The Game Recruits Hip Hop Artists To Create Ferguson Tribute Song, ‘Don’t Shoot’
Hip hop artist the Game has enlisted 10 rappers to create a tribute song to raise funds for the family of Michael Brown, the 18-year-old unarmed black teenager who was shot and killed on Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Missouri.
The song, entitled “Don’t Shoot,” was released Wednesday on the Game’s Instagram account and is now available on iTunes. The track features Diddy, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Diddy, Fabolous, Wale, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz, Yo Gotti, Curren$y, Problem, King Pharaoh and the R&B super-group TGT.
“I am a black man with kids of my own that I love more than anything, and I cannot fathom a horrific tragedy like Michael Brown's happening to them. This possibility has shaken me to my core. That is why this song must be made and why it was so easy for so many of my friends to come together and unite against the injustice," the Game told Rolling Stone.
The nine-verse, six-minute long rap speaks about the relationship between black men and the police – an allusion to the shooting of Michael Brown. King Pharoah, Tyrese, Ginuwine, and Tank perform the chorus with the lyrics, "God didn't put us on the Earth to get murdered.”
“Shot down with his hands up—that's what occurred? Man, that sounds absurd. Matter fact to me that sound like murder," rapper Fabolous sung in a verse, referring to the reports that Brown had his hands in the air at the time he was shot by police officer, Darren Wilson.
Other lyrics describe the riots that took place in Ferguson following the shooting. “There’s a lot of rotten eggs in the crow's nest … Turn on the news and seen a tank rollin’ down the street," rapper 2 Chainz, said in one verse.
Since the Ferguson shooting that took place on Aug. 9, black celebrities have been in the spotlight for their reaction to death of the unarmed black teenager. News outlets and social media users criticized big name artists including Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne for remaining silent on the shooting. Meanwhile dozens of other black celebrities have been lauded for vocalizing their support for Michael Brown’s family.
The Game’s new track is among a group of songs that pay tribute to Michael Brown. Lauryn Hill, T.I., G-Unit, B.o.B and J. Cole each wrote instant songs reacting to the shooting in Ferguson and the subsequent violent protests.
“Don’t Shoot” can be purchased on iTunes. All proceeds benefit the Justice For Mike Brown GoFundMe account.
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