August 14, 2015

Check It Out: “Hell You Talmbout”

August 17, 2015 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

From a reader:

Real quick, check out this song: “Hell You Talmbout”

The Wondaland Records (Janelle’s Monae’s label with new artists) crew sang this at the protest in Philly on Wednesday, Times Square on Thursday, and then closed out a concert last night with this. Listen! Powerful and sends chills!

Janelle Monae and the Wondaland artists have all posted a statement about the song on their social media accounts:

“This song is a vessel. It carries the unbearable anguish of millions. We recorded it to channel the pain, fear, and trauma caused by the ongoing slaughter of our brothers and sisters. We recorded it to challenge the indifference, disregard, and negligence of all who remain quiet about this issue. Silence is our enemy. Sound is our weapon. They say a question lives forever until it gets the answer it deserves... Won’t you say their names?”

Flash: Janelle Monáe appeared on NBC’s Today Show on Friday, August 14, and performed her 2010 hit song “Tightrope” with her band on the outside stage. At the end of the song, Monáe began to speak out against police brutality. But in an outrageous act of censorship, the Today Show cameras immediately shifted away from her and an anchor began talking over her so that her words could not be heard on the broadcast. What Monáe said, according to various reports, was: “God bless America. God bless all, all the lost lives to police brutality. We want white America to know that we stand tall today. We want black America to know that we stand tall today. We will not be silenced.”

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