Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World

When you think about the work of Spike Lee, up until that moment, he had tackled a number of different issues, but "Do the Right Thing" was different. It talked about the social and cultural mores of our community. It really got to the heart of the tension within New York. Spike says, "Yo, I'm comin' up with a movie "talkin' about this situation in New York. "Man, there's BS goin' down. "Yo, man, I need an anthem." (clapperboard clicks) - Playback. (crowd clamoring) ("Fight The Power") I remember like yesterday, myself, Hank Shocklee, Bill Stephney and Spike sitting in a Soho restaurant in Lower Manhattan before I go out on an international tour with Run-DMC and it comes together fight the power bein' the theme. We've got to fight the powers that be Fight the power Fuck the power Fight the power Fight the power Once you had the theme, the words and the music found itself, and then Spike took a hold of it. He took somethin' that was solid and concrete as a sentiment, and it become greater than the music, and greater than the lyric. People, people We are the same No we're not the same 'Cause we don't know the game What we need is awareness We can't get careless You say what is this Fight The Power meant more than just a song. It was actually a call to action. If you want to change the situation and the state of Black folks in this country, then you've gotta be willing to stand up and be actively involved in changing this situation, no matter what that looks like. Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power We've got to find ways to be involved in a multilayered struggle, and "Fight The Power" spoke to all of it. It was an anthem, but it wasn't just music. It was a call to action. I'm ready and hyped plus I'm amped Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps Sample a look back you look and find Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check Don't worry be happy Was a number one jam "Fight The Power" still moves me. The first time I ever heard it was amazing. The video was amazing. Right on, c'mon If you look at that video, you might see a few of our faces in there holding picket signs, angry kids, didn't know where to go, didn't know where to project our anger at what was going on. (crowd singing indistinctly) When he called me, we had finished shooting "Do the Right Thing." Spike said he wanted to do it really kinda documentary style. It was gonna be just walkin' through the streets. They were gonna be singin' "Fight The Power." Fight the power Well, you know, it was something I had to do. Fight the powers that be