"Hell You Talmbout" | ||||
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Single by Janelle Monáe and various artists | ||||
Released | August 13, 2015 | |||
Recorded | 2015 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 6:41 | |||
Label | Wondaland Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Janelle Monáe singles chronology | ||||
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Jidenna singles chronology | ||||
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Roman GianArthur singles chronology | ||||
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Deep Cotton singles chronology | ||||
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"Hell You Talmbout" [a] is a 2015 protest song by Janelle Monáe and the members of her Wondaland artist collective, including Deep Cotton, George 2.0, Jidenna, Roman GianArthur, and St. Beauty.
The song lists the names of various African American people who died as a result of encounters with law enforcement or racial violence, and implores listeners to say the names of the dead. Wondaland and Monáe subsequently released the instrumental track of the song, so that listeners could make their own versions. [1] [2] [3] [4]
The song received favourable reviews, and many spoke positively about the message of the song. Fast Company described it as "simple yet unquestionably powerful", stating that it will force listeners to remember those who have been murdered. [5] Stereogum called it "less a song and more of a chant, with some gospel overtones", and emphasized that it is both "simple" and "effective". [6] USA Today declared it the "song of the week", praising the song's "simple but stark approach" of only listing names rather than describing circumstances, and attributing this to a desire to avoid "arguments that can quickly turn divisive and bitter", [7] while National Public Radio called it "visceral" and "blistering". [8]
Malcolm Gladwell's audiobook Talking to Strangers, a reflection on the psychology surrounding the arrest and death of Sandra Bland, uses "Hell You Talmbout" as a theme song: "I was almost finished with my book when I first heard [Hell You Talmbout], and I thought, 'I cannot publish Talking to Strangers without it.'" [9]
"Hell You Talmbout" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Janelle Monáe and various artists | ||||
Released | August 13, 2015 | |||
Recorded | 2015 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 6:41 | |||
Label | Wondaland Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Janelle Monáe singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Jidenna singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Roman GianArthur singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Deep Cotton singles chronology | ||||
|
"Hell You Talmbout" [a] is a 2015 protest song by Janelle Monáe and the members of her Wondaland artist collective, including Deep Cotton, George 2.0, Jidenna, Roman GianArthur, and St. Beauty.
The song lists the names of various African American people who died as a result of encounters with law enforcement or racial violence, and implores listeners to say the names of the dead. Wondaland and Monáe subsequently released the instrumental track of the song, so that listeners could make their own versions. [1] [2] [3] [4]
The song received favourable reviews, and many spoke positively about the message of the song. Fast Company described it as "simple yet unquestionably powerful", stating that it will force listeners to remember those who have been murdered. [5] Stereogum called it "less a song and more of a chant, with some gospel overtones", and emphasized that it is both "simple" and "effective". [6] USA Today declared it the "song of the week", praising the song's "simple but stark approach" of only listing names rather than describing circumstances, and attributing this to a desire to avoid "arguments that can quickly turn divisive and bitter", [7] while National Public Radio called it "visceral" and "blistering". [8]
Malcolm Gladwell's audiobook Talking to Strangers, a reflection on the psychology surrounding the arrest and death of Sandra Bland, uses "Hell You Talmbout" as a theme song: "I was almost finished with my book when I first heard [Hell You Talmbout], and I thought, 'I cannot publish Talking to Strangers without it.'" [9]