Ty Dolla $ign speaks of George Floyd and racial injustice in new song featuring Skillrex and Ant Clemons
Tyrone William Griffin Jr (better known by stage name Ty Dolla $ign) has shared his new song about how apparent police brutality has continued in the country after George Floyd, a black man from Minnesota who was killed after a white cop knelt on his neck. The medical examiner and family-commissioned autopsy have agreed that Floyd's death was a homicide, according to USA Today.
$ign recorded the new unnamed song on May 31. Recording of the track was a collaborative effort with Skrillex, Ant Clemons, German DJ Virtual Riot and Nia Miranda, an actress and activist who garnered a lot of attention while attending the weekend's protests in Los Angeles for videotaping fake protesters tagging a Starbucks with "Black Lives Matter" to tarnish the community's name.
$ign shared a message on Instagram, June 1, along with a snippet of the new song. "Rip #georgefloyd and all the others that lost there life to police brutality and injustice. Sh--s been happening for far too long now," he wrote, adding, "It’s time for change and we demand it ! @skrillex @antclemons @officialvirtualriot @nia_miranda and I made this last night hope u enjoy !"
The song features the R&B crooner and Clemons urging for change. "I know you see it/ My people dying in the streets they ain't breathing/ I know you heard about it/ You know the issues, but the problems you ain't speaking," $ign is joined by Clemons on the chorus, "How many more of my brothers. Do I gotta lose till I see change. I know you see it. but we need change. How many more of these mothers. Gotta lose they child til' we fix things. I know you see it. but we need change."
A repeated phrase from one of Miranda's Instagram videos comes in at the end of the minute-long recording: "When you see stuff like that, you supposed to stand up and say something."
$ign last collaborated with Skrillex last year alongside Boys Noize on 'Midnight Hour' with Boys Noize. His last works with Clemons was on Kanye West's gospel record 'Everything We Need' from his No. 1 Billboard 200 gospel album 'JESUS IS KING'.