Black “woke” Artistry

Jo’Chrisna Shelton Dr. Harris Major Project: Mixtape April 20th, 2026 Black “woke” Artistry https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7Lgjzc5iJGXVgs9ErRbzsV?si=vuyHhwdSQDexQqiuLfPoOQ&pi=u-O1kIBZs5QsqD For my major project, I made a mixtape of Black "woke" art that used hip-hop and neo-soul to talk about identity, struggle, awareness, and empowerment. Based on Black Enough? Molly Hiro's African American Writers and the Vernacular Tradition inspired me to make a playlist that shows how today's Black artists are still telling stories and telling the truth in the Black community. The vernacular tradition is all about using everyday language, real-life experiences, and creative expression to talk about deeper truths. Each song I picked does this in its own way. I began the mixtape with strong, important songs like "Keep Ya Head Up" and "Changes" by Tupac Shakur. When he says, "And since we all came from a woman..." in "Keep Ya Head Up," he's not just showing love for Black women; he's also calling for respect in a society that often ignores them. In "Changes," though, he's more direct and talks about racism, police brutality, and how our communities need to grow. These songs are like modern-day sermons that tell the truth in a way that is real and easy to understand. Then I added Nas's song "If I Ruled the World," which imagines what freedom and equality might be like. The idea of imagining something better is a big part of the vernacular tradition. It's not just about what is, but also about what could be. In "Doo Wop (That Thing)," Lauryn Hill does something similar by talking directly to the community and telling them to respect themselves while also calling out bad behavior. It seems like tough love, but it's really love. The mixtape gets more personal as it goes on. Kanye West's "All Falls Down" talks about feeling insecure and how materialism can change who you are. J. Cole's "Love Yourz" reminds us that our worth isn't based on how we compare to others. Kendrick Lamar goes even deeper in "FEAR." He talks about anxiety and pressure. These songs are important because they talk about mental health in the Black community, which isn't always talked about openly. The awareness part of the mixtape really connects it to social movements. The song "Alright" by Kendrick Lamar became an anthem, especially during protests, because the line "We gon' be alright" gave people hope. In "Stay Woke," Meek Mill talks about systemic racism and police violence. In "The Bigger Picture," Lil Baby does the same. This shows that these problems are still occurring. These songs are like modern-day records because they show what people are going through in this day and age. I focused on empowerment and reflection to end the mixtape. Erykah Badu's "On & On" has a more spiritual and introspective feel, while Beyoncé's "Freedom" is all about being strong and getting through hard times. Badu's style is especially connected to the deeper side of the vernacular tradition, where meaning isn't always clear but still hits on a deeper level. This mixtape shows that Black "woke" art is still very much alive and well, and it follows the vernacular tradition that Hiro wrote about. These artists are not only showing what life is like for Black people, but they are also encouraging growth, awareness, and change through storytelling, repetition, emotion, and cultural language. This music, like folktales, sermons, and oral histories from the past, talks to the community and moves it forward at the same time.

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