Common brought Michael Brown’s parents, Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden, on stage last night for a powerful moment of silence following the rapper’s tribute performance at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Though the show aired last night, it was taped in September, a little over a month after the teen was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.
The Resurrection rapper, who has been very vocal about the situation in Missouri, performed “Kingdom,” off his recent album Nobody’s Smiling, with the help of Vince Staples and Jay Electronica. The gospel-infused song was a moving and fitting choice, complete with a choir and heaven-like stage design. As the song wrapped up, Brown’s parents walked on stage, and the otherwise raucous crowd fell silent, arms raised in memory and solidarity. Video of the touching moment (via Revolt) is above.
Earlier this week, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello chimed in on the Ferguson affair with a stirring protest anthem, and musicians like Run the Jewels’ Killer Mike have been vocal about the killing and continued protests in Ferguson.
