BLM Protest ✊🏾
Showing up for Racial Justice
LA native documents the political and social movement protesting against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against Black people.
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Summer 2020
#BLACKLIVESMATTER
#LilBaby #TheBiggerPicture #HowardUniversity #RapLifeLive
In 2020, Apple Music presented the inaugural Rap Life Live. Captured on the campus of Howard University - the most historic and prestigious HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in the world - the first ever Rap Life Live was a special live-streamed event which aimed to further extend the conversation around the many important issues impacting the Black community through open dialogue, meaningful conversations, and the power of music.
Hosted by Apple Music's global head of Hip-Hop and R&B, Ebro Darden, the event featured intimate conversations and before performances from beloved rappers Lil Baby, Nas, Rapsody and Wale. When horrific events of 2020 shed light on some of the broken systems within our society, these artists stood out as incredibly passionate and outspoken advocates for the Black community, using both their music and social influence to promote topics like police reform, racial and gender equality, social justice, and standing up to racism.
”The Rap Life team’s main objective was to use our voice and tools to show support and solidarity with students, artists, and activists around the nation rising up to make sure the world knows that Black Lives Matter,” Ebro said. "We plan to bring Rap Life Live to more HBCU campuses because these institutions are part of the backbone of Black communities and Hip-Hop is from the Black experience.”
When asked why he wanted to participate, Lil Baby said, “I feel like we got a long way to go… I'd be lying if I said we are getting there. Don't get me wrong it's a start, but it's going to take some time for this to work out.”