From stars like Trey Songz to younger talents such as 12-year-old Keedron Bryant, musicians are adding their voices to the global outrage over the police killing of George Floyd and are calling for racial justice.
In 1939, Billie Holiday released “Strange Fruit,” a powerful protest song that stunned listeners with its horrifying depiction of black lynchings.
More than 80 years later, anti-blackness is still as prevalent as ever and has inspired a new generation of protest songs.
From stars like Trey Songz to younger talents such as 12-year-old Keedron Bryant, musicians are adding their voices to the global outrage over the police killing of George Floyd and are calling for racial justice.
Here are some of the new protest songs demanding change:
“I Can’t Breathe” by H. E. R.
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Inspired by the last words of both Floyd and Eric Garner, Grammy-winning singer- songwriter H. E. R. debuted “I Can’t Breathe” last week during iHeartRadio’s Living Room Concert series.
Lyrics to the chorus of the song are: “I can’t breathe. You’re taking my life from me. I can’t breathe. Will anyone fight for me.”
“These lyrics were kind of easy to write because it came from a conversation of what’s happening right now, what’s been happening, and the change that we need to see,” H. E. R. said when introducing the song. “I think music is powerful when it comes to change and when it comes to healing and that’s why I wrote this song, to make a mark in history.”
“2020 Riots: How Many Times” by Trey Songz
R&B star Trey Songz’s single “2020 Riots: How Many Times” was inspired by his own experience protesting on the frontlines, he said in a statement.
“Tell me how can you be quiet? You know the language of the unheard is a riot… Where’s your rage when my people die? We ain’t slaves, let my people fly.
