“Stop pretending nothing’s going on in this world. Fight for equality. Hands up, don’t shoot.” Antwerp hip hop duo blackwave. released a powerful new video for their track “Hands Up!” that you should really take 4 minutes and 5 seconds to see.

Inspired by and dedicated to Black Lives Matter, rapper/singer Jean Atohoun and rapper/producer Willem Ardui of blackwave. chose an abandoned military base and two Luca School of Arts alumni – directors Eloi Nsanzabandi & Aäron Beyers – to bring the vision alive. With timing as poignant as ever and with choreography by the talented Joffrey Anane of Let’s Go Urban, the video offers a beautiful ode to blackness and unity but mostly a reminder to those in positions of privilege to stop turning a blind eye.

The down-tempo jazz stylings and languid melody of the track allow the lyrics to really trickle in. It just bears repeating: 2017 Belgian hip hop is not here to play.

You can catch blackwave. live in Belgium at:

25/08 Viva Lola (Sint-Niklaas)
01/09 Booty Rave Festival (Kasterlee)
23/11 Trix (Antwerp)

Stream the blackwave. debut EP “Mic Check” here.

Video credits
Directed by Eloi Nsanzabandi & Aäron Beyers
Cinematography by Virgil Leclercq
Produced by RONDINI/ Chingiz Karibekov
Edited by Jasper Flikschuh
Choreography by Joffrey Anane