Rap superstar Jay-Z has shared three fresh videos for his songs ‘Legacy’, ‘Marcy Me’ and ‘Smile’ from his recently released album 4:44.
‘Legacy’ has a whole host of cameos, including; Ron Perlman, Jesse Williams, Susan Sarandon, Emile Hirsch, Jonathan Tucker, Edi Gathegi, Aldis Hodge, and Kwame Boateng.
It depicts Jay-Z’s strong views against the criminal justice system by using Perlman’s voice in the video.
“Legacy. That’s why I called y’all here, not ‘cause of skin color or some wistful dream of freedom. The story you leave for people who come behind you,” Perlman says.
Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter, wrote about the incarceration of Meek Mill after the fellow star was jailed for a minimum of two years for violating his probation.
“What’s happening to Meek Mill is just one example of how our criminal justice system entraps and harasses hundreds of thousands of black people every day.”
“It’s time we highlight the random ways people trapped in the criminal justice system are punished every day,” Carter wrote.
His other two videos are for ‘Marcy Me’ (about a young man’s night out in New York which also depicts a police helicopter chase’ and for ‘Smile’ in which his own mother Gloria Carter appears in.
Other celebrities such as Lupita Nyong’o, Donald Glover, Mahershala Ali have all been involved in working with the rapper’s visuals.
Tessa Thompson, Lakeith Stanfield, Isa Rae and more recreated Friends with an all-black cast for his ‘Moonlight’ track.
It is incredible to see Jay-Z’s talent come to life as he pours his heart and soul into his music and visuals for his fans to see. We think it is incredible he is highlighting important issues that need discussing in all industries.
Watch all three videos on TIDAL.