Hip Hop Awards 2022: Hip Hop Calls for Change with These Impactful Records
Music is regarded as the universal language of mankind, and what better way to enact change than through the media spoken by all? The following artists have used their songs to bring awareness to several issues impacting society, including mental health and social injustice, and sometimes to remind us that in the end, we’re going to be alright.
As we gear up for another amazing night at the BET Hip Hop Awards, check out these past winners of the “Impact Track” award and the song that earned them their recognition.
Kendrick Lamar - "Alright" ’15
Kendrick Lamar’s third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly, drew mixed reactions following its release in 2015 over objections to its heavy focus on politics, racial inequality, depression, and institutional discrimination. However, amongst its many promotional singles, “Alright” stood out as the track of hope and soon the anthem for protest around the country in solidarity with Black and brown people who have lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement.
RELATED: 4 Impactful Hip Hop Tracks From 2021
Lil Baby — “The Bigger Picture” ’20
Atlanta rapper Lil Baby released his protest song “The Bigger Picture” in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. The critically acclaimed record called for justice against police brutality in the United States and systemic racism. Proceeds from the song were allocated to The National Association of Black Journalists, Breonna Taylor's attorney, The Bail Project, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Childish Gambino – "This Is America" ’18
Writer, actor, and rapper Donald Glover, better known as Childish Gambino, tackled the undeniable issue of gun violence in America and the increasingly alarming rate of mass shootings with the release of his 2018 single “This is America.”
The song won in all four of its nominated categories at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Performance, and Best Music Video. This made Gambino the first hip-hop artist to win Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Nas – "Daughters" ’12
“Daughters” is the third single from Nas’ 2012 studio album Life Is Good. The No ID soul-inspired track finds the Queen’s rapper reflecting on the growth of his real-life daughter Destiny Jones whom he shares with model Carmen Bryan.
The record features samples of Cloud One's 1979 song "Dust to Dust" and Wayne McGhie and the Sounds of Joy's 1970 song "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.” The musical effort earned the emcee two Grammy Award nominations, one for Best Rap Performance and another for Best Rap Song.
J. Cole “Love Yourz” ’16
“Love Yourz” is the fourth single from his third studio album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, released on February 27, 2016. The track finds the North Carolina native rapping about gratitude and self-love.
Following its release, the rapper briefly spoke about the inspiration behind the widespread song sharing, “When I was young, I thought that success was all I needed… having people say, ‘Yo, you are the best in the game!’ I thought those would be the things that would bring happiness..."
He continued, “... When those things came, the happiness wasn’t there. There was such an attempt to achieve these things and to keep going that you lose sight of the people and the blessings you have around you."
Watch the Hip Hop Awards on Tuesday, October 4, at 9 PM ET/PT on BET
