15 Greatest Protest Songs Of The 21st Century
2. A Tribe Called Quest - "We The People"
Key Lyrics: "We don't believe you // 'Cause we the people // Are still here in the rear, ayo // We don't need you"
Sometimes when you need an aggressive, socially conscious rap track to rally around, it helps to look to the elder statesmen of the genre for some guidance. Enter alternative hip-hop luminaries A Tribe Called Quest, whose relevance remained unassailable after they released this fierce warning against intolerance.
The chorus of "We the People" echoes, in the bluntest way possible, the sentiments of prejudiced American leaders who want to kick Muslims out of the country, build a wall on the Mexican border, and treat anyone who's not white and heterosexual as a target of their immoral outrage.
The song was performed at the 2017 Grammy Awards, and was clearly directed at Donald Trump. (Or, as Busta Rhymes so aptly nicknamed him, "Agent Orange".) Decked out in Black Panthers-inspired gear, the group's main MC Q-Tip chanted "Resist!" while a group of immigrants took to the stage in a display of solidarity.
Long after Trump has left office, this song has the potential to remain an indelible part of the social consciousness.