"REDOUT 5000" by The Cause2k and NABS feat. Lady J


About the track

“REDOUT 5000” is a remix/reimagining that samples conscious hip-hop from an earlier era, building on themes of Black liberation, mental elevation, and breaking free from societal conditioning. The track interpolates powerful messages about reclaiming Black identity—growing afros and dreadlocks, rejecting slave mentalities, and recognizing the ongoing psychological warfare targeting African Americans. With its “fast acceleration” refrain and warning not to “smoke out till you choke out,” the song balances celebration of Black resilience with concern about destructive coping mechanisms. The track functions as both historical tribute and contemporary call-to-action, connecting past struggles to present battles.

The Message

The central message advocates for mental, spiritual, and cultural liberation for Black people still dealing with the aftermath of slavery, genocide, and systematic oppression. The track argues that true freedom requires consciousness elevation—understanding history, rejecting self-hatred, and building community rather than tearing each other down. There’s explicit connection drawn between historical atrocities (Holocaust, Tuskegee experiments, lynchings) and modern struggles, suggesting the systems haven’t disappeared but merely evolved. The “smoke out till you choke out” warning addresses how substance abuse and self-destructive behaviors prevent the kind of clear-minded revolution necessary for real change. Ultimately, it’s about Black triumph and survival despite centuries of attempted extermination.

The Sound

The production incorporates samples and loops that create a time-traveling effect, honoring conscious hip-hop’s roots while updating the sound for contemporary audiences. The beat has a hypnotic, almost meditative quality despite its intensity, with layered percussion and bass that creates driving momentum. Vocal samples from the original material interweave with new verses and hooks, creating dialogue between past and present. The mix balances nostalgia and innovation, feeling simultaneously classic and modern. Elements of reggae, funk, and soul music blend into the hip-hop foundation, reflecting the cultural syncretism that defines Black music’s evolution. This is music designed to stimulate both mind and body, to make you think while making you move.  

The Facts

Research published in the American Journal of Public Health confirms that the psychological trauma of racism—including both direct discrimination and systemic oppression—significantly impacts mental and physical health across generations. Studies on epigenetics show that trauma can actually alter gene expression, with descendants of enslaved people showing biological markers of inherited stress and trauma. The prison-industrial complex disproportionately affects Black communities, with African Americans incarcerated at more than five times the rate of white Americans despite similar rates of drug use and crime. Meanwhile, wealth gaps continue expanding, with the median white family possessing ten times the wealth of the median Black family, a disparity directly traceable to centuries of systematic economic exclusion and exploitation.

Closing

“REDOUT 5000” serves as the album’s most historically grounded and spiritually focused track, connecting contemporary struggles to centuries-long battles for Black liberation and dignity. By building on previous generations’ conscious hip-hop while adding new perspective, the song demonstrates how each era must restate timeless truths in contemporary language. In a moment when critical race theory faces backlash and accurate history teaching becomes politicized, tracks like this serve crucial educational and preservation functions—ensuring young people understand their history even as systems attempt to erase or whitewash it. This is hip-hop fulfilling its highest purpose: speaking truth, building consciousness, and providing both the cultural memory and future vision necessary for continued resistance and ultimate triumph.

Upcoming Events: Don’t Miss Out!

Exciting events are on the horizon, and we’re bringing you exclusive access! From live shows to new releases, there’s always something happening in Em City World. This week, join us for the Saturday Night Fever Show this Saturday night at 9 PM (EST). Stay tuned for more details and ticket information!
Stay locked in to Em City Radio, your number one source where music lives! From news, we’ve got you covered with all the latest and greatest in the music world.