Black music to raise awareness | MORE Libraries

I Am > I Was

by 21 Savage

Music CD - 2018

Savage gets emotionally open and talks about his own bloody past in matter-of-fact ways at times in this album. He lays out an origin story in two lines: ...Show more Savage gets emotionally open and talks about his own bloody past in matter-of-fact ways at times in this album. He lays out an origin story in two lines: “My brother lost his life, and it turned me to a beast / My brother got life, and it turned me to the streets.” He considers the terrible things he’s done, and the terrible things that have been done to him: “All these days bodies got me seeing strange things / Both sides of the gun, I done dealt and felt the pain.” Show less

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2014 Forest Hills Drive

by Cole, J.

Music CD - 2014

2014 Forest Hills Drive begins with a question: “Do you wanna be happy?” Then, a follow-up: “Do you wanna be free?” These inquiries recur without answer, with mounting emotion. 2014 Forest Hills Drive begins with a question: “Do you wanna be happy?” Then, a follow-up: “Do you wanna be free?” These inquiries recur without answer, with mounting emotion. Show less

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Black America Again

by Common

Music CD - 2016

With his eleventh studio album Black America Again, Common joins the vast collection of powerful black voices rising in protest for black lives, capturing...Show more With his eleventh studio album Black America Again, Common joins the vast collection of powerful black voices rising in protest for black lives, capturing the nuanced, emotional state of black America. But while the Chicago-bred rapper-turned-Hollywood star and activist also paints a vivid picture of past and present ills plaguing the black community (“Southern leaves, southern trees we hung from”), he mostly emboldens black America’s power to rewrite its own narrative. Show less

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Black Messiah

by D'Angelo

Music CD - 2014

"It’s an album that explores liberation and protest, and that, I think, is its power," DeRay McKesson, a Ferguson activist. "It’s an album that explores liberation and protest, and that, I think, is its power," DeRay McKesson, a Ferguson activist. Show less

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Damn

by Lamar, Kendrick

Music CD - 2017

The Pulitzer Prize Board awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music to rapper Kendrick Lamar for his 2017 album, DAMN. "A virtuosic song collection," ...Show more The Pulitzer Prize Board awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music to rapper Kendrick Lamar for his 2017 album, DAMN. "A virtuosic song collection," the Pulitzer board writes of DAMN., "unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life." Show less

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To Pimp A Butterfly

by Lamar, Kendrick

Music CD - 2015

Thousands chanted the chorus of Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” at the Million Man March Gathering in 2015. Thousands chanted the chorus of Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” at the Million Man March Gathering in 2015. Show less

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This Land

by Clark, Gary

Music CD - 2019

A brutally honest account of growing up Black in the American South and his experience of living in today’s America. A brutally honest account of growing up Black in the American South and his experience of living in today’s America. Show less

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The Allegory

by Royce da 5'9"

Music CD - 2020

Royce da 5'9" not only highlights the gross racism faced by the African-American community but is also a defiant celebration of Black talent succeeding massively in spite of the horrendous obstacles their country has imposed on them. Royce da 5'9" not only highlights the gross racism faced by the African-American community but is also a defiant celebration of Black talent succeeding massively in spite of the horrendous obstacles their country has imposed on them. Show less

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A Seat at the Table

by Solange

Music CD - 2016

Solange explores what it means to be black in America today. The songs in this album celebrate black culture, confront prejudice, and explore the trauma of witnessing black people killed. Solange explores what it means to be black in America today. The songs in this album celebrate black culture, confront prejudice, and explore the trauma of witnessing black people killed. Show less

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Lemonade

by Beyoncé

Music CD - 2016

The album is about the experience of black women, “the most disrespected person in America”, to quote Beyoncé quoting Malcolm X. The title is drawn from ...Show more The album is about the experience of black women, “the most disrespected person in America”, to quote Beyoncé quoting Malcolm X. The title is drawn from Jay Z’s grandmother, who is shown in the film at her 90th birthday party: “I was given lemons and I made lemonade.” Show less

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