Belly is a Palestinian born Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and producer. He recently released Immigrant, the long-awaited follow-up to his 2007 debut studio album The Revolution (but he has released several well received mixtapes).
On the album’s title track Belly taps into his personal experience of his parent’s fleeing war-torn Palestine. The album version also features Meek Mill and M.I.A. He also posted a video of an unaccompanied strip down performance which well highlights his no holds barred lyrical take down of Donald Trump’s immigration policy.
On the YouTube page for the video, Belly made the following comment: “On this side of the world we’re the only safe haven some people have. We could actually play a role in life that has purpose.”
He performs the poignant tune within the shadows of the of the Statue of Liberty. That imagery highlights how the USA fails to live up to Emma Lazarus penned words inscribed on the Statue:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Xenophobia causes people to lose sight of humanity. America’s foreign policy often contribute to the dangerous situations that people need to flee from. Instead of accepting responsibility, there is an unwillingness to help those that are victims of situations that the USA helped create.