The Reparations
Album
Music has always played a powerful role in Black liberation movements. From freedom songs of the Civil Rights era to hymns enslaved people would sing to lift their spirits, culture moves people in ways that speeches and writing alone cannot. Our opposition understands this deeply, investing heavily in shaping culture to shape public perception. It is imperative that we meet people where they are – through culture, through music, and through visuals that stir emotion, deep understanding, and drive engagement.
In 2025, FirstRepair will release a cross-genre collection of music sharing the message of reparations and celebrating Black culture. We have already released the first two singles from the album:
The Reparations Anthem is a hip hop anthem exploring the history and ongoing legacies of slavery, serving as a call to action and a lyrical white paper for this centuries-old movement. Written, produced, and performed by Arm Real, Golden Child, ALäZ, Ras Kass, Supreme Kai, and the Holy Thief, the Reparations Anthem was performed at the nation’s largest Juneteenth Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2024.
Agitate, Educate Organize, amplifies the call to action for communities nationwide to mobilize around reparations and transformative justice. Combining evocative lyrics with dynamic production, “AEO” is a rallying cry for all committed to agitating, educating, and organizing for change. “AEO” premiered at the 2024 National Symposium for State and Local Reparations, the signature national event for local reparations policy discussions, uniting thought leaders, activists, and community members in the fight for justice.
Civil rights attorney, author, founder of Reparation Education Project, and longtime reparations advocate Nkechi Taifa has long used “Agitate, Educate, Organize” as a rallying cry: “This phrase is deeply rooted in the Black nationalist movements that paved the way for where we stand today. I’ve been profoundly inspired by the legacies of elders like Queen Mother Moore, whose tireless fight for reparations reminds us of the power of perseverance and vision. We are at a defining moment—an era where we can give birth to a new chapter in reparations advocacy, where creativity, culture, and activism converge to energize this movement like never before.”
This inspiring single features an extraordinary lineup of artists and activists, including Young RJ (of Slum Village), Ras Kass, Nkechi Taifa, Kymrence Young, and BLIS co-founder and guest rapper Trevor ‘Tricky Trev’ Smith.
“Through music, we’re not just telling stories—we’re sparking movements and inspiring action. “AEO” is more than a song; it’s a movement soundtrack.”
Trevor Smith
co-founder of BLIS and featured artist “Tricky Trev.”