Darrell Kelley is an R & B Singer/Songwriter, who has taken a personal interest in the case of Andrew Brown JR. Brown was a North Carolina man, who was murdered by police, in what was eventually determined to be a justifiable homicide. Andrew Brown JR, was of African American descent, sparking outrage at the potential of racial discrimination being a factor in Brown’s death. Kelley makes absolutely no concessions in his views on the case, and uses his talent to express those views. The result is an emotionally charged, listening experience.
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With such sensitive subject matter, you would expect a very somber mood to “Wasn’t Justified.” Somehow though, Kelley gives us a soulful ballad, with gentle, and layered vocals, much in the vain of Marvin Gaye. In fact, Kelley actually references Gaye, on the track. The lyrics are as literal as they can possibly be on “Wasn’t Justified,” as Kelley tells the story through facts and facts alone. Tackling an issue that has affected us all in a variety of ways, and continues to, is an admirable and courageous move by Darrell Kelley.
Darrell Kelley is a vocal artist, and the way in which he arranges his backing tracks, is extraordinarily fluid. There are moments where you forget you are listening to a story of a horrific tragedy, that could have potentially been avoided. Kelley pours himself into the performance, and emerges an advocate for justice in the process. He has seemingly devoted his entire career to these causes, and how many other artists can we say that for? His talent as a Singer and a Composer is highly transparent, but he allows it simply be a vessel to communicate and inform on matters of life and death.
“Wasn’t Justified” is a straightforward, yet highly effective title. It gives you a frank impression of what to anticipate, and it makes a blanket statement in the process. Kelley doesn’t attempt to be a wordsmith in this piece, which may draw a certain criticism from some. Admittedly, “Wasn’t Justified” is so far removed from anything resembling opacity, that it can almost feel like a verbatim recital of official documentation. Conversely, you could argue that this is a completely different approach to lyricism, that quite honestly, warrants one.
The crux here, is of course this terrible occurrence, that resulted in the loss of someone’s life. The Elizabeth City Police Department, claims that it was unavoidable, and Andrew Brown’s family, steadfastly disagrees. Getting to the truth can often be an arduous task, rife with sporadic instances of futility. Unfortunately, Andrew Brown cannot be brought back, and that is a tragedy. Thanks to Darrell Kelley, his case now has a chance to reach more people, in the hopes of eradicating the potential for any future ones to occur.
Claire Uebelacker
The music of Darrell Kelley has been heard all over the world in partnership with the radio plugging services offered by Musik and Film Radio Promotions Division. Learn more https://musikandfilm.com