- 2024-06-01
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MUSIC
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Kehlani Drops New Music Video for “Next 2 U” for Palestine
American singer-songwriter Kehlan has protested against the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and advocate for Palestinian liberation for long time.
On May 31, 2024, she released a new song “Next 2 U” along with a music video to continue her work.
The track will appear on her upcoming fourth studio album “Crash”, which is set to be released on June 21, 2024 via Atlantic Records.
The track was written by Anthony Clemons, Darius Dixson, and Kehlani Parrish. Produced by A. Dixson.
The accompanying video was directed by Cole Santiago.
The video closes with a message about the children killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.
The massage describes as the list of children was so long that even at its fastest scroll, it lasted a full three minutes and was illegible.
She encourages fans to read through the list of names at their own pace.
Kehlani said, “The end of the video. This was the most daunting part of the process. An 120 page word doc. At highest speed, for an entire minute, we couldn't even make it to January. LONG LIVE THE MARTYRED CHILDREN. GOD BLESS THE CHILDREN. Head to Jazeera, Al Jazeera English to scroll at an honorable, appropriate place/pace. We bear witness.”- Kehlani shared on social media, “THE ROLE OF THE ARTIST IS TO MAKE THE REVOLUTION IRRESISTIBLE - TONI CADE BAMBARA. As an artist, I was nervous. Terrified. Worried after losing so much of what id valued for an album I worked incredibly hard on to my humanity, paired with the crippling wonder of what music is appropriate to drop during the most historical tragedies of our generation. I remembered my favorite revolutionary poets, singers, filmmakers. I remembered how much impact we have. I thought about my favorite James Baldwin quotes about the role of an artist in society. I listened to this song enough to recognize a love song IS a protectors song IS revolution.”
She continued, “This was merely a reflection of pain. of anger. of support. a lens. a long ruminating energy. A reflection of the pink washing, the silencing, the negative portrayal, the fear mongering. There is gentle where is fierceness. There is beauty in the radical. I'm scared shitless by the way. I'm just tryna be where my
feet are. Here, now. Always & forever.” -
Along with the song, Kehlani is selling a T-shirt designed by the Palestinian artist simsim.jpeg of the nöl collective.
100% of proceeds going to Palestinian, Congolese, and Sudanese families through Operation Olive Branch.
Kehlani said, “simsim.jpeg is a Palestinian artist who designed this t shirt that is being printed & shipped by @nolcollective in Palestine. i'm honored to work with you both. 100% of the proceeds are going to be distributed amongst Palestinian, Congolese & Sudanese family through the nöl collective who have been doing incredible direct action work getting families out of Gaza, rebuilding homes of those who want to stay, & now launched their Congo & Sudan branch.” - source : Apple Music
