Alex Posner IAH 208 4/23/24.
Final Essay
Music has always been a way that people have expressed themselves and fought out against what they believe is wrong in hopes of getting justice, or change. Throughout the years, and evolution of music, there have been many different monumental musicians who used their platforms to voice their opinion on things they felt were unjust. One modern artist of our generation who has been an advocate for Pan-Africanism, and social justice issues is J. Cole or Jermaine Lamarr Cole. Born in Frankfurt, Germany on January 28, 1985, he was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. During Cole’s childhood, he experienced many racial and economic injustices. From the source J. Cole: Chart-topping Rapper by Alicia Klepeis …show more content…
He said that he’d spent the day mostly in silence, listening to the protesters and others around him”. Cole’s dedication to highlighting and taking part in protests at events like these are the reason that he is so highly respected and loved by many. Additionally, from the article J. Cole tackles Social Issues: 7 Ways He Took on Racism, Mental Health & More in His Career by Lai Frances it is said two years following 2014 Cole would go onto ”release his 4th Billboard 200-topping album 4 You're Eyez Only”. Many critics like to call this album J. Cole's darkest and deepest album in his discography. One specific song from the album that does a great job at highlighting this is “Change” which strikes the listener by addressing the shooting of a 22-year-old man named James, and highlights the black violence and crime within their communities and asks for a call of action to change for the better. Through Cole’s music, there are large connections to both Pan-Africanism and social justice. The songs on Cole's early mixtapes and well-received albums covered a variety of subjects, such as racial injustice, police brutality, and personal development. Cole's ability to combine personal stories with more general social criticism is …show more content…
While this song may be one of Cole’s most influential on the women’s rights side of things, it is not his only song that covers this type of content. In Cole’s song “Crooked Smile” featuring TLC, he also features many lines that empower women and tell them to forget about what others think and be happy with themselves. Some of the lyrics within this song that highlight this come early when he says, “Love yourself, girl, or nobody will”, and then a few lines later he says, “You wake up, put makeup on, stare in the mirror but it’s clear that you can’t face what’s wrong, no need to fix what God already put his paint brush on”. These two lines only further strengthen Cole’s reoccurring themes of self-love and acceptance. In conclusion, J. Cole's music and activism serves as a great representation of the social justice and Pan-Africanist principles that exist in our world today. Cole uses his intricate lyricism and songs to highlight systemic injustices, give voice to underrepresented communities, and motivate people to act as a group. From the article Meditate, Don't Hesitate! An Analysis of Addict Rap,
Final Essay
Music has always been a way that people have expressed themselves and fought out against what they believe is wrong in hopes of getting justice, or change. Throughout the years, and evolution of music, there have been many different monumental musicians who used their platforms to voice their opinion on things they felt were unjust. One modern artist of our generation who has been an advocate for Pan-Africanism, and social justice issues is J. Cole or Jermaine Lamarr Cole. Born in Frankfurt, Germany on January 28, 1985, he was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. During Cole’s childhood, he experienced many racial and economic injustices. From the source J. Cole: Chart-topping Rapper by Alicia Klepeis …show more content…
He said that he’d spent the day mostly in silence, listening to the protesters and others around him”. Cole’s dedication to highlighting and taking part in protests at events like these are the reason that he is so highly respected and loved by many. Additionally, from the article J. Cole tackles Social Issues: 7 Ways He Took on Racism, Mental Health & More in His Career by Lai Frances it is said two years following 2014 Cole would go onto ”release his 4th Billboard 200-topping album 4 You're Eyez Only”. Many critics like to call this album J. Cole's darkest and deepest album in his discography. One specific song from the album that does a great job at highlighting this is “Change” which strikes the listener by addressing the shooting of a 22-year-old man named James, and highlights the black violence and crime within their communities and asks for a call of action to change for the better. Through Cole’s music, there are large connections to both Pan-Africanism and social justice. The songs on Cole's early mixtapes and well-received albums covered a variety of subjects, such as racial injustice, police brutality, and personal development. Cole's ability to combine personal stories with more general social criticism is …show more content…
While this song may be one of Cole’s most influential on the women’s rights side of things, it is not his only song that covers this type of content. In Cole’s song “Crooked Smile” featuring TLC, he also features many lines that empower women and tell them to forget about what others think and be happy with themselves. Some of the lyrics within this song that highlight this come early when he says, “Love yourself, girl, or nobody will”, and then a few lines later he says, “You wake up, put makeup on, stare in the mirror but it’s clear that you can’t face what’s wrong, no need to fix what God already put his paint brush on”. These two lines only further strengthen Cole’s reoccurring themes of self-love and acceptance. In conclusion, J. Cole's music and activism serves as a great representation of the social justice and Pan-Africanist principles that exist in our world today. Cole uses his intricate lyricism and songs to highlight systemic injustices, give voice to underrepresented communities, and motivate people to act as a group. From the article Meditate, Don't Hesitate! An Analysis of Addict Rap,