9. Anderson .Paak - “The Dreamer (Feat. Talib Kweli & Timan Family Choir)”

This track is swollen with emotion. It’s composed of equal parts pride and nostalgia, encompassing the crux of the present, or rather the confluence of every moment that made you who you are and continues to carry you forward. It has an aura of exuberant satisfaction, almost like the final sigh of relief as you rise above the darkness to finally see where you came from and where you’re going. It’s confidence, gratefulness, thankfulness, and motivation all in one, and in being so it punctuates the album perfectly.

It gives you an image, like watching old and faded home videos flash across the imagination. You can better understand .Paak, as well as the countless other little kids like him that exist out there. He’s flipped the script. He’s overcome the oppression of the dominant culture to succeed, and rather than seeing all of the setbacks of oppression as negative – he sees them as something positive, or rather as something essential. They’ve helped make him who he is, and given him his sense of strength, love, perseverance, and passion. His spirit is too big to be held down by outside forces, and rather than stagnating, disappearing, and dying as expected – he’s transcended. He’s evolved and been forged into something greater than anyone ever even imagined.

Now, what I’m saying is in no way meant to justify oppression, or give yet another whitewashed, apologetic, co-opted narrative of minority inspiration. Let me state unequivocally – these barriers shouldn’t be here and there is nothing romantic about overcoming them. However, I think it does highlight and speak to how awful it is that society continually attempts to disregard a whole portion of humanity that has so much to offer and enrich the world with. Imagine if these barriers weren’t here. If kids like .Paak were supported, praised, celebrated, and given a history to be proud of. If they saw themselves in the media and in academia. If they weren’t caught within a cycle and abused at the hands of authority. If they grew up feeling safe and valued. It’s a future we can all hope and work for, and a future that minds and souls like .Paak help realize with their skill, passion, and dedication.