Living Colour Release Controversial Video for Cover of Biggie’s “Who Shot Ya?”

Living Colour turned a lot of heads when they released a cover of Biggie’s “Who Shot Ya?” a couple of weeks ago. The track initially appeared in ’95 as a b-side for Big Poppa, and while the original was about gang life, Living Colour have reappropriated it to be a protest track about gun violence in the US. Taking cues from the original beat of the song, Living Colour managed to make it their own adding crunchy riffs and a soulful melody to the lyrics that Biggie spit into the microphone over 20 years ago.

The video features the members of LC as they play the song while jaw-dropping stats roll across the screen, painting a picture of the gun epidemic that is currently plaguing the US. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but the guys in Living Colour have never shied away from tackling tough issues throughout their career. Possibly the most poignant part of the video is the list of celebrities, revolutionaries, and black lives that have been lost at the hands of firearms throughout history. Tamir Rice, Dylan Noble, Kurt Cobain, Dimebag Darrel, Malcom X, Martin Luther King, and more all have their names listed in the bottom of the screen as the video continues to play.

It’s a powerful message, one that America needs to figure out how to address in one way or another. I have an immense amount of respect for LC and their ability to tackle such sensitive issues in a way that is both thought-provoking and eye-opening. Check out the video below.