Black Eyed Peas tackle social justice issues and disparity of power in America today during their video for the new song “Get It.”
According to Stereogum, Ben Mor directed the eerie clip which magnifies the barrier between government entities and its citizens. During the video, slow tracking shots move through the city and show police harassing, brutalizing and arresting people of color as well as marginalized populations.
The clip goes on to highlight the surge in xenophobic rhetoric by showing street vendors and Latino gangs targeted by police. The video intensifies as white men carrying Tiki torches and wearing MAGA hats walk down the street saluting their fallen fuhrer. Finally, a car drives by carrying a satiated Trump.
During the song, will.i.am raps about the cruel irony of trying to “Get it” in a world that weighs its people down.“All I wanna do is win/Man, I’ve been winning since way back when/In my ma’s eyes I had a Maybach then/Fast forward now Maybachs weren’t in/In and out the project was a project/Mama said progress is the process.”
Black Eyed Peas formed in 1995 in Los Angeles and began their career as an alternative hip-hop group. They transitioned into pop and dance music, and in 2003, achieved commercial success with their third album, Elephunk.
In January of 2018, BEP released “Street Livin,” the group’s first single in seven years sans Fergie. A month later, will.i.am confirmed Fergie had left the band. Recently, the band has veered away from pop and are now circling back to their hip-hop roots.
According to Rolling Stone, “Street Livin,” “Ring the Alarm pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3” and “Get It” are expected to be on the group’s multimedia project, Masters of the Sun. The new video was created in collaboration with various national organizations including Gathering for Justice, United We Dream, Revolve Impact, Hip Hop Caucus, Black Alliance, #SchoolsNotPrisons and Just Immigration.
Watch the new video for “Get It” below.
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