‘400 Years’ is a critically acclaimed powerful black protest track and slavery legacy reminder. The song is accompanied by an impassioned official music video that sees its singer/producer/writer, Ruff Gr8ness, re-enacting the pain that his – and every black person born in North America or the Caribbean’s – slave ancestors endured.

The song and video connect the kidnapping of black people from the continent of Africa, their enslavement in the American colonies, as they toiled as indentured servants picking crops such as tobacco and cotton, to post-emancipation proclamation methods of oppressing them.

The video attempts to show how plantation slaves suffered living in inhumane conditions and how modern-day black people are still prone to inhumane treatment.

Part of the proceeds from “400 YEARS” will be donated to Black Lives Matter (Toronto), where Ruff Gr8ness is based, and other organizations that advocate for non-violent protest against all racially motivated violence and systematic racism against black people.

RUFF GR8NESS – 400 YEARS [LYRICS]

INTRO:
Yeah
You aint know what we do man
This one, we gon black out
Straight
It blacker than a mother
Ya dig?
Aight

CHORUS:
The chain on me put me to work
Blooding my back
Rip up my shirt
Let it be, my fingers hurt
400 YEARS
Feel the pain growing bigger yeah
Feel the pain growing bigger yeah
Feel the pain in my neck again
Feel the pain in my neck again
Now it’s pain in the duffle bag
Only pain in the duffle bag
Now you wonder why I bang bang
So, you wonder why I bang bang

VERSE 1:
Some people don’t like what I do
But I love what I do
could give a WHAT about you
And people don’t like what I say
But I say anyway
Coz that’s how I stay
Tell me, how you gon fly
If you scared of heights
And tell me, how you gon ride
If you scared to die

CHORUS:
The chain on me put me to work
Blooding my back
Rip up my shirt
Let it be, my fingers hurt
400 YEARS
Feel the pain growing bigger yeah
Feel the pain growing bigger yeah
Feel the pain in my neck again
Feel the pain in my neck again
Now it’s pain in the duffle bag
Only pain in the duffle bag
Now you wonder why I bang bang
So, you wonder why I bang bang

VERSE 2:
On your daddy back
hear the whip crack
Yet still it’s me that you’re grillin
Instead of the fro-grow
You let the snow blow
Now you call yourself a ‘G’ tho
Tell me, how we gon rise
You can’t stand with I
And tell me, how you gon try
If you’re scared to try

CHORUS:
The chain on me put me to work
Blooding my back
Rip up my shirt
Let it be, my fingers hurt
400 YEARS
Feel the pain growing bigger yeah
Feel the pain growing bigger yeah
Feel the pain in my neck again
Feel the pain in my neck again
Now it’s pain in the duffle bag
Only pain in the duffle bag
And you wonder why I bang bang
So, you wonder why I bang bang

ABOUT RUFF GR8NESS

WHAT MAKES @RUFFGR8NESS THE “THE PAST, THE PRESENT &, THE FUTURE OF POP, RNB & FUNK”? – The Past: The spirit and essence of the greats, like Michael Jackson and Prince, flows through him. – THE FUTURE: RUFF GR8NESS BREAKS THE MOLD FROM TODAY’S GENERIC MUSIC AND CREATES NEW TRENDS WITH HIS BOLD FUSIONS AND EXPERIMENTAL STYLE. – Present: Without him, today’s musical landscape would be emotionally & creatively emptier.

Chrispen ‘Spreez’ Pasi – Hit Different Production

Intriguing Productions, Vocal Style & Tone – Which Is Unlike Any Artist Out Today.

A WRITER FOR HIMSELF & OTHERS
Ruff Gr8ness writes and produces HIT-QUALITY songs in multiple genres for other artists, including female singers.

Get to know Ruff Gr8ness through a documentary series that captures his path to stardom, titled “THE JOURNEY”.

In this episode @ruffgr8ness explains what drives him to succeed. Hint: It ain’t money! #Subscribe #Like #Share #Comment . . **RUFF GR8NESS represents the successful transition of creativity from one realm to another. Wanna know what this looks like? Watch the on-going Webisodes series that’s showcasing how a man can go from being good in one field to being GR8 in another… Follow @ruffgr8ness everywhere and witness #TheJourney

ABOUT RUFF GR8NESS

WHAT MAKES @RUFFGR8NESS THE “THE PAST, THE PRESENT &, THE FUTURE OF POP, RNB & FUNK”? – The Past: The spirit and essence of the greats, like Michael Jackson and Prince, flows through him. – THE FUTURE: RUFF GR8NESS BREAKS THE MOLD FROM TODAY’S GENERIC MUSIC AND CREATES NEW TRENDS WITH HIS BOLD FUSIONS AND EXPERIMENTAL STYLE. – Present: Without him, today’s musical landscape would be emotionally & creatively emptier.

Chrispen ‘Spreez’ Pasi – Hit Different Production

Intriguing Productions, Vocal Style & Tone – Which Is Unlike Any Artist Out Today.

A WRITER FOR HIMSELF & OTHERS
Ruff Gr8ness writes and produces HIT-QUALITY songs in multiple genres for other artists, including female singers.

Get to know Ruff Gr8ness through a documentary series that captures his path to stardom, titled “THE JOURNEY”.

In this episode @ruffgr8ness builds a condenser mic and uses FL Studio, in an attempt to record professional quality music. #Subscribe#Like#Share#Comment . . **RUFF GR8NESS represents the successful transition of creativity from one realm to another. Wanna know what this looks like? Watch the on-going Webisodes series that’s showcasing how a man can go from being good in one field to being GR8 in another… Follow @ruffgr8ness everywhere and witness #TheJourney

ABOUT RUFF GR8NESS

WHAT MAKES @RUFFGR8NESS THE “THE PAST, THE PRESENT &, THE FUTURE OF POP, RNB & FUNK”? – The Past: The spirit and essence of the greats, like Michael Jackson and Prince, flows through him. – THE FUTURE: RUFF GR8NESS BREAKS THE MOLD FROM TODAY’S GENERIC MUSIC AND CREATES NEW TRENDS WITH HIS BOLD FUSIONS AND EXPERIMENTAL STYLE. – Present: Without him, today’s musical landscape would be emotionally & creatively emptier.

Chrispen ‘Spreez’ Pasi – Hit Different Production

Intriguing Productions, Vocal Style & Tone – Which Is Unlike Any Artist Out Today.

A WRITER FOR HIMSELF & OTHERS
Ruff Gr8ness writes and produces HIT-QUALITY songs in multiple genres for other artists, including female singers.

Get to know Ruff Gr8ness through a documentary series that captures his path to stardom, titled “THE JOURNEY”.

In this episode @ruffgr8ness completes steps to beginning recording professional quality R&B/Pop music in Spreez basement, using moving blankets as sound barriers! He also shows off the $10 speakers he bought from Walmart and used to mix the music . #Subscribe #Like #Share #Comment . . **RUFF GR8NESS represents the successful transition of creativity from one realm to another. Wanna know what this looks like? Watch the on-going Webisodes series that’s showcasing how a man can go from being good in one field to being GR8 in another… Follow @ruffgr8ness everywhere and witness #TheJourney

ABOUT RUFF GR8NESS

WHAT MAKES @RUFFGR8NESS THE “THE PAST, THE PRESENT &, THE FUTURE OF POP, RNB & FUNK”? – The Past: The spirit and essence of the greats, like Michael Jackson and Prince, flows through him. – THE FUTURE: RUFF GR8NESS BREAKS THE MOLD FROM TODAY’S GENERIC MUSIC AND CREATES NEW TRENDS WITH HIS BOLD FUSIONS AND EXPERIMENTAL STYLE. – Present: Without him, today’s musical landscape would be emotionally & creatively emptier.

Chrispen ‘Spreez’ Pasi – Hit Different Production

Intriguing Productions, Vocal Style & Tone – Which Is Unlike Any Artist Out Today.

A WRITER FOR HIMSELF & OTHERS
Ruff Gr8ness writes and produces HIT-QUALITY songs in multiple genres for other artists, including female singers.

Get to know Ruff Gr8ness through a documentary series that captures his path to stardom, titled “THE JOURNEY”.

In this episode @ruffgr8ness gives an 80’s themed performance of BAD TINGG, the freestyle song he wrote, produced, recorded, mixed & mastered in Spreez basement using the mic he built from scratch, the makeshift recording booth he made with moving blankets and just FL Studio. BUT, the catch is that Bad Tingg is only a freestyle and there is another OFFICIAL release on the same instrumental coming in the next episodes! Stay Tuned… #Subscribe #Like #Share #Comment . . **RUFF GR8NESS represents the successful transition of creativity from one realm to another. Wanna know what this looks like? Watch the on-going Webisodes series that’s showcasing how a man can go from being good in one field to being GR8 in another… Follow @ruffgr8ness everywhere and witness #TheJourney

ABOUT RUFF GR8NESS

WHAT MAKES @RUFFGR8NESS THE “THE PAST, THE PRESENT &, THE FUTURE OF POP, RNB & FUNK”? – The Past: The spirit and essence of the greats, like Michael Jackson and Prince, flows through him. – THE FUTURE: RUFF GR8NESS BREAKS THE MOLD FROM TODAY’S GENERIC MUSIC AND CREATES NEW TRENDS WITH HIS BOLD FUSIONS AND EXPERIMENTAL STYLE. – Present: Without him, today’s musical landscape would be emotionally & creatively emptier.

Chrispen ‘Spreez’ Pasi – Hit Different Production

Intriguing Productions, Vocal Style & Tone – Which Is Unlike Any Artist Out Today.

A WRITER FOR HIMSELF & OTHERS
Ruff Gr8ness writes and produces HIT-QUALITY songs in multiple genres for other artists, including female singers.

Get to know Ruff Gr8ness through a documentary series that captures his path to stardom, titled “THE JOURNEY”.

Presenting the most powerful and poignant poem addressing the issue of racial prejudice and the legacy of slavery that persists today. Read the poem lyrics below the video…

FREE ME by @ruffgr8ness

Free me..
Beyond 50 shades of Chains n Bondage
Heavenly fonded, devil’s scoundrel
Weak in my tees for a Rapaunzel,
Free me..
My complexion just a reflection of ancestral connection,
Was it love and affection..nahhh..whippings without protection,
Free me..
Lineage of pain brings forth nothing less than potent strain,
May the heavy rain increase our numbers with better grain,
Free me..
I close my eyes n circle the belt of Orion,
Ites up His Imperial Majesty inna Mount Zion,
My guala go to different forms of heavy ion,
You just dropping Caps you scared to try on,

Free me..
Since a young buck they say boy quit it..
But I never gave a what bout a critic…
See my sh* too acidic

Free me..
Let it go let it fro,
Let it grow and let it show,
Flaming charcoal only melts the snow..

400 Years

We’re Coming

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#Subscribe #Like #Share #Comment . . **RUFF GR8NESS represents the successful transition of creativity from one realm to another. Wanna know what this looks like? Watch the on-going Webisodes series that’s showcasing how a man can go from being good in one field to being GR8 in another… Follow @ruffgr8ness everywhere and witness #TheJourney

ABOUT RUFF GR8NESS

WHAT MAKES @RUFFGR8NESS THE “THE PAST, THE PRESENT &, THE FUTURE OF POP, RNB & FUNK”? – The Past: The spirit and essence of the greats, like Michael Jackson and Prince, flows through him. – THE FUTURE: RUFF GR8NESS BREAKS THE MOLD FROM TODAY’S GENERIC MUSIC AND CREATES NEW TRENDS WITH HIS BOLD FUSIONS AND EXPERIMENTAL STYLE. – Present: Without him, today’s musical landscape would be emotionally & creatively emptier.

Chrispen ‘Spreez’ Pasi – Hit Different Production

Intriguing Productions, Vocal Style & Tone – Which Is Unlike Any Artist Out Today.

A WRITER FOR HIMSELF & OTHERS
Ruff Gr8ness writes and produces HIT-QUALITY songs in multiple genres for other artists, including female singers.