We’re nearly a decade removed from the phrase “I can’t breathe” entering the popular lexicon after Black Lives Matter protestors adopted the dying words of Eric Garner as he was being choked to death by an NYPD officer—and yet the phrase, unfortunately, remains just as relevant today. The subject pervades West Coast rapper Wildchild’s latest LP, Omowale, taking center stage on the album’s latest video for “Breathe,” which sees the emcee and his collaborators Guilty Simpson and The Soulyghost laying down flowers at a gravesite.
The track itself features Wildchild and Simpson trading off verses while The Soulyghost contributes a soulful chorus of “I can’t breathe.” “In today's climate, songs like this are needed,” Simpson explains of the song’s continued relevance. “Musical commentary that’s current with the times.” Wildchild adds that the track is dedicated “to all the fallen soldiers we have lost due to injustice and systemic racism in law enforcement. We’re here to breathe for you and demand accountability!”
Watch the video below, and stream the track here.
