Videos by According2HipHop
Ice Cube has reunited with two Hip-Hop legends, LL Cool J and Chuck D of Public Enemy, for the remix to his thought-provoking track “Before Hip-Hop.” The song delivers a sharp and necessary message: don’t blame Hip-Hop for the world’s problems—most of them existed long before the culture was born.
Over a hard-hitting, West Coast-meets-Boom-Bap production, the three icons trade verses filled with wisdom, frustration, and pride. Cube sets the tone with his signature grit, calling out politicians and media figures who have long scapegoated rap music for society’s ills. LL brings his trademark confidence, reminding listeners that Hip-Hop has inspired countless people to dream bigger. Chuck D, the voice of social consciousness in rap’s golden era, drives the message home—breaking down the historical roots of the very issues critics try to pin on the genre.
“Before Hip-Hop” isn’t just a remix; it’s a generational statement from three architects of the culture. The song defends Hip-Hop’s legacy while holding up a mirror to society, showing that inequality, violence, and corruption have deeper origins than beats and rhymes.
With its commanding lyrics and timeless message, this remix proves that even after five decades, Hip-Hop’s most seasoned voices still have plenty to say—and the world still needs to listen.
