Benin born and raised, Afropop singer-songwriter, Shirazee releases the video for “Tired” – an emotional ballad paying tribute to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and all Black lives that have been lost at the hands of police brutality – following the worldwide audio premiere with Ebro Darden via Beats 1 on Apple Music. “Tired” was additionally featured on Triller’s Black Music Appreciation Month campaign, while the video garnered support from celebrities including Mike Tyson, Teddy Riley, and Karl Kani.
Like so many others who have previously faced and are now witnessing police brutality while living in the midst of a pandemic, Shirazee was devastated, angry, upset, and at a loss to see another Black life killed at the hands of the system that is supposed to serve and protect all people.
While people from all walks of life came together to protest around the world in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Shirazee took to the studio to be a voice. Expressing his own pain, the pain of his brothers and sisters, and the pain of all Black lives who have experienced racism one too many times. In his latest release, the artist reflects on the current happenings in America; making sense of what so many of us are feeling — tired.
“‘Tired’ is a three-minute capsule of how my generation feels,” Shirazee says. “The fight, the pain, the anger, the exhaustion from living in permanent dread of just existing as a Black person in this world. There is a new revolution out there ‘cause we are tired. I hope this song urges us all to continue to do the right thing and as a result, becomes a melodic beacon of encouragement and hope to keep demanding for what’s right.”
Once Shirazee finished recording “Tired,” he teamed up with director Modern Day Auteur for a seamless collaboration that resulted in a minimal yet powerful visual he’s truly proud of.
“The idea for the music video was to make anyone from any walk of life feel a bit of my pain – OUR pain – through the music and imagery. I wanted something raw without pretence or major production; just me, a camera, and the song. I hope the message is loud and clear. It’s time for real change. I am tired — we are TIRED.” Shirazee explains.
All proceeds of “Tired” are being donated to organizations and initiatives selected by Shirazee himself, that focus on ending racial profiling as well as foster the empowerment and betterment of Black lives including Color Of Change, NAACPLDF, and the ACLU Campaign Against Racial Profiling.
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