In celebration of Dr. Khalid’s born day, don’t forget the influence he left in the creative arts as well as the struggle for freedom, justice, and equality

Most of America remembers Dr. Khalid Abdul Muhammad, the former Nation Of Islam spokesperson under the leadership of Louis Farrakhan, as the passionate, emotion-evoking Black leader that was the last of his kind to stand up in the face of oppression in America and the first U.S. citizen to ever be censured by Congress. The Hip Hop community reveres Dr. Khalid as the articulate voice of the urban masses, appearing on some of the game’s most memorable albums, but it didn’t stop there. Even some rock bands recognized the power in the truth that he spoke and immortalized him in their music.

Here’s a list of the top five appearances from Dr. Khalid Abdul Muhammad that some may remember, but most won’t.

1. Public Enemy‘s “Night Of The Living Baseheads” from the It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back album

The intro to this 1988 Public Enemy classic became one of the most recognizable audio clips of the founder of the New Black Panther Party.

2. Ice Cube‘s Death Certificate album

The former NWA frontman let Dr. Khalid dropped his jewels all throughout Ice Cube’s first solo and ironically, most successful album.

3. MC Ren‘s “Muhammad Speaks” from his Villain In Black LP

Another ex “N***a Wit Attitude” sees things Dr. Khalid’s way and lets him spit some science from a well known document called the “William Lynch Letter” on a track titled with the same name as the Nation of Islam newspaper founded by Minister Malcolm X.

4. Rage Against The Machine‘s “Freedom” from their 1994 self titled album

Lead singer Zach de la Rocha quotes the strong bald headed trailblazer in the first verse with;

Brotha, did ya forget ya name?

5. “1000 Deaths” from D’Angelo‘s Black Messiah album

The neo-soul prince resurrects Mr. Muhammad on this abstract track from his latest release, as he speaks candidly about the actual physical appearance and the apparent fallacies of religious doctrine.

-Sha Be Allah(@KingPenStatus)