Don't Shoot

Album: Single Release Only (2014)
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Songfacts®:

  • On August 9, 2014, an unarmed 18-year-old black youth, Michael Brown, and his friend, Dorian Johnson, were walking on the 2900 block of Canfield Drive in Ferguson, Missouri. A white policeman, Darren Wilson, ordered the pair to move off the street and onto the pavement. An altercation took place and Wilson fired six shots at Brown, fatally wounding him. The tragedy prompted a series of stand-offs between activists, Ferguson locals and cops as well as much coverage and debate in the United States media.

    The Game penned this protest song dedicated to Michael Brown, in the wake of the shooting. He was joined by Diddy, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Diddy, Fabolous, Wale, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz, Yo Gotti, Curren$y, Problem, King Pharaoh and the R&B super-group TGT (Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank). "The issues in Ferguson really hit home for me, and I feel compelled to use my musical platform to address this," Game told Rolling Stone. "I am a black man with kids of my own that I love more than anything, and I cannot fathom a horrific tragedy like Michael Brown's happening to them. This possibility has shaken me to my core. That is why this song must be made and why it was so easy for so many of my friends to come together and unite against the injustice."
  • All the proceeds from sales of the song went to the Michael Brown Memorial Fund.

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