Black Lives Matter
Lil Baby Looks at “The Bigger Picture” on New Protest Song: Stream
Lil Baby has released a new protest song called “The Bigger Picture”. The powerful offering is in response to the senseless murder of unarmed black man George Floyd, who died while in Minneapolis police custody. Today’s track begins with a news voiceover referencing Floyd and police brutality. The Atlanta rapper, who has been participating in local protests, then captures the spotlight with lines recounting the black experience in America. “They killing us for no reason/ Been going on for too long to get even,” raps Lil Baby, later adding, “Throw us in cages like dogs and hyenas… That shit be crazy, they supposed to protect us.” Despite the bleak plight of race relations in this country, the MC implores his listeners to stay strong and demand drastic change — even if it has to happen incre...
Mariah Carey Postpones 30th Anniversary Celebration of Debut Album to Focus on Black Lives Matter Movement
Mariah Carey‘s self-titled debut album turned 30 on Friday (June 12). And while every Lamb knows their queen loves a festive moment, the singer announced that she’s putting off the celebration in light of the nationwide fight for racial justice. “Thank you lambily, for all the celebratory messages for today’s #MC30 anniversary!” Mimi wrote on Instagram over top of the 1990 album’s classic cover art. “I had planned to share some surprises and rarities with you, but prefer to postpone them to a later date.” The superstar then turned her attention to the more serious social issues at hand, writing, “As we continue to fight for equality and justice within our broken systems, I thank you for using your platforms to educate, inform and invoke...
Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba Gets into Motorcycle Accident, Supports BLM from Hospital Bed
Never doubt the conviction of Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba. On Thursday evening, the singer-songwriter shared a message on Twitter, reporting that he’s recovering from a nasty motorcycle accident earlier this month, complete with a photo from the hospital room. However, that did not stop him from showing his support for the Black Lives Matter movement. “Hi friends on June 6th I was in a motorcycle accident,” Carrabba wrote. “My injuries were severe, but not life threatening. I owe the amazing doctors, nurses and medical team treating me my endless gratitude. I am determined to make a full recovery, but I have surgeries and months of rehab to come.” From there, Carabba pivoted away from himself and to the world at large, adding, “I have not lost sight of the social issues at hand...
Halsey Launches Fund to Amplify Black Creators’ ‘Art, Voice and Perspective’
Halsey is stepping up her support for the Black Lives Matter movement by launching a special fund to help black creators. The Black Creators Fund will provide financial support, resources and a platform to black creators, the singer explains in a statement posted to Instagram. “Looking for black creators who want to enrich the world with their work,” she writes, “use #BLACKCREATORSFUND & tag your favorite black creators in the comments.” Launching Thursday (June 11), the fund will help amplify black artists’ voice and perspective, read a statement. The initiative is an ongoing one, and it’ll be entirely funded by the Halsey team. “If you’re an artist, poet, graphic designer, writer, film maker, music producer, journalist, make up artist, or creator of any kind,” reads the launch statem...
Saint Jhn Remembers the ‘Real Superheroes,’ Launches Fundraising T-shirts
SAINt JHN is paying tribute to the real superheroes of this world. The “Roses” rapper has released a special edition t-shirt to honor George Floyd and the countless Black lives lost to police brutality. The “Real Superheroes Tees” feature a pair of powerful designs. On the front is an artwork of some devilish protesters, accompanying the words: “Not Travon, Not Eric, Not Sandra, Not Ahmaud, Not Breonna, Not George, Not Looters, Not A Riot, Not America, Not This Time, Not A Cult.” On the back is a burning map of the United States, containing at its heart a poignant letter. The shirts are available from the hip-hop artist’s apparel and lifestyle brand Christian Sex Club, with all proceeds going to Equal Justice Initiative, a not-for-profit committed to ending mass incarceration a...
BMG Commits to Review of Historic Contracts, Diversity Shakeup In Pledge Against Racism
In the wake of international protests against the death of George Floyd and other Black men and women at the hand of police officers, BMG has committed to action. And timeframes. One week on from “Black Out Tuesday,” BMG has set out its stance on racism and inequality. The music company circulated a message to thousands of its artists and songwriters with a pledge: “We need to play our part in addressing historical injustices inflicted on black people.” Mindful of the music industry’s “record of shameful treatment of black artists,” the message reads, “we have begun a review of all historic record contracts. If any inequities or anomalies are found, BMG will create a plan to address them within 30 days.” BMG also promises to address diversity within its workplace. “...
The Punisher Co-Creator Joins The Black Lives Matter Movement, Reclaims The Skull Logo From The Police
Source: Gerry Conway / Custom Ink For decades Marvel’s The Punisher skull symbol became synonymous with fades being handed out to the bad guys. And though white supremacists and police tried to commandeer the logo for themselves, the Punisher’s co-creator is making sure that will no longer be the case. Source: Gerry Conway / Custom Ink Huff Post is reporting that Punisher co-creator Gerry Conway was fed up with law enforcement rocking the emblem that he helped create and has decided to kickstart Skulls For Justice which features shirts with his famous Punisher skull logo with “Black Lives Matter” and “Say Her Name” printed alongside of it. For too long, symbols associated with a character I co-created have been co-opted by forces of oppression and to intimidate black Americans. This charac...
Police Report From The Night Breonna Taylor Was Murdered Is Almost Blank: Report
Source: Breonna Taylor / Breonna Taylor At a time when the Black community is demanding answers for the death of Black Americans at the hand of police, the murder of 26-year old Breonna Taylor has begun getting the microscopic treatment and the results so far are disheartening. On Wednesday (June 10), the Louisville Metro Police Department released the incident report for the night of March 13, when three plainclothes officers used a battering ram to break into Breonna Taylor’s apartment, where she was shot by LMPD eight times and killed immediately. Despite the evidence from the homicide, the report is almost blank. According to a local publication, the Louisville Courier-Journal, the police document states Taylor’s name, a case number, and the time and date of the shooting, but leaves bl...
André 3000 Turns His Jumpsuits Into T-Shirt Line Benefiting Black Lives
Source: Outkast performs during Advertising Week at the Best Buy Theater Featuring: Andre 3000,Outkast Where: New York, United States When: 02 Oct 2014 Credit: WENN.com Even though the Rap world could really use some verses from André 3000 he is stepping up another way. He is making some of his most moving quotables into wearables. As spotted on GQ the ATLien is bringing back some of his most memorable outfits during a much needed time. The rapper has taken the magic of his all black jumpsuits from into t-shirts. This collection captures all the iconic excerpts including “across cultures darker people suffer most. why?”, “ok, hand over the cure and stop playing.” and “which type of stereo are you?”. 3 Stacks announced the launch via his social media feeds. “Something very import...
Black NASCAR Driver Bubba Wallace Unveils Black Lives Matter Paint Job For No. 43 Car
Source: Chris Graythen / Getty NASCAR has had its share of Black drivers, a path laid expertly by the late Wendell Scott of Danville, Va. Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. is continuing the tradition as one of NASCAR’s top-ranked racers and has just revealed that his No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro will feature a Black Lives Matter paint job in the wake of him asking for Confederate flags to be banned from the tracks. Via social media, the Richard Petty Motorsports team that Wallace races for announced the new paint job scheme via a video interview that laid out the inspiration for the Black Lives Matter angle. Wallace shared in the chat with RPM’s graphic designer Bradley Sisson that he was inspired by last week’s “Black Out Tuesday” and worked it out with the RPM team to get the paint job done. “I thi...
André 3000 Selling Shirts Based on His Jumpsuits to Benefit Movement for Black Lives
André 3000 has reemerged. No, not with a new verse or track, but with new merch. The Outkast members is selling shirts specifically to benefit Movement for Black Lives. The long-sleeved black T-shirts are based on the jumpsuits 3 Stacks wore during OutKast’s 2014 reunion tour. Each one is emboldened with one of 13 phrases André 3000 wore across his chest during that anniversary trek, along with a “Not 4 Sale” tag printed on the left sleeve. (Why 13? André isn’t known for doing things haphazardly, so one has to wonder if it’s a reference to the 13th Amendment.) Designs include “across cultures, darker people suffer most. why?”, “can one rest in peace & violence?”, “narcissistic americans.”, “obviously oblivious.”, “which type of stereo are you?”, and the direct “breathe.” The collection...
George Floyd Laid To Rest: Here Are The Most Powerful Moments From His Funeral
Source: The Washington Post / Getty After hosting memorials in Minnesota and North Carolina, the family and friends gathered of George Floyd gathered for one more final time in Houston, Texas, earlier this week for the funeral laying Floyd’s remains to rest. Following a public viewing on Monday with over 6,000 mourners paying their respects, George Floyd was finally laid to rest at the Fountain of Praise church in his home town of Houston on Tuesday (Jun 9). The nearly three-hour event was filled with moments of encouragement, consolation, and shared memories as speakers came to share their condolences with the Floyd family as hundreds of mourners filled the pews for early afternoon service. Family, friends, and prominent guests, including Jamie Foxx, Channing Tatum, and Al. B. Sure gather...
