Nobody wants to be caught being an opp. LL Cool J introduced the world to what it means to be an opp in 1985's "Rock The Bells." Its arrival was an omen.
Cool J's use of opposition in his music was more than just wordplay; it was a powerful tool for discussing his experiences with his "opps" or adversaries. The turn of phrase connected with the Black community as we faced opps from all sides in 1985.
While culturally, the 80s were a time of growth for the Black community, the opps were always lurking. Racial injustice and mass incarceration were targeted at us. In Philadelphia, police killed 11 people when they bombed two city blocks because a building there housed MOVE, a Black organization for racial justice. The opps weren't only stateside, though.
The Brixton and the Broadwater Farm riots in England were in response to tensions between a mostly white police force and their abuse of Black youth. It culminated in the death of Cynthia Jarrett from a heart attack after police mistakenly barged into her home.
LL Cool J's lyrics in "Rock The Bells" centered the Black experience. His confident delivery and bold statements were a rallying cry for defiance in the face of injustice. How can we speak protection and unity on ourselves?