Musicians expressing their opinions through their lyrics and video imagery has long been a tradition within the industry, however; today certain artists are creating particularly visceral imagery through their music. Vic Mensa, Kendrick Lamar, and Beyoncé are among the artists of today who use their music and the visuals attached to their songs to create powerful messages of protest and empowerment. Vic Mensa's 2016 LP entitled There's A lot Going On explores the danger's of being young and black in America, especially in relation to law enforcement and the epidemic of violence against people of color. Mensa's cover art depicts an image of him with a target on his torso and gun shots framing the perimeter of his body. 16 shots, there's a lot going on and shades of blue are songs featured on the album that clearly demonstrate Mensa's frustration with America and the constant disenfranchisement of African American people. 16 shots is aptly titled in memory of the sixteen bullets shot at native Chicagoan Laquan McDonald in 2014 by police. The video is a critique of societies inability to indict officer's who blatantly kill young men of color in cold blood. The video opens with Mensa standing in the street with a jacket on that says 'resist', throughout the video Mensa is shot, tasered and beaten yet he continues to rise up again and again, unharmed. The entire song is saturated with lyrics that demonstrate Mensa's stance on the issue of police brutality, their is no room left for ambiguity.
"I hope you got your body cam turnt on. Fuck a black cop too, that's the same fight. You got a badge, bitch, but you still ain't white. This for Laquan on sight, when you see Van Dyke tell him I don't bring a knife to a gunfight".
Mensa is explicit here in proclaiming that the war against people of color enacted by the police is unrestrained. By addressing the officer that killed Laquan McDonald--Jason Van Dyke--through his verses and rapping over video taken from police camera's during the shooting, Mensa strikes an internal cord with whoever witnesses the video for 16 shots.
While Mensa's music and visuals are riddled with resistance, Kendrick Lamar offers a message of hopefulness through his song titled "Alright", while also demonstrating the systematic disenfranchisement of African American's through his video. Similarly, Beyoncé "Formation" video praises the beauty of blackness and southern-black culture. Lamar and Beyoncé came together on the song entitled "Freedom" to create an anthem of lyrical protest and unity. Beyonce, Lamar and Mensa's work is a potent testament to the social climate of unrest within the country and sends the message that individuals will no longer tolerate the rampant reign of injustice within America.
No comments:
Post a Comment