Empowering Friday

Today, after reading about President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize, I decided that I would dedicate today's post to him. Well not necessarily directly at him, but musically, I would dedicate it to him via musical tracks that taught us to build ourselves up, and not tear each other down. This type of thinking brings more positive thought and hope to the world, which is the focal point of President Obama's foreign policy.

I wanna take it back old school and introduce this post off with prolly the most "infamous" song sang: "We Are the World".

I remember as a young kid, watching this video and seeing all the great superstars of the day from Luther Vandross, to Diana Ross, Daryl Hall (from Hall and Oates), and Lionel Richie. It was written by the late Michael Jackson (R.I.P.) and this song was dedicated to all of the starving children of South Africa. Even in today's times, this song could still apply to some country that is suffering from malnourishment.

"You Will Know" by Black Men United, or BMU for short, was the men's empowerment song. We needed this song as death to the Black Man was growing rampant, and the issue needed to be addressed. Who better to do it than a collaboration of greats being lead by the great Quincy Jones? If anyone can put together a song to catch the eye of the nation, it would be someone who's worked with such greats as Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Babyface, Tamia etc.


Now the women's version HAS to be "I'm Every Woman". Chaka Khan let women know that they were to be respected because "it's all in her". I think that women still silently bump this song for some uplifting words....fellas we better watch out. They ain't playin!

All my old school hip hop heads will remember my next one. Self-Destruction had to be one of the most remembered joints from the 80s dealing with violence and the downfall of the African American race.

KRS-1 and others decided that it was time to speak up about this after a young kid was killed at a concert due to senseless violence. "Self Destruction...we headed for self-destruction". They were right...people shoulda listened back then.

"We're All in the Same Gang" addressed the same issue, except centralized it due to gang violence. Big names like Dr. Dre, Michel'le, Hammer, Above the Law and others wanted to get the folks together on the West part of hte country and form the West Coast All-Stars to try to reach out to those participating in gang activity to try to get them to come together instead of takin each other out. Didn't necessarily work too well in their favor, but the song was still bangin! LOL


The last one is dedicated to our newly honored President: Mariah Carey's "Hero". Even if you listen to the words in the song, they describe exactly what he's goin through tryin to bring this country out of a recession while re-establish the United States' position in the world.
"It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you"

Once again, congrats again to President Obama! You've travelled a long dark road alone, and now the fruits of your labor are starting to be noticed!