RAP zine

The aim of This publication is to provide readers with a brief
examination of anarchist, or similar themes present in modern day
rap.
Along with annotated lyrical analysis, this publication also includes
artiste bios, stylized imagery of the selected artiste and quotes
from the selected artiste said in interviews or casual encounters.
All imagery and textual content included in this publication have
been taken from the internet.
I do not own any of the content in this publication
(besides minor graphics created to complement the overall aesthetic)
This publication was made purely for educational purposes and from
my appreciation of the genre.
Enjoy

kid cudi 7
kanye west 10
pusha t 19
A.S.A.P rocky 22
Vic Mensa 27
Raury 32

6

kid cudi
self proclaimed
MUSICAL ANARCHIST
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (born January 30,
1984), better known by his stage name Kid Cudi, is an
American recording artist and actor from Cleveland,
Ohio. Cudi first gained major recognition following
the release of his first official full-length project,
a mixtape titled A Kid Named Cudi (2008). The
mixtape caught the attention of American rapperproducer
Kanye West, who subsequently signed Cudi
to his GOOD Music label imprint in late 2008. Cudi
has since gone on to launch his own record label
imprints, the now-dissolved Dream On and current
independent label, Wicked Awesome Records.
Initially a rapper, Cudi has since added singer,
songwriter, record producer, guitarist, music video
director and film composer, to his repertoire.
As of 2015, Cudi has released five studio albums as
a solo artist. In 2008, his debut single “Day ‘n’ Nite”,
led him to prominence, reaching the top five of the
Billboard charts. Cudi’s debut album Man on the
Moon: The End of Day (2009) was later certified gold
by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA). In 2010, he released Man on the Moon II:
The Legend of Mr. Rager, which was preceded by
“Erase Me” and “Mr. Rager”. Later in 2010, Cudi
formed a rock band, now known as WZRD, with his
long-time collaborator Dot da Genius, releasing one
eponymous debut album, in early 2012. The album
debuted at number one on the Top Rock Albums
chart. In April 2013, Cudi released Indicud, which
became his highest-charting album on multiple
charts. In February 2014, Cudi unexpectedly released
his fourth album, Satellite Flight: The Journey to
Mother Moon, exclusively to digital retailers with no
promotion.
7

DISCOGRAPHY
Man on the Moon:
The End of Day (2009)
Man on the Moon II:
The Legend of Mr. Rager
(2010)
Indicud (2013)
Satellite Flight: The
Journey To Mother Moon
(2014)
8
Speedin’ Bullet To Heaven
(2015)

Let’s go, I heard they found a solution
Where will you be for the Revolution?
REVOFEV: Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010)
I can’t decide
What if life’s a lie?
On a more serious note, Kid Cudi is saying that he is surrounded
by so many facades and fronts (something that must be hugely
prevalent being a celebrity), he wonders if anything surrounding
him is truly as it appears.
King Wizard: Indicud (2013)
I gave the world my heart and they
gave the kids insight
Cudi is painfully honest and human in his lyrics, but in doing so,
he’s given many a lonely stoner insight into life, happiness (or the
pursuit thereof ), struggle and being true to oneself.
King Wizard: Indicud (2013)
I’m living my life as if I got powers
And tonight I feel immortal
I said tonight I feel immortal
Tonight I feel immortal
Immortal: Indicud (2013)
Let the world see how you win
No matter how you seem to them
Cudi showed the world that you didnt have to listen to the mainstream
crowd and stay inside the “box” to reach the top. Cudi’s
album WZRD got really bad ratings by most music magazines/“-
experts”.. But that didnt stop him from making awesome music to
the people that enjoys it!
Mad Solar: Indicud (2013)
9

kanye west “I AM A GOD”
Kanye Omari West (born June 8, 1977), is an
American rapper, songwriter, record producer,
fashion designer, and entrepreneur. Raised
in Chicago, West first became known as a
producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the early
2000s, producing hit singles for artists such
as Jay Z and Alicia Keys. Intent on pursuing
a solo career as a rapper, West released his
debut album The College Dropout in 2004 to
widespread critical and commercial success. He
went on to pursue a variety of different styles on
subsequent albums including Late Registration
(2005),Graduation (2007), and the polarizing
808s & Heartbreak (2008). In 2010, he released
his acclaimed fifth album My Beautiful Dark
Twisted Fantasy, and the following year he
collaborated with Jay Z on the joint LP Watch
the Throne (2011). West released his abrasive
sixth album, Yeezus, to further critical praise in
2013. His seventh album, The Life of Pablo, was
released in 2016.
West’s outspoken views and life outside of
music have received significant mainstream
attention. He has been a frequent source
of controversy and public scrutiny for his
conduct at award shows, on social media, and
in other public settings. His more publicized
comments include his unscripted denunciation
of President George W. Bush during a live 2005
television broadcast for Hurricane Katrina
10

11

12

cont’d
relief and his interruption of singer Taylor
Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
West’s efforts as a fashion designer include
collaborations with Nike, Louis Vuitton, and
A.P.C. on both clothing and footwear, and
have most prominently resulted in the YEEZY
collaboration with Adidas beginning in 2013.
He is the founder and head of the creative
content company DONDA. His 2014 marriage
to television personality Kim Kardashian
has also been subject to widespread media
coverage.
West is among the most acclaimed musicians
of the 21st century, and is one of the bestselling
artists of all time, having sold more
than 32 million albums and 100 million digital
downloads worldwide. He has won a total of
21 Grammy Awards, making him one of the
most awarded artists of all time and the most
Grammy-awarded artist to have debuted in
the 21st century. Three of his albums have
been included and ranked on Rolling Stone’s
2012 update of the “500 Greatest Albums of
All Time” list. He has also been included in a
number of Forbes annual lists. Time named
him one of the 100 most influential people in
the world in 2005 and 2015.
13

DISCOGRAPHY
The College Dropout (2004) Late Registration (2005)
Graduation (2007)
808s & Heartbreak
(2008)
My Beautiful Dark Twisted
Fantasy (2010)
Watch The Throne (2011)
Yeezus (2013)
The Life of Pablo (2016)
14

Human beings in a mob
What’s a mob to a king?
What’s a king to a god?
What’s a god to a non-believer
who don’t believe in anything?
Will he make it out alive? Alright, alright, no church in
the wild
On face value, these lines refer to ideas such as Great Chain of
Being, a hierarchy of life with God at the top and kings above
all other humans. Asking “what’s a god to a non-believer?” is
a way of subverting the chain. Not only is the non-believer not
ruled by god, to him he doesn’t even exist. The subtle message is
that power derives from belief, something Kanye and Hov have
both discussed in their solo work. Humans in a mob are only less
powerful than a king because they believe they are. The same
can be argued with the other comparisons; political and religious
systems thrive only as long as we continue to believe in them.
No church in the wild: Watch The Throne (2011)
I live by you, desire
I stand by you, walk through the fire
Your love is my scripture
Let me into your encryption
The bridge sets up ‘Ye’s verse which explores the idea of love
replacing religious dogma. Despite the “fire” of criticism and
moral judgment they’ll get because of it, Kanye believes that two
people in a relationship should forge their own rules, rather than
trying to live up to often unrealistic, or unsatisfying expectations
of monogamy.
No church in the wild: Watch The Throne (2011)
We formed a new religion
No sins as long as there’s permission
And deception is the only felony
So never fuck nobod y without telling me
These lyrics continue the themes of free will in the hook, as well
as the concept developed in Jay’s verse of himself and Ye as the
new “God figures”. Ye makes it clear that the type of love/affection
that he needs is open, honest, ethical nonmonogamy. He has
thrown off the shackles of traditional (or religious) expectations
of what a relationship is, declaring that as long as everything
either party does is consensual and okayed by their partner (i.e.
there is permission) it’s not a sin. Breaking the trust necessary for
this kind of relationship to work is the only serious offense.
No church in the wild: Watch The Throne (2011)
15

We above the law, we don’t give a fuck about y’all
I got dogs that’ll chew a fucking hole through the wall
But since they all lovers, I need more rubbers
And if I don’t use rubbers, need more covers
Monogamy is the state of having a sexual relationship with only
one partner. Kanye rejects this “law” and has thirsty women
(bitches) at his beck and call.
So Apalled: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
What happened to religion? Oh, she lose it
“Losing my religion” is a popular phrase in American slang that
means acting in a way that disregards general standards of social
grace, civility, or morality.
Devil In a New Dress: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
They say I’m possessed, it’s an omen
The media portrays him as crazy, you could go so far as to say possessed.
‘Ye gets these types of critiques because he’s openly criticizing
structural and institutional racism, and is leaving no stone
un-turned. Is Kanye referring to himself as the Antichrist? No…at
least not in biblical terms. But the Catholic church, like all major
social institutions in post-classical history, has been dominated
by white, right-wing, aristocratic people, throughout history. If
God is the rich white man, you can see why he would reference
himself as the “Anti-Christ”.Kanye is being shown as crazy and
he’s telling the truth in his raps but it’s so hard to believe him or
his raps that the media says he’s possessed.
Black Skinhead: Yeezus (2013)
I just talked to Jesus
He said, “What up, Yeezus?”
I said, “Shit I’m chillin’
Tryna stack these millions”
I know he the most high
But I am a close high
With Jesus being the son of God, Kanye acknowledges him as the
“most high”, however he views himself as a close second.But…
didn’t he say that the most high was Allah? Maybe he’s disregarding
orthodox religions and saying that Allah, Jesus, etc. are all just
names for the same god… or maybe he just uses the name that
rhymes…This line also refers to Psalm 82:6, which states, “I said,
‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;’”
I Am A God: Yeezus (2013)
16

17

18

pusha t
A member of the hip-hop duo Clipse, rapper Pusha T
was born Terrence Thornton in the Bronx but was raised
in Virginia Beach, Virginia along with his brother Gene
Thornton. With Gene taking on the name Malice, the
brothers formed Clipse in the early ‘90s, quickly forming
a relationship with the Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams and
embarking on a career that would include major-label
record deals and critically revered albums. In 2010, the duo
announced they were taking a break to focus on solo careers.
Pusha would sign with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music
imprint and land on his new label boss’ album My Beautiful
Dark Twisted Fantasy that same year.
In 2011, he issued both the Fear of God street-level mixtape
and its officially released sequel, Fear of God II: Let Us
Pray, which appeared via G.O.O.D. The label released his
official debut album, My Name Is My Name, in 2013, with
guest appearances from Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Kendrick Lamar,
and others. In 2015, the single “Untouchable” arrived,
along with the album King Push - Darkest Before Dawn:
The Prelude.
19

DISCOGRAPHY
Fear of God II: Let Us Pray (2011)
My Name Is My Name (2013)
Wrath Of Caine (2013)
King Push - Darkest Before
Dawn: The Prelude (2015)
20

I believe there’s a God above me
I’m just the God of everything else
While he does acknowledge that there is a higher power, he holds
himself responsible for everything in his life and around him, as he
has created the environment that he is currently living in and has
the power to alter his situation. He is not pinning his problems on a
higher power or looking for a higher power to change his life.
-Cruel Summer (2012)
Yuugh, let’s take the scenic route
I could show you the strange fruit
It’s looking like Beirut A “scenic route” allows you to view scenerey
you wouldn’t normally see on a main road. The 1939 song
“Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday serves as a metaphor for the mistreatment
of blacks that was particularly present in the American
southern states. In the song, Billie sings: Strange fruit, hanging
from the poplar trees. This “strange fruit, hanging” is a visual of
a black person being lynched from these trees, instead of fruit
that hangs from them. Pusha compares this scenario to Beirut,
Lebanon. From a civil war to various uprisings, Beirut has seen its
share of violence.
Untouchable - Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude (2015)
I see the strangest things
The evil that money brings
I swear it’s like a disease
That goes round and round and round like sirens
And they wanna bury me
Why? Cause I’m anti everything
I swear it’s like a disease
That goes round and round and round like sirens
“More money more problems” is one of the most common tropes
in rap music history. The-Dream has been aligned with the musical
elite since the mid-2000s, which means he’s well-placed to
observe the demons that come along with wealth and fame. The
sirens going “round and round” represent both the literal police
lights of controversy, as well as the back and forth oscillations that
make up life in the lime light.
M.P.A - Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude (2015)
This the ministry of street energy
The church of criminology, teaching my chemistries
Woo I’m the L. Ron Hubbard of the cupboard
Pusha sees himself as the pastor of d-boy rap. Rather than the
Church of Scientology founder and author Lafayette Ronald
Hubbard, Push delivers his teachings through his raps. Pusha has
just as much money as Mr. Hubbard, and he’s got it stashed in his
cupboard. He probably got the money just as controversially…
Crutches, Crosses, Caskets- Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude (2015)
21

A.S.A.P rocky
Rakim Mayers (born October 3, 1988), better known by his
stage name ASAP Rocky (stylized as A$AP Rocky), is an American
rapper, record producer, director, actor and model from the
Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. He is a member
of the hip hop group A$AP Mob, from which he adopted his
moniker.
Rocky released his debut mixtape Live. Love. A$AP, in 2011
to critical acclaim. The success of his mixtape led to a record
deal with Polo Grounds Music, RCA Records, and Sony Music
Entertainment. He subsequently recorded his 2013 debut album
Long. Live. A$AP, which was also well received by critics and
debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. In 2015, Rocky released
his second studio album titled At. Long. Last. A$AP. The
album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making it
Rocky’s second consecutive album to debut at number one and
has received critical acclaim from music critics.
Rocky has also directed music videos for himself, Danny
Brown and other A$AP Mob members. He is also a noted record
producer, producing under the pseudonym Lord Flacko. Rocky
is passionate about this new era of hip-hop.
He describes its coming of age as “anarchy” and notes his
use of the American flag distress symbol as a metaphor for hiphop’s
changing of the guard. “We have upside-down American
flags. We have camouflage and war gear and shit. All of it is a
metaphor for what we’re fighting for. We want to show them
that we’re all one generation and that things like discrimination
shouldn’t exist anymore. If you look at ‘LiveLoveASAP,’ it’s the
same shit. Except instead of the flag being behind me, it’s kind
of the weight of the world on my shoulders now.
“What I really have to do is that
I have to revolutionize our generation.”
22

23
“What I really have to do is
that I have to revolutionize
our generation.”

DISCOGRAPHY
LIVE.LOVE.A$AP (2011)
LONG.LIVE.A$AP (2013) AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (2015)
24

The film is about the stereotyping of black people.
How does race affect your career?
Race doesn’t mean shit these days, especially for me, I’m a free
spirit. I refuse to be marginalised, held back or limited because
of colour. There are people who play into that, and people who
don’t give a fuck about it and choose not to live in that society.
I’m an anarchist man, I’m all about the people who don’t give a
fuck about colours and all of that dumb shit. You know it sounds
good, especially me in my position saying it, but even if I was poor
I would still be saying it.
The film is about the stereotyping of black people.
How does race affect your career?
Hell yeah! Why not? It’s a society amongst society, anarchy, why
not. I have my own lifestyle, I have a cult following. There are
people who actually want to eat what I eat, dress how I dress,
fuck the type of women that I fuck and shower how I shower. They
might even shit how I shit! That is a cult following. They apply my
anarchy. What I’m saying to you is that I encourage people to be
entrepreneurs and be the best that they can be. That’s the whole
purpose of it. I’m not stupid, I’m an anarchist.
(i-D interview with A.S.A.P Rocky, 24 June 2015)
They ask me why I don’t go to church no more
Cause church is the new club and wine is the new bub
- And lies is the new drugs, my sister the next stripper -
My brother the next victim, my usher the next tricker
Even though Rocky is committed to God, he rejects the mindset
surrounding religion and draws parallels between a life of
sacrilege and one of the street. Comparing sacramental wine
and champagne, lies and drugs, nuns and strippers, priests and
friends, ushers and gang-bangers – Rocky feeds on the idea that
both the church and nightclubs are addictive in a hurtful and decadent
way. Just as the club may ease your mind by distorting your
perception of reality, the church conducts their followers onto an
ignorant path of shallow forgiveness.
Holy Ghost- AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (2015)
25

26

Vic Mensa
The founder of the SAVEMONEY collective who earned
underground cred before he took it major, Chicago rapper
and Roc Nation artist Vic Mensa made his debut in 2013 on
Chance the Rapper’s high-profile mixtape Acid Rap. Born
Victor Kwesi Mensah, the rapper issued some solo product
while a member of the hip-hop group Kids These Days,
including the Straight Up EP in 2010, but it wasn’t until
their breakup in 2013 that he considered making a career
out of going it alone. He didn’t squander any time either, as
he formed the SAVEMONEY crew in 2013 and appeared on
fellow member Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap mixtape that
same year, along with issuing his own mixtape, Innanetape,
a mixing of the words “Internet” and “mixtape.” Like
Chance’s before, Mensa’s mixtape was both a critical
and download-counting success, so much so that the
independent rapper joined major-label artists J. Cole and
Wale on their What Dreams May Come tour in 2014. That
same year he topped XXL Magazine’s Freshman Class list
and released the hit single “Down on My Luck” on Virgin
Records. He then appeared alongside Sia on Kanye West’s
2015 single “Wolves,” and Kanye returned the favor with a
feature on “U Mad,” Mensa’s first single for his new label,
Roc Nation.
27

DISCOGRAPHY
There’s Alot Going On (2016)
Majority of this album addresses and promotes protest
of; race issues, class issues along with other various social
issues. It is sort of a “call to action” project
28

Young Muhammad in the ring with the power in my
hands-To defy the federation like Ali in Vietnam
On April 28, 1967, with the United States at war in Vietnam, Ali
refused to be inducted into the armed forces, saying “I ain’t got no
quarrel with those Vietcong.” On June 20, 1967, Ali was convicted
of draft evasion, sentenced to five years in prison, fined $10,000
and banned from boxing for three years. He stayed out of prison
as his case was appealed and returned to the ring on October 26,
1970, knocking out Jerry Quarry in Atlanta in the third round. On
March 8, 1971, Ali fought Joe Frazier in the “Fight of the Century”
and lost after 15 rounds, the first loss of his professional boxing
career. On June 28 of that same year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned
his conviction for evading the draft.
Dynasty- There’s Alot Going On (2016)
16 Shots- There’s Alot Going On (2016)
“16 Shots” is a pro-black anthem detailing the deaths of Laquan
McDonald’s shooting, but more importantly continuing the Black
Lives Matter theme. However, the title, “16 Shots” is a reference
to the number of bullets that struck McDonald. During October,
2015 Vic joined Chicago protesters following the killing of
Laquan. On February 29th of 2016, Vic supersized his viewers
with a performance for REVOLT TV’s fundraiser. The fundraiser,
#JusticeForFlint helps raise funds and awareness for those in the
water crisis.
Color of morning pee coming out of the sink
It’s 2016, who would think
Kids in America don’t have clean water to drink?
What you would think is that we would all have basic human necessities,
but as we see in Flint right now, that’s just not the truth.
Flint is 60% African-American. So it’s honestly more than just
the racial divide. It’s really a class divide thing. Because, on top of
those numbers, Flint most residents live beneath the poverty line.
You would never think that there are kids really drinking water
that looks like this. That’s what blew my mind.
Shades of Blue- There’s Alot Going On (2016)
The people with the least always gotta pay the most- We
the first to go when they deleting them budgets
As government spending tends to benefit the poor more than the
rich, austerity tends to hurt the poorest the most.
Shades of Blue- There’s Alot Going On (2016)
29

Can a nigga get his basic human rights?
Is that too much to ask? Should I say it more polite?
Can us minorities get the same rights that every other human
has in this country? We’ve been treated like second class citizens
for long enough in this country. What do we have to do to get the
rights promised to us in our nation’s constitution? Ask more politely?
Or is that just too much to ask for?
Shades of Blue- There’s Alot Going On (2016)
Rain or shine, it’s all blue, it’s all blue
Ain’t no sun, it’s all blue, it’s all blue
The idiom “rain or shine” means that something is going
to happen no matter what.
“It’s all blue” is a phrase which refers to sadness. In this case, it
can also refer to police. Vic has openly advocated against police
brutality, and is a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement.
No matter how serious the crime, it always seems as if the police
are going to be biased against minorities. While rain is a symbol
for depression, the sun is a stark contrast and a symbol for hope.
However, it seems as if there’s no hope for minorities in the justice
system.
Shades of Blue- There’s Alot Going On (2016)
Change gon’ come, it’s all you, it’s all on you
A reference to the Sam Cooke song “A Change Is Gonna Come,”
a classic civil rights song from 1964. The fact Vic is mentioning
this song shows how far the USA still has to come for equal rights.
In the Sam Cooke song he mentions the inaction of some African
Americans and Vic here speaks to Americans telling them it’s
going to have to start with the people.
Shades of Blue- There’s Alot Going On (2016)
And cigarettes’ll kill you on their own but they’ll kill you
for a cigarette, I honor Eric Garner fam’
I’m a part of him, he a part of me
In the US, smoking causes about one in five deaths. Eric Garner, of
Staten Island, NY, was killed in July 2014 after police accused him
of (illegally) selling loose cigarettes to avoid tax. Tired of constantly
being accused of petty crimes, Garner resisted arrest. The police
officers put him in a choke hold and he died. The whole incident
was recorded, including Garner saying “I can’t breath” eleven
times. Coming fresh on the back of the death of Mike Brown, the
incident received worldwide attention and sparked protests across
the nation. It was later ruled a homicide, but the police officer
responsible was not indicted for any crime.
Shades of Blue- There’s Alot Going On (2016)
30

They got Damn Daniel distracting you on Instagram
Back again with the all-white media coverage
They do it over and over like remedial subjects
When I got out to Flint, and I’m realizing how little the crisis is
really being publicized, and then I’m finding out about Damn
Daniel. I looked it up and these kids are on “Ellen” and they just
got sent a lifetime supply of Vans. I’m like, “This whole media
structure is fucked over”. I’m like “This is what’s important
enough to be on ‘Ellen?’” Ellen ain’t talkin’ about Flint, Michigan.
What’s Ellen doing for us, right now?
Shades of Blue- There’s Alot Going On (2016)
Now here I am talking ‘bout a revolution
And I can’t even spare a dollar to the movement
But I’m in the strip club spending dollars on that movement-
I guess we all got room
for improvement
Vic frequently uses his music to advocate for social reform.
“16 Shots” calls for a riotous response to the death of Laquon
McDonald while “Gunshots in the Air/Ring the Bell” honors the
deceased Mike Brown. These public statements decry recent
racial injustices, painting Vic as a dedicated supporter of racial
equality in America.
However, this image of support is nothing more than a facade if
Vic spends money on the “movement” of a stripper, rather than
donating said money to movements that reflect the sentiment in
his music.
Shades of Blue- There’s Alot Going On (2016)
To the police
You can not (You can not!)
You can not (You can not!)
You can not (You can not!
You will not (You will not!)
Kill me (Kill me!)
If you want justice, make some noise
Let’s go
Police brutality and discrimination from men and women in uniform
against African-Americans has come to the forefront of the
Nation’s conciousness, something Vic details in the next song on
There’s Alot Going On, “16 Shots” and later on “Shades of Blue.”
In 2015 alone there were 1134 killings of black people by police officers,
something Vic can’t and won’t stand for. The audio snippet
in this outro was captured during a rally prompted by the shooting
death of Laquan Mcdonald and serves as a lead-in to “16 Shots,” a
song which channels the spirit of these rallies and whose title and
hook refers to the 16 fatal shots fired at Laquan by Chicago PD
officer Jason Van Dyke.
Shades of Blue- There’s Alot Going On (2016)
31

Raury
Raury is a free-spirited singer, rapper, guitarist, songwriter,
and producer who was raised in Stone Mountain,
Georgia, roughly 20 miles outside Atlanta. He mixes
alternative folk, rap, and electronic music while counting
the diverse likes of Chance the Rapper, King Krule, and
Lorde as contemporaries. While in high school, he played
guitar in a cover band, but his ambition quickly outgrew
that outlet. In 2014, the year Raury graduated from high
school, he threw an 18th birthday music festival he dubbed
Raurfest, issued a free digital-download mixtape (Indigo
Child), announced his deal with major-label Columbia,
and contributed to SBTRKT’s Wonder Where We Land. His
activities, and his desire to create not just a new genre but
a new culture, were promising enough to earn a long-list
nomination for the BBC Sound of 2015 poll. All We Need,
his first proper album, was released in October 2015 with
appearances from Big K.R.I.T. and Tom Morello.
32

“We are the saviours”
The government should play a role to help
elevate us as a society. I love America, but
I believe that the roles have become too
dependent, where people need the
government versus the government
needing the people.
The government just has too much power
right now. These people have killed people
out of racism and hate and they were
allowed to go free. The government has
too much power and the wrong people are
in power right now.
This is the Constitution that is supposed
to protect us, and the Constitution isn’t
protecting us. There are holes all through
there and they are letting people walk free
with completely evil and American
terrorist deeds.
33

DISCOGRAPHY
All We Need (2015)
Indigo Child (2014)
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“I’m never super-keen when people say, ‘I’m an artist here to save
the world.’ But since I have these gifts to make music, I’m obligated
to use them to cause some kind of shift in the minds of listeners,
that will, hopefully, domino into people living better; for themselves
and everyone around them.”
(The Guardian- July 2015)
revolution is on its way.
(The Guardian- July 2015)
Opinion on organized religion
Man uses that for power and to put himself in the best positions
(The Guardian- July 2015)
“I’m an example of an indigo child who got hold of music. But
the indigo child that gets a hold of gardening, or being a chef or
architecture – things are about to get different and accelerate.
And we aren’t just limited to the music and the architecture and
the food or whatever of our city – it’s the world and that’s why my
music sounds like everything. I saw everything growing up. This
generation is not hopeless; we’re actually very equipped to make a
lot of change.
“At the same time we are very, very vulnerable to learning the
wrong things and going down the wrong hill. That’s why you have
this side of youth that people are worried about, taking their
retirement funds out because they don’t trust their future in the
hands of the new generation. You know, there’s a 14-year-old in
Chicago with a rocket launcher, stuff like that. I want to point to
the fact that this is the age of the internet, the youth of the internet,
and you can use music for the best or for the worst.”
(The Guardian- July 2015)
Well I got some news for you, man Your so-called constitution
Will advocate the mass polution To keep us from
the evolution From the evolution, the revolution
The government should play a role to help elevate us as a society. I
love America, but I believe that the roles have become too dependent,
where people need the government versus the government
needing the people. The government just has too much power
right now. These people have killed people out of racism and hate
and they were allowed to go free. The government has too much
power and the wrong people are in power right now.This is the
Constitution that is supposed to protect us, and the Constitution
isn’t protecting us. There are holes all through there and they
are letting people walk free with completely evil and American
terrorist deeds.
Revolution-All We Need (2015)
35

Lord save this burning earth
Lord save this burning earth, aw yeah, yeah, yeah
Lord save this burning earth, aw yeah, yeah, yeah
Lord save this burning earth, aw yeah, yeah, yeah
Raury calls out to God to save us from the violence and pollution
which will eventually lead to the destruction of all mankind
Revolution-All We Need (2015)
The street preacher’s anger grew violently as he continued
to voice his truth. Unaware that his passion to justify
these views of hatred were also rooted in love. Much like
fog on a Georgia morning, love can shroud our eyes,
make us blind, blind to who we are, blind to who we are
Martin Luther King Jr. was a preacher who is from the state of
Georgia. This interlude could be referring to him and his passion
of trying to make a change in the severity of segregation that was
in the U.S. at that point in time. As King continued his attempts to
change the world, there was still love going on, but not towards
the African-American race. Since Raury is from Georgia, he knows
about the fog from there. Fog causes a misty vision in the air, so
you can’t see well. Fog is compared to love, and they both can trick
us into not trying to find our true self beings.
Revolution-All We Need (2015)
We are hate, we are love, as below so above
We got poison everywhere so what’s a war on a drug?
We at war with ourselves, talking war with no guns
Just simply look around and see the corruption around the world.
There is Literally poison everywhere when u take the time to notice
it. look at the worlds priorities! We are clapping for the wrong
reasons. (see what i did there) once we get all of our problem
addressed and appropriately taken action again then our would
will be once again what it was meant to be. humans and animals
simply co-existing with each other
Devil’s Whisper-All We Need (2015)
We are the truth
We are forever
We are the youth
We are together
The term “We” describes us as a generation. Raury believes
we are what the world needs, as he stated in an interview with
Complex magazine: I just wanted to speak for my generation, so
Indigo Child is a ode to my generation. We are exposed to so many
different things that we are becoming more open minded, people
are becoming more accepting of each other. So by saying “We are
the saviors” you know we are the saviors of society.
War- Indigo Child (2014)
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I won’t compromise
I won’t live a life
On my knees
You think I am nothing
I am nothing
You’ve got something coming
Something coming because
In an interview with Billboard Magazine he stated: I thought
school was a system of indoctrination and brainwashing, and they
just want you to go to school, graduate, have kids and die. That’s
something I won’t compromise. I won’t live my life on my knees.
Throughout the project, he also has various skits from his parents
telling him to focus on school and trying to suppress his inner
desires and dreams in music. In addition, the “on my knees” part
ties into the religious theme in the song (many people pray on their
knees). Raury seems to want to take life in his own hands and not
live the religious life.
God’s Whisper- Indigo Child (2014)
I hear God’s whisper - Calling my name
It’s in the wind - I am the savior
I hear God’s whisper - Calling my name
It’s in the wind - I am the savior
We are the saviors!
As he stated in the interview, “God’s Whisper” refers to his
intuition and natural calling in life. In this case, his music. The
characteristics of an indigo child even state: Possess a clear sense
of self-definition and purpose have a strong feeling of entitlement,
or deserving to be here
God’s Whisper- Indigo Child (2014)
Savior
Savior
Savior
Savior
We as the youth can help prevail against any odds. We don’t
need a a savior because we are the real saviors. The emphasis is
on “we” is given because Raury feels like kids of this generation
should embrace independent thinking, something he stated in an
interview with Billboard while explaining these lines: When I say,
‘I am the savior’, I’m spreading that message to others. You have
that whisper to you. You have your intuition. You have your own
natural calling that you have to trust and follow. We are the saviors
of society.
God’s Whisper- Indigo Child (2014)
37

I’m done with being blind
I’ve seen the light
I’ve heard the truth
As Raury came to find out as he grew older, he didn’t fit the “normal”
mold of a teenager/young adult. He wanted to drop out of
school and pursue music even though there was a huge risk factor
involved with it:As I grew up and started to form my own beliefs
about shit, and I realized school was kinda fucking stupid in my
opinion. It wasn’t the right environment for everybody in society to
be the best they can be. You can’t train a fish how to climb up a tree.
So around high school I started cutting class because I hated that
shit. I made up my mind that I wanted to do music for the rest of
my life. I’m dedicating everything into this, this is me.
Chariots of Fire- Indigo Child (2014)
“I want to empower my generation. I want to inspire the youth and
all other types of artists to create things that are a lot more better
for the world. And be an example of that. ‘Indigo Child’ is what I’ve
dubbed my generation.”
Tell me who gon’ bring upon the fire Flames of revolution,
King keep on feeding y’all bullshit
If the icons haven’t cause a revolution yet, who will. The higher ups
are feeding us bullshit.
Revolution-All We Need (2015)
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