Emerson Windy released his Herojuana mixtape in May, but was inspired to release a video for the collection’s “Black America” after witnessing the reaction to the murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri last month.
“I was just like ‘Damn, Black America needs to hear a song like ‘Black America,’ because any time anyone who smokes a Black man other than a Black man in America, we wanna protest, we wanna riot, but nobody wanna say shit when it’s Black on Black crime,” Emerson Windy says during an exclusive interview with HipHopDX, which is premiering the video. It is below.
“I just feel like it’s a good thing to see people coming together and standing up for some shit, but I just hate how it’s always so short-lived,” the Oceanside, California rapper continues. “It takes somebody getting killed by a fucking police officer to realize that we have a lot of everyday issues in the Black community that need to be worked on. A lot of our values, just the mentality of the hood itself, we need a lot of work. If you go to the song, you hear me talking about that.”
Emerson Windy Learned Activism From His Mother
While Emerson Windy says that his mother instilled activism into him at a young age, he also says that he realizes some of his music does not always present positive messages.
“I almost say I’m a hypocrite my damn self because in my music, I don’t always portray the proper things,” says Emerson Windy, who got his break in the music industry as a producer working as Reese Piece Productions. “My story is real, and I can only speak about what I lived and what I been through. But at the same time, I don’t always put across the most positive message. But in that song ‘Black America,’ I am a hypocrite but these are just the way things is, but what inspired it was lack of education in the hood. I feel like education is the key to everything, because if you look at areas, not just the White areas, because there are a lot of Black kids who go to school with White kids. I went to a high school with a lot of White kids. Yes, half of the other kids were bused in from the other side of the tracks from the hood, but we went to school with alotta kids who didn’t know anything about that shit. The Black kids who grew up over there on the White side with their parents who had degrees, the were just as inclined to be involved with the same stuff I was involved in just as much as a White kid.
“I feel like education is seeing positive examples all around them, people who didn’t have to sell drugs to get the rims, people who went to school and got good jobs for that shit,” he continues. “If that’s what you see, that’s what you emulate. But in the hood, what the fuck do we see? We see a failure in the schooling system, teachers who ain’t paid shit, who are always laid off and fired. We don’t get enough books. Then they see people like myself who balled in the streets like street stars. That’s what kids want to be, because that’s the only thing they see. Education is so fucked up, what would you expect them to wanna do, when all they see is broke asses and trap stars? The parallel between the Black and White world, you see kids who want to go to school for a few years, get a bachelors, get a $100,000 job, and make a million in 10 years over a decade saving they money. But in the hood, we’re almost taught to make a million bucks in a year. And then you may go off to prison for four or five years and you hope when you get back home you have some of that bread left. That’s just the different in the communities. You gone hustle, but them kids know how to go to school, get a degree, make a $100,000 a year, and start a family. A lot Black kids don’t even stay to be around that long to care for one, and it’s sad. But it all starts with education.”
The video for “Black America” is as follows, as is the stream of Emerson Windy’s Herojuana mixtape.
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Start working part time. I kept hearing other people tell me how much money they can make online so I decided to look into it. Well, it was all true and has totally changed my life.
This is what I do.
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OMG.. This is the dude I been waiting for, someone to really combat these dumbmfkrs (REVOLUTIONARY BUT GANGSTER)..
Okay, I really like that song alot and it kinds of remind me of Kanye when he did Diamonds are 4ever, I thought the next conscious rapper arrived, I also know being conscious don’t pay bills in the hood, so I say that to say I wish this dude would do a educational rapper because it’s what Black America needs, we need a Pac or P.E of today and this dude got it and I don’t think your should have 2 names and 2 different lanes and give the people what they need..
I think this is a conversation that needed to happen for a very long time. Emerson Windy has brought up some raw issues…the elephant in the room and the fact that he isn’t shouting out what needs to be done makes me think about what to do to fix the situation…one thing is for sure, it has to be collective…it has to be a movement or no one will do anything about these issues…as far as Emerson Windy..his delivery is genius and it looks like he knows how to capture an audience visually and with his words. Can’t wait to see what is ahead for this one.
This is a very powerful video. Makes me realize that there are still so many racial issues in America. The issues brought up in the video and interview seem to make people uncomfortable so they just brush them aside. This is the problem. People act like they’re educated but they really aren’t. I thought I was somewhat educated on these issues, but I’m not even close. The first step is education. Through this video, Emerson Windy has encouraged me to educate myself and develop a deeper understanding to racial issues that still exist in America. Looking forward to his future work…and besides the messages, the video was very captivating and it is a really meaningful song
SOREN FAKER CAN EAT A DICK
Everybody wants to hide from it. But dude speaks the truth. We just don’t want to admit it.
Education really is the key
The thing I notice in this culture is the juxtaposition of the loyalty alongside the black on black killings. There are leaders amongst those that live in the trap and most of these hustlers are better at marketing and selling than stuffy old white dudes in corporate America. They definitely understand the concept of supply and demand and do it like they’ve earned a degree.
Change starts within the culture and teaching the younger generation the value of knowledge and that there is power in it. These are the kids that will be running our country in the next 20 years and they need to know that it’s ok to take a different route. Emerson Windy has started the conversation and there is a huge need to keep it going! He could be the vehicle we need to get the message out there and inspire change.
aww how nice, Emerson Windy and his dudes writing these supportive comments
I never heard of this dude but I know lyrics when I hear them and obviously yo bitchass don’t.. Get loss you buster..
Keep drinkin that haterade killa
Let’s hear your ideas on change…while you get your shit together, I’ll grab my pen and paper. Why don’t you be part of the solution instead of blocking the movement and call for change..you are a lame
Such a powerful song. People need to wake up and listen
who is this ninja
anyway, good looking out for shedding some light on these issues
I know Emerson personally, he truly is a great person. Want’s nothing but to educate with his music, which truly does reach more individuals then most outlets. I was proud when he reached out to me about this article and video.
just finding this dude…dope shit
E Windy has always been raw but it’s dope to hear him bring light to a major issue.