In the wake of the ongoing chaos sparked by the fatal shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO., rapper T.I. has released a politically charged new track. The song, titled “New National Anthem,” serves as a sprawling rumination addressing police brutality, systemic racism, gun culture and a laundry list of other social problems currently plaguing the U.S.
T.I. tapped songstress Skylar Grey for the solemn hook: “Home of the brave and free / Free just to murder me / Land of the beautiful / Cursed by the hate we throw / Is this the new national anthem?” The rapper posted a snippet of the track on his Instagram, saying “I know dis may ruffle some feathers…. But my people need to hear this…. BAD!!!” Earlier this week, he posted an open letter asserting that “America has created a monster.”
Read the full lyrics of “New National Anthem” here, and listen below:
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Introducing the 2024 TIME100 Next
- The Reinvention of J.D. Vance
- How to Survive Election Season Without Losing Your Mind
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Scams
- Did the Pandemic Break Our Brains?
- The Many Lives of Jack Antonoff
- 33 True Crime Documentaries That Shaped the Genre
- Why Gut Health Issues Are More Common in Women
Contact us at letters@time.com