Ivy Sole’s “SOUTHPAW” video channels the rage of 2020
In her new video, Ivy Sole explores an emotion that’s uncommon in her music, but is something many of us have felt this year more than ever — rage. “SOUTHPAW” is the title track of her forthcoming EP, and sees the Philly rapper making her message powerful and direct as she poses the question, “everything was all good… or was it?”
“Grieving aside, I’ve felt more anger and frustration this year than many others in recent memory and I know I’m not alone,” Ivy Sole shares in a press statement, explaining that there’s so much to be angry about, there’s so much she wants to see change, and it often feels like there’s not enough time to make it happen. “I wanted to capture the feeling of hopelessness being channeled into action,” she says. “Which is why Southpaw sounds like a riot.”
Landing as folks are taking the streets in Ivy Sole’s home base of Philadelphia to protest another Black person killed by police, “SOUTHPAW” feels particularly resonant (even if it was written well before this week’s events). During the song, Ivy Sole unpacks the various facets of standing up to injustice: “I know my enemy, I know my weakness / I know timidity can never stop this dreaming.” She addresses performative activism that wanes with the trends: “white folks in my text and they act like they know me / they married to the movement but somehow they got cold feet.”
Overall, Ivy Sole says “SOUTHPAW” is a reminder that racial injustice and bigotry are not new, and not things that can be fixed easily.
“It didn’t start this year, but this year might’ve opened our eyes a bit wider to how much was wrong in the first place. I want folks to know that there are people in their communities who need them to fight for liberation––to pour radical energy, time, labor and love into the liberation of disabled, trans, nonbinary, poor, Black people. It’s time to choose a side and put our hands and hearts to work.”
Watch the video, directed by Amandla Baraka, below. The SOUTHPAW EP will be released November 20.