The hip-hop world has long recognized the career of Gen. Colin Powell, the first Black person to serve as U.S. Secretary of State.

Gen. Powell died on Oct. 18 at the age of 84 of complications from covid-19. He was suffering from cancer. Many politicians, celebrities and Black American leaders spoke about his life and career.

But Gen. Powell’s achievements and controversial decisions have also been immortalized in song. Here are the top 10 lyric mentions of Powell in hip-hop.

Nas

On a track called “Rule,” Queens, New York legend Nas sang:

“The earth wasn’t made for one man to rule alone
To all colors and creeds, is to whom it belongs
I want land, mansions, banks and gold
The diamonds in Africa, oil in my control
The world’s natural resources, all its residuals
But then comes foes, I have to guard it with missiles
And I become the most wanted
But is it worth hearing a million people problems and followed by Secret Service?
I guess, attempts at my life with loaded barrels
So move over Colin Powell or just throw in the towel, yo.”

Chance the Rapper

In “Cocoa Butter Kisses,” Chance the Rapper rhymes:

“I will smoke a little something but I don’t inhale
Everywhere that I go, everywhere, they be asking how’s it going
Say the going’s well, go figure, Victor’s light skinned
Jesus got me feeling like Colin Powell, all praise to the God
God knows he’s a pro, he’s a pro like COINTEL“

Nipsey Hussle

“Proud of That” by Nipsey Hussle mention Powell as well:

“Colin Powell, I hold it down, with these 40 rounds
My windows up, my top down
I’m stacking money, I’m out of town
You acting funny, you’re a pussy nigga
Talk behind my back but try to dap me now
Not my type of nigga, I’m so certified
When them niggas schemin’, take them for that murder ride
It’s not who starts the strongest, but who money the longest
Or who shooting the longest, a head shot is a bonus”

KRS-One

The old school hip-hop artist KRS-One spits lyrics about Powell on “Free Mumia”:

“Hate to be so rough, it could be the White Owls
House niggas are full of crap, like my Colin Powell
Kickin vowels is how we relieve the tension
Until we start to bounce white people like suspension (revolution)
You paint the pictures, the black man on the corner
But tell me, who blew up Oklahoma?
The City, ain’t no pity, for the beast
It’s Hakim that voice from the East”

Kurupt

“Reason” by veteran hip-hop artist Kurupt mentions Powell in this verse:

“Game changed since they let Reason in this motherfucker
I’m in a different zone, that’s why I rip shit, motherfucker
Colin Powell, I was the first nigga in this motherfucker
Wait, my zone that is, had to heighten my senses”

Heltah Skeltah

“Clan’s, Posse’s, Crew’s and Clik’s by Heltah Skeltah mention Powell. Here’s the lyric:

“As the World Turns in my Search For Tomorrow
I seek The Guiding Light for some insight
Freaky like a golden shower when my golden vowels
Hit instrumentals, get influential like Colin Powell, Now
Fuck the world, stick my dick in the dirt
Pull tools on fools who claim I ain’t cool like Levert
Expert when I network my lyrics like a rebel”

Lil Yachty

Lil Yachty on “Safe House” says:

“Choppa start speaking like Colin Powell, huh
I’m the golden child, Rolls gold Patek, blue face, wow
And I got a rack for every time you run your mouth
Slap you in your shit ’cause you really act out (whew)
Oh, oh, keep a could hundred in the safe, huh
19 could’ve bought a wraith, huh
But I bought a Benz in the place, yeah”

Glasses Malone

Glasses Malone throws out Powell’s name on “I Get Doe.”

“I get doe, nigga watch, I can show you how
Continental GT bitch I’m showin’ out
Dark body, white guts, call it Colin Powell
When them 24’s is out, them hoes be screamin’ ‘owww'”.

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Lowkey

“Obama Nation (Part 2)” by Lowkey has this mention of Powell:

“Think we’re easy to control? You ain’t got a clue
Revolutions on the way, let’s see what you’re gonna do
You gonna send the troops? You gonna drop the nukes?
See it’s not where you’re from, it’s where you’re at
He’s sitting in the White House, so who cares if he’s black?
And why’s there still soldiers out there in Iraq?
Natural resources ain’t yours, it’s theirs, give it back!
You’re just another puppet but I’m not surprised
Look at Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice
They didn’t change shit, house nigga’s fresh off the slave ship
You’ll all burn in hell even Michelle, Obama Nation”

Rich Homie Quan

On “Change Up,” Rich Homie Quan said:

“Niggas be smilin’ in my face when they come around me
Claiming on A when you know you from another county
These niggas gay, hell yeah, a whole ‘nother yellow flower
Jeans still tight, bankroll pokin’ out ’em
The only nigga in first class, feel like Colin Powell
If a nigga get mad, we still go together
I done seen a nigga change for the money and a bitch
You ran circles around me when you hit that 360″.