Posts Tagged ‘conscious hip-hop’

Rebel Diaz – Work Like Chávez

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.]

Tribute to Victor Jara: Broken Hands Play Guitars

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”.

New album: Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change – History Will Absolve Us

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).

Get it

Tracklist

  1. A New World ft Big Frizzle
  2. Start The Revolution ft G1 (Rebel Diaz)
  3. 99 to 1
  4. Never Be A Slave ft Logic and Big Frizzle
  5. Get Your Hands Off Africa ft Akala and Nana D
  6. Be All You Can Be ft Intikana
  7. Never Too Late ft Wordplay and Nana D
  8. Never The Answer
  9. Beautiful Together ft Nana D
  10. Unoccupy The World ft RodStarz (Rebel Diaz)
  11. Hands Off Syria
  12. 99 to 1 remix ft Jasiri X, Kayohes, Ed Greens, Melissa Melodee
  13. History Will Absolve Us ft Nana D

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