B.o.B released a new mixtape on Thanksgiving entitled, New Black. This piece of work comes out right after a grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri failed to indict a police officer in the killing of an unarmed teen, Mike Brown. B.o.B is one of the very few who have decided to address hip-hop and its influence on not only black culture but American culture in general.  Hip-hop addressing criminalization of the black man in America is ironic to say the least given that a large portion of Hip-hop artist have made their images based on these very criminalization’s Mike Brown and Trayvon Martin fell victim too. In these 8 tracks B.o.B tackles these seemingly painful stereotypes head on and honestly.  Although the content is very uncomfortable it is equally necessary. Check out a few lyrics below that mimic the sentiments of people emotionally affected by what happened in Ferguson, Missouri (Mike Brown) Sanford, Florida (Trayvon Martin) Queens, New York (Sean Bell) Columbus, Georgia (Kenneth Walker) unfortunately the list goes on and on.

“Missing”

‘If you can’t look in someone’s eyes and be yourself
And speak the thoughts that’s on your mind
You ain’t got no reason to live
You on the sideline
You just a motherf slave
They got your mind tied up and it’s missing’

“New Black”

 ‘Can’t nobody else touch a nigga
But it’s cool for a brother just to bust a nigga
Guns sold in every hood, he’ll slay a dozen niggas
Gon’ kill yourself, while you’re at it, take a couple with you’

“Generation Lost”

‘Now-a-days everybody wants to be a rapper
About two years ago everybody was a trapper
Obviously, money is what everybody’s after
Cause slavery ain’t change
It’s a modern day disaster
Now these are my words from me to you
Everything you do from your shades to your shoes
From your chains to your coupe
Came from the tube
Trust me I would know
I was raised on it too’

The post New Mixtape: B.o.B. – ‘New Black’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

With the nation in an uproar in response to the ‘Ferguson verdict,’ 19-year-old singer/rapper Tink voices her frustration on a new track titled, “Tell the Children.” Alarming the children of today’s society to be wary of the system that is supposed to protect us, but is instead murdering black youths one by one, the Chicago native and Mosley Music Group artist touches on how a “badge is a pass to do whatever, so now we living in fear of the people here to protect us.”

Take a listen to a fed up Tink  on the Timbaland-produced “Tell the Children” below.

The post New Music: Tink – “Tell the Children” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.