Check out the new beat tape from Agent of Change, released today to mark the 60th anniversary of the start of the Cuban Revolution. The 18 hip-hop instrumentals (with a couple of feature verses from Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela!) celebrate Cuban culture, drawing influence and samples from Cuba’s diverse musical heritage.
Why Cuba? Here’s an article detailing some of the things that make Cuba worthy of support.
Today marks 25 years since the army of apartheid South Africa was forced to start withdrawing from Angola after 13 years’ intervention in that country’s civil war, having been defeated in battle by a joint Angolan-Cuban force. Over the course of 1975-88, nearly 400,000 Cubans volunteered in Angola, mostly as soldiers but also as doctors, nurses, teachers and advisers. This is one of the greatest historical examples of revolutionary internationalism. When Nelson Mandela visited Cuba a year after his release from prison, he made an emotional speech in Havana in recognition of Cuba’s contribution to the liberation of southern Africa. That speech is sampled in this track.
“This is revolutionary Cuba; internationalist Cuba; the country that has done so much for the peoples of Africa. The Cuban people hold a special place in the hearts of the people of Africa. The Cuban internationalists have made a contribution to African independence, freedom and justice unparalleled for its principled and selfless character. From its earliest days the Cuban Revolution has itself been a source of inspiration to all freedom-loving people. We admire the sacrifices of the Cuban people in maintaining their independence and sovereignty in the face of a vicious imperialist-orchestrated campaign to destroy the impressive gains made in the Cuban Revolution.
We too want to control our own destiny… Long live the Cuban revolution.”
Fidel was overcome with emotion on hearing Madiba’s speech. In his own speech, he said:
“It would not be right for us to emphasise Cuba’s modest contribution to the cause of the South African people, but on hearing Mandela’s speech, compañeros, I believe that he paid the greatest and most profound tribute that has ever been paid to our internationalist fighters. I believe that his words will remain, as if they were written in gold letters, as a homage to our combatants. He was generous, very generous; he recalled the epic feat our people performed in Africa, where all the spirit of this revolution was manifested, all its heroism and steadfastness…
“We knew – how could we not know! – that those events [in Angola] would have a profound effect on the life of South Africa itself, and this was one of the reasons, one of the motives, one of the great incentives that pushed us on. Because we knew that once the problem in Angola was resolved, the forces that were fighting against apartheid would also benefit from our struggles.
“But have we said it this way before? No, never, because we believe that above and beyond the enormous support from abroad … the decisive and determining factor behind the ANC’s successes was the heroism, the spirit of sacrifice and struggle of the South African people led by the ANC.
“This man, in these times of cowardice and so many things, has come to tell us what he told us this afternoon. It is something that can never be forgotten and it reveals the human, moral and revolutionary dimension of Nelson Mandela.”
Please enjoy and share the track! Long live Cuba and long live free Africa! The legacy of Nelson Mandela lives forever!
Check out the latest track from Rebel Diaz, a tribute to the recently-deceased Venezuelan President, Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, perhaps the most important political leader of our generation.
In a very difficult period of history, where US domination was near-universal, and where the IMF and World Bank were holding much of the so-called Third World to ransom, Chávez and his comrades were able to forge a different path: the path of socialism. As a result, the poor of Venezuela have seen a dramatic improvement in their living standards over the last 14 years: poverty has been massively reduced, education levels are much higher, healthcare is much more widely spread, and young people have greater access to cultural facilities than ever before. Furthermore, a solid start has been made on attacking the deep-rooted racism and sexism that have formed part of the dominant narrative in Venezuela for so long.
On the international level, Chávez was a true internationalist and anti-imperialist, inspiring a wave of positive change across Latin America, and giving loud, practical support to other countries under attack from the west.
The man is dead, but his legacy is the living, breathing, Venezuelan Revolution. We honour him by continuing his work with ever-greater dedication. Work Like Chávez!
[The intro sample is from legendary Venezuelan musician and activist, Alí Primera. The words translate as “Those who die for life can not be called dead. From this moment on, mourning is prohibited”. The sample in the main beat is from Simón Díaz, one of the most important figures in Venezuelan folk music.]
Rebel Diaz and Agent of Change celebrate what would have been Victor Jara’s 80th birthday with a firing new tribute track.
Victor Jara was one of the leaders of the Nueva Canción (spanish for ‘New Song’) movement – a movement based around “socially committed” music; music that takes a clear stand for freedom, against poverty, against imperialism and against human rights abuses. Nueva Canción gave voice to the millions of peasants, workers and indigenous peoples of Latin America who were being crushed under the weight of US economic and political dominance.
The date 11 September causes most westerners nowadays to think of the World Trade Centre attacks. However, for many, it will forever be remembered as the date on which, in 1973, the Chilean military overthrew the socialist government of Salvador Allende in a bloody coup. That coup, which brought the fascist Augusto Pinochet to power, was in large part planned and 100% supported by the United States (Henry Kissinger is on record as saying: “I don’t see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people. The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves.”)
On 12 September 1973, Jara, along with several thousands of Allende supporters, was taken hostage by the military and taken to Chile Stadium (now known as Estadio Víctor Jara). Along with many others, he was beaten and tortured; his hands were broken, but his resolve was not. When soldiers taunted him and told him to play something on his guitar (in spite of his broken hands), he played Venceremos (We Will Win). On 15 September, he was murdered.
Across the world, Victor Jara is remembered as a hero and a martyr; an exemplary musician who put his skill and his passion entirely at the service of the struggle for a better life for humanity. In commemorating his death and celebrating his life, we should remember the principal lesson he teaches us: that culture is a weapon, one which must be wielded effectively in these times where oppression and repression are so prevalent. As Paul Robeson said, “The artist must elect to fight for freedom or slavery”.
“Misogyny is a huge problem in hip-hop,” says radical rapper Marcel Cartier. “Even ‘progressive’ artists often fall victim to being perpetrators of sexist lyrics.”
The empathetic emcee hits chauvinists where it hurts on his new album, History Will Absolve Us. On the plaintive, piano-driven “Never The Answer” he raps:
One in four women face domestic violence
It’s a shame that so many feel the need to stay silent
And worse even still many blame themselves
Like whatever they did justifies this hell
But there’s never an excuse for this sick abuse
It can be physical or it’s verbal too.
“All men in this backward capitalist society have sexism within them,” Cartier tells Green Left. “But the goal must be to transform ourselves as much as possible in the process of trying to transform the world.”
Carlos Martinez, the multi-instrumentalist who wrote the music on Cartier’s album, is equally outspoken on the issue. “Misogyny is a major problem within hip-hop, as it is in society in general,” he tells Green Left.
“I think that the misogynistic language that is so socially acceptable today is an awful lot like the ‘scientific racism’ that was widely acceptable 50 years ago.”
Musician and activist Martinez, who is better known by his musical moniker, Agent Of Change, is unequivocal about what has to be done.
“We have to move above this bullshit,” he says. “Hip-hop is often very tuned into race issues while ignoring other dimensions of oppression. We have to unite around a platform of opposition to ALL forms of oppression.”
History Will Absolve Us tackles many forms oppression head-on, from war and empire to inequality and globalisation, with spine-tingling results. Both artists have benefited from being raised with a more worldly outlook than most.
“My dad’s from north India – the Punjab – and mum was born in England, but of Spanish descent,” says the 34-year-old Martinez. “I grew up in west London with my mum and grandmother. I was lucky to go to school with a lot of people from different national and ethnic backgrounds – especially African-Caribbean and South Asian – so I was absorbing a lot of different cultural influences from a young age.”
Cartier’s upbringing was perhaps even more eye-opening. “I was born in 1984 in Heidelberg, West Germany, to a Finnish mother and American father, who was at that time working for the US Army,” he says.
“Because of this, my childhood was spent on US military bases both in Germany and England. My French name comes from my father’s side of the family, as my great-grandfather had moved from Canada to the US.”
Cartier says he began writing songs in England at the age of 14, influenced by highbrow hip hoppers such as Dead Prez, KRS-One and Talib Kweli. “These rappers helped me to challenge the ideology that I had thus far been instilled with,” he says.
“I began to challenge the narrative about the ‘greatness’ of the United States. My art began to reflect this change in worldview more and more through the years. In 2008, I completely broke with my military background by moving to New York City, to not only further pursue my hip-hop career, but to become a part of the revolutionary movement.”
It was a move that also eventuated in Cartier’s arrest. “’99 to 1′ on the album is a song that was influenced by the Occupy Wall Street movement,” he says. “I directly participated in this in New York City, including the October 1 mass arrest on the Brooklyn Bridge – I was detained for 12 hours. The song paints a very optimistic picture of the protest movement in the US.”
His move to New York also saw him team up with revolutionary rappers and activists Rebel Diaz, who are no strangers to arrest themselves. The children of Chilean activists, Rebel Diaz appear on one of the album’s many goosebump-garnering moments, “Start The Revolution”.
The song delivers one of Cartier’s copious killer lines: “I’m about as American as you can get, I rep the people, you rep the one per cent.” But just how patriotic is he seen by his military father?
“We obviously have diametrically opposed points of view,” says the rapper. “But there was never really any pressure from my father to follow in his footsteps, so I don’t think he was necessarily disappointed when I chose not to join the military.”
Cartier also emphatically urges others not to join up, putting the forces firmly in the crosshairs of his lethal lines and rapid-fire delivery in “Be All You Can Be”.
“‘Be All You Can Be’ was the slogan of the US Army until 2006,” he says. “Instead of being a pawn for corporate interests, I am encouraging young people to ‘be all they can be’ by rebelling against the system of degradation.”
But the song also expresses empathy with those who sign up to the services – a rare insight no doubt influenced by Cartier’s upbringing. Guest emcee Intikana raps:
I’ve spoken to policemen
Had a heart to heart with them
By a seat aside spoke without the harsh venom
And all they really want is bread to feed their family
The force wasn’t their first choice but to be secure financially
It’s tempting when you’ve never had a plan B
To retire with a pension at the age of 50.
But despite Cartier’s concessions, Martinez is probably seen as far less of an errant child. The producer, whose mother and father were college teachers, says: “Both my parents were – and still are – traditional Marxist-Leninists, so the political influence has always been there.
“Although I don’t have quite the same politics as my parents, I appreciate the fact that I was brought up to question the dominant narrative.”
There were also “a lot of books around”, which made Martinez the public speaker and talented writer with a lot to say, as can be seen on his blog, Beat Knowledge. So why doesn’t he rap?
“I’ve never really tried it,” he says. “I’d probably sound stupid – you need a cool voice. Also, I can write articles and stuff easily enough, but the abstraction of poetry doesn’t come naturally to me.”
Cartier not only has the voice and poetry, he also has melodies that can mould themselves into listeners’ minds. “Never Be A Slave”, a curse on colonialism that name-checks Aboriginal Australians, shackles itself to the subconscious like a pair of unbreakable manacles.
Unlike most emcees, Cartier also recognises the chain that links racism and sexism. “While sexism is truly a problem in hip-hop, I would identify the primary problem as being hip-hop’s hijacking by the white power structure,” he says.
“It is that structure that aims to further perpetuate misogyny.”
Support the artists by buying the album or listen to it and download it for free below…
MARCEL CARTIER TELLS GREEN LEFT ABOUT SOME OF THE KEY SONGS ON THE ALBUM…
“Get Your Hands Off Africa”
“This song speaks to the exploitation of Africa, both in colonial times and today under neo-colonialism. It points to the fact that the development of Europe came as a consequence of the pillage and rape of Africa. It addresses the role of AFRICOM in the US agenda to assert dominance over the continent through puppet regimes, and the demonisation campaign against governments that dare to be independent, such as ZANU in Zimbabwe.”
“Unoccupy the World”
“This song touches on the US wars of aggression in Afghanistan and Libya, and the propaganda war that has long been waged against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The final verse from guest artist Rodstarz of Rebel Diaz addresses the war being waged against the black and brown community INSIDE of the US. By tying together domestic and international issues, we strive to make the connections between the lack of basic necessities in our communities and the aggressive posture of the US ruling class toward the oppressed peoples of the planet.”
“Hands off Syria”
“This song has been quite controversial. It was never written to be a ‘Pro-Assad’ song, but rather to present a message of anti-imperialism without exception, and to present a more balanced picture of the situation on the ground in Syria. The ‘balance of forces’ that I speak to aims to ask the question: if the current government falls, what will fill the vacuum? Will it be progressive? Or will it be a neo-colonial proxy regime?”
“History Will Absolve Us”
“This song is completely unapologetic for standing up for one’s convictions and principles, regardless of whether or not that view is particularly popular at the moment, even WITHIN the left. The second verse calls out segments of the left who have been complicit in the re-colonisation of Libya by siding with a reactionary proxy army.”
AGENT OF CHANGE TELLS GREEN LEFT ABOUT HIS FAVOURITE HIP HOP BOOKS…
“I’m a book person – I generally read for a couple of hours a day, so I get through ‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop – a brilliant history of hip-hop; MK Asante Jr’s ‘It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop’ – dealing with the social, political and cultural issues connected with the hip-hop generation; and, perhaps, Billy Wimsatt’s ‘No More Prisons’, which is a fascinating, old and opinionated book about organising around the hip-hop generation. Bakari Kitwana and Michael Dyson have written some very interesting stuff too. Believe it or not, I also thought Jay Z’s ‘Decoded’, which he wrote in collaboration with the brilliant Dream Hampton, was really insightful.”
Carlos Martinez, also known as Agent of Change, speaks in London this year.
Brand new: an album of militant conscious hip-hop from rapper Marcel Cartier and producer Agent of Change, with guest appearances from Akala, Jasiri X, Logic, Rebel Diaz, Wordplay, Big Frizzle, Nana D, Ed Greens, Melissa Melodee, Kayohes and Intikana. Lead vocals on all tracks by Marcel Cartier. All tracks produced by Agent of Change (Carlos Martinez).
Tracklist
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01 FEAR NOTHING
02 HEAD NOD
03 BOUNCE BACK
04 MY GENERATION
05 FUNKY FLOW
06 TALK TO ME
07 THANKFUL
08 DON’T GIVE UP
09 OLD TIMER
10 NINE LIVES
11 UNRECONSTRUCTED JUNGLIST
12 BLUEVER
13 HARD TO GET
14 THE SIMPLE TRUTH
15 SOULFUL LOVE
16 STRAIGHTFORWARD
17 DONE BEEN THRU IT ALL
18 THE LAST DANCE
19 SOMETHING FROM NOTHING
—————————————
Here’s the final free download from the album ‘History Will Absolve Us’ – a collaboration project between Marcel Cartier and myself.
The album will be dropping in June and will contain 8 new tracks, on top of the 6 tracks that we’ve dropped on Soundcloud and Youtube over the last few months.
‘Start the Revolution’ features the considerable turntable skills of Terry Hooligan. No prizes for spotting the scratch sample 🙂
Militant raps, funky golden-era sound, heavy cuts… do you want more?
Released to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the defeat of the anti-popular US-backed coup in Venezuela, the video for Area 23’s track ‘Patriotas’ traces the history of the coup and the popular rebellion that restored Hugo Chavez to power. The song itself describes the tremendous anger felt by ordinary Venezuelans about the coup and their determination to reverse it.
In addition to the video, there is also a brand new remix by Agent of Change.
Lyrics (Spanish):
Es que no entienden la vida no es como ellos la piensan
La vida es una historia con unas ganas inmensas
La vida es lo que nace de la misma conciencia
Ahora son ocho estrellas en sintonía y frecuencia
Ahora el poder es del pueblo que no hará mas reverencia
Ahora cuando el cerro baja es que caracas tiembla
Secuestraron al líder bajo la noche y la niebla
Como dice el veneco ya nos sacaron la piedra
El líder fue secuestrado, secuestrado el vocero
Un grito desmesurado desde el 23 de enero
Desde la vega cotiza, desde petare entero
En donde hay revolución hay voluntades de acero
Una guardia de honor que enfrento a los traicioneros
Si por el televisor no se veía ese balacero
Solo se veía a estanga jugando a ser don dinero
Con una cara de panga con ínfulas de banquero
El 11 tus intereses el 13 son los del pueblo
Fascistas solo lograron dejarnos un mal recuerdo
Pero los que convocaron de sus casas no salieron
Porque aquí no importa el bando importan son los que murieron
Aquí no importa el bando importan son los que murieron.
11 de abril concentración masiva
de Chuao a Miraflores a entregar una misiva
gran movimiento de mentes confundidas
carne de cañón para el imperio genocida
usando a mi gente y colocando al frente tal vez a los mas inocentes
tomando como argumento un fantasioso encuentro chavez de dos marchas diferentes
Avenida Baralt con puente llaguno escenario presencial del deseo de algunos
Muere Tortosa y su empeño reporteril junto a los sueños de su esposa en una bala de fusil
Caos pánico y sigue muriendo gente
Medios en sincronía acusando al presidente
Pero el pueblo se dio cuenta que no estaba actuando mal
Cuando a canales del estado les tumbaron la señal.
Cayeron inocentes, civiles patriotas
Se mantuvo el guerrero teniendo puestas las botas
En la mirada tristeza esperanza en la mano
Con un fusil de conciencia llamado soberano.
Se desbordaron las calles convertidas en trincheras
El enemigo ha logrado la división desde afuera
Contrato mercenarios los puso en las azoteas
Soborno policías los dedico a la tarea
Mientras que matan al pueblo no hay informe de tele
Solo se ven comiquitas pero la sangre huele
Un olor que te grita el llanto de un inocente
Por una bala accionada por el cañón de un demente
Pero olvidaron al joven que tiene alta la frente
Que no olvida la patria siempre la lleva presente
A capa y espada con el peligro latente
Bajo desde el cerro en busca del presidente
Se derrumba un país, nos derrumban un país.
Bajo desde el cerro en busca del presidente.
Se derrumba un país un golpe ya esta en practica
Empresas en rumba atacan de forma mediática
Un nuevo presidente se levanta sin sufragio
Derrocan un comandante pero no callan al barrio
Una CTV que jode que mata trabajadores
Inocentes anteponen por vida de gente pobre
Saldrá muy caro el paro el pueblo ya lo declaro
La rebelión de los barrios aplasto tu descaro
Que paso Venezuela mataron la vocación?
Eliminaron nuestra lucha y tumban la revolución?
De madrugada militares preparan emboscadas
Revelarse al proceso será una empresa muy cara
Programación especial pa que nadie se percate
Que la gente ta en la calle y que saldrán al rescate
No se tolera un secuestro, que las voces se unan
El bravo se defiende desde un gran fuerte Tiuna
Paracaidistas libertarios que no se detuvieron
Marcharon, atacaron, rescataron nuestro cielo
Ahora con tantas voces que se oiga en el mundo entero
Venezuela no le teme a la fuerza de un imperio.
No, ya no le teme.
Venezuela no le teme a la fuerza de un imperio.
Ya no le teme.
Venezuela no le teme a la fuerza.
Big love to Nana D for creating this video for “Get Your Hands Off Africa” (by Marcel Cartier, featuring Akala and Nana D, produced by Agent of Change).
