Gang Related is one of the top songs on American
rapper Logic’s (aka Sir Robert Bryson Hall II) album Under Pressure. It
is a powerful piece written in the perspective of his brother, attempting to
subvert the glorification of violence common in hip hop by writing about the
criminal activities (especially gang activity) that surrounded him as a child.
This is one of the most empathetic and hence heart-wrenching
songs I’ve listened to. Similarly to a lot of literature designed to evoke a
sense of undiscovered empathy, Logic chose to write the song from the point of
someone experiencing hardship, and in this case, such gang violence and
hardships primarily brought on due to economic conditions is experienced by so
many yet not understood by many more.
Right from the beginning of the song, Logic comes out saying
“Livin’ life like this, Gotta paint a picture when I write like this”,
displaying his desire to bring about an empathetic mood through his ability to “paint
a picture” of the actual life he grew up in.
This empathy is furthered by the fact that this is being
told with reference to Bobby (Logic) as a baby among all this “hysteria”,
surrounded by drugs and criminals. Because babies are associated with
innocence, the listener is made to feel sympathetic towards Logic or those in a
similar situation. In the song, Logic ensures to inform the listeners that this
kind of life isn’t in fact a hobby or preference, but something forced on
people by ‘the system’. This is emphasized through stating “If I sell a brick
[of drugs] I can buy a house; if they find the key they might lock me up; but I
take the chance cause I need that s**t and don’t give a f**k”, indicating the
need for this lifestyle in order to stay economically afloat; Logic also focuses
on the desire to escape when it is said “Hope my little brother make it out,
every night what I pray about… Got a son on the way, but I cling to the streets
even though I want to run away”, and Logic did in fact escape while many others
aren’t quite as lucky.
This song can be used as an anthem of gang life and the
struggles of escaping such a life and poverty. Logic’s ability to empathize
with his brother and other people experiencing similar issues allows the
audience to also empathize as he truly does paint a picture.
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