-
Negro Spirituals
In the mid to late 1700s slaves would sing songs to help pass messages for escape routes or secret meetings. One of the most well known spirituals "Wade in the Water," allowed slaves to secretly inform fugitive slaves on where to run/ hide or where to meet for a secret meeting. Sources:
Library of Congress:
https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200197495/
Wade in the Water:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg_8L96E3eU -
"Chain of Fools" by Aretha Franklin
This song refers to a woman finding out her partner had multiple partners. She refers to his group of women as a "chain." She talks about being treated cruel and and how her father asked her to come home, hinting at the "being a fool" part for staying with him. The first few lyrics of the song say: For five long years
I thought you were my man
But I found out, I'm just a link in your chain
Oh, you got me where you want me
I ain't nothin' but your fool
Ya treated me mean
Oh you treated me cruel -
"Papa Was A Rolling Stone" by The Temptations
This Motown hit refers to "Papa" as a rolling stone, basically referring to him as a person who never stayed in one place . Literally saying, "Papa was a rolling stone. Wherever he laid his hat was home."
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dWDJhLCgdo] -
"OPP" by Naughty By Nature
This is one of the first rap songs that secretly refer to sexual relations, with someone else's partner. The first few lyrics in the song defines OPP:
"To have why'all jumpin' shall we singin' it
O is for Other, P is for People scratchin' temple
The last P...well...that's not that simple
It's sorta like another way to call a cat a kitten" Enter [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idx3GSL2KWs] -
"Stirfry" by Migos
This recent release was released in early 2018. The song talks abut whipping up a stir fry, but secretly references to cooking dope. Offset's raps: Stop watchin' me, democracy, you wanna copy me
Life's Monopoly, go cop me some land and some property
AP, Rolls, pink diamonds, whoa
Whip up the soda, diamonds off the Royce.
Migos have many hits that either openly or secretly uses drug/ crime references. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHUxyXZBXY8]
