Ferguson Supplement: Music Inspired by Ferguson

Musicians both locally and nationally responded to the killing of Michael Brown, whether through songs written immediately after the shooting, reworkings of earlier material to fit the social needs of the moment, or new projects reasserting the value of musical expression as an informal memory practice for marginalized communities. Hip-hop artists especially serve as what Ronnie Notch calls "street reporters."

• Killer Mike Instagram Statement on Ferguson: instagram.com/p/rkrM8xS1Mk
• Lauryn Hill, “Black Rage” http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lauryn-hill-black-rage-new-song-ferguson-20140821

• JCole, “Be Free” rollingstone.com/music/news/j-cole-mourns-michael-brown-in-somber-new-song-be-free-20140815
• Tef Poe, “War Cry” theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/nov/12/tef-poe-rapper-michael-brown-shooting-ferguson
• Kendrick Lamar, “Untitled” genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-untitled-lyrics
• Lil Herb aka G Herbo Feat. Chance The Rapper & Common, “Fight or Flight” thefader.com/2014/10/15/video-lil-herb-common-chance-the-rapper-fight-or-flight
• OG Maco, “Breathe" hotnewhiphop.com/og-maco-drops-new-ep-breathe-stream-available-news.13285.html
• KXNG CROOKED, “I Can’t Breathe” hotnewhiphop.com/crooked-i-i-can-t-breathe-new-song.1960483.html
• Janelle Monáe & Wondaland Records, "Hell You Talmbout" npr.org/sections/allsongs/2015/08/18/385202798/janelle-mon-e-releases-visceral-protest-song-hell-you-talmbout
• Starlito, "Theories" youtu.be/cNQhP1z9kV8
• Run the Jewels, "Close your Eyes" rollingstone.com/music/videos/see-run-the-jewels-police-violence-themed-clip-close-your-eyes-20150326
• Beyoncé, “Formation” beyonce.com/formation

WATCH: "Like Street Reporters:" Hip-Hop Artists on Ferguson:

Prepared by @yarimarbonilla and Max Hantel#Ferguson: Digital protest, hashtag ethnography, and the racial politics of social media in the United States, by Yarimar Bonilla and Jonathan Rosa. American Ethnologist, volume 42, number 1, pp. 4-17.