2000s

Gwen Stefani / Andre 3000 – Long Way To Go (2004)

Gwen Stefani collaborated with Andre 3000 on “Long Way To Go”, a song promoting the beauty of interracial relationships as well as a broader commentary on racial relations. Reviews of the song were polarized, as most critics were unaccustomed to such frankness from Stefani. There are multiple versions of the song, as it was a candidate for two albums: Andre 3000’s The Love Below and L.A.M.B., Stefani’s solo album. Ultimately, the song became the last track on L.A.M.B.

Blood Orange – Sandra’s Smile (2015)

Despite decades of resistance to systemic abuse of authority, it still occurs. From the 2000s to the 2010s, a plethora of protest songs emerged. “Sandra’s Smile” pays tribute to Sandra Bland, a Black woman arrested after a pretextual traffic stop by a police officer. Three days later, Bland was found dead, hanging in her cell. “Blood Orange” pays tribute to all that have lost someone to police brutality and the gratuitous abuse of authority. 

Kendrick Lamar – Alright (2015)

Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” became a soundtrack for protesters in the 2010s. The song conveys a message that despite the trauma and hardships that have been inflicted on the Black community, life is going to be “alright.” The song is the fourth single from his album “To Pimp a Butterfly,” and was presented with a seven-minute video displaying imagery of police brutality as well as Black people celebrating their culture and triumphing.