While Friday is typically a big music release day, several hip hop and R&B artists have pushed back their albums and EPs out of respect for the ongoing protests against the recent police killing of George Floyd. Some of these releases include G-Eazy’s “special side project” Everything’s Strange Here, Boosie Badazz’s In House, Max B’s Charly, Chloe x Halle’s Ungodly Hour, Marlon Craft’s Work From Home, Iann Dior’s I’m Gone and Dizzy Wright and Demrick’s Blaze With Us 2.
Taking to Instagram, G-Eazy also announced that he’d be donating all of the proceeds from his merchandise to protest-supporting organizations, including Color of Change and Campaign Zero.
“For the next month 100 percent of all profits from my merch site will be donated to various organizations,” the Bay Area rapper wrote. “Been inspired by so many people for doing their parts by marching, protesting, speaking up, using their platforms and contributing however big or small in whatever ways they can. This is just one way that I’ll continue to strive to do mine.”
Whether it be through releasing new protest anthems, donating, or hitting the frontlines with fellow protesters, hip hop has showed up for Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.
Earlier this week, The Weeknd donated $500,000 to the Black Lives Matter Global Network, Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights campaign and the National Bail Out Fund. Additionally, Kanye West recently offered $2 million to the families of Floyd, Taylor and Arbery to assist them with their legal costs in their continued fights for justice.
Rather than delaying RTJ4, Run The Jewels opted to release their album early and offer it for free to their fans.
“The world is infested with bullsh*t so here’s something raw to listen to while you deal with it all,” the duo tweeted on Wednesday (June 3). “We hope it brings you some joy.”
Although Run The Jewels released their album for free, they encouraged their fans to donate to the National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Fund, which provides bail assistance and legal counsel to protesters.