The shooting deathof Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri by police Officer DarrenWilsonhas sparked protests around the United States, along with a viciousand heavily militarized police presence. As more journalists are arrested and tear gas is fired at peaceful crowds, the eyes of the world remain fixed with outrage on The Most Democratic Country Ever.
Brown's murder and the aftermath have inspired musicians to speak out in different ways against police brutality. We've gathered a variety of statements that addressthese developing events.
The ex-Fugee and reclusive genius has played "Black Rage" at shows, and uploaded a rough cut of her "Favourite Things" reworking as a response to Ferguson's turmoil. Here are the lyrics.
His Tupac musicalHoller If Ya Hear Meclosed after a month, so the rapper/poet has more time to quietly spit potentially improvised stanzas into his phone.
Dev Hynes and his partner Samantha Urbani of Friends wereattacked by security guards at Lollapalooza.Hynes suffering damage to his leg (ironically, at the time he was wearing a shirt protesting violence against black men, and had just finished speaking on these issues during his show). In a video produced byOkayplayer he discusses the incident at a concert in Central Park and in an interview:
"You don't want it to be real, but it is. And I don't know what's happening or what's going to happen. To me, it feels like I've been getting poked all my life. This irritating jab that keeps... and people are just getting tired. ...Just because the Civil Rights Act was like 50 years ago, doesn't mean that we're 50 times past it."
Anyone who follows the Atlanta MC on Twitter has gotten an insight into his Pan-African politics and opinions on police. This week he was able to expand on bothin an Instagram post,an alarming op-ed for Billboard, and on CNN.
John Legend is the only pop star-with the exception of One Direction's Zayn Malik-who's expressed any sort of unhedged concern with Israel's ongoing invasion and occupation of Gaza. His much-needed activism continuedfor Ferguson and hit a poignant and genuinely moving peak last night as he performed a tribute to Marvin Gaye's political R&B opusWhat's Going On?in California.
But not just from Legend himself: Gawker has video of an incredible performance of poetry by a young girl, and you really should watch it.The verse is powerful and, crucially, self-aware at the awkwardness of someone who is not black making such a statement. Such rawness and honesty brought a crucial new kind of humanity to the performance of such timeless music. In another joyful clip, Sharon Jones (who's still fighting cancer) joins Legend onstage for a rendition of "What's Going On?," backed by the concert's house band: Jones' Dap-Kings.
Cole's song "Be Free" was recorded and released in the wake of the shooting. It incorporates a chilling first-hand accountfrom Dorian Johnson, who was with Mike Brown when he was killed.
The best thing you could say about the Ferguson Police Department's handling of the crisis was that it was clumsy and insensitive. Some expressed relief when Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson became the department's new spokesman, promising justice, cooperation, and more a measured response. Not Frank Ocean, who wrotea skeptical Tumblr posthe wrote before Darren Wilson was identified as the shooter.
"You see that black woman standing up there? I wonder if she was called to stand behind the governor because shes black. I wonder if im supposed to think Missouris govt is pro-black because of her being stood up there with those other black men being all black and everything. I wonder if she was off the clock while she stood up there. If she was off the clock..then i wonder if she was getting paid for her time off like the guy who shot Michael 8 times. Whats that guys name by the way?"
He may have been right: Here's the new face of Ferguson's police presence arresting a Canadian journalist, while officials in St. Louis lie about Tuesday's shooting death of another black man named Kajieme Powell.
Musicians react to Ferguson: A collection of voices against police brutality by Chart Attack | Chart Attack.
