Common and Jay Electronica Pay Tribute to Mike Brown at BET Hip-Hop Awards
The most powerful moment of the BET Hip-Hop Awards 2014 came courtesy of Common. The Chicago lyricist was joined by Jay Electronica, Vince Staples, and a choir while performing the remix to his Nobody’s Smiling single “Kingdom.”
“We do this for the people, black people all around this country that go through the struggle,” said Common. “We do this for our lost soldiers, our fallen soldiers.”
At the end of the performance, he brought out the parents of Mike Brown. The crowd put their hands in the air and there was a moment of silence in remembrance of the unarmed black teen who was killed by a white police officer in Ferguson.
Common’s peers praised his stirring set on social media. “Powerful moment on BET just now,” tweeted Trey Songz, while Estelle added, “Shouts to @common for powerful moment @ the bet hiphop awards. #MikeBrownlaw.”
Jay Electronica will join Common on his “Nobody’s Smiling” tour, which kicks off November 21 in Las Vegas.