Die Nigga
1971 · Juggernaut JUG ST/LP-8802 · New York City, New York
- Artist
- The Last Poets
- Title
- Die Nigga
- Release
- Right On
- Year
- 1971
- Label
- Juggernaut # JUG ST/LP-8802
- Format
- LP · Soundtrack
- Language
- English
- Country
- New York City, New York, USA
- Genre
- Jazz · Jazz Poetry
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation — Civil Rights Songs
Formed on 19 May 1968, the anniversary of the birth of Malcolm X, The Last Poets pioneered jazz poetry with social and political raps and rhythms, paving the way for the emergence of hip-hop. The collective, based in Harlem, New York, had several line-ups. Their debut 1970 album The Last Poets had two Vietnam War-related protest songs: "Run, Nigger" and "Surprises". The 1971 album Right On! featured "Die Nigga", referencing Vietnam and the murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner. The 1972 album Chastisment contained "Black Soldier" and "Hands Off". Their 1977 album Delights of the Garden included the song "Ho Chi Minh" about Vietnam and 1970s protests.The song "Die Nigga" (Juggernaut Records # JUG ST/LP-8802) noted the frequent deaths of African-Americans, including the war in Vietnam, thus combining it with the Civil Rights issue: "lots'a niggas dying in Viet Nam", as well as the murder of Chaney: "Niggas watched James Chaney die".
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: Walkin' down on 42nd Street / Heard some white folks talkin' / "Had a riot yesterday, ten niggas died" / Die nigga! / "Say what? Ten niggas died?" / "Yeah" / Die nigga! / Went down to Whitehall Street / Heard a sergeant reportin' / "Lots'a niggas dying in Viet Nam" / Die Nigga!... / Niggas been dying for 400 years... / Niggas watched Emmett Till die / Niggas watched Mack Parker die / Niggas watched James Chaney die / Niggas watched Bobby Hutton die / Niggas watched Medgar Evers die
About the artist
Formed on 19 May 1968, based in Harlem, New York
Themes
In collections
Civil Rights Songs · Jazz Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]