Tuesday Daily Editor Briana “Badgalbribri” is back on this Wednesday afternoon to share some music that she’s been “thinkin about a lot lately.” Most of these songs were made years apart from one another, but their messages remain thematically consistent and particularly relevant right now. Hopefully, the lyrics and messages of these songs will inspire others to think about what’s goin on in the world today. 

1. Get Up, Stand Up by The Wailers – A call to action, Bob Marley really hits the nail on the head with this one off of his 1973 album, Burnin’.
2. The Charade by D’Angelo and the Vanguard – The entirety of Black Messiah is a lyrical and musical masterpiece. Although you have to listen closely to hear the lyrics, it’s definitely a track worth playing on loop.
3. Black Zombie by Nas – His flow is incredible, and the message behind the song is clear and so important.
4. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon – The first line of this song says it all.
5. Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder – A catchy classic with lyrics and a beat that many people know, Higher Ground provides us with a dose of resiliency and positivity.
6. Home Is Where the Hatred Is by Gil Scott-Heron – A strong title to reflect a strong song.
7. What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye – “You know we’ve got to find a way/To bring some lovin’ here today.”
8. Complexion (A Zulu Love) by Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly is, in my opinion, one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. This song is beautiful right from the beginning, even before Kendrick comes in.
9. Like Me (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid) by Joey Bada$$ – Peep the music video!!
10. We Get Along by Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings – Jones’s voice is so smooth and beautiful, and the delicate background vocals are tasteful.
11. A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cook – A beautiful piece that inspires us to continue the conversation and enact change.