Recent acts of violence in the United States and abroad have caused many musicians to take to Twitter with messages of disgust, hope, sorrow, confusion and calls to action. Music has the power to heal in times of need, and on Sunday, Canadian DJ A-Trak added his perspective to the conversation.
He tackled the subjects of the consequences of war, racially charged violence, terrorism, the presidential race in the United States and more. He told of his own experiences with inequality and urged voters to educate themselves before hitting the polls.
Read his full stream of tweets below:
So this Baton Rouge gunman was a marine who served in Iraq. Crazy how much those 2000’s wars fucked the world up. Bush did so much damage.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
A bunch of these cops who’ve been killing civilians were in the military too, came home and joined police, but trained for hostile enemies.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
So to anyone who is cynical about who is president saying it doesn’t change shit – look how were suffering from last decade’s wars NOW.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
I can’t even vote in this election, I’m on a green card. So to anyone who can vote, please do. Be careful of belligerent ones. Please.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
There’s consequences 10-15 years down the line.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
And to anyone who is hateful and doesn’t actually understand the plight of black America,open your eyes and minds and hearts. Don’t b blind.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
You know what? Watch the 1st episode of “OJ: Made in America”. It’s on iTunes. Seriously, it explains race relations so well.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
When I started going to NY for my djing, I spent a lot of time with Roc Raida (rip). He lived uptown, Harlem & Bronx.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
I remember him & @BOOGIEBLIND took me to some project buildings. Raida would tell me stories about producers and graf writers I admired…
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
…which inevitably involved people going in and out of jail, and what dudes used to do when they were young and in the streets, etc.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
I was an avid fan of hip hop and obv knew the stories told in songs, but heating stories first hand struck a different chord for me.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
I grew up in Montreal and went to an international school that was very multicultural and mixed. I assumed most big cities were the same.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
Those trips were the first times I really understood the reality of segregation, inequality, and being dealt a limited hand.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
The reason why I can’t stand All Lives Matter is it starts from a myopic idea that people are equal in America. I WISH people were. Fuck.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
I’m feeling agitated and upset.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
As for the recent tragedies in Europe, it’s also true that there are ones in Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria etc that don’t get the same attention.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
Some of my best friends in school were Lebanese, Syrian, my mom is from Morocco, AND France feels like a cousin country too. My heart hurts.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
Since 9/11 western countries are no longer off limits to types of terror we used to only see on the news. And ppl don’t understand it.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
Whether it be “terrorists” (shitty word) or not, there are atrocities happening on home turf, due to social tensions that ppl ignored.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
You can’t turn a blind eye anymore. You can’t.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
Western world was privileged. Now it’s not anymore. Wake the fuck up, read, talk to people, share perspective. But please do it with love.
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
I’m not even gonna look at my mentions for a couple hours bc I hate the idea that some of my music fans have horrible hateful opinions. –bye
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016
How do u suddenly educate a whole country, one that is run like a business, yet is supposed to be the “leader of the free world”. How Sway?
— United Hairline (@atrak) July 18, 2016