Something that our country has been battling over most prominently in the past month, has been the racial injustice that African Americans and People of Color face daily in the United States. Since the beginning, thousands of artists [POC and non] have been incredibly outspoken in their growing support for the Black Lives Matter Movement – many of which have even taken to the streets for this necessary cause. Among the masses, one who has been particularly vocal on the situation is Oxnard, CA native, Anderson .Paak – who recently dropped the unofficial protest anthem, “Lockdown,” described his thoughts on the protests.

.Paak provides his signature smooth, high-pitched vocals for the chorus, accompanied by an unbothered flow with a tone that’s more urgent than ever. The track talks about how President Trump declared a state of emergency due to people looting in the wake of the brutal murder of George Floyd. The song takes place from the viewpoint of a frustrated informant in the sea of protests going on in the streets. “Lockdown” is equipped with multiple poignant one-liners like, “Sicker than the COVID how they did him on the ground” and “‘Cause they throw away black lives like paper towels.” The production is a simple drum beat and thumping bass for rhythm. While subtle keys banged out chords and the eerie synth entered and left just as quickly through the second half of the track. 

The music video version for the song was directed by frequent Kendrick Lamar collaborator, Dave Meyers, and is star-studded, with many notable artists being in it. From Syd from the Internet, a previous collaborator Dumbfounded, to Dominic Fike being only a few of those who participated in “Lockdown”. One of the guests in the video is TDE rapper Jay Rock who spits a notable verse only on this version that frustrated some in the comments because they liked it so much. “Are you really ready for the smoke like a swisher house? Ready for the revolution, who ready to riot? It won’t be televised, so tell me who ready to die?” are just three of the bars Jay Rock spit.

The song has already garnered over one million views since its Friday release. It was also noted by Rolling Stone Magazine that, “the cast and crew who participated in the ‘Lockdown’ video donated their salaries to Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM), Dream Defenders, and Color of Change. .Paak House also made donations to Action Bail Fund LA, Atlanta Solidarity Fund, and Albany Bail & Safety Fund for Black Lives.”

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Featured Photo By Mac Downey