Image via Adrian Boot
Migos just released their third studio album Culture II. One of the 24 tracks, “Crown the Kings,” features a sample of Bob Marley & the Wailers‘ protest anthem “Get Up, Stand Up.” It’s produced by DJ Durel and Quavo.
“Get Up, Stand Up” is from Bob Marley & The Wailer’s 1973 album Burnin. It protests poverty and inequality in countries such as Haiti and Jamaica. In the 2011 documentary Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend, the reggae legend’s former girlfriend and collaborator Esther Anderson revealed that the song was inspired by his experiences during a trip to Haiti. Marley often closed out his concerts with the track, which is also the last song he ever performed on stage on Sept. 23, 1980 at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, Pa.
On the chorus, Marley encourages listeners to fight for their rights:
Get Up, Stand Up, stand up for your right
Get Up, Stand Up, don’t give up the fight
Dozens of hip-hop artists have sampled or interpolated “Get Up, Stand Up” over the past several decades, including OutKast (“Git Up, Git Out”), Eric B. & Rakim (“Eric B. Never Scared”), Public Enemy (“Party for Your Right to Fight”), Common (“Book of Life”), and Guru (“Lost Souls”).
Migos make their case for being at the top of the hip-hop industry on “Crown the Kings.” The beat uses a vocal sample from the chorus of “Get Up, Stand Up” throughout its entirety.
On Offset’s verse, he calls out biters of their style and brags about his wealth:
They saucy, these niggas not relevant
They copy the bros and it’s evident
Riding in the red Wraith, row your boat
My soul devoted
Bank loans are loaded
Cash out, no notice
Culture II is Migos' sequel to their Grammy-nominated breakthrough album Culture. The stacked project features appearances from Drake, Big Sean, Travis Scott, Post Malone, 2 Chainz, 21 Savage, Gucci Mane, Cardi B, Ty Dolla $ign, and Nicki Minaj. Ahead of its release, the Atlanta trio dropped “Motor Sport,” “Stir Fry,” and “Supastars.”
Read all of the lyrics to Migos' “Crown the Kings” on Genius now.
