H.E.R.’s original song “Fight For You”, written for Judas and the Black Messiah, appropriately pulls inspiration from the late sixties and seventies. Inspired by soul artists like Marvin Gaye, Sly and the Family Stone, and Nina Simone, the song is filled with freedom and hope.
The encouraging, upbeat song speaks of unity, empowerment, and justice. H.E.R.’s goal is that the tune will merge generations together, as there’s not much that separates the Black Panther’s story in the ‘60s with the current Black Lives Matter movement. “I wanted to create a universal message that represented what is still happening today and how that connects two generations,” she said. “We’re passing the torch and continuing on Hampton’s work.”
Judas and the Black Messiah is a biopic, written and directed by Shaka King, about the betrayal of the Black Panther Party’s leader Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya) at the hands of FBI informant William O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield). Stream now on HBO or watch the film in theaters.
Listen to H.E.R.’s “Fight For You” below: