In 2008, three police officers were acquitted of the murder of Sean Bell – who they had shot dead two years prior outside a strip club in Queens, New York, as he left his bachelor party the night before he was to be married. Despite firing over 50 bullets at Bell, who was unarmed, and wounding two of his friends, the officers were deemed not guilty in his shooting death. Following the verdict, rapper The Game responded with the song 911 Is A Joke (Cop Killa) – dedicating it along with his track My Life to Bell.

In a statement ahead of the track’s release, The Game said that he was “outraged and speaking out for my generation that are afraid to speak out against police brutality and murder… I grew in Compton and had to stay silent because of the fear that was prevalent in my community, but now that I have a voice I’m speaking out.” What he found, however, was that it became difficult to find artists who were willing to speak up with him. In recently resurfaced interview footage following the release of the song, the rapper is seen crying as he describes the disheartening experience of being unable to convince people to collaborate with him on the track for fear of speaking out: “I reached out to a lot of rappers and a lot of them… I just got … excuses. Nobody wanted to stand up… We don’t have a problem putting out a mixtape and dissing each other, but when it comes to the problems that affect us like police brutality, excessive force… Nobody wants to stand up for that.” As the interview progresses, he says that he doesn’t want to be a part of the hip-hop community anymore because no one wanted to be vocal anymore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWYyzCpHUDs&feature=youtu.be&t=1m55s

In the time since the interview, a number of artists have spoken out, be it through statements or music, on the issues facing black people in the United States, as well as throwing their support behind the Black Lives Matter movement. From TINK, Immortal Technique, Killer Mike, Talib Kweli, Kendrick Lamar, J Cole and more, the list is ever expanding, unfortunately prompted by the ever-expanding list of victims. Rappers and industry heavyweights are throwing their voices behind the movement, even calling out each other when it comes to ignorant and misguided comments or lack of involvement.

Recently, following the release of his video for 16 Shots, which details the graphic, violent shooting death of Laquan McDonald in 2014, Vic Mensa commented on Lil Wayne distancing himself from the movement when asked to comment by a Reddit user. “I think it’s a very ignorant, selfish and isolated position to take… even someone as big as Wane is just a black man minus all of his ice and fame, and can be treated the same way.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPWXOAYlgOc

Image: Billoard

It’s been a while between releases – and there still isn’t an official date for her debut album – but Chicago rapper Tink has just come through with a new track and let us just say: It. Is. Straight. Up. Fucken. Fire.

Produced by Timbaland, who has said that Aaliyah appeared in a dream to him and called Tink “the one”, Circle The Block joins Trust No One and Dinero in following up her Winter Diary 3 mixtape, which dropped mid-2015. Since then, she’s also given a few hints about her rumoured upcoming debut album via Timbaland’s label Mosley Music Group, including the tentative title Think Tink.

While it hasn’t been suggested that Circle The Block will appear on the album, there’s no doubt that with its fast-pace and kicking-ass before taking names attitude, it falls right within Tink’s domain. She goes hard in just two verses without a hook to back her up and it showcases exactly why Tink is right to declare that this year is going to be epic as she does before going in on the track. She takes it upon herself to call out others in the game and despite her “no shade” proclamation, there’s some seriousness thrown in the direction of those who “couldn’t make it with their own sound”. The cover art shows a high heel covered in blood, presumably, it’s that of everyone Tink has just eviscerated with Circle The Block.

Image: Complex

After the release of her video for Million, we called Tink one of the acts to watch this year. In her short career, she has continued to impress us. Since 2012, she has released six mix-tapes. The latest one, Winter’s Diary 3, was released in July. She was also chosen to join the XXL Freshman class.

Now, the triple threat from Chicago has teamed up with R&B extraordinaire Timberland, releasing two new songs, Dinero and Trust No One. With Timberland’s guidance and high-quality production skills, she has created two amazing track for us to enjoy.

First up, we have Dinero. If you’re having a rough day, this is the song for you to play over and over again. This track will lighten up your day like a love song, while you indulge in the lyrics about lust for wealth.

Please, don’t tell me you don’t feel that way after you get paid.

The slow, sensual beat sparkles as Tink glides into a set of lush harmonies and stellar rhymes. Her hypnotic singing, combined with the upbeat percussion-heavy melody will have you pressing the repeat button for the rest of the day.

Trust No One has a eerie sound (which is perfect, considering halloween has just passed by). The sinister flow of beats creates a cool atmosphere for the song, which focuses on the important of mental strength in relationships and refusing to put complete trust in anyone who may hurt you.

Her incredible flow was interrupted by a sample of Tupac from Fickle Mind$’s Bishop Nehru. The sample begins to interwine with Tink’s vocals as Tupac reminds us that “fear is stronger than love”.

Both tracks are great as alone, but listening to them one after the other, you can really hear the versatility of Tink. Each song is different from the other, with only one similarity. They are both bursting in pure talent.

Yes, we know you need to hear more. So do we. Unfortunately, we’re not sure when we will hear her debut album Think Tink. We’ll just have to wait until it’s ready. Obviously, we’re in for something epic. 

For now, listen to the two amazing tracks here:

If there is one act that is really one to watch this year, it’s Tink. Since teaming up with Timbaland early on, hype and Tink now go hand in hand – and rightly so. The girl is a triple threat, and is nipping at the heels of everybody.

At only 20 years old, she has recently landed herself in XXL‘s Freshman Class of 2015 (check her cypher here), absolutely killed it at SXSW, performed at the BET Experience, demonstrated serious potential in multiple mixtapes and casually premiered her new clip in Times Square last week. The Aaliyah inspired Million track, although not as badass as her previous work, shows the up-and-comer moving flawlessly from a gentle croon to a spit-fire verse with ease. The clip also sees her busting some moves that confirm her triple threat status, paying homage to the clip’s inspiration.

This isn’t the first time Tink and Timbaland have paid tribute to Aaliyah, with Tink remixing One In A Million. Timbaland, who is notoriously protective of Aaliyah’s music, produced the track. There has been a lot of debate as to whether he is pushing a little too hard to shape Tink into the next R&B superstar and follow in Aaliyah’s footsteps, with the vet producer even saying Aaliyah visited him in a dream to tell him Tink is “the one”. Grabbing the mic during Tink’s SXSW performance to justify this decision, he said to the crowd, “I don’t touch baby girl’s records — y’all know that’s Aaliyah. I was riding home one day, asleep. She spoke to me in my sleep and said, ‘She’s the one.'”

Whatever plans Timbaland has for her, I have a feeling Tink is strong enough to not become a replica. Instead, she is something else entirely her own, and although her previous single Ratchet Commandments may have been a misstep, she continues to shine through and is ready to show the world what she is made of. Check the clip below, and join me in waiting impatiently for Tink’s album, ThinkTink which is said to be out later this year via Timbaland’s label Mosley Music Group.