Spinner

20 Protest Songs That Matter: No. 2

'Fight the Power'
--Public Enemy (1989)

Rebelling Against: Racism!

The song that traced all that's wrong with America to... stamp collecting? ("Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamp!") PE's most famous joint -- the key audio component of Spike Lee's anatomy-of-a-riot film 'Do the Right Thing' -- has since become an all-purpose anthem of opposition.

Listen to 'Fight the Power'

Buy it on iTunes

All the AOL Music info you want to know

Dierks Bentley, 'Live on Letterman'…

The Boot

Ethan Miller, Getty Images Country takes over the city, as Dierks Bentley is…

Drake, Juno Awards 2012: Young Money MC…

The Boombox

Getty Images After hosting the Juno Awards last year -- the Canadian…

Grammy Awards: Hip-Hop and R&B Albums…

The Boombox

Amazon.com The Best Rap Album category was born in 1996, during the…

See all AOL Music »

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

14 Comments

Filter by:
tomasz

Johnny LaRue, you wanker.

June 05 2010 at 5:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
thomas

WHERE THE FUCK IS ANTI-FLAG! OR BAD RELIGION there are litterally like only two anti flag songs that ARENT protest songs? also Leftover Crack's "Nazi white trash" and "gay rude boys unite" would have been great but their a little extream for most kinda makes RAGE look childish and thats saying alot!

February 26 2008 at 4:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Questioningly

Its NOT a protest song because its not a SONG. It is mere yelling and chanting. Public Enemy is a joke, not 911. This "joint" doth SUCK.

December 12 2007 at 8:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jeannie

Lame list. How about Once I Was???

December 12 2007 at 4:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aidan

Dandy Highwayman: Well twanderer & jreesers, because...... "California, Uber Allais!"
What does this even mean? California Uber Alles is a great song, so what? You think being a punk fanboy makes you better than everyone else? As DK said, NAZI PUNKS F*** OFF!!

RATM should definitely be here. Name a song and it should be on the list. Here are a few examples:
Voice of the Voiceless
Know Your Enemy
Maria
Wake Up
Sleep Now In The Fire

December 10 2007 at 9:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
marleymagic

PE is perfect for the list. no matter how much flav sold out.

September 30 2007 at 11:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
NNihipali00

The entire album "It takes a Nation of Millions to hold us back" is filled with Protest songs.

August 17 2007 at 11:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stodgeworth

Here, in case your panties wadded up too tight. "Uber Alles"

July 15 2007 at 8:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stodgeworth

Well twanderer & jreesers, because...... "California, Uber Allais!"

July 15 2007 at 8:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nando

How can you have a rebelion song that doesnt have "killing in the name of" OR anthing else by Rage Agaisnt The Machine!!

July 15 2007 at 7:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply