Hip hop has always been an outlet of expression to bring social change and to address identity. When hip hop took off back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, music was a response to black oppression resulting in songs like “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy.

Now with the means of social media, it’s another form of reaching out to fans outside of the music. Rather than waiting to unleash those thoughts in a song, followers can find out instantly what artists are thinking.This makes hip hop artists revolutionists in their own right.

Through Twitter, they are finding themselves incline to tell their story, share their opinion about social issues and share their perspective on mass media.

Rapper J. Cole spent time in both Ferguson and New York to show support for the communities. Photos of him alongside protestors surged on Instagram and Twitter.

Taking it at heart for the injustices that have been historic amongst black men– seeing Michael Brown and Eric Garner become victim to it, Cole tweeted, “STOP F***IN KILLIN US.”

“The system that instills & protects white supremacy wins again,” Macklemore (who took was a big supporter of same sex marriages last year) responded to the events in Ferguson in a tweet. “Humanity loses … No justice. I pray for Mike Brown & his family. So sad.”

As Twitter is utilized as a platform for thoughts, it also promotes newly released music. When 140 characters aren’t enough, artists opt to address issues on Tumblr. A platform that Tyler, the Creator of the hip hop collective Odd Future is most famous for.

Tyler, known for his idiosyncrasy, is a social media marvel. His tweets reflect the way he sees ordinary life in a provokingly hilarious way. It’s sheer entertainment how he puts strangers or even his close friends in check, only wanting the best for them.

“I WALKED IN MY ROOM YESTERDAY, IT WAS 6 PEOPLE SITTING DOWN, ALL ON THEIR PHONES. WHAT THE F***, WE NEED TO STOP. LETS TALK TO EACH OTHER,” Tyler observed in a tweet.

With the Internet and this instant access on social media platforms, it’s easy for people to create a façade and exercise a different persona altogether. This gives life to “trolls,” who seek to upset and argue towards a specific individual.

Recently Twitter has been an outlet for artists to publicly debate, but none have boiled more than rapper Azealia Banks’ account.

Some of Banks’ victims include Iggy Azalea, Action Bronson, Lupe Fiasco and Kendrick Lamar. She can be overly passionate about hip hop culture and the history it stands for (seen in a recent radio interview with Hot 97). Banks frustrated, shuns white rappers for their possible ignorance.

“Its funny to see people Like Igloo Australia (Iggy Azalea) silent when these things happen…” Banks tweeted. “Black Culture is cool, but black issues sure aren’t huh?”

Before rappers would “diss” each other in freestyles, now if you have a problem tag the individual and tweet it. Instant news. Instant access. War.

It doesn’t matter to Banks who follows her or not, but she won’t be minimized to status when addressing her controversy. She wants you to question everything and it’s hidden messages.

Azalea finally took her shots after the release of Banks’ emotional interview with Hot 97, “Special msg for banks: There are many black artists succeeding in all genres. The reason you haven’t is because of your piss poor attitude.”

With how Banks has “trolled” Azalea for her success in hip-hop game, Azalea still defers to answer her status of appropriation.

With artists on Twitter, fans can easily connect to their role models. They see that they’re real people, full of opinions and have the need to defend their state of mind. Where hip-hop holds a higher regard is in staying knowledgeable to social issues which is something that comes naturally with the sport of hip hop culture.

Fans can see what police brutality is to Cole and what homosexuality is to Macklemore. There becomes a responsibility to live up to. As reputation is constantly on the line public figures like hip hop artists are held under the gun. There are no boundaries to be expressive, but be wise.