MUSIC: T.I. – “New National Anthem” feat. Skylar Grey

T.I. released a new joint last night that encompasses the emotions that many Americans are feeling nowadays.

The song “New National Anthem” is a timely recording that questions the continuous injustices served upon Blacks in America. In it, T.I. addresses the Trayvon Martin case and the recent death of Michael Brown Jr. The Atlanta entertainer, who himself has had his fair share of incidents with the law, closes out the track with questions for the government about the laws that no longer protects us.

Let me ask you something. If the kids are the future, tell me why you can get more for being C.O., than you can for being a teacher. Tell me why it means more to the government to pay the people who got to watch over the prisoners, more than the people who got to keep the children from becoming prisoners. That make sense? Tell me why 9 ounces of crack will get you more time than a rape right now. Tell me why them crazy white boys can tote a gun but I can’t right now.

Yea I had felonies, I done did dirt in the streets, but I ain’t ever gave it to anybody that didn’t deserve it. You know what I mean? I ain’t ever ran in no public place with no pistol shooting no innocent people. I ain’t never ran in no school, killing no kids. Man this is the result of you refusing to deal with the issues at hand. We are a product of the environment you placed us in…we aint do it…we just lived through it.

Featured on the song, Skylar Grey, adds on to the power of the song in the hook: “Home of the brave and the free / Free just to murder me / Land of the beautiful, cursed by the hate we throw / Is this the new national anthem?”

Take a listen: