During next month’s NAACP national convention, a Mississippi Valley State University sophomore will perform an original song about gun violence.
Brittany McCreary, 25, was invited to sing at the civil rights organization’s annual gathering in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after releasing a music video on YouTube of her single “Out of Control.”
McCreary, who goes by the stage name Lyriq Lashay, said she was inspired to write the rhythm-and-blues tune after watching gun-violence-related cases unfold on television.
“When I was seeing the news, basically I was just really hurt,” she said.
She will perform at the Youth Mass on July 13, the fifth day of the weeklong conference.
MVSU Choral Director John Weiss said that the university was proud of McCreary’s accomplishments.
“I think Lyriq's song ‘Out of Control’ is very creative in its conception,” Weiss said. “I respect Lyriq for the strength of her convictions as well as her persistence.”
McCreary, who is black, said she has become especially concerned by how guns have been used in and against the black community, citing recent national cases in which black males have been killed by police officers. The problem of gun violence, though, affects the entire nation, she said. She wrote her song with the intent of it speaking to people of all races.
Her main goal is to use her music to unite all races and bring awareness to social issues that affect everyone, she said. Racism is one of many topics about which she’s passionate.
Becoming socially conscious has helped McCreary grow as an artist, she said. “At first, I was trying to fit in.” Now, she wants her music to be an example of turning outrage into resolutions, she said.
McCreary attributes her recent success to her change in mind-set and encourages others to do the same.
“When your goal is bigger than you, you can succeed,” she said.
• Contact Chloe Ricks at 581-7124 or cricks@gwcommonwealth.com.
