Artist Statement

THIS SONG IS NOT FOR BLACK PEOPLE. This song is for both seasoned + newly awakened “allies” of Black people.

Ally is a term that has been used for a long time. However, if you have never stood up to white supremacy, YOU ARE NOT MY ALLY. If you have never acknowledged ownership of your white privilege, YOU ARE NOT MY ALLY.

As a Black artist and Black man in America, this narrative in this song is nothing new. It gets repeated over, and over, and over, and over, and over again. No other Black person watching this visual will feel anything they’ve never felt before. However, to any self-proclaimed “ally” of Black people, this is a call to action. If you see something, say something! If you witness white supremacy, especially when no Black people are around, call it out! Your actions can fight systematic oppression. Your actions can save lives. Your actions can bring justice to the families of the innumerable Blacks harmed by police brutality and racism.

I view the Black race as precious metal, or gold. We were stolen from our homeland and used to build this country on our backs. But what do we, collectively, have to show for the work we were forced to do? Even now, over a century after slavery was abolished, we are trying our best to reach for equality, equity and inclusion in the “American Dream.” It's both exhilarating and exhausting to be Black — and that is really what is captured in this song.

We're all in this together, and the only way for us to end hate is through universal love.

Biography

Cleveland-based rapper Archie Green is a dream believer. But more than that, he’s a dream-then-wake-up-and-go-getter. Archie’s pen game is over twenty years strong, coupled with business acumen he picked up while attending Morehouse College and later NYU for Music Business. Archie is also an advocate for mental health, having himself been diagnosed with clinical depression. His introspective single, Layers, which premiered at VICE.com in 2016, garnered over 25,000 streams in two weeks. The 35-year-old artist subsequently began to host more dialogues on mental illness with Peel Dem Layers Back, a hip-hop centered workshop to promote mental health awareness in the Black community.

Recently, Archie made history as the first rapper to perform at the world-renowned Severance Hall, home to The Cleveland Orchestra. The performance, titled My Violin Weighs a Ton, served as the basis of a partnership with Lexington-Bell Community Center, incorporating music and writing instruction to address mental health, and promoting diversity and inclusion in arts and culture. Another noteworthy accomplishment: being named one of The Guardian’s 2019 Cleveland City Champions. Follow Archie on Instagram @the_cope_dealer or visit archiegreenisclass.com.