“Soon we’ll find out who is the real revolutionaries . . . ‘cause I don’t want my people to be tricked by mercenaries.” –Bob Marley, Zimbabwe

Given that today is the day of recognition of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, I felt this the proper time to discuss a disturbing phenomenon that has become quite prevalent in hip-hop and r&b. That phenomenon is musical artists’ practice of making direct comparisons between themselves and Martin Luther King, Jr. and other late, great civil rights leaders. It’s happening more than a little bit, and if you haven’t noticed it, then you haven’t been listening…

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