Kansas City, Kansas, native Janelle Monae on Thursday released a new single that's an anguished litany of black men and women who've been killed by police and other injustices.
Set against adrenaline-amped, angry drum beats, "Hell You Talmbout" is an insistent demand from Monae and the musicians of her Wondaland label to keep repeating the now all-too-familiar names:
Earlier in the week, Monae and labelmate Jidenna led a Philadelphia march against police brutality.
"This song is a vessel," Monae wrote on Instagram. "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?"
