Nelson Mandela and Apartheid in Hip Hop

Rakim pens a tribute to Madiba.

Nelson Mandela and Apartheid in Hip Hop - Hip hop's roots are planted in freedom-fighting soil, and one of the greatest champions of peace of all time was Nelson Mandela — and still is. His legacy lives on, not only in his work, but in the work that he inspired. Read on for a look at some of the MCs who spit Madiba knowledge.

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Nelson Mandela and Apartheid in Hip Hop - Hip hop's roots are planted in freedom-fighting soil, and one of the greatest champions of peace of all time was Nelson Mandela — and still is. His legacy lives on, not only in his work, but in the work that he inspired. Read on for a look at some of the MCs who spit Madiba knowledge.

25 Best Rakim Songs - When Eric B. and Rakim’s “Eric B. Is President” and “My Melody” debuted in 1986, Ra’s internal-rhyme style and metaphysical flow forever changed the rhyme paradigm of hip hop music. In celebration of the legend’s contribution to the future of the genre, here’s a look at the G.O.D. MC’s 25 best songs.(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Rakim: "Madiba" (2013) - In the wake of Mandela's passing (Dec. 5, at the age of 95), the god MC Rakim dropped this jewel of eternal rememberance, a lyrical re-cap of his life.(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Artists United Against Apartheid: "Sun City" (1985) - At the height of the anti-apartheid movement, Run-DMC joined in this mega collabo of musicians. "We're rockers and rappers united and strong," the duo began the song. "We're hear to talk about South Africa, we don’t like what’s going on." (Photo: Manhattan Records)

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Artists United Against Apartheid: "Sun City" (1985) - At the height of the anti-apartheid movement, Run-DMC joined in this mega collabo of musicians. "We're rockers and rappers united and strong," the duo began the song. "We're hear to talk about South Africa, we don’t like what’s going on." (Photo: Manhattan Records)

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Mind-blowing duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo may have been the Juice Crew's version of LL Cool J and DJ Cut Creator, but after their 1986 classic "It's a Demo," backed with the gangsta-centric "I'm Fly," hit hip hop's underground, they proved to be equally lethal. Following the release of the 1992 LP Live and Let Die, the two went their separate ways.  (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Kool G Rap & DJ Polo: "Erase Racism" (1990) - In this rhyme against racism, hip hop's original gangtsa, Kool G Rap celebrated Madiba's 1990 release from prison. "(Ain't hard to tell) You know, now that we see/Nelson Mandela's free.”  (Photo:  Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Public Enemy: "Timebomb (1987) - P.E.'s Chuck D took up Nelson Mandela's cause, rhyming on their debut LP, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, "I'm a MC protector / U.S. defector / South African government wrecker." (Photo: Columbia Records)

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Public Enemy: "Timebomb (1987) - P.E.'s Chuck D took up Nelson Mandela's cause, rhyming on their debut LP, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, "I'm a MC protector / U.S. defector / South African government wrecker." (Photo: Columbia Records)

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Chubb Rock: "The Chubbster" (1991) - Chubb shouted out the freedom fighter (and his ANC comrad) in this '91 club banger, saying, "Nelson Madela is a fellow I consider to be true blue / Long live the ANC [and] Walter Sisulu.” (Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Chubb Rock: "The Chubbster" (1991) - Chubb shouted out the freedom fighter (and his ANC comrad) in this '91 club banger, saying, "Nelson Madela is a fellow I consider to be true blue / Long live the ANC [and] Walter Sisulu.” (Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Stetsasonic: "A.F.R.I.C.A." (1987) - Inspired by anti-apartheid heroes like Nelson Mandela, Brooklyn hip hop group Stetsasonic urged others to join the movement with lines like this from Daddy-O. "I'm speaking for the Stet and we make a plea / to fight apartheid, everybody." (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Stetsasonic: "A.F.R.I.C.A." (1987) - Inspired by anti-apartheid heroes like Nelson Mandela, Brooklyn hip hop group Stetsasonic urged others to join the movement with lines like this from Daddy-O. "I'm speaking for the Stet and we make a plea / to fight apartheid, everybody." (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Hip Hop Against Apartheid: "Free South Africa" (1990) - As apartheid was coming to an end, Queen Latifah joined Afrika Bambaataa and a cadre of conscious MCs to celebrate the change. "The time to tolerate apartheid is over and done / So watch the world say the Black man won," she rhymed. (Photo:  Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)

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Hip Hop Against Apartheid: "Free South Africa" (1990) - As apartheid was coming to an end, Queen Latifah joined Afrika Bambaataa and a cadre of conscious MCs to celebrate the change. "The time to tolerate apartheid is over and done / So watch the world say the Black man won," she rhymed. (Photo:  Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)

Common: "Gladiator" (2008) - Common lets his light shine as he details how Madbia inspired him, "Took the underground rail to the end that failed / I rebel... Here to leave a trail like Nelson Mandela.” (Photo: Collins Metu/BET)

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Common: "Gladiator" (2008) - Common lets his light shine as he details how Madbia inspired him, "Took the underground rail to the end that failed / I rebel... Here to leave a trail like Nelson Mandela.” (Photo: Collins Metu/BET)

Cassidy: "Peace" (2010) - Cassidy has a suggestion that'll scare the scary right out of you. "Imagine if Malcolm X would have made it / And Nelson Mandela was never incarcerated." (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

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Cassidy: "Peace" (2010) - Cassidy has a suggestion that'll scare the scary right out of you. "Imagine if Malcolm X would have made it / And Nelson Mandela was never incarcerated." (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

Photo By Photo: John Ricard / BET

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Game: "Letter to the King" (2008) - Game recognize real. "I feel the pain of Nelson Mandela / Cause when it rains it pours, I need Rihanna's 'Umbrella.'" (Photo:  Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

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Game: "Letter to the King" (2008) - Game recognize real. "I feel the pain of Nelson Mandela / Cause when it rains it pours, I need Rihanna's 'Umbrella.'" (Photo:  Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Jadakiss: "What If" featuring Nas (2009) - Jadakiss wants to know, "What if Nelson Mandela could get his time back?" (Photo:  Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

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Jadakiss: "What If" featuring Nas (2009) - Jadakiss wants to know, "What if Nelson Mandela could get his time back?" (Photo:  Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

DJ Khaled: "Future" (2011) - On this star-studded collabo, produced by Khaled, Wale gets trippy with the Mandela name. "Multiple colors, my mind's more productive than others," he raps. "Murray the winner, you think he really Nelson Mandela." (Photo:  Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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DJ Khaled: "Future" (2011) - On this star-studded collabo, produced by Khaled, Wale gets trippy with the Mandela name. "Multiple colors, my mind's more productive than others," he raps. "Murray the winner, you think he really Nelson Mandela." (Photo:  Kevin Winter/Getty Images)