In the first release of 2017 from his mixtape ‘Seattle’s Own‘, Draze calls out fellow rappers, the media, and pop culture with his new song & video “Ain’t Nobody Talking About No Real Shit”. The song title was inspired by an excerpt from soul singer D’Angelo in a conversation with Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale.

Draze says:

“This title was not made to be provocative. It is simply honest and raw. We got kids being killed by cops in the streets, toxic drinking water in Flint, MI, and racism in the White House. And most these rappers are just poppin’ bottles like they don’t see none of it. This song is about bringing balance to the game.”

Draze’s new single is available online via SoundCloud. Produced by Stephen Mykal & Therapy, the song has a gritty street hip-hop sound with smooth melodic undertones. In the video, Draze delivers an introspective performance that captures the essence of problems plaguing Black Americans. The video goes far beyond posting random images related to police violence. It artistically weaves together images exposing the systemic inequalities facing Black Americans today.

Draze says:

“As an artist, I feel this frustration all the time. Real recognized real. When I watched the interview with D’Angelo, it resonated with me. I think that’s the reason why so many real people and real artists feel this song ‘Ain’t Nobody Talking ‘bout No Real Shit’. I love to party as much as the next man, but I refuse to be silent about the things we feel in this struggle. At this point, the stakes are just too high.”

Draze is riding a wave of momentum into early 2017. Recently, Draze’s music was featured on Fox’s hit show, “Empire”, in an Olympics commercial ad for Speedo; in an ad on NBA TV; on ESPN’s “Sports Center”, NFL Network, MTV, & VH1’s “Black Ink Crew“; and several other shows.

Draze (@DrazeExperience) feat. D’Angelo – Ain’t Nobody Talking About No Real Shit [MP3]