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You might recall actor Eddie Murphy‘s brief music career in the 1980′s and 90′s that included his huge hit “Party All the Time” among other mildly successful songs and albums.

Now over 20-plus years later the legendary comedian has teamed up with rapper Snoop Lion formerly Snoop Dogg, to create a reggae jam titled “Redlight”.

Although you may think an Eddie Murphy and Snoop Lion collaboration might equal a reggae parody of some sort, the song is actually quite the opposite.

Murphy, crooning over authentic reggae sounds with a full band and background singers is joined by Snoop in a song that is a social and political commentary on race, poverty and government/police practices.

You can see this tale of a troubled society in the lyrics that read:

“Broken economy, the streets are dire. Even more than before. I need some betterness to take me higher.Feels like I’m gonna blow. Gone are the days when people used to say “Everything is alright”.No place to run, now here you come a come With a knock, knock, knock on your door. Redlight. Stop right there where you are…”

The “Knock Knock on your door” Murphy and Snoop refer to is either a military or police force. Nonetheless, it is a blatant jab on what many might find has become a too powerful system that sometimes infringes on one’s personal rights (i.e. “Stop & Frisk”).

Unfortunately, many people in the United States and overseas have come too familiar with the phrase “Stop right there where you are” when interacting with police and it’s interesting to see two giants in their respective fields comment on such hot-topic issues.

But  even more powerfully, Snoop and Murphy are putting a call to action in this musical dissection of society with truthful lyrics that point out the fading culture of protest and action.

In a bold statement, the artists exalt former civil rights leaders including Jamaica’s Garvey and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reference the Montgomery Bus Boycotts to remind people that we no longer carry the same sense of fight or rebellious spirit we once did when were hitting the pavement and fighting for our  community’s rights. In the lyrics, the duo sings, “(Gone) Marcus Garvey, Montgomery, Martin (Gone) All the rebels are gone.”

Who knew Murphy and Snoop would be voices of political change?

Watch the video (above) and let us know what you think about the collaboration in the comment section below.

Eddie Murphy & Snoop Lion Get Political on New Reggae Song [VIDEO]  was originally published on blackamericaweb.com