Janelle Monáe just shared a new song, "Hell You Talmbout," via her label imprint Wondaland Records. The track is both a protest song and a tribute; a call to arms and a forceful reminder of the tragic, tangible consequences of police brutality.
The song, not to be confused with Chance the Rapper's "Fuck You Tahm Bout," features the complete Wondaland Records lineup — Monáe, Jidenna, Roman GianArthur, Deep Cotton, St. Beauty, and George 2.0 — chanting the names of the men and women killed at the hands of police.
Monáe posted a statement about the song on Instagram:
This song is a vessel. 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?Earlier this week, Monáe and Jidenna lead a Black Lives Matter march through North Philly. Monáe's new EP, The Eephus, is out today.