The Top 10 Black History Month Hip Hop Songs

What's up hip hop fans. If you're looking for a playlist to power your upcoming Black History Month celebration, don't worry, I've got you covered. Below are a list of favorites that I've relied on over the years. Some are celebratory, some protest songs, some remind us of our rich history, some wrestle with the struggles we've had since coming here over 400 years ago and some just do a fine job of capturing the Black experience in America. One thing that's for sure however, all are bangers. Take a read, click on the song titles to listen to the tracks, or listen to the entire playlist on Apple Music HERE. And as always, let me know what I missed.

Like. Share. Enjoy.

Lamont

10. I'm A African - Dead Prez - "Camouflage fatigues and dashikis, somewhere in between N.W.A and P.E". If your're looking for a track to spark your next revolution...look no further.

9. I'm Black - Styles P - "A genius and a mf'ing poet", Styles P proved it when he delivered this proud to be black anthem in '05 that I find myself returning to every February.

8. What's The Word - Chubb Rock - Way back in '90 Chubb Rock was dropping science about Apartheid while compelling young brothers and sisters here in the U.S. to open a book and learn about Black history.

7. Ultra Black - Nas - Hit-Boy and Nas get bouncy on this celebratory track from Kings Disease I. 

6. Sue Me - Wale (Ft. Kelly Price) - Issa Rae supplied the line "I'm rooting for everybody black" that inspired this gem from Wale and Kelly Price.

5. All Black Everything - Lupe Fiasco - Lupe flips MLK's dream into a wish-fulfillment fantasy. 

4. Get By - Talib Kweli - A soulful ode to the enduring ability of Black people in America to someway, somehow keep making a way for ourselves while playing the less than ideal hands we've been dealt.

3. Fight The Power - Public Enemy - PE could fill a monthly long playlist of BHM boom shots, but this one from 1989, created for Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing, remains essential.

2. Alright - Kendrick Lamar - No BHM list would be complete without this Black Lives Matter theme song.

1. You Must Learn - Boogie Down Productions - The definitive BHM classic. Fittingly it came from the teacha...KRS ONE.

Honorable Mentions (rounding out the Top 25 in alpha order)

American Dreamin' - Jay-Z

Black America Again - Common (Ft. Stevie Wonder)
Black Is Black - Jungle Brothers
Changes - 2Pac

High For Hours - J. Cole
HiiiPower - Kendrick Lamar
Land Of The Free - Joey Bada$$

The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
N.I.*.*.E.R. - Nas
Nina - Rapsody
Proud To Be Black - Run-DMC
Rosa Parks - Outkast
Wake Up - Brand Nubian
We The People - A Tribe Called Quest
Word To The Mother (Land) - Big Daddy Kane

25 More For The Extended Playlist

Acknowledge Your Own History - Jungle Brothers / Be Free - J. Cole / Brothers Gonna Work It Out - Public Enemy / By The Time I Get To Arizona - Public Enemy / The Corner - Common / Dedication - Nipsey Hussle / Don't Feel Right - The Roots / Everything's Gonna Be Alright - Naughty By Nature / Git Up Git Out - Outkast / Hands Up - Vince Staples / Holy Intellect - Poor Righteous Teachers / Hustle and Flow - Djay / I Try - Talib Kweli / In The Ghetto - Rakim / Keep Ya Head Up - 2Pac / Made In America - Kanye West & Jay-Z / On My Block - Scarface / Po Folks - Nappy Roots / Police State - Dead Prez / Respiration - Black Star / Sound of da Police - KRS-One / The Blacker The Berry - Kendrick Lamar / This Is America - Childish Gambino / Umi Says - Mos Def / 16 Shots - Vic Mensa