Last updated on December 15, 2025
“These Are the Times” by Dead Prez is a striking example of politically charged hip-hop that remains deeply relevant. Released in the late 1990s, the track delivers an unfiltered look at systemic oppression, police brutality, and economic inequality—issues that still shape the lives of many today. With sharp lyricism and a sense of urgency, Dead Prez doesn’t just document the struggle—they urge listeners toward self-education, community action, and lasting change.
The accompanying music video, which blends “These Are the Times” with another powerful track, “Food, Clothes, and Shelter,” is more than just a visual—it’s a short film. Raw, reflective, and cinematic, it brings their message to life with an authentic feel that captures the spirit of the era. The video includes memorable cameos: the late Prodigy of Mobb Deep (RIP), whose appearance adds emotional weight and depth; Sadat X of Brand Nubian, whose presence ties the project to a broader lineage of conscious rap; and Afya Ibomu, wellness expert and former wife of Stic.man, whose appearance serves as a nostalgic flashback to a simpler time when they were young, building, and dreaming together.
Musically, the song weaves a haunting sample of Ella Fitzgerald’s “Oh, Lady Be Good” into gritty hip-hop production, blending elegance and edge. This fusion bridges generations, grounding dead prez’s revolutionary message in a rich tradition of Black musical resistance.
“These Are the Times” may not be the group’s most widely recognized single, but it remains one of their most powerful. It’s a lasting reminder of hip-hop’s role as both a mirror and a megaphone—a force for truth, healing, and transformation.
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