16 Rappers Who Have Stood With #BlackLivesMatter

Get the real on rappers who are actually down with #BLM.

Kendrick Lamar - Kendrick took us to church with his recent verse on “Holy Key.” It was another real, raw message delivered by K. Dot on the sad reality of police brutality and Black artists who are used to market brands that don’t value Black people. Here’s the verse: “Brand endorsement joining forces with sorcerers signing me / Law enforcement their forces, tortures us with violent speed.” #Educate (Photo: C Flanigan/WireImage)

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Kendrick Lamar - Kendrick took us to church with his recent verse on “Holy Key.” It was another real, raw message delivered by K. Dot on the sad reality of police brutality and Black artists who are used to market brands that don’t value Black people. Here’s the verse: “Brand endorsement joining forces with sorcerers signing me / Law enforcement their forces, tortures us with violent speed.” #Educate (Photo: C Flanigan/WireImage)

KRS-One - When this hip-hop pioneer speaks, we listen! The woke rap legend and founder of the Stop the Violence movement in 1988 used CNN as a platform to speak on the devastating deaths of unarmed Black teens like Tamir Rice and Trayvon Martin. He claimed that we are in a state of lawlessness in the U.S. and came for politicians who accept the idea of brutal police, calling them a federally organized gang. (Photo: CNN)

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KRS-One - When this hip-hop pioneer speaks, we listen! The woke rap legend and founder of the Stop the Violence movement in 1988 used CNN as a platform to speak on the devastating deaths of unarmed Black teens like Tamir Rice and Trayvon Martin. He claimed that we are in a state of lawlessness in the U.S. and came for politicians who accept the idea of brutal police, calling them a federally organized gang. (Photo: CNN)

J. Cole - Back sharing the lyrics he spits best, J. Cole released the song “Jermaine’s Interlude” on DJ Khaled’s Major Key album, which dropped this month. The music touches on gun violence and the suffering that is caused because of the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they police. Some of his lyrics include: “Cause n****s is out here dying / From police that flash the siren / And pull up and just start firin' / N****s murkin’ each other.” The sounds give us chills as we feel the pain in his words. (Photo: Ollie Millington/Redferns)

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J. Cole - Back sharing the lyrics he spits best, J. Cole released the song “Jermaine’s Interlude” on DJ Khaled’s Major Key album, which dropped this month. The music touches on gun violence and the suffering that is caused because of the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they police. Some of his lyrics include: “Cause n****s is out here dying / From police that flash the siren / And pull up and just start firin' / N****s murkin’ each other.” The sounds give us chills as we feel the pain in his words. (Photo: Ollie Millington/Redferns)

Jay Z - Earlier this month, Jay Z released the song “Spiritual” after the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. In the song, he says, “I am not poison / Just a boy from the hood that / Got my hands in the air / In despair, don't shoot.” Time after time, Jay Z has used music to expose the injustices Black people have experienced since his “A Billie” remix, in which he mentioned Sean Bell, the police brutality victim for whose children Jay created an educational trust fund. (Photo: Sakura/WENN.com)

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Jay Z - Earlier this month, Jay Z released the song “Spiritual” after the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. In the song, he says, “I am not poison / Just a boy from the hood that / Got my hands in the air / In despair, don't shoot.” Time after time, Jay Z has used music to expose the injustices Black people have experienced since his “A Billie” remix, in which he mentioned Sean Bell, the police brutality victim for whose children Jay created an educational trust fund. (Photo: Sakura/WENN.com)

Nas - In 2015, Nas partnered with Usher and Bibi Bourelly to create an interactive music video called “Chains” that featured victims of police violence, including Sean Bell and Rekia Boyd. On the song, Nas raps, “I am no prison commodity, not just a body you throw in a cell." The video points fans to chainshub.org and sankofa.org to learn how to build a social movement. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Live Nation)

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Nas - In 2015, Nas partnered with Usher and Bibi Bourelly to create an interactive music video called “Chains” that featured victims of police violence, including Sean Bell and Rekia Boyd. On the song, Nas raps, “I am no prison commodity, not just a body you throw in a cell." The video points fans to chainshub.org and sankofa.org to learn how to build a social movement. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Live Nation)

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Immortal Technique - Technique has not been short of words when it comes to people of color murdered by the hands of law enforcement. During an interview with VladTV, the artist has expressed Ferguson’s need for more young activists and called out rappers who were afraid to discuss killings by police for fear of being controversial. The rapper has protested with demonstrators in the U.S. several times to denounce police violence. (Photo: Josh Brasted/Getty Images)

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Immortal Technique - Technique has not been short of words when it comes to people of color murdered by the hands of law enforcement. During an interview with VladTV, the artist has expressed Ferguson’s need for more young activists and called out rappers who were afraid to discuss killings by police for fear of being controversial. The rapper has protested with demonstrators in the U.S. several times to denounce police violence. (Photo: Josh Brasted/Getty Images)

T.I. - The Southern rapper has been more than vocal about sharing his opinions on Donald Trump and the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Last year, he released a poem urging the group to take action beyond social media. This year, he marched the streets of Atlanta with protesters in early July. (Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for 100,000 Opportunities Initiative)

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T.I. - The Southern rapper has been more than vocal about sharing his opinions on Donald Trump and the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Last year, he released a poem urging the group to take action beyond social media. This year, he marched the streets of Atlanta with protesters in early July. (Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for 100,000 Opportunities Initiative)

Drake - After the death of Alton Sterling this month, Drake published an open letter asking for honest dialogue between communities of color and police. He expressed his hope that the situation will improve, but said he was “concerned for the safety of [his] family, [his] friends and any human being that could fall victim to this pattern.” (Photo: Judy Eddy/WENN.com)

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Drake - After the death of Alton Sterling this month, Drake published an open letter asking for honest dialogue between communities of color and police. He expressed his hope that the situation will improve, but said he was “concerned for the safety of [his] family, [his] friends and any human being that could fall victim to this pattern.” (Photo: Judy Eddy/WENN.com)

Common - In February 2016, Common walked the talk when he visited Indianapolis youth asking them to make a change and end violence. His foundation Common Grounds dedicates itself to helping kids in Chicago embrace the arts and stay out of the streets. (Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

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Common - In February 2016, Common walked the talk when he visited Indianapolis youth asking them to make a change and end violence. His foundation Common Grounds dedicates itself to helping kids in Chicago embrace the arts and stay out of the streets. (Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Nick Cannon - Nick Cannon led a Black Lives Matter protest at this year’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Using his celeb platform, he set an example for people who want to be active in making change happen. (Photo: Nick Cannon via Instagram)

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Nick Cannon - Nick Cannon led a Black Lives Matter protest at this year’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Using his celeb platform, he set an example for people who want to be active in making change happen. (Photo: Nick Cannon via Instagram)

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Snoop Dogg & The Game - For our purposes we'll refer to these two as one because we salute their team effort. After the deadly police shootings in Dallas, the West Coast rappers hosted a peaceful town rally, marching to L.A.’s police headquarters to demand unity and a cease of police brutality on people of color. The rappers expressed that they were not there to bash police, but to inspire conversation and get one step closer to fixing the problem. It was a powerful representation of how to start dialogue with respect.  (Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

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Snoop Dogg & The Game - For our purposes we'll refer to these two as one because we salute their team effort. After the deadly police shootings in Dallas, the West Coast rappers hosted a peaceful town rally, marching to L.A.’s police headquarters to demand unity and a cease of police brutality on people of color. The rappers expressed that they were not there to bash police, but to inspire conversation and get one step closer to fixing the problem. It was a powerful representation of how to start dialogue with respect.  (Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

Chance the Rapper - Rap’s favorite independent rapper appeared in a We Are Here Movement video along with Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Beyoncé. The video featured 23 ways Black people could get killed in America, reminding us the danger the community may face daily just because of the color of their skin. His line was “making eye contact,” in reference to the death of Freddie Gray. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Chance the Rapper - Rap’s favorite independent rapper appeared in a We Are Here Movement video along with Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Beyoncé. The video featured 23 ways Black people could get killed in America, reminding us the danger the community may face daily just because of the color of their skin. His line was “making eye contact,” in reference to the death of Freddie Gray. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Talib Kweli - Talib appeared on Real Time With Bill Maher in August 2015 to speak on the importance of activism in the Black community even when questioning progressive politicians. He applauded the women of #BlackLivesMatter who disrupted a Bernie Sanders speech in Seattle that same month for making sure their voices and issues were heard.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

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Talib Kweli - Talib appeared on Real Time With Bill Maher in August 2015 to speak on the importance of activism in the Black community even when questioning progressive politicians. He applauded the women of #BlackLivesMatter who disrupted a Bernie Sanders speech in Seattle that same month for making sure their voices and issues were heard.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

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Ice Cube - Ice Cube revealed in April 2016 his opinion on Hillary Clinton’s previous statement that referred to some Black kids as “super predators,” explaining that we shouldn’t let her off the hook and should explore what she will do for the Black community. Cube also addressed the #BlackLivesMatter criticism of “Black-on-Black crime,” and stressed that all communities commit crimes against their own. The rapper also added that police violence against African-Americans is incomparable and inexcusable. (Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

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Ice Cube - Ice Cube revealed in April 2016 his opinion on Hillary Clinton’s previous statement that referred to some Black kids as “super predators,” explaining that we shouldn’t let her off the hook and should explore what she will do for the Black community. Cube also addressed the #BlackLivesMatter criticism of “Black-on-Black crime,” and stressed that all communities commit crimes against their own. The rapper also added that police violence against African-Americans is incomparable and inexcusable. (Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Meek Mill - Following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Meek vowed on an Instagram post to stop promoting “extreme violence” in his music after he drops Dreamchasers 4. In the Instagram photo, Meek appears young and bruised; he points to police violence as the reason he was physically hurt to shed light on the issue. (Photo: Meek Mill via Instagram)

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Meek Mill - Following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Meek vowed on an Instagram post to stop promoting “extreme violence” in his music after he drops Dreamchasers 4. In the Instagram photo, Meek appears young and bruised; he points to police violence as the reason he was physically hurt to shed light on the issue. (Photo: Meek Mill via Instagram)

Lil Boosie - In a VladTV interview this year, Lil Boosie expressed that #BlackLivesMatter “is the truth” and explained the role that technology has played in helping bring issues between the police and the Black community to the frontline. He noted his disturbing experiences with police discrimination, exposing a moment when an officer pulled a knife on him and cut up the seats of his car. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for BET)

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Lil Boosie - In a VladTV interview this year, Lil Boosie expressed that #BlackLivesMatter “is the truth” and explained the role that technology has played in helping bring issues between the police and the Black community to the frontline. He noted his disturbing experiences with police discrimination, exposing a moment when an officer pulled a knife on him and cut up the seats of his car. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for BET)