George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People by The Legendary K.O. (2005)

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George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People Cover

George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People is a protest song released on September 6, 2005 by hip hop duo The Legendary K.O., a day after Hurricane Katrina. The song was made available free on the internet and as the first single made from FWMJ’s Rappers I Know website. The song is also described as "vividly topical", and "one of the best political protest songs of all time." [1]

Key Lyrics

(She take my money...)

I ain't saying he's a gold digger

(...when I'm in need)

But he ain't messing with no broke niggas

(She take my money...)

I ain't sayin he a gold digger

(...when I'm in need)

But he ain't messing with no broke niggas

(I gotta leave)

George Bush don't like black people

(I gotta leave)

George Bush don't like black people

(I gotta leave)

George Bush don't like black people

(I gotta leave)

George Bush don't like black people

Hurricane came through, fucked us up round here

Government acting like it's bad luck down here

All I know is that you better bring some trucks round here

Wonder why I got my middle finger up round here

People lives on the line, you declining to help

Since you taking so much time we surviving ourself

Just me and my pets and my kids and my spouse

Trapped in my own house looking for a way out

Five days in this muthafucking attic

Can't use the cell phone, I keep getting static

Dying cause they lying instead of telling us the truth

Other day the helicopters got my neighbors off the roof?

Screwed cause they said they coming back for us too

That was three days ago, I don't see no rescue

See, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do

Since God made the path, then I'm trying to walk through

Well, swam to the store trying to look for food

Corner store's kinda flooded so I broke my way through

I got what I could but before I got through

The news said police shot a black man trying to loot? [2]

Black Empowerment

The song from the hip hop duo delivers a powerful message against the United States former president George W. Bush which received widespread acclaim. The Legendary K.O. took one step further to express their frustration over the former President Bush, as well as at Katrina relief efforts. Micah Nickerson and Damien Randle share their thoughts how they feel about the victims.

“I had really wanted to write about this in the first-person, as someone stuck in New Orleans and left by this administration to basically fend for myself, but was having trouble putting the emotions I felt into words. When I heard Kanye during the benefit, the rest as they say was history,” said Micah.

“No matter which side of the political debate we reside on, I think we can all agree that this situation represents the ultimate human tragedy, and highlights the need for sweeping improvements in some of the most fundamental segments of society. The safety and well-being of all people should always be considered first, and we felt compelled to express that through song,” added Damien. [3]

The song’s title, George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People, was a originally controversial quote uttered by American rapper, Kanye West during his live television appearance on NBC on the Concert for Hurricane Relief, a charity driven benefit for Hurricane Katrina recovery in New Orleans. The incident took place when West appeared on NBC on September 2, 2005 during the segment spoke with actor Mike Myres about the devastation in New Orleans and criticizing the government’s response to the disaster, in which West accused the former President George W. Bush was lacking sympathy for the African American communities affected. [4]

It has been ten years ago since the controversial comment uttered, as Kanye West accused the former President Bush that Black Lives Doesn't Matter. Looking back how the system stayed the same referring to the Hurricane Katrina and shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson. Then, the infamous comment became a song by the hip hop group, K-OTIX or also well known as The Legendary K.O. Frustrated by watching the footage, the group also borrowed West's beat from the song “Gold Digger,” and elaborated on West's comment. “I guess Bush said [blacks have] been used to dying,” one rapped. [5]

References

  1. George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People. wikipedia.org. Retrieved January 27, 2021
  2. George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People K-Otix. genius.com. Retrieved January 27 2021
  3. Greenberg. Benjamin T. The Legendary K.O., “George Bush Doesn’t Like Black People”. September 11, 2005. hungryblues.net. Retrieved January 27, 2021
  4. George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People. knowyourmeme.com. Retrieved February 6, 2021
  5. Thomas, Dexter. When Kanye West told George Bush that Black Lives Matter. August 28, 2015. latimes.com. Retrieved February 6, 2021