Erase Racism

"Erase Racism"
"Erase Racism"
Single by Kool G Rap & DJ Polo featuring Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie
from the album Wanted: Dead or Alive
A-side	"Erase Racism"
B-side	"Wanted: Dead or Alive"
Released	November 14, 1990
Recorded	1990
Genre	East Coast hip hop; conscious hip hop; golden age hip hop;
Length	4:31
Label	Cold Chillin'; Warner Bros.;
Songwriter(s)	Marcel Hall; Antonio Hardy; Nathaniel Wilson;
Producer(s)	Biz Markie; Cool V;
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo singles chronology
Big Daddy Kane singles chronology
Biz Markie singles chronology

"Erase Racism" is the second single from American hip hop duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's 1990 album Wanted: Dead or Alive, featuring Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie. Released as a single with "Wanted: Dead or Alive" as a B-side, it was later also featured on the compilation albums The Best of Cold Chillin (2000) and Street Stories: The Best of Kool G Rap & DJ Polo (2013).

Background

Kool G Rap reunited with his fellow former Juice Crew members Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie to compose "Erase Racism" following the death of Yusef Hawkins, a 16-year-old African American who was shot to death by a group of Italian American youths in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York City in 1989.^[1] The song speaks out against racism and xenophobia in society in what Sputnikmusic called "a partially serious, and partially humorous manner".^[2]

Music video

The music video for "Erase Racism", Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's third, was directed by Fab Five Freddy and filmed in Jersey City, NJ, on 7th and 8th Streets, and at the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery, and not actually in Bensonhurst, the neighbourhood where Yusef Hawkins was killed.^[3]^[4]

Samples

"Erase Racism" samples the following songs:^[5]

"Black and White" by Three Dog Night
"What's Going On" by Les McCann
"Sneakin' in the Back" by Tom Scott and The L.A. Express
"Zimba Ku" by Black Heat

And was later sampled on:

"I Ain't the Nigga" by The Coup

Track listing

12"

A-side

"Erase Racism" (4:30)

B-side

"Wanted: Dead or Alive" (Remix) (4:04)
"Wanted: Dead or Alive" (Dub) (4:04)
"Wanted: Dead or Alive" (Instrumental) (4:04)

Cassette

A-side

"Erase Racism" (4:30)

B-side

"Wanted: Dead or Alive" (Remix) (4:04)

CD

"Erase Racism" (4:30)

References

^ Dharmic X. "Kool G Rap Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs," Complex (Jan 16, 2014).
^ thecreative0ne. Wanted: Dead or Alive review, Sputnikmusic. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
^ Wild Style @ 25: Fab 5 Freddy Video Retrospective
^ Interview: Fab 5 Freddy Speaks About Futura, The Downtown Art Scene, And Bringing Hip-Hop To Europe
^ Erase Racism at Who Sampled

External links

"Erase Racism" at Discogs

[1] Dharmic X. "Kool G Rap Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs," Complex (Jan 16, 2014).

[2] thecreative0ne. Wanted: Dead or Alive review, Sputnikmusic. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

[3] Wild Style @ 25: Fab 5 Freddy Video Retrospective

[4] Interview: Fab 5 Freddy Speaks About Futura, The Downtown Art Scene, And Bringing Hip-Hop To Europe

[5] Erase Racism at Who Sampled

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v t e Kool G Rap
Studio albums	Road to the Riches (1989) Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990) Live and Let Die (1992) 4,5,6 (1995) Roots of Evil (1998) The Giancana Story (2002) Half a Klip (2007) Riches, Royalty, Respect (2011) Return of the Don (2017)
Extended plays	Offer You Can't Refuse (2011)
Compilations	Rated XXX (1996)
Collaborative albums	Click of Respect (2003) Once Upon a Crime (2013) Son of G Rap (2018)
Singles	"It's a Demo" "Poison" "Road to the Riches" "Truly Yours" "Streets of New York" "Erase Racism" "Bad to the Bone" "Ill Street Blues" "On the Run" "It's a Shame" "Fast Life" "Hey Mister Mister" "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" "Talk Like Sex" "Foul Cats" "Can't Stop the Shine" "My Life"
Related articles	Discography Juice Crew The Godfathers Mafioso rap