Nationwide — The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers has sparked a worldwide movement that includes protesting in nearly every city across the globe, and also a lot of songs by artists who are expressing their frustration through their music. Here are the top 5 most popular songs that address Black Lives Matter and the current state of racial tension in America:
#1 – The Bigger Picture by Lil Baby: In this rap song, much different from his others, Lil Baby lyrically addresses current issues about racial tension in urban cities head-on. His viral music video, which shows him out in the community supporting the cause, has garnered more than 18 million views.
#2 – I Can’t Breathe by H.E.R.: This R&B tune by the Grammy award-winning princess of soul is a nice melody for an older and more conservative audience to vibe to. She even surprises listeners at the end of the song with a little bit of spoken poetry that speaks about generations and generations of pain.
#3 – Black Lives Matter Freestyle by LL Cool J: The 52-year old rapper turned actor reminds new schoolers that he was indeed one of the pioneers of hip-hop. In this viral freestyle, he raps about racism and injustice and even mentions a little bit about America’s political climate.
#4 – I Can’t Breathe by Deitrick Haddon: In this soft R&B song, gospel singer Deitrick Haddon plays the piano as he soulfully sings lyrics addressing exactly what happened to George Floyd the day he was killed by police. The song itself is not a gospel song, but it definitely has an uplifting feel to it.
#5 – I Can’t Breathe Song by The Undiscovered Artist: This song, infused with R&B and pop elements, has a very haunting feel as the singer details what has happened to one too many unarmed African American men. Although the artist doesn’t mention their names, the song directly references George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. It’s a powerful tune for sure.