Here's How Hip-Hop Reacted to the Decision in Ferguson

Rappers like Q-Tip and Macklemore took it to the streets while others spoke out on social media.

Nov 25, 2014
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Image via Complex Original
Not Available Lead
Image via Complex Original

Last night, in a decision that surprised no cynical American, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch announced that Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted by a grand jury for the murder of unarmed teenager Mike Brown. The decision lead to an uproar on social media and protests in Ferguson as well as several major American cities.

Many rappers took to social media to react to the decision including Pharrell, Nas, Big K.R.I.T, and many more:

Pop stars like Beyoncé, Solange, and Rihanna took to their Instagrams to respond.

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I screen shot this image months ago. Artist unknown. It moved me for many reasons. One being ....brokenness. Today I feel a sense of brokenness on behalf of my people. Black people. Everyone expresses differently. I respect all forms and shapes of expression. I respect those who don't see this as a matter of black and white, who think "unity and peace" will save us all from this, who's optimism in the heart of the gut wrench still seems to have a place...Although I feel differently, I respect it all. We were not molded here, to all be molded the same......My words are like aimless shapes and figures at this time. Trying to find a place to go, something to hold on to, to make "sense" of this all. But the one thing that's been concrete in my heart is my will to want to express something to my friends. To the people I love, who love me, who feel pain in this moment just as I do, but who do not feel pain in the way that I often do in many walks of life. Who might feel I talk about race too much, that it's consumed me, who I've distanced myself from....because it's true, I can't a joke. When I told a friend of mine I was making an album about race, his response was...."Just make it fun". I would like him to think about it now. We are not Michael Browns family, but we are Michael Browns family. We don't hurt like they do, but we do hurt. Hurt like hell. Thing about my people though....we don't stay broken. We get up. We put the pieces together when there aren't even pieces to pick up.......and we will......again and again and again.

A photo posted by S A I N T R E C O R D S (@saintrecords) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:04am PST

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However, not everyone reacted the same way. Earl Sweatshirt took issue with certain protestors, and Lecrae wrote an impassioned Facebook post: 

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Meanwhile, a few rappers actually took it to the streets. Here's a photo of Macklemore protesting in Seattle and a Vine of Q-Tip protesting in NYC. 

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One of the most compassionate responses came from rising rapper Tink who released a song called "Tell the Children."

Finally, Killer Mike, who performed in St. Louis last night alongside El-P as Run the Jewels, gave a speech on stage.

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