"Erase Racism" is the second single from American hip hop duo Kool G Rap &

DJ Polo The Juice Crew was an American hip hop collective made up largely of Queensbridge, New York-based artists in the mid-to-late 1980s. Founded by radio DJ Mr. Magic, and housed by Tyrone Williams' record label Cold Chillin' Records, the Juice Cre ...

's 1990 album Wanted: Dead or Alive, featuring

Big Daddy Kane Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs in hi ...

and Biz Markie. Released as a single with "Wanted: Dead or Alive" as a

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

, 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

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. The song speaks out against racism and xenophobia in society in what Sputnikmusic called "a partially serious, and partially humorous manner".

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.

Samples

"Erase Racism" samples the following songs:Erase Racism at Who Sampled
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Black and White Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey. Media The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...

" by Three Dog Night *"What's Going On" by

Les McCann Leslie Coleman McCann (born September 23, 1935) is an American jazz pianist and vocalist.Feather, Leonard, and Ira Gitler (2007), ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz'', p. 448. Oxford University Press. Early life Les McCann was born in ...

*"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

External links

*
Erase Racism
at Discogs {{authority control 1990 singles Big Daddy Kane songs Biz Markie songs Kool G Rap songs Songs written by Big Daddy Kane Songs written by Biz Markie Songs written by Kool G Rap Songs about racism and xenophobia 1990 songs Warner Records singles Cold Chillin' Records singles Protest songs