Usher has released his latest single Chains on Tidal with a special film that focuses on the stories of black men, women and children who have been killed in recent years, some after being shot by American police officers.
Through the use of facial recognition technology, the website can tell if you turn away from these victims of social injustice and will stop playing the track: “The site uses facial recognition technology to demand that people pay attention to an important issue that some find it easier to ignore once the latest news cycle has moved on,” a statement says.
During the video you are asked to face images of Trayvon Martin, Rekia Boyd, Caesar Cruz, Ramarley Graham, Kendrick Johnson, Marlon Brown, Andrew Joseph and Sean Bell alongside short descriptions of the circumstances in which they died. The text for the final person, Sean Bell, reads: “Sean died when his car was shot 50 times by undercover NYPD officers on the morning of his wedding day. He was unarmed. The shooters were found not guilty”.
The track, which features Nas and Bibi Bourelly, also mentions Tamir Rice, Eric Garner and Sandra Bland. “We got a problem that needs some acknowledgment,” the lyrics say, concluding, “We’re still in Chains”.
Hear the full track and watch the film at chains.tidal.com.