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I Have A Dream: 15 Songs Inspired By Martin Luther King Jr.

Posted on January 19th, 2015
by
Staff Editor


Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of unity, peace and equality for all was felt across nations. For decades to come, his renowned “I Have A Dream” speech is celebrated, remembered and recited in classrooms and music.

Across genres, Dr. King has been sampled, name-dropped and more. From U2’s 1984 “MLK” to Kendrick Lamar’s 2011 “HiiiPoWer,” Dr. King continues to be a source of strength and inspiration. His teachings are applied by hip-hop artists to be better leaders both in music and their own hometowns.

“I looked at myself as the Martin Luther King of New Orleans,” Dee-1 told Rapzilla, “especially because I’ve always felt the need to be a leader in hip hop. I looked at how he was able to galvanize the troops and unify the people he was speaking to. I looked at how he dealt with the resistance and setback. I definitely learned lessons in leadership, and I just applied them to my career as a hip-hop artist.”

As communities continue to band together in protest for a better tomorrow, continue to honor Dr. King’s legacy by adding these 15 songs to your MLK Day playlist on the following pages.

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