Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Arts and Lifestyle
  • Eclectic
  •  

Sacramento Musicians Honor Stephon Clark

  •  Cody Drabble 
Friday, March 30, 2018 | Sacramento, CA
The Philharmonik / Courtesy
 

The Philharmonik / Courtesy

Sacramento musicians are paying tribute to Stephon Clark with new singles calling for change and social justice.

On March 23, three hip-hop artists, Kunta, Bornstunna 3G and Noni Blanco, released the first single paying tribute to Stephon Clark just five days after he was shot and killed by two Sacramento police officers.

Their YouTube video “I Am Stephon Clark” starts with news footage of Clark’s brother Ste'Vante Clark pointing to his shirt with Stephon’s picture. Ste'Vante Clark says to the reporter, “You’re going to know his name forever, John. You hear me? You’re going to remember it like, like how you know Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, you’re going to know. You’re going to know him. You know what I mean? You’re going to remember this.”

Then the music starts with the first piano chord as the video cuts to footage from Body Camera 2, taken from one of the two officers who shot Stephon Clark. The music video includes footage shot on the streets of downtown Sacramento, on the I-5 freeway and on the west steps of the state Capitol during protests in the wake of the police shooting.

 

Sacramento soul and R&B artist The Philharmonik also released a single Friday, one day after Clark’s funeral, called “20 Rounds (Ode to Stephon Clark).” The single released on The Philharmonik’s Bandcamp page starts with a slow fade in of the beat underneath protesters chanting Stephon Clark’s name.

The Philharmonik sings on the chorus:

20 rounds, 20 shots til he's dead
20 rounds to kill an innocent man
20 rounds, how can not be afraid
20 rounds, same shit different day

The Philharmonik’s single includes an artist’s statement that says, “This song is to represent the unjustified killing of Stephon Clark in Sacramento. All purchases will go to his family. There has to be something done about this. Not just songs but we need to do better as a country when it comes to the livelihood of the black community. Stephon Clark should be alive. Period. Oh yeah...black lives matter.”

The song closes with the repeated stanza:

I'll be damned if they gentrify me
After they made my ancestors bleed
Best believe I'mma fight until I'm free
If they won't give us justice, then no peace

... followed by 20 gunshots, the number fired at Stephon Clark.

Listen
/
download audio
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.

The Philharmonik was featured on Insight with Beth Ruyak in February just before releasing his self-titled debut album. In his interview on Insight, he cites his mother as an inspiration for speaking out about social justice.

“She always told me to use my voice,” he says. “And she also told me to choose which side you’re going to be on.”


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about Stephon Clark

  • Family courtesy photo via AP

    The Latest: Shooting Of Stephon Clark

    On Sunday, March 18, 2018, Stephon Clark was shot and killed by two Sacramento police officers in the backyard of his grandparents' house in South Sacramento. Check back here for the latest updates, conversations and analysis.

    Related Stories

  • The Philharmonik / Courtesy

    The Philharmonik Wants You To Have A 'Good Day'

    Friday, April 6, 2018
    Soul and R&B artist The Philharmonik performs new songs from his self-titled debut album. His music explores themes of social justice and compassion for people struggling to have a “Good Day.”

 The PhilharmonikStephon ClarkMusic

Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Cody Drabble

Former Insight Producer and On-Air Director

Cody Drabble learned to love public radio growing up in San Francisco with KQED on every morning during breakfast. In addition to producing and directing the live broadcast of Insight each morning, he also fills in as guest host for Beth Ruyak.   Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Arts and Lifestyle Stories

Kris Hooks / CapRadio

R&B, new soul and hip-hop festival Sol Blume returns to Sacramento for a fourth year

February 2, 2023

Most Viewed

California ends plans for kids’ Covid vaccine mandate

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 pandemic has shifted people's finances

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Sacramento Council approves armored vehicle for police despite opposition to military equipment purchase

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California ends plans for kids’ Covid vaccine mandate

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 pandemic has shifted people's finances

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Sacramento Council approves armored vehicle for police despite opposition to military equipment purchase

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.