Young Norristown Artists Fight Racial Injustice With Music

NORRISTOWN, PA — A pair of rising young artists in Norristown have released a powerful record that decries racial injustice while also crafting a vision of solidarity and hope.

The song is "N.B.A. (New Black Anthem)" and it's by Kenya Vaun featuring Jahaunne Smith (stage name Joey CrakkWit2kks). The song and accompanying music video address inner city violence, police shootings, and institutional racism,

"I want everyone who hears The New Black Anthem to understand and have a clear view of the injustices that people of color in all communities are still facing in this present day, 2018," Vaun, 17, an Archbishop Carroll senior, told Patch. "I want everyone to know there are young people of color who are concerned, who are watching, and who are willing to stand up to the injustices without being scared anymore."

The song calls for action in the face of racism, and rails against complacency.

"It's not a dream, it's not all in my head," Vaun sings. "We need to face reality."

Vaun has been writing music since she was eight and has been singing her entire life. She cited a number of influences, including Lauryn Hill, Eryka Badu, Sza, Angie Stone, Solange, Musiq soulchild, Mary J. Blidge, and India Arie. There are hints of many of them in the stirring "New Black Anthem," but also a distinctive voice that is all her own.

Smith's verses reference Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African American boy who was shot and killed by police in Cleveland in 2014. There's also a reference to 18-year-old Michael Brown, shot and killed by police in Missouri the same year.

"The message I want listeners to take from the song is, a plan without action is just a plan," said Smith, 27, who noted that his biggest musical influence has been his mother. "We can march, sing and dance for our people who have been victimized by the streets (and the) system all we want. But if we're not taking action — voting, economical practices, furthering education, and knowledge of self — we will continue to get the same results."

And as much as the song is a passionate elegy ("gunshots to a black brother, not cool") and a cry for justice ("We stand up, hands up, and they still shooting us, Got no mercy for our babies, I mean look at Tamir Rice") it's also calling for communities to come together, to rise up together, to effect practical change.

"The overall message is about unity, because we all need each other," Vaun added. "(It's about) spreading positivity throughout our neighborhoods and inner cities."

To that point, the music video is punctuated by a monologue from local motivational speaker Greg Byrd on the importance of work ethic, urging a group of youths on the same basketball court featured earlier in the video to "love yourself."

"New Black Anthem" could be just the beginning for Vaun and Smith. Vaun said she is working hard on both her academics and her music in hopes of attending an HBCU (historically black college or university). Howard University in Washington, D.C., alma mater of international figures changing from award winning writer Ta-Nehisi Coates to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, is on top of her list. She's also working on a new EP called L.U.V., which she aims to release soon. Smith recently released a new project in September, entitled "Crakkademic Era Vol. 2."

Like they sing in "N.B.A.": "Not gonna stop until it's over, gonna fight like we're soldiers."

Watch the music video for "New Black Anthem" below. Follow Kenya Vaun on Facebook and Spotify and Joey CrackWit2KKs on Spotify. Both Vaun and Smith have more of their music available on Soundcloud.

Image via Youtube screenshot