Despite the criticism that many rappers have received over the years about their songs lacking substance, there have been some classic protest songs in rap, whether Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” or Dead Prez’s “Hip-Hop.”
If chart positions have anything to do with it, Lil Baby‘s newly released “The Bigger Picture” could also be considered a classic protest rap song, because it landed at No. 3 on Billboard’s latest Hot 100 Chart. The song topped Lil Baby’s previous best, his 2018 cut “Drip Too Hard,” featuring Gunna, which reached No. 4.
In “The Bigger Picture,” Lil Baby raps about Black people dying at the hands of police. He also tackles the subject of racism overall, the coast-to-coast protests, and George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed down on his neck with a knee for nearly nine minutes.
“I find it crazy the police will shoot you and know that you dead, but still tell you to freeze / F—–d up, I seen what I seen / I guess that mean hold him down if he say he can’t breathe / It’s too many mothers that’s grieving / They killing us for no reason / Been going on for too long to get even / Throw us in cages like dogs and hyenas,” raps the Quality Control artist.
The video was released on YouTube on June 12, and it already has well over 19 million views. The clip shows Lil Baby and others protesting in the streets while wearing T-shirts that bear the words “Black Lives Matter.” Lil Baby also shared an Instagram message when the video was released and detailed where proceeds from the song will go.
“I Want 2 Spread The Proceeds To Different Places,” he wrote. “So Much Goin on In The World Who’s To Say Whats What !! #blm. National association of black journalists -Breonna Taylor attorney -The bail project -Black Lives Matter.”
For the second time in two weeks, the Atlanta rhymer has also scored the top spot on Billboard’s Artist 100 chart. The chart lists the top music acts of the week based on sales, radio play, and streams. Undoubtedly, “The Bigger Picture” and Lil Baby’s latest album “My Turn” helped him secure that No. 1 position.
