Queens-bred rapper Consequence has joined forces with Public Enemy‘s Chuck D for a pointed political single examining racial inequality in America. The track, carried by stark piano arrangements, confronts systemic barriers faced by Black Americans while calling for community solidarity and advancement.
“The results of the 2024 Presidential Election are a reflection of who and where we are as a nation,” Consequence states. “Like it or not, especially if you’re African American, we must continue to pursue our equalities and make sure we do everything in our power to level the playing field as best we can. In doing so, we can forget where we’ve been and what it took to get where we are.”
Chuck D, long known for his sharp political commentary since Public Enemy’s formation in 1985, draws parallel between modern digital anonymity and historical racism: “Avatars like they’re the new Klan hoodies. The more things change, the more they stay the same!”
While Consequence earned early recognition through his work with A Tribe Called Quest and Kanye West, Chuck D helped establish hip-hop as a vehicle for social criticism through landmark albums like It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.
“What Has America Done” will appear on the deluxe edition of Consequence’s Nice Doing Business With You, scheduled for November 22.