Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos

Annotation

Popular and well-known East Coast Hip Hop group, with strong political & social-economic commentary, formed in 1985 in Roosevelt, New York, USA, including the members Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, and Professor Griff. In the song "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" (Def Jam Recordings # 38-68613) from the album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (Def Jam Recordings # BFW 44303) dealt with someone who refused to fight in the Vietnam War and so ended up in prison. It criticised the war, the prison system, and racism.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Civil Rights Songs

Popular and well-known East Coast Hip Hop group, with strong political & social-economic commentary, formed in 1985 in Roosevelt, New York, USA, including the members Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, and Professor Griff. The song "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" (Def Jam Recordings # 38-68613) dealt with someone who received a draft card to fight in Vietnam: "I got a letter from the government... they wanted me for their army". The lyrics criticised the war, the prison system, and racism, with several Civil Rights references, such as why should an African American fight in a war when they did not have equal rights at home: "here is a land that never gave a damn about a brother like me... I'm a Black man and I could never be a veteran". This theme was usually found in blue and soul music from the 60s and 70s, and rarely repeated by other hip hop artists. Featured on the album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (Def Jam Recordings # BFW 44303).

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Rap / Hip Hop Songs

Public Enemy, a popular and well-known East Coast Hip Hop group, with strong political & social-economic commentary, formed in 1985 in Roosevelt, New York, USA, including the members Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, and Professor Griff - several of their songs referenced the Vietnam War, including "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" (1988), "Welcome to the Terrordome" (1989), and "Resurrection" (1998).The song "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" (Def Jam Recordings # 38-68613) dealt with someone who received a draft card to fight in Vietnam: "I got a letter from the government... they wanted me for their army". The lyrics criticised the war, the prison system, and racism, with several Civil Rights references, such as why should an African American fight in a war when they did not have equal rights at home: "here is a land that never gave a damn about a brother like me... I'm a Black man and I could never be a veteran". This theme was usually found in blue and soul music from the 60s and 70s, and rarely repeated by other hip hop artists. Featured on the 1988 album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (Def Jam Recordings # BFW 44303).

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: I got a letter from the government the other day / I opened and read it, it said they were suckers / They wanted me for their army or whatever / Picture me givin' a damn, I said, "Never" / Here is a land that never gave a damn / About a brother like me and myself because they never did / I wasn't wit' it, but just that very minute / It occurred to me, the suckers had authority / Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell / How long has it been they got me sittin' in the state pen?... / They could not understand that I'm a Black man / And I could never be a veteran I got a letter from the government... / I opened and read it... / They wanted me for their army or whatever / Picture me given' a damn / I said never / Here is a land that never gave a damn about a brother like me and myself... / They got me sittin' in the state pen... / They could not understand that I'm a Black man / And I could never be a veteran

About the artist

American hip-hop group formed 1985 in Roosevelt, Long Island, New York. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Draft · Vet · Anti-Government · Civil Rights

In collections

Civil Rights Songs · Draft Songs · Rap / Hip Hop Songs