Jorja Smith singer reflects on her experiences within the Black Lives Matter movement and her dedication to social justice.
The track is the lead single from Roc Nation’s forthcoming Reprise project, a collection of songs curated by the label, the proceeds from which will go to funding organizations that support victims of police brutality, hate crimes, and other violations of civil rights.
On the Ezrah Roberts-Grey-cowritten and produced single, Jorja Smith addresses the history of lies, pain, and death that have led to this moment, while embracing the strength found within the movement.
“I take pride in the things that we’ve done / Side by side in the revolution / Won’t stay silent for things that I love / ‘Cause we know dem nuh care about us” she sings on the first verse.
“By any means, I will fight (For you, for you),” she repeats on the chorus like a mantra.
“By Any Means” is available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazone Music, and Deezer.
Listen to “By Any Means” by Jorja Smith.
“The inspiration behind ‘By Any Means’ really came from going to the Black Lives Matter protest and leaving thinking, what can I do to keep this conversation going?” Smith said in a press release. “It’s not just a post on social media, it’s life.”
The press release also notes that Reprise was compiled with the intent to bring awareness to social justice issues. Proceeds from the project will benefit The Gathering for Justice, which works towards ending child incarceration and racial inequities within the justice system; NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice, which seeks to safeguard fundamental constitutional rights for all individuals and address inequities and systemic racism in the criminal justice system; Equal Justice Initiative, which works to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the U.S. and protect basic human rights among the most vulnerable; and the Legal Aid Society’s Cop Accountability Project, which works to hold police officers accountable for human rights violations via its database that tracks police misconduct in New York City alongside other initiatives.
Jorja Smith released her debut album in 2018. Last year, she linked up with Burna Boy for “Be Honest.” In May, she contributed a song to Damien Chazelle’s new Netflix series The Eddy.