Mixtape

 Lavon Reese 

Dr. Harris  

3/1/2026  

Major Project 

Mixtape  

PLAYLIST HERE: Here 

Reflection and Track Explanations 

Growing up in Washington, D.C., my understanding of struggle, pressure, and survival came  early. Attending Anacostia Senior High School, I learned quickly that most days were not about  dreaming big but about making it through. Music became a place where I could process what I  was experiencing and imagine something different. This mixtape reflects my personal journey. 

1. Intro – J. Cole 

This song opens the mixtape because it reflects the mindset I grew up with. J. Cole’s reflection  on where he started mirrors my experience of growing up in D.C., where survival often came  before long term planning. The song sets the emotional tone by showing how environment  shapes identity before political awareness fully develops. It connects to my topic by emphasizing  that movements and people are shaped first by lived experience, not theory. 

2. Love Yourz – J. Cole 

This song represents how music became my safe space. Growing up, encouragement and  resources were limited, so learning to appreciate what I had became necessary. Love Yourz  reflects the tension between wanting more and learning patience. In the same way, Black  movements have often debated whether progress should come through patience or urgency. This  song shows that internal peace can exist even when external conditions remain difficult.

3. U – Kendrick Lamar 

U captures the emotional weight of pressure and self-doubt. As a first-gen college student, I  often feel the responsibility of success without always knowing the right steps to take.  Kendrick’s vulnerability reflects how internal struggle can be just as damaging as external  barriers. This connects to my topic by showing that disagreement and conflict within movements  often come from shared frustration and pain, not weakness. 

4. Lost Ones – Lauryn Hill 

This song reflects confusion and transition. Lauryn Hill speaks from a place of questioning  direction and trust, which mirrors my experience navigating college while carrying my  background with me. The song highlights how uncertainty is part of growth. In Black  movements, disagreements often arose during periods of change. This track reinforces that  conflict does not stop progress but often shapes it. 

5. Black Skinhead – Kanye West 

This song represents anger and urgency. It aligns with the frustration expressed in Malcolm X’s  The Ballot or the Bullet, particularly the feeling of being tired of waiting for change. The  aggressive tone reflects emotional responses to systemic inequality. This song contributes to my  topic by showing why urgency has always been a powerful force within Black resistance  movements. 

6. I – Kendrick Lamar 

I represents choosing self worth in the middle of chaos. This song reflects standing at a  crossroads and deciding which version of yourself you are fighting for. It connects to both my  personal journey and the larger theme of identity within Black movements. Self-affirmation  becomes a form of resistance when the world constantly challenges your value.

7. Freedom – Beyoncé 

Freedom acknowledges that progress is not smooth. The song reflects the reality that liberation  comes with pain, setbacks, and persistence. This mirrors both historical struggles and my  personal growth. It reinforces that struggle is not a sign of failure but proof that movement is  happening. 

8. Alright – Kendrick Lamar 

Alright represents collective survival. The song acknowledges pain while still holding onto hope.  It became powerful because it reflects how people continue despite uncertainty. This connects to  my topic by showing that unity does not require agreement. Sometimes survival is the message. 

9. Glory – Common and John Legend 

Glory connects past civil rights struggles to the present. It emphasizes legacy and responsibility.  This song reminds me that my voice matters in academic and political spaces, even when I feel  unsure. It reinforces that progress depends on participation, not perfection. 

10. Black Boy Fly – Kendrick Lamar 

This song closes the mixtape because it reflects reflection and quiet perseverance. It speaks to  leaving home, carrying where you come from, and still questioning if you belong. This mirrors  my journey from D.C. to higher education. Ending with this song reinforces that progress does  not always look loud or celebrated. Sometimes it looks like it's continuing forward despite doubt.