“New National Anthem,” T.I. Harris featuring Skylar Grey
The “New National Anthem” is Atlanta rapper’s T.I.’s ode to America’s culture of violence. A nation that allows an egomaniacal Trump to incite a race-fueled insurrection under the guise of patriotism. In this battle hymn (because isn’t that what anthems are), Tip walks us through the notion that we are products of the hate that begats hate as a nation, whether we want to admit it or not.
He raps, “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 vets … 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 n*gga, to hustle up and make eight figures … Turned from a goon to a great young n*gga … No complaining just doing what it take young n*gga … I was raised in a decade of hate young n*gga … Always dodging polices because they hate young n*ggas”
The often-times-controversial multi-hyphenate also addressed the double standard in law enforcement that affords white people privileges that people of color would never get.
“Let me ask you something … If the kids are the future … Tell me why you can get more for being C.O. … Than you can for being a teacher … Tell me why it means more to the government … To pay the people who got to watch over the prisoners … More than the people who got to keep the children from becoming prisoners … That make sense? Tell me why 9 ounces of crack will get you more time than a rape right now … Tell me why them crazy white boys can tote a gun but I can’t right now …”
“Yea I had felonies, I done did dirt in the streets … But I ain’t ever gave it to anybody that didn’t deserve it, you know what I mean? I ain’t ever ran in no public place with no pistol … Shooting no innocent people. I ain’t never ran in no school killing no kids … Man this is the result of you refusing to deal with the issues at hand … We are a product of the environment you placed us in … We ain’t do it, we just lived through it …”
“Home of the brave and free (message to my people) … Free just to murder me … (Stop waiting on folk to help you, help yourself, it starts with you) … Land of the beautiful (get yourself out, reach back, get somebody else out) … Cursed by the hate we throw … Is this the new national anthem (and that’s the way we’re going to get ahead) … (Sittin’ around waiting on government to do something for us … Ain’t never gonna happen partner they don’t give a f*ck about us) … Is this the new national anthem … (But don’t play into their hand partner, you making it easy for ’em).
For many, the statement within “New National Anthem” may fall on deaf ears, but not the complicated Grand Hustler from the South. This is about revolution, a revolution that is larger than replacing the old anthem. A revolution that is rooted in shifting the mindset of an old America. This is why he has supported Colin Kaepernick in the past. He once said about the athlete in The Undefeated, “The work that he’s been able to do and the awareness he’s been able to bring … is immeasurable. It’s an honor and a pleasure to work alongside him.”