Doo Rags

Annotation

Influential and popular East Coast Hip Hop artist, with his highly-rated debut album Illmatic considered a 90s classic. Born Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones on 14 September 1973 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. The post-war song "Doo Rags" contained a Civil Rights message, regarding the recruitment of African-American into the army: "political thugs...persuade us to pull trigger in army boots, yellin' join the armed forces", while there is "war in the ghetto" and "murderers wearin' police uniforms, Confederate flags I burn", a reference to policy brutality and racism. The narrator then moved onto Vietnam, noting "we lost the Vietnam War, intoxicated poisons" - presumably a reference to Agent Orange, the defoliant / herbicide used by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, which had long term negative health effects on the Vietnamese and US soldier whom came into contact with the chemical. It is frequently referenced in post-war songs. It moved onto the image of the drug-addicted veteran: "needles in arms of veterans".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Civil Rights Songs

Influential and popular East Coast Hip Hop artist, with his highly-rated debut album Illmatic considered a 90s classic. Born Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones on 14 September 1973 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. The post-war song "Doo Rags" (C2Records # 85275) contained a Civil Rights message, regarding the recruitment of African-American into the army: "political thugs...persuade us to pull trigger in army boots, yellin' join the armed forces", while there is "war in the ghetto" and "murderers wearin' police uniforms, Confederate flags I burn", a reference to policy brutality and racism. The narrator then moved onto Vietnam, noting "we lost the Vietnam War, intoxicated poisons" - presumably a reference to Agent Orange, the defoliant / herbicide used by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, which had long term negative health effects on the Vietnamese and US soldier whom came into contact with the chemical. It is frequently referenced in post-war songs. It moved onto the image of the drug-addicted veteran: "needles in arms of veterans".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Rap / Hip Hop Songs

Influential and popular East Coast Hip Hop / Conscious Hip Hop artist, with his highly-rated debut album Illmatic considered a 90s classic. Born Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones on 14 September 1973 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Released two songs referencing the Vietnam conflict: "Doo Rags" (2002) and "Queens Wolf" (2019).The post-war song "Doo Rags" (C2Records # 85275) contained a Civil Rights message, regarding the recruitment of African-American into the army: "political thugs...persuade us to pull trigger in army boots, yellin' join the armed forces", while there is "war in the ghetto" and "murderers wearin' police uniforms, Confederate flags I burn", a reference to policy brutality and racism. The narrator then moved onto Vietnam, noting "we lost the Vietnam War, intoxicated poisons" - presumably a reference to Agent Orange, the defoliant / herbicide used by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, which had long term negative health effects on the Vietnamese and US soldier whom came into contact with the chemical. It is frequently referenced in post-war songs. It moved onto the image of the drug-addicted veteran: "needles in arms of veterans".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Political thugs in shark suits persuade us to pull triggers / In army boots, yellin', "Join the armed forces!" / We lost the Vietnam War, intoxicated poisons / Needles in arms of veterans instead of bigger fortunes / There's still a lot of nigga crawlin' in the corporate offices / War in the ghetto, we crabs in a barrel, they torture us / They won't be servin' the beast too long / The murderers wearin' police uniforms, Confederate flags I burn / Beat Street breakers were dancin' to the music I chose / And Peachtree, Atlanta crackheads was tootin' they nose / In frozen corners of Chicago / Loaded-up llamas, children with fo'-fo's and double-revolvers / We devil incarnates headed for jail / Where Shell gas company in South Africa be havin' us killed / Your paper money was the death of Christ / And all these shorties comin' up just resurrect your life / It's like a cycle, yo... Pushin' drop-tops, Stacy Lattisaw tapes, the 80's had us all apes / Youngest gorillas up to bat at home plate / That was a uncanny era, guns in my pants, yeah / X-Clan hair, with dreads at the top of my fade / Homicidal feds on the blocks where I played b-ball / That's when I wondered was I here for the cause or because / 'Cause Ray Charles could see the ghetto / Was told to stay strong and I could beat the devil / 'Cause yo, I used to play Apollo balcony seats / Watchin' niggas swing razors in the front row / Then out in the streets, the car show, 560's, chemical Afros / Acuras pumpin' Super…

About the artist

American rapper, born 14 September 1973 in Brooklyn, New York. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Civil Rights · Draft · Police Brutality · Vet · Flag · Agent Orange · Drugs

In collections

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