It’s essential celebrities make sure their voices are heard during such a pivotal time in history. Fortunately, artists are owning up to their responsibilities and delivering content in support of the advancement of the culture.
After his two new diss tracks, Joe Budden has changed lanes a bit with his new freestyle and video titled “Freedom.” Budden’s freestyle is laid on top of Beyoncé’s “Freedom” beat (made by Just Blaze) and chorus. The new video begins with a short clip of the tragic video Philando Castile‘s girlfriend Diamond Reynolds posted on Facebook. The video then progresses to a sound byte of Jesse Williams‘ monumental BET Awards speech. Simultaneously, the video fades back and forth between clips of the 1960s Civil Rights movement to the present racial injustice we’re experiencing currently. The symbolism makes it very clear how not much has changed over the decades.
Upon releasing the video, Budden wrote:
I was told there was once a world where slaves communicated with each other via music, and tho I wasn’t present for that, the Hip Hop I fell in love with always encouraged me to do the same (Thank you Public Enemy)…. Let this act as an unfortunate reminder that times change and they don’t. #BlackLivesMatter #YallLivesMatter #OurLivesMatter … I’m afraid to wonder what happens when we as a ppl decide to stop saying it. Some deem us threatening now by sheer design. We are not. We are loving, passionate, cultured and proud, even during unrest. However, with every life viciously and maliciously taken by costumed evil, we grow more and more afraid. What will occur when too many of us are afraid? #IfYouDontValueMyLifeEYEWill #GodHelpUsAll #TheMissionIsGreat
Listen to the track below.
