The new protest songs of Black Lives Matter
This week, a string of new songs amplified the protests against police brutality.
On 25th May, George Floyd was killed at the hands of the Minnesota Police Department. His death has since sparked US protests against police brutality coast-to-coast, as well as London, Berlin, and many cities across the world.
Protests against systematic racism tend to drive people to familiar rap anthems such as Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, Kendrick Lamar’s Alright or N.W.A.’s 1988 classic Fuck The Police – which recently saw a 272% increase in streams. This week, various contemporary musicians were also fast to respond to the current movement with new, emotionally raw material.
Listen to a number of songs which honour George Floyd and protest police brutality below. You can donate to the Black Lives Matter movement here.
YG – FTP
Following his 2016 anthem FDT (Fuck Donald Trump), featuring the late Nipsey Hussle, this week YG surpassed his label to drop FTP (Fuck The Police), also announcing plans to protest in coordination with Black Lives Matter.
Read the lyrics here.
Dua Saleh – body cast
The Minneapolis rapper, singer and poet recorded this song with producer Psymun last year and decided to share it in response to the protests against police brutality. body cast samples the voice of a Montana woman called Angela Whitehead, who stood up to police illegally invading her home. 100% of proceeds will be donated to the Black Visions Collective.
Read the lyrics here.
Conway The Machine – Frontlines
Terrace Martin is an LA musician who’s worked closely with Kendrick Lamar. Here, he unites with Florida’s Denzel Curry, battle rapper Daylyt, South Central’s G Perico, and saxophonist Kamasi Washington. “Someone ask how do I feel?,” Martin posted on Instagram. “I told them hurt, Fearless, angry, aware and fully ready to protect me, my family & my people at all cost. I got together with a [lot] of Black men that felt the same way.”
Read the lyrics here.
Teejayx6 & TM88 – Black Lives Matter
Detroit’s Teejayx6 has teamed up with Atlanta producer TM88 to fan the flames of civil disobedience and pay tribute to George Floyd.
Read the lyrics here.
Tee Grizzley – Mr Officer ft. Queen Naija and the Detroit Youth Choir.
“I’m not a politician or activist but right now it’s everybody’s job to speak up because the pain, the struggle for equality and the brutality is real,” Tee Grizzley said, announcing this political collaboration with Queen Naija and the Detroit Youth Choir.
Read the lyrics here.
