Nearly two years after the horrific death of Eric Garner at the hands of the police, Ellisha and Steven Flagg, Garner’s sister and brother, released a powerful new song titled, “I Can’t Breathe” in his memory and for the culture. He died on July 17, 2014 in New York as a result of a police chokehold, repeatedly saying his final words “I can’t breathe”.
Listen to “I Can’t Breathe” below.
Steven Flagg raps on the track:
If I lose my car, I can get another one
Lose my house, I can get another one
Lose my mind, I create another one
They took my brother and I can never get another one
I’m tired of a system that will never love me
A system that took my brother from me
No matter how much money I receive, I can hear my brother crying ‘I can’t breathe’
While sister Ellisha Flagg sings on the chorus:
I can hear my brother crying ‘I can’t breathe’
Now I’m in this trouble and I can’t leave
We all know the solution but they blame you and me
We’re ain’t gonna stop, until all us free
“The song is dedicated to the struggle everyone is going through,” the family tells Billboard. ‘I Can’t Breathe’ is currently streaming on Soundcloud and can be purchased via iTunes and Apple Music. It will be made available on all music outlets on July 16th.
This is the second song released by the family after the grand jury’s decision to not pursue charges against the officer responsible for Garner’s death. In early 2015, Garner’s daughter and brother recorded , “This Ends Today”.
Considering all of the protests that are happening across the nation right now, this song can and will resonate with all of us.
