Curators:
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Duration:
1 Hours
Floor:
Level 0

It's Been Said All Along
Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment

In every generation, musicians have responded in song and action to promote social justice and equality. What the world is seeing today, as injustices are called out and protesters are finding their voices, is not new. And neither are the musical responses - words and music and passion converging to create something much bigger that cuts deep into the rage, gives hope and radiates empowerment. 

Featured Video: Jennifer Hudson on Aretha Franklin, the RESPECT movie and more

It's Been Said All Along Exhibit Introduction

See inside the Rock Hall's social justice exhibit

It's Been Said All Along Exhibit Introduction

See inside the Rock Hall's social justice exhibit

Inside the Exhibit

It's Been Said All Along

This exhibition invites you to listen and amplify. Divided into three sections, Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment mirrors the museum's physical exhibition, and allows visitors to go deeper into the stories, artifacts and music that promote real change.

Click below on each header to access more stories.

RAGE

 

HOPE

 

EMPOWERMENT

Virtual Exhibit Walk-Through

Step inside the museum and experience our newest exhibit for yourself

 

Use the navigation to walk through the virtual recreation of It's Been Said All Along.

Inside the Exhibit

Select artifacts include:

  • Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” lyrics. The political anthem was revisited in 2020 to address the current landscape and recognize the recent protests and rallies.
  • N.W.A.’s jacket reflecting the relevance of their single “F*ck tha Police.”
  • Aretha Franklin’s Valentino dress worn during her first appearance at Radio City Music Hall, where she sang “Respect,” which became an anthem for the Civil Rights and Women’s Liberation Movements.
  • A jumpsuit worn by James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul” who brought motion to the Civil Rights Movement with style.
  • 1973 Wattstax film poster representing a cross-section of Black music from gospel to pop and was the largest gathering of African Americans during that time.
  • Handwritten lyrics from songwriter and rapper D Smoke, “Let Go” recorded hours before the killing of George Floyd, and recently performed live for the first time on the 2020 BET Awards.

On Display

Chuck D of Public Enemy Hat, c. 1990s. Collection of Public Enemy.  Chuck D and Public Enemy were instrumental in the new wave of rap music that was not only musically innovative but used lyrics to discuss issues of social justice and political importance.
“Fight the Power” by Public Enemy, 1990. Collection of Public Enemy.  “‘[Our] freedom of speech is freedom of death,’” Chuck D said of PE’s political anthem “Fight the Power.” “That line is like Bob Marley or Frederick Douglass: ‘There’s no progress without struggle.”
Fantastic Negrito Acoustic Gibson Guitar
"I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I'll Get It Myself)" was written and recorded by James Brown
Inductee James Brown Jumpsuit
of
Listen to the official Spotify playlist. Harlem Cultural Festival, 1969 Courtesy of NYC Parks Photo Archive and Moon 31.
Listen to the official Spotify playlist. Harlem Cultural Festival, 1969 Courtesy of NYC Parks Photo Archive and Moon 31.

Hear the music behind It's Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment on our Spotify channel. Listen to the official playlist curated for the special exhibit.