Mamie Smith's esteemed record Crazy Blues changed the course of history – according to the cultural historian David Hajdu – for many reasons, one of them being its blatant "cry of outrage," establishing it as a song of protest. Her potent lyricism masked in the blues instrumentation sealed its place as not only a hit record but also a catalyst that would pave "the way for a century of Black expression in the fiery core of American music." A prime example of a song that possesses the same essence as Crazy Blues by encapsulating the idea of protest and truth-telling, is Lil Baby's song Bigger Picture.
Bigger Picture, released in 2020 by rapper Lil Baby, shortly after George Floyd died in police custody, is an archetypal example of a protest song. The song – fashioned from a combination of Lil Baby's personal experience with law enforcement and police brutality and his feelings about racism and systemic injustices – is emotionally charged and imbued with apparent veracity and poignant lyricism. As he raps, "I find it crazy the police'll shoot you and know that you dead, but still, tell you to freeze/ They killing us for no reason"; "I see blue lights, I get scared and start runnin, that shit be crazy, they 'posed to protect us" – it is reminiscent of Mamie Smith's cry of outrage in Crazy Blues.
It is as though, with his lyrics and the urgency in his delivery, he opens a line of communication with one's soul as he expresses the harsh racialized reality of people of color in America. Especially relevant now, his words paint an explicit picture of the current racial landscape in America and the police brutality that continues without consequence. Even though he speaks of the American experience of police brutality, the experience is not unique to America alone. Hence, it is a song that resonates globally within the hearts and minds of people of color everywhere.
It is no surprise that within months of its' release, the song became the protest song of the moment and an anthem for the social justice movements nationwide. On a global scale and in the context of the current cultural moment, Bigger Picture is a significant song because it was released amidst a wave of Black Lives Matter protests. It also combines current musical tastes – trap music – with truth-telling. Lil Baby recounts the experience of being a black man in America and the racial injustices experienced by minority groups. However, he also encourages unification as he raps, "It's bigger than black and white/ It's a problem with the whole way of life"; "Every colored person ain't dumb and all whites not racist, I be judging by the mind and heart, I ain't really into faces." Hence, he maintains that the issue is the intentions of some, thereby refraining from making generalizations, as he raps, "corrupted police been the problem where I'm from/ But I'd be lying if I said it was all of them." Thus, with this song, Lil Baby passionately communicates the reality of racial injustice while supporting unification rather than separation.
Moreover, in a similar manner to Mamie Smith's Crazy Blues, Lil Baby not only details the oppression and the actualities of the Black experience in America, but he also mobilizes the masses to take action against this oppression. He delivers a rallying cry as he raps, "You can't fight fire with fire I know, but at least we can turn up the flames some"; "We ain't takin no more, let us go from them chains." Thus, it is evident that Bigger Picture encapsulates the idea of protest and truth-telling, by advocating for protests, and detailing the reality of oppression faced by minority groups – something which is important amidst the current political climate and the upsurge in social justice protests.
On a personal level, this song deeply resonates with me, especially existing as an African American in America. His words incite a feeling of anger – because of the authenticity of his words and my ability to relate to some of the experiences he details – and hope as he offers the possibility that things can change through inspired and unified action. Bigger Picture is a necessary song amidst the current cultural moment because it speaks to and for the masses.
All things considered, Lil Baby's song Bigger Picture is a vital testament to the experience of African Americans in the current political climate. It is an exemplary example of a song that encapsulates both protest and truth-telling in the style of trap. It offers a passionate articulation of the oppression and systemic injustices that currently exist, all the while connecting with people of color globally and offering the possibility of hope through unity and mobilization.
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