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Songs That Shook the Planet


Author: Chuck D

Narrator: Chuck D

Started: Feb. 22, 2022

Finished: Feb. 22, 2022

Chuck D of Public Enemy fame takes us on a journey through musical time to show the political and socially conscious music of the African-American community. Each piece of music offers a complete history of the era and the thought process behind the lyrics, the instruments used, and the history of the performer. There is a large span of music covered in the brief time. Music is covered from "Strange Fruit" by Billie Holiday and the history of her heroin use to Too $hort's song "The Ghetto" which holds the mayor of Oakland, California for raising money to return a football team to their area but not to help fight the crack pandemic that is plaguing the community.

I loved being able to hear the music that Chuck D felt defined the social movement behind the advancement of the African-American community and the work that needs to be done to advance that community further. I would have loved to have it be a bit longer as the hour and forty-four minutes and include more recent artists such as Kendrick Lamar. All in all, this is well worth the listen and I enjoyed every minute of it.

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