Music is never simply noise: it is the sound of a society, of a time, of a place. Music marks the spirit of people; people make music that reflects their thinking and feeling. Music, then, always has the potential to be dangerous - it can inflame the revolutionary - which is why it has been banned and censored at many points in history. It articulates the ideas and emotions that are too strong for words, and that "cannot remain silent." This refusal to remain silent is why music has so much social power. In this month's theme, we explore music as a reflection of, and force for, social change. Music that is angry, joyous, and necessary.

"Strugglin'" is a very personal song to me. It talks about how I can't seem to escape hard times, poverty and loss. It also touches on my struggles with the recording industry and its obsession with make-believe, while I come from a background of the harshest reality. When I wrote "Strugglin'", more than myself, I had my older brother in mind. He remains to be, the most warrior-like spirit, and the most complicated human being I have ever come across. The line in "Strugglin'" where I say, "in this circumstance I'm dwelling in, I find myself in the corner huddling, with some angry men" refers to my brother and his crowd. "And I gotta settle shit again before they gotta kill again" is something very distinctly real. To mediate and inspire hope has often been my role as an artist and as a person. I am really excited to share my work on TakingITGlobal, as I see it as a confirmation that the community I sing for and sing about is alive and well.

"I Am Hip Hop" is a video created by youth through the Global Action Project, a project that defines hip hop as a youth movement and culture, an expression of the daily life experiences of urban youth.
Watch the video!