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Powerful Soundtracks to the London Riots

August 30th, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in Grime | Hip Hop | Rap | UK News - (0 Comments)

Whilst the causes and consequences of the London Riots are indeed complex, and certainly deeper than a lot of the emotive kneejerk comments coming from government and other sources might suggest, it is clear that some powerful songs based in grime, hip hop and rap have captured the mood of at least some sections of the rioters. Take for example the powerful track from 2 K Kolderz They Will Not Control Us which starts:

Dear Mr Prime Minister …
We’re living like shit in this country, while you’ve got your feet up living nice and comfy
Well we know where the problem is, the people acknowledge this: stand up to the politics.

And concludes:

Fuck the Government
I’ve had enough of them.

A very different example is the a cappella UK Riots by Genesis Elijah.

Nate Dogg Dies at 41

March 17th, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in Hip Hop | North America - (Comments Off)

Hip Hop artist Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011), better known as Nate Dogg has died at the age of 41. Recognised as one of the top exponents of West Coast Hip Hop and G-Funk, Nate had a stormy recording career with Death Row Records, and many brushes with the law including a firearms and drug offenses charge in 2002. Like many hip hop artists Nate included political material in his work, with Behind The Walls being a fine example.

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Artists Unite to Produce Khalas Mixtape Vol. 1

February 20th, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in Africa | Arab World Uprisings | Hip Hop | Middle East - (Comments Off)

In a move reflecting what might become a uniting in solidarity of revolutionary movements across the Middle East, artists from Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria have joined together to produce Mixtape Vol. 1 , a compilation of songs about the recent uprisings and protests. The artists are El Génèral (Tunisia), Mr. Shooma (Tunisia), Mohamed Ali Ben Jemaa (Tunisia), Ramy Donjewan (Egypt), Ahmed Rock (Egypt), Revolution Recordz (Egypt), Lotfi Double Kanon (Algeria), and Ibn Thabit (Libya)

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Album Cover

Egypt Fight Song (Behead the King)

February 20th, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in Africa | Arab World Uprisings | Hip Hop | Middle East - (Comments Off)

Egypt Fight Song” (Behead The King) with Bird, The Truth, and produced by DJ Nas, a powerful hip hop summary of the feelings driving the Egyptian Revolution, is available from several web sources, and is an outstanding example of utilising the internet to promote songs for change.

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Hip Hop Song and Tunisian Uprising

February 14th, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in Arab World Uprisings | Hip Hop | Middle East - (Comments Off)

“President Your People Are Dying” by rapper Hamada Ben Amor (a.k.a. El General) helped galvanise protests leading to the overthrow of President Ben Ali when it was widely distributed on Facebook. The song protested against the unemployment, poverty, and police brutality endemic in Tunisia. Ben Amor has now released a further song called “Ode to Arab Revolution” which includes the lyrics “Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, all must be liberated / Long live free Tunisia”. For more see Christopher Weingarten’s article on Pop Dust.

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