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Anti-Empire
Human Rights in IrelandIndymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
Lockdown Skeptics
Voltaire NetworkVoltaire, international edition
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Nice to see some political Rap music international |
arts and media |
opinion/analysis
 Tuesday January 22, 2008 03:30 by wageslave
 Immortal technique. A breath of fresh air in a choking corporate musical gangsta bling wasteland Very catchy tune !! Felipe Coronel (born February 19, 1978), better known as Immortal Technique, is a hip hop MC and political activist. He is of Afro-Peruvian descent and was raised in Harlem, New York. Most of his lyrics focus on socio-political issues. The views expressed in his lyrics are largely a mixture of commentary on issues such as poverty, religion, and racism. He also focuses on the harsh resulting realities of criminality in the housing projects of New York City's slums. Although he has been offered a deal with at least one major record label,[1][2] he has never signed to any. Immortal Technique has voiced a desire to keep control over his production, and has made statements in his music that he is very aware that it is record companies, not the artists themselves, who profit the most from mass production and marketing of music. Play some for the kids near you! Politics doesn't have to be dull and colourless. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortal_Technique http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntQfkc7DRsY |
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Comments (13 of 13)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13Brian 'Yap' Barry who was lead singer with One Minute Silence is now with the London band Pink Punk. This is their video 'Yapolitical'
The Video for the Faithless song Bombs is very effective, despite it's lack of bombastic lyrics. It confronts people with all the things they hold precious and seek comfort in as compared to the actions they condone and tolerate. For this reason it was either banned or not shown on the Millionaire Media. Brittany can show her underwear and simulate sex onstage but we don't want our kids seeing filth like this!
I agree, immortal is a bit bombastic but lots of kids like that. Not at all subtle, a bit conspiracy theory-ish. You might say the bad michael moore of rap politics, but it is accessible and may be enough to get em started! Later on you can change them over to the hard stuff! :)
can anyone top joe's vids?
Immortal Technique has a song about gang rape and spends most of his time these days pushing 9/11 conspiracy junk. He's about as radical as a tootbrush, there's plenty of good political hiphop that doesnt resort to his shit like POS, Perceptionists, Chain of Command, Mr Manage.
Hey, it ain't a bunfight. Its an exploration! :)
I freely confess to knowing nothing about this genre. When I said breath of fresh air, I meant compared to the likes of 50cent / snoopdog / etc that clog the airwaves.
Tech isn't perfect I agree, but he's suitably pissed off, sounds like he means it and touches on a few pertinent issues which is a step in the right direction. Remember, I'm thinking in terms of trying to raise the political awareness of some teens whilst providing acceptable musical entertainment. Anything too sophisticated might lose 'em. All suggestions welcome.
you seem to know a lot about political hip hop. can you post a few links to what you consider the best?
Excuse me but immortal technique is a fantastic artist, one only has to listen to his 'poverty of philosophy' to realise that, once someone looks for thngs that might degrade him in the eyes of unintelligible others, or refers to his truths as conspiracies they are covering up their deep-seated hatred for his views and trying to promote rappers with lyrics less hurtful to the whitemans conscience.
Dance with the Devil the song about gang rape doesn't praise gang rape. He says loads of dodgy homo-phobic stuff but just on that I think you're wrong.
IMO the champions of political Hip-Hop are The Coup and they've been around for some time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coup
http://www.thecoupmusic.net/
Im not sure whether Willie O'Dea was influenced by this political rap or vice versa , but "big it up" for the troops passing through shannon , and the Fianna Fail posse .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-FVCIBRmOE
Radical as a tooth brush is such a silly analogy....lets actually THINK about that for a second , radical as a tooth brush...William Addis of England is credited with creating the first mass-produced toothbrush in 1780. In 1770 he had been placed in jail for causing a riot. While in prison, he decided that the method for teeth brushing of the time – rubbing a rag on one's teeth with soot and salt – could be improved. So he took a small animal bone, drilled small holes in it, obtained some bristles from a guard, tied them in tufts, then passed the bristles through the holes on the bone and glued them. I'd say thats pretty radical!
THINK before you say something.
BF, thats genius!
there's corporate rap and then there's hip hop, and they're 2 totally separate things. solid politically-minded hip hop artists include:
vast air
mr lif
emcee lynx from beltaine's fire (he actually did some shows in ireland in 06)
gruf
boots from the coup
drowning dog of entartete kunst
captain moonlight (one of irelands best rappers right now)
marxmen (another irish crew, this one from the mid 90's)
saul williams
and, of course, there are *tons* of other artists who aren't "political" rappers but who touch n political topics from time to time. just spend a bit of time looking and you'll find plenty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c18Cy6564MA
Another irish political rap track.