New National Anthem by T.I. (2014)

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New National Anthem Cover

New National Anthem is a pre-order track from T.I’s album, Paperwork in 2014. It is a political rap song released on September 23, 2014, produced by Tommy TBHITS Brown featuring American singer-songwriter Skylar Grey.

T.I. released the song, a day after speaking out on issues about Ferguson, Missouri, in the wake of the fatal Michael Brown by police on August 20, 2014. The lyrics centered on social racism and injustice. [1]

T.I. and Skylar Grey Lament America's Culture of Violence on Powerful 'New National Anthem'

Key Lyrics

You say this the home of the brave I guess

I say this the home of the K’s and the vets

All alone with the J’s smoking yay cause he stressed

On chrome with a Tek taught to spray for respect

I learned from the best used to stay in the “jects”

Bought work from the vets burning rubber in the 'Vettes

This as good as it gets used to play with the rats

Then I got older and learned stay away from the rats

God blessed this nigga, to hustle up and make eight figures

Turned from a goon to a great young nigga

No complaining just doing what it take young nigga

I was raised in a decade of hate young nigga

Always dodging polices because they hate young niggas

And we hate them too, 38 in him shoe

All the changes the system will take him through

He ain’t a killer but he will if you make him do it

Homicide he’ll ride, they’ll put him on trial

Let him have a life sentence then do it with a smile

And he only 19, he ain’t even had a child

As a child, told his mama he’ll be gone for a while

And she cried, still they just put him inside

Now she all on her own because her other son died

Listen to the politician as he lied and he lied

He a snake in a suit, trying to hide in disguise [2]

Black Empowerment

A politically charged track was released in response to Michael Brown’s fatal shooting in Ferguson, MO., addressing police brutality, gun culture, systemic racism, and other social problems in the United States. [3]

Throughout the New National Anthem, T.I. speaks the truth about the injustice of racism in America, the single comes at a time of ongoing protests of the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

"I mean it's [my] ninth album, [I] can't just continue doing the same shit," he tells Billboard.

"You keep some of the same elements, but you must apply a different twist, playbook, or whatever," T.I. adds. "I teamed up with the best for that. Pharrell and I have worked [together] since I stepped up in the industry, so he has an immaculate understanding for who I am as an artist, as well for my genre." [4]

The rapper also took to Instagram posted a snippet of the track, “I know dis may ruffle some feathers…. But my people need to hear this…. BAD!!!” Earlier this week, he posted an open letter asserting that “America has created a monster.” [5]

References

  1. New National Anthem. wikipedia.org. Retrieved January 28, 2021
  2. New National Anthem T.I.. genius.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021
  3. Grossman, Samantha. T.I. and Skylar Grey Lament America's Culture of Violence on Powerful 'New National Anthem'. August 21, 2014. time.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021
  4. Muhammad, Latifah. T.I. Releases 'New National Anthem'; Talks Pharrell Williams Executive Producing 'Paperwork'. August 21, 2014. billboard.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021
  5. Grossman, Samantha. T.I. and Skylar Grey Lament America's Culture of Violence on Powerful 'New National Anthem'. August 21, 2014. time.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021