Rap music

MC Izzy Brown

Bringing music to the frontline

In an interview with Green Left Radio, musician, activist and filmmaker Izzy Brown said there is “power in people and when those people are dancing the cops don't know what to do”, writes Ruth Heymann.

Who else wants more political albums like these 10?

Here's this month's radical record round-up, from Trump-taunting singers to Clinton-criticising rappers. It actually features far more than 10 albums (count them). What album, or albums, would you suggest? Comment on Twitter or Facebook. Videos not playing? Try a bigger screen. 

Provocalz takes aim with fully-loaded album Only Built For Koori Linx

Here are 21 of this month's best political albums (plus a few extra - count them). What albums would you suggest? Comment on Twitter, Facebook, or email. Videos not playing? Try a bigger screen.

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.

Felon on eviction day at the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy. Photo: Mat Ward.

Rapper Felon makes arresting hip-hop

The mainstream media are swarming all over the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy and Felon Mason is stripped to the waist.

The album covers

52 left-leaning albums from 2014

This year seemed to have more than the usual quota of politically potent albums. Here, in no particular order, are 52 from 2014 - one for every week of the year.

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.

Munk, centre, with Renegades of Munk.

Renegades of Munk put the fun into funk

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.
Rapper Joelistics.

Joelistics makes Australian hip-hop more realistic

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.