"Land of the Free" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Joey Bada$$. It was released on January 20, 2017, by Pro Era and Cinematic Music Group, as the second single from his second studio album, All-Amerikkkan Bada$$.[1] The song was produced by Kirk Knight and Adam Pallin.

"Land of the Free"
Single by Joey Bada$
from the album All-Amerikkkan Bada$$
ReleasedJanuary 20, 2017 (2017-01-20)
Recorded2016–2017
Genre
Length4:44
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Joey Bada$ singles chronology
"Front & Center"
(2016)
"Land of the Free"
(2017)
"Temptation"
(2017)
Music video
"Land Of The Free" on YouTube

Background and release

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In an interview with Genius, Joey Bada$$ spoke on the release of the song, saying it was a "triple significance". He said his fans know about his interest to "play with dates" and he thought it was the "perfect" timing since it was his birthday, the second anniversary of his debut album and the inauguration of Donald Trump.[2]

He performed the song on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert.[3][4][5] The song was seen as a political statement by Bada$$ on Donald Trump, as one of the lines in the lyrics contained "Sorry, America, but I will not be your soldier. Obama just wasn't enough – I need some more closure".[6] His view on Trump is also addressed more directly through the following lyric, "And Donald Trump is not equipped to take this country over."[7]

Music video

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The song's accompanying music video, co-directed by Bada$$ and Nathan Smith, was released on March 6, 2017 on Pro Era's YouTube account.[8]

In the video, Bada$$, in a windy meadow at a desert, alternates between speaking to a group of children and standing in solidarity with a group of adults with their chained hands, following with a firing squad consisting of police officers and businessmen, who shoot several of the prisoners. The video concludes with Ku Klux Klan members standing before a burning cross."[9][10]

References

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  1. ^ "Joey Bada$$, With The Strong 'Land Of The Free,' Finds A Target : All Songs Considered". NPR. 2017-03-07. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  2. ^ "Joey Badass Land of The Free Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  3. ^ Renshaw, David (2017-04-04). "Watch Joey Bada$$ Perform "Land Of The Free" On The Late Show". The Fader. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  4. ^ Billboard (2017-04-04). "Joey Bada$$ Performs 'Land of the Free' on 'Stephen Colbert': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  5. ^ Music. "Watch Joey Bada$$ Perform "Land Of The Free" on 'The Late Show'". Highsnobiety.com. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  6. ^ Reed, Ryan (2017-01-20). "Hear Joey Bada$$ Bash Trump on Funky New Song 'Land of the Free'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  7. ^ Joey Bada$$ – LAND OF THE FREE, retrieved 2022-02-19
  8. ^ "Watch Joey Bada$$' Devastating 'Land of the Free' Video". Rolling Stone. 7 March 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  9. ^ Billboard. "Joey Bada$$' Striking New Video for 'Land of the Free': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  10. ^ Vibe (2017-01-21). "Joey Bada$$ Releases "Land Of The Free"". Vibe.com. Retrieved 2017-09-30.