SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS RAP IN THE 1990’S 2

Socially Conscious Rap in the 1990s

Rap music began its golden age in the mid 1980s. However, it is in the 1990s that it really
captured global imagination. Part of the reason why the genre easily universal is its socially
conscious lyrics that billions of people across the world, not just Americans, could relate to.
Even though there were white rappers such as Vanilla Ice, the rap music genre was
predominantly African American. The lyrics of the artists reflected the daily struggles that
African Americans went through in America as a minority group suffering from racial
discrimination and poverty. Some of the artists of the period rapped about the effect of the
poverty and racial discrimination had on fermenting other ills in black communities such as gun
violence, prostitution, teenage pregnancies, high school drop outs, and police brutality. Socially
conscious rap artists of 1990s, therefore, were instrumental in bringing issues of African
Americans to national and even international attention. This piece looks at some of the top
socially conscious rap songs of this era and how they addressed various issues affecting African
Americans and other minority groups in the USA.
Brenda Got a Baby (1991) by Tupac Shakur
The song is significant in rap music history because it was among the first to address the
problem of teenage pregnancy and how both parents and government neglected teenagers who
got pregnant. In the song Tupac, in one long verse, gives the story of Brenda, a 12-year old girl
who is impregnated by her cousin and is left to take care of the baby alone after delivery.
Overwhelmed by her responsibilities and lacking any support from either her parents or
government, she becomes a drug dealer and prostitute to get money to care for her child.

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Juicy (1994) by The Notorious BIG
Rags-to-riches story is a common theme in some America’s best known fiction and non-
fiction works. The theme is also common in rap music genre as countless artists have rapped
about using the genre to escape poverty. In Juicy, The Notorious BIG narrates how he managed
to escape poverty through selling drugs and rapping. Thanks to the song, we learn that the lack of
economic opportunities in poor black neighbourhoods means that selling drugs is seen as one of
the ways of getting out of poverty. Musically, the song was instrumental in establishing sampling
as a major production technique for rap songs.
Gangsta’s Paradise (1995) by Coolio
In the song Coolio masterfully addresses the issue of gang violence among African
American communities. The song puts context in this violence. Surrounded by violence, young
African Americans are forced to involve themselves in violence in order to survive. The
violence, therefore, becomes cyclic with many young men and women dying from it. Coolio
himself doubts whether he may manage to survive the violence to reach 24. The song is
important because it was released when the Gangster Rap subgenre was at its peak and seen as
glorifying violence. The chorus of Gangsta’s Paradise warns that there is no need to glorify the
violence as it ends up destroying all involves parties. The song’s importance lies in the fact that
it was among the first to give an in-depth analysis of black gang violence and criticize, though
subtly, the Gangster Rap subgenre and the general violent subculture of inner city African
American neighbourhoods.
Dear Mama (1995) by Tupac Shakur

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Even though the song is about Tupac Shakur’s love for his mother, it also deals with
many of the common themes of early rap music which were informed by the background of the
artists. These themes include poverty, single motherhood, and drug dealing. In the song, Tupac
talks of the struggles of single mothers to take care of their children without the help of the
children’s fathers. Given the fact that a disproportionately high number of African American
households are led by women, the song was a tribute to their resilience and courage.
Sound of da Police (1993) by KRS-One
The relationship between African Americans and the police has been uneasy for quite a
long time. African Americans and many other observers have accused police of showing racial
bias and being brutal towards African Americans. Recent examples of police shooting unarmed
black men have only added credence to this criticism. In Sound of da Police KRD-One lambasts
this racial bias in police and explains why it generates a lot of anger and hatred for police among
African Americans.
Changes (1998) by Tupac Shakur
Recorded in 1992 and released two years after his death, Changes covers some of the
major social and political themes of the era and which remain among African Americans to this
day. They include gang violence, drugs problem, racism, and poverty affecting African
Americans. He admonishes the American government for prioritizing wars abroad instead of
tackling every day problems that affect Americans. He also speculates about the possibility of
America having a black president (something that was to happen a decade later). The song’s
strength lies in the fact that Tupac manages to address all the major social and political issues

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that were of interest to African Americans in one song. It is also very energetically delivered in a
manner that makes the issues look alive and urgent.
Teach the Children (1992) by Rakim and Eric B
The problem of inner city poverty and drug problem affecting African Americans has
been discussed widely in rap music. Most of the discussion, however, centres on the
government’s failure to address the issue and not how the issue should be addressed. In Rakim
and Eric B’s Teach the Children, the duo explain the root causes of problems affecting inner city
communities – lack of positive role models and social cohesion. Presented in a calm, prescriptive
manner, the song does not follow the energetic deliveries that were common with rappers of the
era but still manages to capture attention with its profoundness.
Doo Wop (That Thing) (1998) by Lauryn Hill
Even though rap music of the 1990s was dominated by men, there were also fine female
rap artists that achieved great fame in the music industry. One of them is Lauryn Hill. In her
award winning Doo Wop (That Thing), Hill addresses the issue of male irresponsibility and
materialism. The song is directed at men and women of all races thus making it one of the first
truly egalitarian songs of the genre. She admonishes young girls to respect their bodies and men
to focus less on showing off their material possessions and more in meeting their family
obligations such as child support.
So Many Tears (1995) by Tupac Shakur
The image of African Americans who are jailed is that of hardcore criminals undeserving
of any mercy. With So Many Tears Tupac softens this image as he reminisces about his time

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before going to prison. He shows remorse at his actions and laments about his broken
relationship with God. What this deeply spiritual song achieves is to put a human face to African
American men in jail that often lacks in their media portrayal.
Keep Ya Head Up (1993) by Tupac Shakur
Rap music has often been accused of promoting misogyny through its depiction of
women as sexual objects. In Keep Ya Head Up Tupac provides a refreshingly progressive and
feminist approach to women issues. He promotes women empowerment and advocates for full
control of their bodies by letting them have the freedom to choose when to have children. The
song is, therefore, one of the first feminist songs in rap music by a major male artist.

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References

Coolio (1995). Gangasta’s Paradise. (Video). Retrieved from
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fPO76Jlnz6c on 28th November, 2018.

Hill, L. (1998). Doo Wop (That Thing). (Video). Retrieved from
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T6QKqFPRZSA on 28th November, 2018.

KRS-One (1993). Sound of da Police. (Video). Retrieved from
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZrAYxWPN6c on 28th November, 2018.

Rakim & Eric, B. (1992). Teach the Children. (Video). Retrieved from
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KGZXAd1el50 on 28th November, 2018.

Shakur, T. (1998). Changes. (Video). Retrieved from
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eXvBjCO19QY on 28th November, 2018.

Shakur, T. (1995). Dear Mama. (Video). Retrieved from
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb1ZvUDvLDY on 28th November, 2018.

Shakur, T. (1995). So Many Tears. (Video). Retrieved from
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PIvjfEy4Dk4 on 28th November, 2018.

Shakur, T. (1993). Keep Ya Head Up. (Video). Retrieved from
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XW–IGAfeas on 28th November, 2018.

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Shakur, T. (1991). Brenda Got a Baby. (Video). Retrieved from
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NRWUs0KtB-I on 28th November, 2018.

The Notorious BIG (1994). Juicy. (Video). Retrieved from
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7nDB0GU0S-Y on 28th November, 2018.