Alicia Keys condemns police brutality on new song 'Perfect Way to Die'

Alicia Keys has shared a new song – listen to ‘Perfect Way To Die’ below.

The new track tackles the issue of police brutality, and discusses a “system of racism that looks at Black life as unworthy”.

Black Lives Matter protests and anti-racism activism has been prominent in the last month, following the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis last month.

Speaking of the new song, Keys wrote: “Of course there is no perfect way to die. This phrase doesn’t even make sense but that’s what makes the title so powerful and heartbreaking because so many have died unjustly.

She continued: “It’s written from the point of view of the mother whose child has been murdered because of the system of racism that looks at Black life as unworthy. We all know none of these innocent lives should have been taken due to the culture of police violence.”

During the song, Keys discusses deaths at the hands of the police, singing: “Simple walk to the corner store/Mama never thought she would be/Getting a call from the coroner/Said her sons been gunned down/Been gunned down.”

A number of artists have penned new songs about police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement recently. Today (June 19), Anderson .Paak marked the unofficial US holiday known as Juneteenth with new song ‘Lockdown’, which reflects on the ongoing global protests against police brutality.







Kaiit talks Melbourne neo-soul and opening for SZA at Laneway Festival 2020
Head to https://www.nme.com/australia for all things related to Aussie music and pop culture. Melbourne neo-soul singer Kaiit sat down with NME Australia at Laneway Festival 2020 in her home city to talk artists she loves, her One Direction fandom, the “super super surreal” experience of opening for SZA and more. Follow us on: Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/nmeaustralia Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/nme.australia
0 seconds of 7 minutes, 28 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
07:28
07:28
 

J. Cole, meanwhile, also addressed Black Lives Matter in a surprise new single released this week, called ‘







Song Stories: Stefflon Don - 'Hurtin' Me'
This year’s most exciting new MC tells us the story behind her soulful French Montana collaboration
0 seconds of 2 minutes, 45 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
02:45
02:45
 

Snow On Tha Bluff’.

Alicia Keys is set to release a new album called ‘Alicia’ this autumn, which will feature ‘Perfect Way To Die’ on its tracklist.