Otherside Of America

Album: single release only (2020)
Charted: 64
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Meek Mill released this searing protest song a week after black Minneapolis resident George Floyd died at the hands of a white police officer. He kicks the track off by sampling Donald Trump's August 16, 2016 campaign speech urging the African American community to vote for him.
  • During the cut, the Philly rapper reflects on his impoverished childhood.

    Stomach growlin' like a AMG, goin' to bed, we hungry

    He grew up in a rough part of Philadelphia and was carrying firearms from an early age.

    I'm totin' Smith &'s and HKs and I just was a grade A kid

    Meek's tough childhood represents the "otherside of America," which does not tally with the iconography of the American dream.
  • Meek Mill has become an outspoken advocate for US criminal justice reform following several spells behind bars. He ends the song with another sample, this time taken from the rapper's 2018 interview with CNN's Michael Smerconish on the morning of Championship's release. Meek speaks during the clip on behalf of "the voiceless young men of America" about his experience growing up in a "ruthless neighborhood... not protected by police."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.