Like so many of the artists I’ve spoken to recently, it’s been very difficult to create as of late. When the world began changing in response to COVID, but even more when the world began protesting against white supremacy and in support of Black life, I was stuck. 

I was trying to process how I felt about the way that we’re still getting killed at large. The names of everyday Black people became household names because their lives were taken by a global system that’s meant to oppress them. 

We hear George Floyd 24/7. We hear Ahmaud Arbery 24/7. Less often, we hear of the attacks on people like Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Iyanna Dior. I wrote this song on June 8th, and weeks after I wrote it, I heard of the attacks on Oluwatoyin Salau, Rayshard Brooks, Layleen Polanco and so many more.

The sad truth is that we live in a world designed to breed these kind of attacks. We live in a world designed to keep people unaware of the disproportionate statistics behind these attacks. We live in a world that forces everyday people to believe that their elected officials, and law enforcement are working against this violence, when they are in fact just doing their jobs. 

There’s so much miseducation that has gone on in our world, and it makes the jobs of our leaders, activists, and revolutionaries that much more difficult. It makes those, including myself, who have different kinds of privilege take far too long to lose our egos and work towards true change. It makes us forget to care about everyone else, because we’re so focused on trying to make ends meet in a strategically broken system.

When Paul Robinson, one of my childhood friends and frequent producers first posted the beat for this song online…I literally heard 4 seconds of it and told him I needed it. I already knew that my 2-3 month creative slump was about to unravel itself. That’s part of why it was important to the both of us, as we knew others would feel the same, that we made the beat accessible to other artists. 

We challenge other vocal artists to write and record their emotions to this beat. We challenge video editors to create stories with this song. We ask that everyone who participates in the #wakeupchallenge uses the hashtag, shares the original on their social media, and uses the many resources on my link tree and else where to learn about defunding police, ICE, and more…and to send emails and sign petitions to push these causes. There’s also plenty of resources that I’ve found for generally learning, helping, and donating during these times. https://linktr.ee/SO4P

We challenge everyone to work to educate themselves and their communities, because our schools and news outlets are failing us. We challenge everyone to challenge themselves and everything they’ve been taught. We challenge everyone to wake up.

The beat, 'Body That', can be found here:

https://www.beatstars.com/beat/body-that-dave-east-x-g-herbo-type-beat-2020-4942670

wake up. [Prod. Paul Robinson]

Brooklyn hip-hop artist and Emmy-nominated filmmaker SO4P first caught attention as a collaborator of DAP the Contract, Roaring NICE, Kamaria Woods, and Toneraps. His work on records like 'In a Moment', 'Sickest', and 'Open Up', showcase his range and capability to link strong lyrical content to his own Brooklyn bounce. 

In October 2021, SO4P began the multi-part release of his latest visual album 'The Diagnosis'. Brought to us by his own Spotless Productions, 'The Diagnosis' is an intimate dive into SO4P's world, full of both darker struggles with mental health and brighter signs of love and support. He continues to focus on bridging communities, and telling the stories that will make space for honesty across the entertainment industry.