Usher and Nas’ new video for the politically charged track “Chains” recently debuted on Tidal. In the new interactive clip, Ursh and Esco force viewers to come face-to-face with the victims of police brutality. Sans and appearances from either artists, the video is a dark reminder that minorities are still being held down and oppressed.
The video starts off displaying the statement, “While racial injustice keeps killing, society keeps looking away,” before fading onto a photo of Trayvon Martin. Under Martin’s photo, the caption reads, “Walking home from a store, Trayvon was profiled as a potential criminal by a neighbor armed with a gun, The man shot Trayvon dead. He was found not guilty.”
The treatment continues in the same manner showing black-and-white images of others killed by those who are sworn to protect and serve like Rekia Boyd, Marlon Brown, Ramarley Graham, Caesar Cruz and Sean Bell. All the while, the video forces to viewers to stay focused on the screen. If the viewer looks away for more than a second the video stops until they are back looking at the screen.
Usher will debut the song live at the Tidal X: 1020 concert on Oct. 20 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Arena. The star-studded show will benefit the New World Foundation and feature Beyoncé, Jay Z, Prince, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Meek Mill and others.
Get involved with the “Chains” video, HERE.
