Jacob Banks - “Mercy”
~Zumi Underground
Jacob Banks hits us with that real talk in in this one. Racial tensions are continuing to grow following many tragic murders committed by police officers in our country. Not limited to police brutality though, “Mercy” gives melody to the broader picture of hurt and frustration of black people in America.
Each line is packed with distressing truths about the experiences of black people collectively (no, Lil Wayne saying racism doesn’t exist because he has a ton of white fans and he’s a young, successful black man is not the majority of experiences of black folks in this country). “Mercy” is a stylistically gospel track which couldn’t be more appropriate given the content and context. With wailing organs, Banks’ powerful, growly voice, and lyrics like “I keep growing and you keep tearing me down” feeling like an allusion to devastating events like the bombing of Black Wall Street, “Mercy” declares a long overdue need for change.
Get more Jacob Banks on Spotify
Follow RIBM on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on new music.
