Ahsan: Under
Ahsan, a young R&B artist from Newark, New Jersey, has a powerful ballad called "Under." It's a song that is as timely to the plight of inner city youth as Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" was to the social unrest and injustices in the U.S. during the Vietnam war. In a Behind the Scenes video of "Under," Donald Richardson, Ahsan's manager, describes him as a leader and voice of the youth. In the video, Ahsan remarked, "I definitely hope that it [Under] inspires kids to do better because Newark, I'm going to be honest, Newark right now is terrible. I've seen a lot that I wasn't suppose to see.""Under" feels like a prayer of protection that asks listeners to do whatever it takes to prevent the evils of city life from swallowing urban youth with senseless tragedy. "I hope it doesn't take me out before I reach my destiny, " sings Ahsan who then asks for your help with that unforgettable chorus.
Don't let the city get meDon't let the bullets hit meDon't let the dealers trick meDon't let the streets win meDon't let the coroners hold meDon't let my mother mourn meDon't let the hood take meDon't let this hood take me under