Take hundreds of Black men
with a tool that affords the economic
power and the ability to influence
their young sons and daughters—
They can’t stand it.
Take aggressive beats and lyrics
that serve as transmitters of messages of
Black dominance and superiority—
They can’t stand it.
Take million dollar videos that boast the
luxurious lifestyles
of their former slaves and house servants—
They can’t stand it.
Take an industry that has spring boarded
a once totally economically depressed group
into major industries such as film, fashion
and advertising—
Oh, they can’t stand it.
Take an artform created BY BLACKS…
defiant and embraced by the youth of this
country just as rock and roll was;
then make it transcend race and class—
Oh my God—they can’t stand it.
Take a genre of music that exposes the harsh
truths of economic disparity, barbaric police
treatment, and the long suffering of people
of color in these “united” states—
They really can’t stand it.
Take a career path that moves young blacks
out of the inner cities and ghettos and into
their affluent neighborhoods
in increasing numbers—
Now you know they can’t stand it.