Tensions have been strong following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer. Artists such as Lil Baby and J. Cole have been using their voices to protest and fight for black lives. Recently, DaBaby stepped in with a Black Lives Matter remix to his “Rockstar” featuring Roddy Ricch track.
The original track was released on April 24th alongside DaBaby’s album, BLAME IT ON BABY. It took a less offensive stance by focusing more on the rockstar lifestyle that DaBaby and Roddy Ricch now live. The song’s production accentuates this lifestyle, with a guitar led trap beat courtesy of SetInTheKitchen. The guitar adds a nice flair to the track, and the 808s help keep the listener enraptured. The new BLM version flips the track on its head, adding a verse that sheds light on the racial injustices and brutalities black people face all across the country.
DaBaby opens the remix with: “Even if I told you, still wouldn’t understand what happened. Rather be myself, if people look at me, don’t matter.” This sets the tone for the track, letting the listener know that DaBaby is fed up. He makes it clear that he’d rather continue being himself regardless of what people think of him (they’ll literally never understand the situations he gets involved in). These words have proven to be true in the past; the Charlotte musician has been followed by police and accused of crimes he did not commit. His emotion continues throughout the verse, as he raps about abuse of power running rampant within the police force, and how people of color are viewed as nothing more than a threat. He also makes it a point to call out officers inciting riots and arresting protestors for no valid reasoning.
His extra verse, although brief, displays raw emotion. On this rocking remix, DaBaby speaks from the heart. As a rapper who has faced discrimination at the hands of police long before the current events, it’s important that he speaks out. He’s utilizing his emotion to spread awareness and information about the racial injustices that plague our country, adding a layer of depth and intricacy to the original track, giving insight into the situation.
DaBaby is using his voice to fight for change and to speak against the injustices going on all across the country; are you? If you’re wondering how to help, you can donate to the Justice for George Floyd Fund, and support other Black Lives Matter efforts. You can also support the people of color all around you. This includes creatives, blue-collar workers, artists, and everything in between. One of the most important ways you can help is by simply using your voice to speak out against the racial injustices that are present in society.
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