Hip hop music

Album cover art

Political music: 11 of the best new albums - and why you should hear them

Here's this month's radical record round-up, which actually features more than 20 albums (count them). What album, or albums, would you suggest?

Political music: 11 new albums you need to hear

Here's this month's radical record round-up, with an emphasis on Indigenous resistance. What album, or albums, would you suggest? Comment below, on Twitter or Facebook.

Bad Cop/Bad Cop album cover

Ten new political albums worth a listen: June 2015

Here's this month's radical record round-up, from queer house to riotous ska. What album, or albums, would you suggest?

'Which Side Are you On -- REMIX' Rebel Diaz release new video in light of Baltimore uprising

The Chilean-born brothers of Rebel Diaz, a New-York-based hip hop duo, released a new video, which features a new remix of the labour movement classic “Which Side Are You On”, first written by in 1931 by Florence Reese, the wife of a mine worker.

Rapper Felon makes arresting hip-hop

Only Built For Koori Linx Provocalz Featuring Felon and 18 other Indigenous emcees Mastered by Felon Coming soon www.facebook.com/Felon167Inc The mainstream media are swarming all over the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy and Felon Mason is stripped to the waist.
Briggs

Rapper Briggs takes his homeland to the nation

Briggs is 598 kilometres from his hometown of Shepparton - and he's missing his bed. "When I'm at home I don't have people ringing me up telling me I've got to get out of the house," says the rapper, sitting on his hotel room's balcony in Sydney.

Renegades of Munk put the fun into funk

Renegades Of Munk Renegades Of Munk Released September 2014 Impossible Odds Records www.renegadesofmunk.com Mark Munk Ross says he has learnt to make his music more appealing by injecting a big dose of humour into his hard-hitting songs. "I try to make them humorous, which then makes it accessible to fans that might not be that political," says the man better known as Munkimuk, the "Grandfather of Indigenous hip-hop". "But they are still digesting it, whether they know it or not," he says. "Smart game plan I think."
Intikana

18 questions for radical rapper Intikana

Bronx-based rapper, producer, film-maker and youth worker Intikana hits out at indigenous injustice, cultural colonisation and international imperialism, among many other topics. Green Left Weekly's Mat Ward put 18 questions to him.

Rapper, cameraman, activist and speaker Marcel Cartier.

Marcel Cartier gets his rap lines from the frontline

Marcel Cartier's lines usually ring out with the clarity of a clarion call - and the messages on his latest album are as loud and clear as ever. As he tells Green Left Weekly's Mat Ward, much of the material comes from first-hand experience with struggles around the world.

Musicians band together to release CD for refugees

Reclaim Your Voice Various artists Released June 2014 Blue Mountain Sound www.bluemountainsound.com.au Andy Busuttil of Blue Mountain Sound released the following statement on June 28. *** We would like to think of our Australia as a nation with a big heart. A nation that stands for the dispossessed and does its damndest to help those in need, especially those attempting to flee tyranny.

Joelistics makes Australian hip-hop more realistic

Blue Volume Joelistics Released June 20, 2014 Elefant Traks www.joelistics.com The flawless music on Joelistics' second solo album is more than matched by the depth of his lyrics - an unflinching look at Australian reality. Green Left Weekly's Mat Ward went through the words with the rapper, who brings some much-needed grit to Australian hip-hop. *** On "Say I'm Good" you rap: I'm an oddball, on the wrong team All my friends are out of step with the mainstream And the nightmare is in full swing

MC Dukebox hits out at racism

Big Kitty Life MC Dukebox Released December 2013 Impossible Odds Records www.dukebox.net.au MC Dukebox says he named his debut album "Big Kitty Life" because he was sick of seeing government funds misspent. "It's referring to a big kitty of funding that everyone's lining up for with a different excuse for why they deserve the money and how they're going to benefit their surrounding communities," says the Indigenous rapper, who hails from Inverell in north-west NSW.