The evening 17-year-old Trayvon Martin took his last breath in Sanford, Florida, a piece of America died.
EXCLUSIVE BLOG: Our Hoodies Will Always Stay Up For Trayvon Martin
No matter your nationality, religion, or creed, if Trayvon Martin’s untimely death didn’t deeply move you, you’re part of this nation’s problems.
Throughout the history of hip-hop’s existence, rappers have always made it their duty to speak out against systemic racism, civil rights issues, and society’s most disheartening injustices.
Rappers like Nas, Young Jeezy, 50 Cent and Rick Ross greatly impacted Trayvon Martin’s life with their music, and when he was taken from this earth prematurely, it was inspiring to see how the hip-hop community collectively spoke out about how his legacy impacted their life and the lives of millions of young black men in the U.S.
Unfortunately, Cali rapper Game pointed out a tragic truth regarding black youth in America, stating:
“For some reason, people don’t think that they need any excuse to kill us, beat us, hit us, run us over, disrespect us or anything like that…This is just another reminder that stupidity still exists. “
NEW MUSIC: Public Enemy “Beyond Trayvon”
It’s been a year since Trayvon’s soul ventured to the afterlife, but his life will forever live on, through legislation, through protest, and through music: hip-hop music.
GlobalGrind decided to take a look back at all the support Trayvon Martin and his family received within the hip-hop community over the past year.
Whether they called for protests, wrote a rhyme, or dedicated an entire song, Trayvon Martin’s legacy in hip-hop will forever live on.
Check out all the hip-hop heads who threw their hoodies up in honor of Trayvon, and take a listen to all the rappers who paid tribute to Trayvon below!
RIP Trayvon.
Plies – “We Are Trayvon”
“I never thought that wearing no hoodie, could cause your life/And I never thought you could just kill somebody and go out the same night.”
Wyclef Jean “Justice (If You’re 17)”
"If you're 17 and you're wearing a hoodie/You're on your phone and you're talking to your Shawty/There's one like you in every city/You know the story/He gonna creep up, from behind/Have you leave earth before your time."
Mistah F.A.B. “God Don’t Love Me (RIP Trayvon)”
Los “Wit My Hoodies On (Trayvon Martin Tribute)”
“Feeling like Trayvon on the lawn before the gun shot/I ain’t getting my up to no good on/They just wanna kill me cause I put my hood on/But fuck whatever they on/I forever put my hood on, Trayvon.”
Shyne “King Of Judah”
“For the people desert eagle cats, who they were on the pavement/Trayvon Martin, Martin Luther King they wanna kill us.”
Young Jeezy “We Done It Again”
“What the hell’s going on this evening?/Feeling like Trayvon Martin, I’m barely breathing/On my back, looking into the eyes of my killer/You can take my life, but I’m still that nigga.”
Game & Nipsey Hussle “Bill Is Paid”
“I got my hoodie on, it’s a Starter/I’mma rock this motherfucker for Trayvon Martin/I’mma rock this motherfucker for Trayvon’s daughter/That he coulda had; where’s his killer at? The whole hood is mad/That ain’t the first time, won’t be the last.”
Yo Gotti “Ain’t No Turning Around”
“Shots fired men down, say’s he was hands down/Police brutality, nigga, this reality/Trayvon Martin in a all black hoodie.”
Childish Gambino “Tell Me”
“I remember havin’ to eat two scoops for dinner/But it’s all good, post Obama and post Ye/Three Six got an Oscar, it’s all okay/Man, I beg your pardon, Trayvon Martin/Atlanta is my home, but we treated like Martians.”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “Awake”
“And my subconcious telling me stop it/This is an issue that you shouldn’t get involved in/Don’t even tweet, R.I.P Trayvon Martin/Don’t wanna be that white dude, million man marchin’/Fighting for our freedom that my people stole.”
Usher & Rick Ross “Lemme See”
“You with a big boy, so we do the big things/Had to valet park it, chanel hoodie on/Looking like Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman don’t want it.”
