The 5 Percent Nation’s Impact On Hip-Hop’s Golden Era – Rock The Bells

The Essence

Manifesting. Building. Letting knowledge be born.
In 1986, urban America (and a growing segment of the rest of the country) was experiencing and repeating the Supreme Mathematics of the 5% Nation of The Gods & Earths. But most of the fans who rhymed along with Rakim that there were “no tricks in ’86 — it’s time to build” from Eric B & Rakim’s breakout single “Eric B Is President“ had no idea of the meaning behind those words. MC Shan proudly proclaimed in the same year “I got the knowledge to know, the wisdom to speak, the understanding of my rhyme is at its fullest peak.” It was primarily youth in New York City and the surrounding Tri-State area who understood why Just-Ice referred to the Bronx as “Pelan” on “Going Way Back,” his classic 1987 single with KRS-One. Elements of the 5% have existed in rap music since Se’ Divine The Mastermind and Jus Allah The Superstar of The World Famous Supreme Team sang “Allah & Justice” on radio station WHBI in the early 1980s.

Talib Kweli & Ice Cube Talk N.W.A., East vs. West, Squashing Beefs, ‘Friday,’ BIG3 | People’s Party

On the 33rd episode of People’s Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper, actor, producer, director, writer, sports league founder, and all-around legend among legends: Ice Cube. The conversation covers a multitude of subjects and starts at the beginning — with the story of Cube growing up with aspirations of playing pro-football before transitioning into one of the most respected, prolific lyricists of all-time. The trio discusses the origins of Ice Cube classics like “Boyz-n-the-Hood” and “It Was A Good Day,” the booming growth of the BIG3 basketball league, and emcees who had the most impact on Cube coming up and the development of his pen-game.