted the world forever…

TO PIMP THE BUTTERFLY? BUT TO WHIP THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA.

What Kendrick Lamar did in front of the world was brilliant; it felt poetic and just like justice. He pushed the envelope. No one knew what he was doing, and that was the beauty of it. On another note, I would like Kendrick Lamar to create a masterclass on "How To Execute What The World Said You Couldn't Do." I recall hearing things like, "Ain't nobody listening to Kendrick Lamar in the club," and "Don't nobody want to hear that conscious sh*t," and as I look back at good kid maad city, Mr. Lamar, I believe your main concern is no longer one. The children are waking up singing about you.

RESPECT THE ART FORM

There are many ways to enrich your life, and respecting the art form is one of them. Kendrick Lamar's message here is simple: it's okay to enjoy Hip Hop but respect the culture, politics, language, and principles behind it. Hip-hop isn’t just about putting rhymes to a beat, it’s life changing, it’s storytelling, it has saved lives, including Kendrick Lamars.

Kendrick Lamar's love for Compton, California, will forever be evident, but so will his dedication to the culture, his art of storytelling, and his consistency in keeping Hip-Hop alive. Does anyone still believe his hatred for Drake was the cause?? Or was it the love for what the culture has created and how we plan on preserving it without Milli Vanilli?