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Many Hip hop songs make reference to Plato. My favourites are the ones that mention specific dialogues, famous passages or ideas. I know four songs that reflect on Plato’s Cave (Republic 514a–520a).
A detailed description of the Cave is found in ‘...Powdered Water Too (Part 1)’ from the album First born by Eyedea (RIP) & @djabilities. Here the cave is not a cave but a cubicle.
I also like ‘La sagesse d’un fou’ (feat Saké) by @SCYLLA_OFFICIEL, from the album Abysses, which includes the following lines:
But the most extended reflection on Plato's Cave is probably by @Royceda59 with his recent album #TheAllegory. In the song ‘Mr. Grace (Intro)’ we get:
The last reference I know to Plato's Cave is by @yomilo in ‘Objectifying Rabbits’ (from the album A Toothpaste Suburb). There he tells us to: ‘Read Plato's Republic and promptly forget the whole thing.’
Rappers have also referenced other parts of the Republic. For example, in his ‘Neoliberalism Kills People’, @Lowkey0nline comments on Plato’s banishment of (the wrong sort of) poets and poetry in book 2 and 3.
Another possible reference to this part of the Republic is in ‘Soundtrack of a Romance’ by Eyedea:
I haven't left my own head long enough to really know about life
But I dug dirt out of the ground and found Plato's time capsule
Inside was a note that said, "sorry I lied"
I haven't left my own head long enough to really know about life
But I dug dirt out of the ground and found Plato's time capsule
Inside was a note that said, "sorry I lied"
The link to the song is here
Rappers have also included other Platonic dialogues in their lyrics. In ‘Fuck Your Feelings’, New Gen includes the following line: ‘Give you an apology to please Socrates, I am Plato's vision.’
One of my favourite references to Apology is in ‘The Avenues’ by @fredo:
'I lost some real close friends in this shit life
Amro lost his life he was playing 'round with flick knifes
And when that happened see Plato, part of him died'
'I lost some real close friends in this shit life
Amro lost his life he was playing 'round with flick knifes
And when that happened see Plato, part of him died'
Finally, this list would not be complete without mentioning ‘No Church in the Wild’ by JAY-Z and @kanyewest, where they make an interesting reference to Plato’s Euthyphro
As a bonus, I like to believe that in ‘Buttcheeks’, @6dogs is thinking about Plato’s Timaeus when he says:
'Looking at the night sky
Damn, I feel like Plato'
'Looking at the night sky
Damn, I feel like Plato'
Other songs that mention Plato more generally include ‘Congrats Freestyle’ by Russ, Nobody’s Perfect by J. Cole, Nature of the Threat by Ras Kass, 1955 by Hilltop Hoods, Lyrics Lie by Dance Gavin Dance, Like Water by Jaden Smith, Heed the Word of the Brother by X Clan...
...Clique by ViZion, Get the Bozack by EPMD, and Amazing by McDJ. In this group, I like G.O.A.T. (W.G.M.F.M.C.) by @gwatsky where he imagines Plato as a rapper:
'Built a time machine from Flava's clock and a saddle
Taught Plato to rap, then kicked his ass in a battle'
'Built a time machine from Flava's clock and a saddle
Taught Plato to rap, then kicked his ass in a battle'
The link to his song is here
