The discussion and tension over George Floyd's death is not dying anytime soon, as Taylor Swift recently slammed President Trump; and Eminem, T.I., and Bon Iver have called on their respective fans to act, Friday, May 29.
Taylor Swift slams Trump over racist remarks
Taylor Swift has mostly stayed within her music and out of partisan politics. However, the US President's remarks that "when looting starts, shooting starts," quoting Miami police chief Walter Headly in a now-hidden tweet, have forced the "Miss Americana" star to speak up.
"After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence?" Swift wrote. The singer-songwriter also warned that the people will vote Trump out in November.
After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? 'When the looting starts the shooting starts'??? We will vote you out in November. @realdonaldtrump — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) May 29, 2020
The T-Swift remark has become her most popular tweet to date, with 71 thousand comments, more than 311 thousand retweets, and 1.3 million likes as of this article.
Slim Shady tells people to "Speak Up," unearthing "Untouchable"
Eminem told people via Twitter to "Speak up," and shared the link for "Untouchable," the fourth track from his 2017 studio album "Revival." The song famously samples "Earache My Eye" by the comedy duo Cheech and Chong and Masta Ace's "Born to Roll (Jeep Ass N**uh Remix)." Em personally got the permission from Ace, who compared him to Elvis in hip-hop.
"Untouchable" tackles the police brutality that comes with racism in the U.S., fears in his first verse: "We may never understand each other, it's no use/ We ain't ever gonna grasp what each other goes through."
The 47-year-old rapper, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, even ponders: "Seems like the average lifespan of a white man/ Is more than twice than a black life span."
T.I. calls for a Blackout Day
On the other hand, Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., better known by his stage name T.I., called for a "Blackout Day" on July 7 on his Instagram account Thursday, May 28, asking for a "day of solidarity in America" where no black person in America spends a dollar.
The trap music pioneer called not just for African-Americans but for all people of color, including "Native Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanics." He even noted that together they have 3.9 trillion dollars in economic spending power. The caption that came with the announcement read: "IF you Give A.F. about the murders, lynchings,& oppression of people of color!!!"
T.I. also shared his 2016 anthem "We Will Not" on Instagram Friday, May 29. The 39-year-old Atlanta rapper started: "No we will not stand here in silence/ While they take the lives of our brothers and sisters and partnas."
Bon Iver leads by example, calls for donations
Bon Iver announced on its social media Friday afternoon that their group teamed up with Rhymesayers, a Minneapolis-based hip-hop label, and the Secretly Group, a family of indie labels. The initiative has donated $30,000 to local charities Minnesota Freedom Fund, George Floyd Memorial Fund, Reclaim The Block, and Black Visions Collective.
"The hurt and rage in Minneapolis-Saint Paul right now are harrowing," Bon Iver's statement began. It also noted that "A police state cannot fix what a police state has broken," stating that "only equal freedom and protection of all citizens can begin to reset the scales of justice."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Bon Iver (@boniver) on May 29, 2020 at 1:26pm PDT
Bon Iver also took the opportunity to call on their fans, fellow artists, and record labels to make "contributions of your own, whatever you can afford" to make a difference in the local communities affected by the crisis.
George Floyd was the 46-year-old African-American man who died shortly after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck while Floyd was pinned on the street during an arrest attempt. The four former police officers involved in the arrest have all been fired, but tensions continue, leading to the takeover and burning of the 3rd Precinct where the involved policemen used to work.
