CELEBRITY

H.E.R. Reveals New Song, ‘I Can’t Breathe’ and You Need to Listen

RCA Records

Inspired by the worldwide on-going protests for Black Lives Matter, the R&B singer debuted the song on June 10.

H.E.R. shared the track during her performance in the iHeartRadio Living Room Concert Series. The virtual show featured H.E.R. with her four-piece band socially distancing in a Brooklyn studio, and it served as a fundraiser for the National Urban League, a civil rights and urban advocacy organization.

H.E.R. started the show with her latest song, titled “I Can’t Breathe.” The song was heavily inspired by the murder of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, MN. The lyrics, accompanied by a sorrowful acoustic tune, include some of Floyd’s last words: “I can’t breathe / You’re taking my life from me / I can’t breathe / Will anyone fight for me?”

Since the beginning of June, H.E.R. expressed her support for Black Lives Matter. She used her social media to share ways to help the movement, promote Black businesses, call for justice, and more. With this song, H.E.R. hopes to recognize the protesters fighting for justice and equality.

 

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HOW CAN YOU HATE PEOPLE SO MUCH THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DEHUMANIZE THEM AND JUSTIFY TAKING THEIR LIFE. LET ALONE LIVE WITH YOURSELF AFTER BRUTALLY TAKING SOMEONE AWAY FROM THEIR MOTHER, SISTER, BROTHER, FRIEND.. Let’s not forget to acknowledge and pray for the mothers of these Black men and women. So I just wanna say, God put your hands on the people that are unfairly suffering and mourning the loss of someone they love. We are suffering with you. We are grieving with you. And I pray for all the black mothers that fear for their sons life every single day. I am DEVASTATED and torn apart at the amount that we are seeing. Imagine how much we have not seen. Imagine what hasn’t been caught on camera. Use your voice speak out. Whether your Black, White, Asian. Etc. Doesn’t matter. . USE YOUR PLATFORM “IF YOU ARE NEUTRAL IN SITUATIONS OF INJUSTICE YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE SIDE OF THE OPPRESSOR.” – desmond tutu #justiceforgeorgefloyd and all those that have lost their life because of police brutality #BlackLivesMatter 💔💔💔

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“These lyrics were kind of easy to write because it came from a conversation of what’s been happening right now, what’s been happening and the change that we need to see,” H.E.R. shared during the concert. “I think music is powerful when it comes to change and when it comes to healing. That’s why I wrote this song, to make a mark in history and I hope this song does that.”

Make sure to listen to H.E.R.’s new song, “I Can’t Breathe.” While you’re doing so, remember also that there are many ways that you can help support Black Lives Matter. Click here to find some suggestions, like petitions to sign, organizations to donate to, and more.