by Memphis rap star NLE Choppa is using his platform as a voice for change with his latest release, “CAN WE LIVE?” featuring B.O.A. Mook. Dropped in honor of Black History Month, the track serves as a plea, a protest, and a powerful call to action against gun violence. With raw emotion and unfiltered storytelling, Choppa paints a stark picture of the realities in his hometown and beyond, aiming to ignite conversation and, ultimately, change.
From the jump, melancholic piano keys set the tone, laying the foundation for Choppa’s heart-wrenching verses. The weight of his words hits like a gut punch:
“I know some kids toting guns before they learn to tie they shoe. No more bedtime stories, they putting shit to sleep too.”
The track spotlights the deep pain and frustration felt in communities plagued by violence, where youth are forced to grow up too fast, and survival becomes a daily battle.
B.O.A. Mook adds another layer of intensity to the track, complementing Choppa’s urgency with his own gripping storytelling. The regurgitated hook, “Can we live? We wanna live,” is a demand for something better, a future where young Black lives aren’t cut short.
The music video, released alongside the single, amplifies this message even further. It features not just scenes of tragedy but also moments of resilience and remembrance, honoring lives lost while pushing for a different outcome. In a world where mainstream rap often glorifies violence, Choppa flips the narrative, making sure his voice and the voices of countless others aren’t drowned out.
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NLE Choppa has never been the type to just rap about problems without offering solutions. His commitment to the community has been evident for years. From launching his “This Can’t Be Vegan” food truck to promote healthier eating in urban areas to leading literacy initiatives for Black youth, Choppa is proving that his activism is more than just a marketing move; it’s real.
“CAN WE LIVE?” is the first of a series of singles NLE Choppa plans to drop throughout February, each carrying a message and movement. This follows his recent Imagine Dragons collab “Dare U,” which has racked up over 14.8 million streams.
With gun violence continuing to claim lives, especially in cities like Memphis, “CAN WE LIVE?” challenges not just the system, but also the culture itself, pushing artists and fans alike to rethink the messages being put out into the world.
Choppa’s latest project, “PICASSO: SLUFFIN SZN X SLUT SZN,” received high praise for its bold and versatile approach. With 9.6 billion global streams and 24 RIAA-certified plaques, he’s already a heavyweight in the game.
