“Baltimore City/Let the Brothers Breathe” — partick costello Anthem of Outrage and Hope

Knabokov Collection’s “Baltimore City/Let the Brothers Breathe” stands as both a protest anthem and a deeply emotional plea for humanity. Emerging from the collective grief and outrage surrounding the killings of Freddie Gray, Eric Garner, and Michael Brown, this track channels a nation’s pain into something profoundly resonant. Written in the wake of those tragedies and reignited by the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the song feels just as urgent today — perhaps even more so — as police violence continues unabated across the United States. Musically, “Baltimore City/Let the Brothers Breathe” is steeped in the traditions of blues and R&B-infused rock, echoing the soul of protest music from the 1960s and ’70s.

Its structure recalls the raw immediacy of artists like Gil Scott-Heron and early Marvin Gaye, yet it carries the grit and electricity of modern rock. The track’s chorus rises like a rallying cry — both lament and demand — pleading for the protection and dignity of Black lives that have too often been disregarded. The performance itself is electric. Tommy Odetto’s guitar work cuts through with emotional urgency, while Tim Baker’s bass grounds the track with rhythmic conviction. Desiree Joly’s background vocals add depth and gospel-like power, amplifying the track’s spiritual core.

At the heart of it all is Patrick Costello’s impassioned drumming and vocal delivery — raw, wounded, and resolute. The recording, engineered and arranged by Ari Rios at Laughing Tiger Studios, captures that live, defiant energy without sacrificing clarity or intention. What makes “Baltimore City/Let the Brothers Breathe” unforgettable is not just its musicianship, but its moral clarity. It refuses to look away. It names the pain, confronts the injustice, and reminds us that silence is complicity. In a world still scarred by racial violence and systemic oppression, Knabokov Collection’s song stands as both a eulogy and a rallying anthem — a timeless testament to resistance, remembrance, and the enduring power of music to demand change.