Hell You Talmbout


"Hell You Talmbout" is a 2015 protest song by Janelle Monáe and the members of her Wondaland artist collective, including Deep Cotton, George 2.0, Jidenna, Roman GianArthur, and St. Beauty. The word "talmbout" in the title is a contraction of "talking about"; thus, the title asks "what the hell are you talking about?" The song lists the names of various African-American people who died as a result of encounters with law enforcement and/or racial violence, and implores listeners to say the names of the dead. Wondaland and Monáe subsequently released the instrumental track of the song, so that listeners could make their own versions.

Names invoked

The song received favourable reviews, and many spoke positively about the message of the song. Fast Company described it as "simple yet unquestionably powerful", stating that it will force listeners to remember those who have been murdered. Stereogum called it "less a song and more of a chant, with some gospel overtones", and emphasized that it is both "simple" and "effective". USA Today declared it the 'song of the week', praising the song's "simple but stark approach" of only listing names rather than describing circumstances, and attributing this to a desire to avoid "arguments that can quickly turn divisive and bitter", while National Public Radio called it "visceral" and "blistering".
Malcolm Gladwell's audiobook Talking to Strangers, a reflection on the psychology surrounding the arrest and death of Sandra Bland, uses "Hell You Talmbout" as a theme song: "I was almost finished with my book when I first heard , and I thought, 'I cannot publish Talking to Strangers without it.'"

Other versions

Monáe released a shorter alternate version of the song as a Target exclusive bonus track to her second studio album The Electric Lady.
Transgender rights advocate Vita Elizabeth Cleveland recorded an answer song, "Hell Y'all Ain't Talmbout", which focuses on the names of murdered African-American trans women.
David Byrne and his band performed "Hell You Talmbout" as the final encore each night on his American Utopia Tour. Byrne said, "This is one of the most moving political songs that I'd ever heard" and chose it because it "...ends the show on the vibe of, "This is where we are at in 2018."" A version of it appears on the "American Utopia on Broadway" album. The song is also official theme song for the audiobook written by Malcolm Gladwell along with Travis Wilkerson film Did You Wonder Who Fired the Gun?