Black Beamin': The Anthem, the Affirmation & the Tee

The Inspiration

In 2020 not only did we suffer from COVID but more specifically the Black community suffered from the ongoing traumatic experience of seeing our people die to unjust & racist killings by Law Enforcement from all over the United Sates. George Floyd to Breonna Taylor are two of the most recent lives lost but we’ve lost many over the past few years. I’ve never had too many things to say on record (music) about this negative part of the Black experience due to me not being motivated these conversations into my art. I sometimes have the tendency to want to expound with care and careful dissertation and I feel as if three hooks and two 16 bar verses aren’t enough.

In addition, I’m more of a — vocal person via in person conversations with my Black & White peers, show my support via social media and with my money when the opportunity presents itself — kind of person. However, this time around I was inspired and encouraged by a solid homie & overall person within music culture to let my voice be heard in the art simply because “my artistic voice was needed.”

The Anthem

The first musical piece that I created during 2020 was the Take 10 Freestyle audio & visual. It not only addresses the racial injustice Black people face but also speaks to the white and non-Black population who don’t speak up for us but enjoy our music, style and culture (we call them culture vultures). It also speaks on the untimely death of Oluwatoyin Salau and the mental health growth I experienced during that time in my life in general.

Not too long afterwards, Black Beamin’ was written, recorded and filmed. I’d like to say it’s one of my best pieces I’ve made in my creative stay; written, co- & executive produced. In addition, I could NOT have completed this work without my friends & collaborators from DL Zene, theDeeepend, Southpaw Swade, J. Pelham and more! You can find the IG recap interview we did right below the official visual.

Black Beamin’ The Official Visual

Black Beamin’ Song + Video // A Creative Recap

The Affirmation

Two iconic Black artists both wrote incredible songs that would be both played out loud & verbally used at rallies, protests, schools and more to uplift Black people as a whole. Nina Simone’s “To Be Young Gifted and Black” and James Brown’s “Say It Loud - I’m Black & I’m Proud”. These aren’t the only two artists that have made affirming records for us but they are the first two I was introduced to as a teenager and that I’ll never forget.

Reflecting on this inspired me to issue a challenge to some friends & Black creative minds I know to help me create some content that can inspire, motivate & encourage all fellow Black people who come in contact. I’ll be sharing more of these here in this blog in the weeks to come. You can find the video/s below.

The Tee

I knew when I finished filming the video, I wanted to do a shirt. A shirt that was simple & straight to the point but also looked good on Black people and our allies alike. A shirt that we can wear and be proud of. Something that not only brings the phrase “Black Beamin’” to life but that is also a sign of hope, love and encouragement to our community.

AND .. something that is transferable to not just t-shirts but to other accessories and clothing alike.

I pitched an idea to my younger sister who is an incredible artist and creative mind. She loved it! We’ve worked on several pieces in the past so this was an easy layup.

The official Black Beamin’ T-Shirt is out, now! Shout out to my wife for the dope last minute pictures!

Click HERE to purchase the new t-shirt!

Dear Mr. (Local) White Rapper

Dear Mr. (Local) White Rapper (and other white individuals who benefit from hip-hop culture),

For starters, I love you guys (and girls).

I’m grateful for the diversity and fresh perspectives that many of you bring to the Hip-Hop/Rap genre. From the great lyricism of Eminem, to the blooming evolution in musicality of Mac Miller, to the vibrant bounce and grittiness of Machine Gun Kelly, it’s amazing to see how the white spectrum of the genre influences and makes strides in pushing the culture forward artistically. Nevertheless, while I love many of your artistic contributions to the culture, I’m a bit concerned about your sensitivity to our (read: black) social matters. 

I’m pretty sure that by now you are aware that hip-hop was invented by black people and is a product of black culture. However, I’ll spare you that rich history lesson here, encourage you to study its origins another time, and get straight to the point: your voice is needed. Whether you realize it or not, you have influence, and you wield the ability to sway the opinions and thoughts of many.

We live in an era in which music, specifically hip-hop music, is thriving and impacting the world. From commercials made for mainstream brands, movie soundtracks and entire other genres of music, hip-hop’s artistic imprint is spreading like wildfire. Just look at Marvel Comics. Have you seen the variant hip-hop covers they’ve been doing for various heroes in the Marvel universe? Hip-Hop is universal. It now has the ability to speak as loud as any politician, scientist, or intellectual on this planet.

Macklemore posed a great question in his song, “White Privilege II”: “We take all we want from black culture, but will we show up for black lives?” As a black man within the culture, I ask you the same question: When will you use the power of your white privilege and artistic abilities and cry out with us? Or will you continue to take from us, benefit from our culture, whether it’s on a large or small scale, and remain silent? While I believe that some instances of silence are not betrayal, I also believe you can say something that shows you care.

I get it. Some of you don’t know what to say. Police brutality (terrorism) is a very sensitive subject and you may not know how to “cry out for us.” But you have a conscience. Technology has done us a deed and given us the ability to visually record what’s happening and display it to the world. I know you see the injustice. I know some of you who don’t speak do care. Sometimes, it’s as easy as saying, “I see the mistreatment, I see black lives being wrongfully taken, I acknowledge my white privilege and I’m sorry that his is happening to you all. It’s wrong.” Compose tweets, write a blog, have a Facebook or Periscope chat with your fans, march with us…do something! Make it clear to us you care. Use your voice to spur your white fans and friends to action against injustice.

The longer you wait to say anything, the more it makes me think you don’t really give a shit. It makes me think that you’re more concerned about losing your fan base and hurting your pockets than our social matters – more than black lives being wrongfully taken. And I’m pretty sure some of my other black peers probably think the same, too. It’s very frustrating to watch you wield your power only for your own good, failing to acknowledge the culture that has given you much of that power, when others are dying from acts of terrorism in our own country.  So I ask again, will you use your influence to speak up for us?

A concerned black artist,

pat junior

Note: I would like to say thank you for all of those in the local area and beyond who take the time to speak up for black people when necessary. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. This letter is addressed to local white rappers because all progress (universally) starts at home.