Despite the live music industry taking a temporary sabbatical due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, it did not stop many artists from continuing to write and produce. In the face of nationwide protests after the murder of George Floyd, a black man killed by law enforcement in May, Black artists have used their music as creative and emotional outlets to express their thoughts on racial injustice as well as platforms for change and inspiration.
Musical rallying cries for equality have come from the Black community long before the 2020 protests stretching from James Brown’s “Say it Loud- I’m Black and I’m Proud” in the 60’s to N.W.A’s “Fuck Tha Police” in the 80’s which has had a 270% increase in online audio streaming since the protests. However, the newest generation of high profile artists in modern pop, R&B, and rap have lent their voice to The Black Lives Matter movement by dropping singles addressing police brutality, racism, and disillusionment.
Here are some of the key lyrics and newest music amplifying The Black Lives Matter movement.
1. Spillage Village, EARTHGANG, JID featuring Jordan Bryant, Mereba, Hollywood JB – “End of Daze”
This 6-minute track features Atlanta and Baltimore’s Spillage Village, a supergroup made up of EARTHGANG, JID, Hollywood JB, and JordxnBryant highlighting the apocalyptic nature of 2020 and references the killings of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. The track has an eerie and tense vibe that when paired with angelic vocals from Mereba creates a sense of heavenly dread.
Lyrics – “It’s the end of days, end of times, my o my, up in a blaze, you can’t hide, why o why, all the kids afraid, mama cries, god packed his bags and said bye bye, god packed her bags and said bye bye.”