Critical Karaoke

Trey Lowe

Song and length: Strength, 2:26

Artist: Black Youngsta

In Black Youngsta’s song titled “strength” on his album titled 223 he raps about many problems not only in his life but being black in America.  The song is 2 minutes and 26 seconds and in his chorus he talks about people in his own life that have showed strength to him and he asks God to give him, his family and his friends strength to overcome things.  Not only is he worried about his life but black people in America.  Throughout the song, topics such as racism, Flint Michigan water, and overcoming adversity are all hit on.  This song is not only for black people but people in general who need to listen to something to lift them up from a dark place and realize they have strength.  

This song is important to me because it created an impact on my life at a point when I needed an uplift.  When Black Youngsta starts the song by naming people in his life who have strength, he reminded me of people in my life that I have seen have strength also. My mom, sister, grandma, and brother have all showed me strength and I realized that through this song.  By him stating people who he had in his life, it really allowed me to see how these people have effected my life.  During my junior year of high school, I got hurt during football and was hurt that I could not finish the season with my teammates and was lost without being able to play.  The first time I heard this song I only knew the artist as someone who only made music that was funny and not serious.  This song reminds me of the times when I was searching for strength and needed to fight through my circumstances to overcome it.  I was able to overcome it but I knew when I was having a bad day at this time in my life, I could turn on this song to create positivity and remind me just how much strength I can have. 

Also, even though it was a few years ago, police brutality and racism is alive today.  He touches on these social issues that are happening in America.  These are also important to me and it struck me at a point when I was just starting to realize how America came to be and how police brutality effects us as black people.  

When I turn on this song today, it brings back memories of strength, adversity and overcoming it.  This moment in my life in junior year of high school really shaped me to who I am today and I know that I will be able to get through anything life throws at me.