A few days ago, you might recall a post on The Fever 333 having a livestream event with proceeds going towards the Minnestota Freedom Fund and Black Lives Matter.
Well, it was a masterpiece of a set. Not only did the livestream feature some of their most insane material, but frontman Jason Butler made several passionate speeches and comments throughout the video, calling on the music industry for not supporting the black community properly where he challenged viewers to have serious conversations about race struggles in America.
After ‘The Innocent’, Butler paused to speak to the viewers, talking about the systems that “do not care about us – not the way it cares about itself”.
“For years we’ve been fighting, due to ideals, constructs known as ‘race’, and the fear of each other. Right now in America, there is a fire that is being stoked, flames that are being fanned by people in power. The people are relinquishing their power – the very power that we possess, simply by existing, as a people, as a nation, as a constituency. We are giving up our power to someone, and to people, and to a system, that does not care about us – not the way it cares about itself.
“I don’t care where you sit on this spectrum: if you’re able to watch the atrocities that are happening every single day – much like our brother George Floyd being slain on the streets in front of a camera – and you don’t think that there’s a problem, then you are that fucking problem.
“Like I said, this is a safe space, and we can have that conversation all day. But do not retreat when I tell you what the fuck it is that you are. These are facts laid out on paper. These are policies written out, systems in place. You can find this out for your very self. This is not bias. I promise you: if you seek this out, you will find it, and it will be verified by our system – the one I mentioned earlier.
“What I ask of you today is to have the conversation. Don’t be afraid to have the conversation – so afraid that you impose violence upon another person. I challenge you to have the conversation today. I’ll have it with you.”
The band also paused to remember all those who’ve been lost over the last few years where he calls out the music industry for benefiting from the black community but not doing enough for them.
“Atlantic Records. Sony Records. Interscope Records. RCA Records, Def Jam, Island, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, show up for black people. You love black culture? Show up for black people,” he shouted during One Of Us.
You can view The Fever 333’s set below.
Almost Anything Music 