Black Lives Matter
YG Releases New Protest Song “FTP” (“Fuck the Police”): Stream
For the last four years, “FDT” has been something of a signature song for YG — and with good reason. Now he’s back with another acronymic protest song to match the current socio-political climate: “FTP”, or “Fuck the Police”. Bass heavy with piano notes creeping throughout, the track sees YG being direct about his feelings about the “Ku Klux Cops,” as he puts it. “I’m tired of being tired of being tired/ I’m tired of being shot at like a opp,” he raps. “Callin’ all the foodies from the tribe/ We on some fuck the police shit, it’s the vibe.” YG announced the song via an Instagram video in which he said he wouldn’t be attending a protest he’d promoted earlier. Standing in front of a framed photo of Nipsey Hussle (who joined him on “FDT”), YG said, “I was told today that my protest is not saf...
Before You Participate In Blackout Tuesday, Here Is What You Need To Know
Source: NurPhoto / Getty Social media users are partaking in Blackout Tuesday social protests, but their act of solidarity could be hurting the Black Lives Matter movement in the process. The protest was initially organized by workers in the music industry, and Instagram users have been sharing photos of black squares in solidarity with black victims of police violence. The noble act is also causing a huge issue as well. Instagram users are using the “BlackLivesMatter hashtag in their post’s caption and are inadvertently blacking out posts related to the movement that contains essential information for those in streets peacefully protesting and blocking out videos of police misconduct. Rapper Chuck Inglish and singer Kehlani pointed out what was happening with posts and retweet a user who ...
Drake Donates $100K To National Bail Out Program Which Helps Free Black Mothers
Source: TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 05: Drake attends the Drake And Lebron James Pool Party In Toronto For Caribana 2017 on August 5, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Remy Martin) Uploaded By Godspeed While the people continue to fight in the name of social justice we can not ignore that COVID-19 is still a real thing. Drake has just provided many families some serious support. As spotted on Complex the Canadian MC has just given some hope to the hopeless during the pandemic via a very generous donation. According to the report he has given $100,000 dollars to the National Bail Out; a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to support our folks and end systems of pretrial det...
To Show Solidarity With Black Lives Matter, Grindr Is Removing Ethnicity Filters
Source: Thomas Trutschel / Getty Companies are recognizing the moment going on in the country and are making sure they are on the right side of history. Founded in 2009, Grindr, the social networking dating app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people, is showing its allyship to protesters across the country who are out in the streets risking their lives following the fatal arrest of George Floyd. The app announced via a statement that it will be removing the ethnicity filter in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement and hundreds of thousands of queer people of color. Per Grindr: “We stand in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement and the hundreds of thousands of queer people of color who log in to our app every day. We will not be silent, and we will not be inactive. Today we ...
How to Support the Movement for #BlackLivesMatter?
Source: Getty Images / Getty Images iOne Digital stands in solidarity with all things Black. Activism is multifaceted. We need soldiers on the streets. We need financial backers. We need organizers. We need pray warriors. And, we need storytellers. iOne Digital has long been committed to sharing Black stories, fighting for Black lives and championing Black success. Each day our team remains committed to magnifying one simple truth: Black lives have always mattered. As we move into a different phase in the fight for social justice, we implore our community to finance the movement, engage in the movement, and to remain devoted to those who tell our stories, from our lens. Here’s how. Donate Your Dollars, Consistently. Our leadership and activism must have funding. Find Black-led organization...
YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Pledge Support for Blackout Tuesday
Image by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images YouTube Music, Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music have all pledged in support of Blackout Tuesday – a campaign calling for the music industry to put normal day-to-day operations on ‘pause’ and “and instead spend time reflecting on how to support the black community.” According to The Verge, this movement is “aimed at protesting police violence and racism as well as honouring George Floyd, whose death at the hands of police has sparked universal outcry and demonstrations in US cities and around the world.” The global music streaming platforms have each attempted to do just this through social media blackouts, specially dedicated and curated playlists as well as moments of silence. “June 2nd is Black Out Tuesday, a day of collective disconnect from w...
Spotify Adds 8-Minute, 46-Second Silent Track to Playlists for Blackout Tuesday
Like many others in the music industry, Spotify is partaking in Blackout Tuesday, a day intended for pause and reflection in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The streaming company has blacked out its flagship logos throughout the platform, but perhaps even more striking is the change its made to some of its playlists: Spotify has added an 8-minute, 46-second silent track in honor of George Floyd. The specific 8:46 length reflects the amount of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee down on the neck of an unresisting Floyd, even as he pleaded, “I can’t breathe.” Floyd died as a result of “asphyxiation from sustained pressure,” according to an independent autopsy report released recently. <img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1041504" data-att...
J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Pledges $10 Million Donation to Anti-Racist Organizations
J.J. Abrams, photo by Heather Kaplan In solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, J.J. Abrams has pledged a whopping $10 million dollars to various organizations fighting racism in America. The donation will come through Abrams’ Bad Robot film and TV production company, as well as the Katie McGrath and JJ Abrams Family Foundation. The $10 million will be dispersed over the course of five years, with an initial $200,000 investment marked for each of the following groups: Black Lives Matter LA, Black Futures Lab, Community Coalition, Equal Justice Initiative, and Know Your Rights Camp. “Enough is enough,” reads a statement on Bad Robot’s Instagram page announcing the donation. “Enough police brutality. Enough outsized privilege. Enough polite conversation. Enough white comfort.” “The ...
Killer Mike Delivers a History Lesson and Assigns White America Homework on Colbert: Watch
After a Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd, America erupted. Police clashed with protestors, cities imposed curfews, largely peaceful demonstrations spilled over into vandalism, looting, and arson, and white nationalists impersonated legitimate activists to sow distrust and chaos. In the midst of generational turmoil, the rapper Killer Mike delivered a powerful speech that balanced historical awareness, community love, and a rage that threatened to become all-consuming. By speaking directly to his Atlanta neighbors, he gave voice to Americans everywhere. And now that his words have gone viral, the artist born Michael Render is using his heightened platform to push that message forward. On Monday, June 1st, Killer Mike called into the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert&nb...
Halsey Calls Out Police Violence Against Protestors at L.A. Demonstrations: ‘This Is War on Americans’
The singer was on the scene, providing first aid assistance to injured protestors. On Monday (June 1), Halsey shared a number of powerful images of her experience on the ground at Black Lives Matter protests in Los Angeles. “It’s become very clear to me that some of you need to see what I’ve seen,” she captioned a slideshow of videos and photos featuring peaceful protestors being tear-gassed and shot at by police. “It’s easy from the comfort of your home to watch looting and rioting on television and condone the violent measures being taken by forces. But what you don’t see is innocent peaceful protestors being shot at and tear gassed and physically assaulted relentlessly. “You think it’s not happening, it’s only the ‘thugs’ and the ‘riots,’ ...
J Balvin Breaks His Silence With ‘Black Lives Matter’ Post
J Balvin has broken his silence and declared his support for the Black Lives Matter movement. As the music industry enters “Blackout Tuesday” in response to the death of another unarmed African-American at the hands of police, Balvin adds his voice to the growing calls for racial justice. The Colombian reggaeton star makes a pledge “to do better” and to continue learning, and he calls on his Latino community to do the same. Writing in Spanish and English, Balvin explains: “After taking time to speak to those close with me, I am educating myself on the deep significance and horrifying history that is the root of the #blacklivesmatter movement.” He continues, “I appreciate that it is my responsibility as a leader in the Latino community to educate myself of the ...
HHW Gaming: PlayStation Reads The Room Postpones PS5 Reveal Event, Stands In Solidarity With Black Protestors
Source: Sony / PlayStation 5 There are much bigger issues in the world going on right now, and PlayStation has recognized that. Out of respect for the civil unrest going on throughout the country as Black Americans have taken to the streets to demand justice for George Floyd and others, Sony has decided this week would not be a good time for its PS5 reveal event. PlayStation announced today on its official Twitter account the decision stating: “While we understand gamers worldwide are excited to see PS5 games, we do not feel that right now is a time for celebration, and for now, we want to stand back and allow more important voices to be heard.” No future date has been revealed. Four hours before that announcement, PlayStation stood in solidarity with the protesters by denouncing systemic ...
