The Power of Music in the Other Wes Moore and My Life

In The Other Wes Moore, music appears as a subtle but powerful presence that reflects culture, environment, and emotional experiences. Although music isn't the central theme, it acts like a background score that helps shape both versions of Wes Moore and their worlds. In particular, for the “other” Wes Moore, who grows up in a troubled environment filled with poverty and crime, music becomes part of the street culture that surrounds him. It mirrors the reality of his life, raw, chaotic, sometimes inspiring, and other times dangerous.

There’s a moment when the book describes how young men in Wes’s neighborhood gather around, blasting hip-hop or rap from speakers, letting the lyrics tell stories of struggle, survival, and toughness. These were more than just beats, they were narratives of people who sounded like them, who lived like them. This kind of music became both a source of identity and a tool for coping. But it also shaped perspectives, sometimes reinforcing the idea that toughness, rebellion, or street credibility were what mattered most. Wes’s world was loud with music that reflected the anger and frustrations of being trapped in a system that offered few options.

For me, music plays a very different role, but it’s just as important.

I’ve always seen music as a safe space, a creative outlet, and a way to process emotions that I can’t always put into words. When I’m stressed, I put on lo-fi beats or soft instrumentals. When I’m hyped or excited, I throw on pop or rap and let the rhythm take over. Music becomes a way to switch moods, like a personal soundtrack to my day.

There was a time last year when I was going through a really rough patch. Classes were piling up, friendships were complicated, and everything felt overwhelming. I remember listening to SZA’s album Ctrl on repeat. The lyrics spoke to me in ways that made me feel seen and heard. It felt like she was narrating my thoughts. Just like how the other Wes Moore may have felt understood by the rappers talking about pain and hustle, I found comfort in music that was honest and raw.

I also play piano, and there’s something powerful about being able to turn feelings into sound. When I’m playing, I don’t need to speak , my emotions come through in the keys. I wonder sometimes if Wes had access to that kind of creative outlet, something structured but expressive, would his path have been different?

What’s interesting is how different types of music reflect different paths in life. In The Other Wes Moore, Wes is surrounded by music that emphasizes street credibility and toughness. In contrast, the author Wes Moore, who ends up becoming a Rhodes Scholar, is introduced to more classical influences, jazz, and military marching music when he enters military school. It’s like the soundtrack of your life can influence your story, not just reflect it.

This book made me reflect on how lucky I’ve been to have access to different kinds of music, not just what’s popular or what’s trending, but music that challenges me, calms me, and teaches me. It also reminded me how important it is to protect the kind of influences we let in. Music is powerful. It can hype you up or bring you peace. It can tell you you’re not alone, or it can convince you to keep making the same mistakes.

In the end, music is a choice, just like the paths we take.