When protests ensued over the police killing of George Floyd, DaBaby released a “Black Lives Matter'' remix of his chart-topping single, “Rockstar '' with Roddy Ricch.
For a blazing performance tonight, the rapper detailed his own encounters with police officers at the 2020 BET Awards.
DaBaby’s set opened in a close-up shot of him being held face-down on a street. While delivering some bars, the camera pans into a wide shot to show the North Carolina rapper handcuffed lying on the ground while an officer pins him down with a knee pressed to his neck, a direct reference to the tragic killing of George Floyd.
The shot then transitions to DaBaby in front of burning police cars and masked protesters as he launches into “Rockstar.” From atop a police car, Roddy takes over for his verse interspersed with shots of protestors defiantly marching through imaginary streets with their fists and Black Lives Matter signs raised.
“But they ain't even want no smoke / If I had to choose it, murder what she wrote,” Roddy raps in one particular evocative visage of unarmed protestors facing off against a line of police officers in riot gear.
DaBaby comes back to close out the set before transitioning to a powerful message from a young child dedicated to those who’ve lost a loved one to police brutality.
“We are Black people and we shouldn’t have to feel like this. We shouldn't have to protest because y'all are treating us wrong. We do this because we need to. It’s a shame our fathers and mothers are killed and we can’t even see them anymore,” the child tearfully points out while on-screen a young girl holds a sign that reads “more love.”
Latest Stories
-
I want to focus more on my education – Chidimma Adetshina quits pageantry
2 hours -
Priest replaced after Sabrina Carpenter shoots music video in his church
2 hours -
Duct-taped banana artwork sells for $6.2m in NYC
2 hours -
Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes
2 hours -
Actors Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are engaged
2 hours -
Expired rice saga: A ‘best before date’ can be extended – Food and Agriculture Engineer
2 hours -
Why I rejected Range Rover gift from a man – Tiwa Savage
2 hours -
KNUST Engineering College honours Telecel Ghana CEO at Alumni Excellence Awards
3 hours -
Postecoglou backs Bentancur appeal after ‘mistake’
3 hours -
#Manifesto debate: NDC to enact and pass National Climate Law – Prof Klutse
3 hours -
‘Everything a manager could wish for’ – Guardiola signs new deal
3 hours -
TEWU suspends strike after NLC directive, urges swift resolution of grievances
3 hours -
Netflix debuts Grain Media’s explosive film
4 hours -
‘Expired’ rice scandal: FDA is complicit; top officials must be fired – Ablakwa
4 hours -
#TheManifestoDebate: We’ll provide potable water, expand water distribution network – NDC
5 hours