Summer is officially here. School is out. Everyone is out and about. For many youth, it’s time to have a ‘summer fling’—those spur of the moment relationships that may not make it to the beginning of the new school year.
Most relationships, especially in our teen years, help determine our likes and dislikes in terms of who we are attracted to and why. Most relationships make us smile and give us butterflies when we meet that special someone. Most relationships make us cry when the relationship we wanted doesn’t turn out they way we’d hoped.
But, there are some relationships that aren’t most relationships. According to kidshealth.org, “1 in 11 high school students report being physically hurt by a date.”
On Eminem’s latest album, Recovery, the rapper shares his story of triumph over drugs, abuse and himself. With over 700,000 copies sold, it is evident that far more people can relate to his tales.
On the single titled Love The Way You Lie featuring Rihanna, both artists reveal the cyclical nature of their relationship battles. While both have had public relationship dramas, their recovery of mind, body and spirit has been more private—more personal.
The song uncovers the pride Eminem feels in defeating his own demons and gives a glimpse into a relationship where the cycle remained unbroken…
If you or anyone you know is in an abusive relationship, visit: loveisrespect.org
Motivation in the Music
“O-o-h Child / Things are gonna get easier.” Those lyrics ring true on some days more than others. So why do we not, on our Keep It Movin’ Mondays, emphasize a brighter future. Especially when this song, originally recorded in 1970, still has an uplifting message to be shared with generations since its creation. Many artists since have covered and/or sampled the song, a true testament to the song’s transformative abilities.
ARTIST: Five Stairsteps
SONG: “O-o-h Child”
Since their début in 1966, the so-called “First Family of Soul” [Clarence, Alohe, James, Dennis + Keni Burke] had made great Chicago soul [a more "soft," poppy version of soul with large orchestras + laid-back harmonies] but had not had crossover success until “O-o-h” from their 1970 fifth LP, “Stairsteps.” With Stan Vincent’s uplifting lyrics, the song’s optimistic approach to life floated aloft the song’s alternating between delicate keys + guitars to a full soul backing band – a deft mix of an understanding hug + a push in the right direction. Now their signature song, the song achieved a Stairsteps’ best of #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted at #14 Best Selling Soul Singles [now R+B/Hip-Hop Songs].
ARTIST: 2Pac
SONG: “Keep Ya Head Up”
Tupac Amaru Shakur was one of the greatest hiphop artists of all time. His distinctive flow, his lyrical prowess, his socially-conscious mind – he was a true poet, a true activist, a true emcee. Originating in East/Spanish Harlem before moving to Baltimore, Maryland + Marin City, California, 2Pac honed his rapping skills in high school before becoming a roadie for Oakland alt-rap group Digital Underground. In 1991, he released his politically-conscious début album, 2Pacalypse Now, to limited commercial fanfare. However, it became a huge underground hit with critics + future rappers hailing it as one of the best political, underground hiphop releases.
Continuing with his social commentary on his 1993 sophomore LP Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., 2Pac flowed about the immense disrespect levied against black women. Considered by some to be more of his “soft” side, the song is an amazing lyrical performance by one of rap’s most incredible poets. DJ Daryl of Oakland hiphop group 415 lifted Zapp‘s “Be Alright” from their 1980 eponymous début LP + drafted singer The Black Angel to create a West Coast hiphop classic. “Keep” peaked at #7 on the Hot R+B/Hip-Hop Singles + Tracks and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of his biggest successes from the album.
Toledo, Ohio-born socially-conscious R+B singer Lyfe Jennings covered the song for his 2006 sophomore LP, The Phoenix, singing 2Pac’s lines over a new instrumental + adding in a children’s chorus at the end to finish Pac’s lyrics.
Choice 2Pac lyric: “Why do we take from our women? / Why we rape our women? / Do we hate our women? / I think it’s time to kill for our women / Time to heal our women / Be real to our women.”
So on those days when the world feels against you, when the days feel interminable, when nothing seems to go right. Just remember: o-o-h child … things are gonna get easier. Keep it movin’.
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