War Zone
by T.I.

Album: Us or Else (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • T.I. takes a stand here against police brutality and social injustice on this bombastic cut. The refrain, "Hands Up, Can't Breathe," is a slogan that originated after the cop killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
  • The track was released as a single from T.I.'s politically charged collection of protest tunes Us or Else, where he speaks out against the killing of black men and women by white police officers. The rapper explained to Billboard magazine that he felt "compelled" to lay down the EP after the murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in July 2016.

    "I never really planned, 'OK, I'm gonna go in the studio.' But the Alton Sterling and Philando Castile murders that took place in July, they compelled me to do something - and I didn't know what something was. It was everything from protesting to meeting with the people who I know experienced similar times in history, and formulated plans that contributed to the progression of the people. If I'm doing that during the day or that night, I'm gonna be in the studio so, quite naturally, it just happened."
  • Directed by Lauren Richardson, the video poses the question, what if white people were the victims of racism and injustice? We see re-enactments of the murders of Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, and Philando Castile, with Causcian actors portraying the three victims. All the cops in the clip are played by African-Americans.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

Tanita Tikaram

Tanita TikaramSongwriter Interviews

When she released her first album in 1988, Tanita became a UK singing sensation at age 19. She talks about her darkly sensual voice and quirky songwriting style.

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.