Title: “Are We One? (feat. Jay-C & Stephanie Fierce)
Artist: Kara Romero
Release Date: June 19, 2020
Length: 5:39
Format: CD Single, Digital Download, Weekly Airplay, 7” Single
Recorded: June 2020 – Basement Studios, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genre: Rap, Hip-Hop, RnB
Label: Just Record
Writer(s): Kara Romero, Jamel Carter
Producer(s): Kara Romero, Jamel Carter, Stephanie Fierce
“Are We One?” is a collaborative song from the Spanish-American musician/rapper 'Kara Romero' featuring hip-hop artist Jay-C and pop juggernaut Stephanie Fierce, sampling her 2016 protest song “We Are One.” It's been re-worked into a 2020 version to address the global 'Black Lives Matter' movement in the wake of the brutal death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. The original song condemned the spate of mass shootings in 2016 and was seen as a pro gun-control protest song and only featured Kara as the primary artist of the song. Following the scenes that have since played out in the media and the revolutionary nature of what followed in protests world-wide, Kara made the choice to re-work the original song and update it's lyrics to relate to the situation that we all currently find ourselves in. She is joined on the track by Stephanie Fierce who provides vocals during the songs hook and Jay-C who provides a verse later in the song addressing his own feelings of anger.
The track was re-written by Kara in the aftermath of George Floyd's death and the subsequent protests, opening with heavy drums alongside moody instrumentation as Kara delivers the opening verse which feels more like an introduction to catch people up, she raps about how nothing has really changed since the original track in 2016 and delivers lyrics about how she's not sure how much will change while the wrong people are leading the country before landing on a repetitive hook “The land of the free, feels like a prison to you and me/The land of the free/Feels like a prison to you and me.”
Stephanie Fierce arrives on the track with the songs main hook, delivered in a soulful and emotive performance as she repeats the names of past victims who have been killed needlessly at the hands of police brutality, “Are you Amadou Diallo? Are you Eric Garner? Are you Ezell Ford? Are you Tamir Rice?/Are you Philando Castile? Are you Bettie Jones? Are you George Floyd? Are you Botham Jean?” is sung in a way that feels eerie, almost like a vigil.
She's followed by a brief appearance from Kara as she changes gears and sings, “Open your eyes wider when it's harder to see/Scream from your lungs/We can't breathe.” as she sings for the people that have been protesting in an attempt to bring about change.
Jay-C then delivers a rap verse which is primarily based around the anger felt at this time, “Can't stand this stress/Angry, vexed/Tryna get out the system, I ain't planned it yet.” signals his feelings immediately which only continue to grow as the rap goes on, “In the pain of this shame, now we go insane!/Fuck all these big rims and all these big ass chains!/Ignore the price, refuse the blame/Words exchange, we better stand up for change.” which has the potential to be one of the most powerful lyrics of the year so far. Rapped with aggression and passion his words feel like a call to arms as the music becomes heavier in the process. Repeated verses continue to close out the song.
The song was recorded at Basement Studios in Brooklyn, New York in June 2020 and will be released on June 19, 2020 which marks a significant day in the United States known as Liberation Day among other names, celebrating the liberation of those who had been held as slaves in the United States. The track will be released as a CD Single, Digital Download and 7” Single as well as being made available to Weekly Airplay through Just Record. All proceeds from the track will go to the 'Black Lives Matter' foundation
“Are We One? (feat. Jay-C & Stephanie Fierce)”Written by Kara Romero and Jamel Carter[Kara Romero]
“Alright here we go again, a song wrote in twenty-sixteen remixed
Not a lot has changed since then
We're still living in a world of prejudice and injustice
Marches on the streets have become common place these days
We can stand up and revolt
But without the right person at the top
It doesn't matter how loud we shout, this shit will never stop
The land of the free, feels like a prison to you and me
The land of the free
Feels like a prison to you and me
[Stephanie Fierce]
Are you Amadou Diallo? Are you Eric Garner? Are you Ezell Ford? Are you Tamir Rice?
Are you Philando Castile? Are you Bettie Jones? Are you George Floyd? Are you Botham Jean?
Are you Amadou Diallo? Are you Eric Garner? Are you Ezell Ford? Are you Tamir Rice?
Are you Philando Castile? Are you Bettie Jones? Are your George Floyd? Are you Botham Jean?
Are you Amadou Diallo? Are you Eric Garner? Are you Ezell Ford? Are you Tamir Rice?
Are you Philando Castile? Are you Bettie Jones? Are your George Floyd? Are you Botham Jean?
[Kara Romero]
Open your eyes wider when it's harder to see
Scream from your lungs
We can't breathe
Open your eyes wider when it's harder to see
Scream from your lungs
We can't breathe
[Jay-C]
Can’t stand this stress,
Angry, vexed,
Tryna get out the system, I ain't planned it yet,
The roads are cold, damp and wet,
You would of thought it rained ‘ere, reindeer like Santa’s pet
I don’t wanna be stuck, on the block
Or get caught by the cops, every week we gettin' stopped
Worried if they gonna turn around and bust the glock!
Truth never heard, lips closed tight
Military state, daring you to fight
Taking life if you shed some light
Live fast, die young, ignore what’s right
This is the hand that feeds, now you bet not bite
In the pain of this shame, now we go insane!
Fuck all these big rims and all these big ass chains!
Ignore the price, refuse the blame
Words exchange, we better stand up for change
Kill the colored, they try to put out our flame
Such a shame, but now WE ready, take aim!
[Stephanie Fierce]
Are you Amadou Diallo? Are you Eric Garner? Are you Ezell Ford? Are you Tamir Rice?
Are you Philando Castile? Are you Bettie Jones? Are you George Floyd? Are you Botham Jean?
Are you Amadou Diallo? Are you Eric Garner? Are you Ezell Ford? Are you Tamir Rice?
Are you Philando Castile? Are you Bettie Jones? Are your George Floyd? Are you Botham Jean?
Are you Amadou Diallo? Are you Eric Garner? Are you Ezell Ford? Are you Tamir Rice?
Are you Philando Castile? Are you Bettie Jones? Are your George Floyd? Are you Botham Jean?
[Kara Romero]
Open your eyes wider when it's harder to see
Scream from your lungs
We can't breathe
Open your eyes wider when it's harder to see
Scream from your lungs
We can't breathe”
Credits & PersonnelCREDITSProduced by Kara Romero, Jamel Carter and Stephanie Fierce
Engineered by Augustine Francis
Recorded at Basement Studios, Brooklyn, New York, USA
PERSONNELKara Romero – vocals, lyrics, production
Jamel Carter – vocals, lyrics, production
Stephanie Fierce – vocals, production
Ignacio Santos – bass, percussion, programming, production manager
Augustine Francis – drums, engineering, mixing
Rebecca Lowell – photography, art direction
