Usher is not traditionally known for making political statements in his music. But he is anguished and frustrated in his latest song, “Chains,” which addresses the murders of unarmed black men and women. I've had enough, the singer declares. The track is a collaboration with Nas and Bibi Bourelly.
The video for "Chains" is even more potent, displaying the faces of black murder victims—many of whom were killed by police. Each picture is accompanied by a short description of the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death. If you grant the site access to your webcam and look away from the screen at any point, the song will cut out and the message “Don’t Look Away” will pop up. At the end of the clip, the screen reads: “FACING THE FACTS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS CHANGE.”
Usher will perform “Chains” next week during the Tidal X 1020 concert. All proceeds from the track will be donated to Sankofa.org, a social justice organization. Watch the video here.
