In the late 1980s, Public Enemy’s Chuck D famously declared that "Rap is CNN for black people." To the extent that that’s true nearly three decades later, rappers across the country have been tweeting in reaction to the police violence that’s been unleashed on the black residents in Ferguson in the aftermath of Mike Brown’s killing. Some, like Bambu and Jasiri X, are actively involved in community organizing. Others, like Jean Grae, have reached back into their personal histories to talk about the legacies of state-sanctioned violence. And then there’s Questlove, who’s not a rapper, but as influential as any musician in America right now. No matter the message, thousands of fans are tuned in.
Obama … Mike Brown could’ve been your son … We need help here.
— Tef Poe/FootKlan (@TefPoe) August 14, 2014
Dudes be quiet abt racism & brutality for years but got words of wisdom for so called "rioters?" Yea ok
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) August 14, 2014
We trust what we are told by our oppressors entirely too much. We are too quick to blame ourselves for our oppression.
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) August 14, 2014
If you as a celebrity wait for CNN & Fox to talk about problems in our community before you do then YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) August 14, 2014
wow, strange to see the power/reach of the net: other territories (turkey/palestine) giving #Fergeson citizens advice on dealing w tear gas
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) August 14, 2014
wow. i just read what i wrote: palestine and turkey are giving ST LOUIS citizens TIPS on how to survive tear gas attacks….
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) August 14, 2014
——TEAR GAS ATTACKS. in this this country. OTHER countries, are offering advice on how to survi—man….im just….man.
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) August 14, 2014
My parents self-exiled to the US after the Soweto uprising in 1976. Murdering kids, race war, tear gas, rubber bullets. Hello, 2014 America.
— Jean STFU Grae (@JeanGreasy) August 14, 2014
That sound cannon that the police is using in Ferguson was used in Iraq and Somalia and causes permanent hearing loss
— Jasiri X (@jasiri_x) August 14, 2014
twitter activism is wack. marches don’t work anymore. police should be forced to wear recording devices.
— childish gambino (@donaldglover) August 14, 2014
If the community is angry at the police state in their neighborhood, why would you send more police in?
— BAMBU (@BambuDePistola) August 12, 2014
We helped build you for free. Then we are asked to pay taxes. Violence is what you taught us America. You are the aggressor historically.
— DAVID BANNER (@THEREALBANNER) August 10, 2014
Lets not forget that NYPD killer cop Daniel Pantaleo is still free. It was ruled a homicide! Its been 27 days since Eric Garner was murdered
— RodrigoStarz (@RodrigoStarz) August 14, 2014
.@RobReaves1 If Black People don’t make controlled URBAN media accountable, they will continue to fuel& foster a climate killing our youth
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) August 14, 2014