J. Cole pens tribute song for Michael Brown

theGRIO REPORT - J. Cole's an artist who uses his pen to address social issues within his community, and with the recent killing of unarmed teen, Michael Brown, Jermaine did what he does best...

Kyle Harvey

Aug 15, 2014

J. Cole’s an artist who uses his pen to address social issues within his community, and with the recent killing of unarmed teen Michael Brown, Jermaine did what he does best.

Through his Dreamvillain website, he released “Be Free,” a tribute to not only Michael Brown but other black men who have been murdered unjustly by the police.

There was a time in my life when I gave a f***. Every chance I got I was screaming about it. I was younger. It’s so easy to try to save the world when you’re in college. You got nothing but time and no responsibility. But soon life hits you. No more dorms, no more meal plan, no more refund check. N**** need a job.N**** got rent. Got car note. Cable bill. Girlfriend moves in and becomes wife. Baby on the way. Career advances. Instagram is poppin. Lebron leaves Miami. LIFE HITS. We become distracted. We become numb. I became numb. But not anymore. That coulda been me, easily. It could have been my best friend. I’m tired of being desensitized to the murder of black men. I don’t give a f*** if it’s by police or peers. This sh*** is not normal.

I made a song. This is how we feel.
– Cole

J.Cole has written about the single mother hood on 2009’s “Lost Ones“ and the murder of 5 year old Shaniyah Davis on 2010’s “See World.”