We continue to live in crazy times. The issues of police brutality and ongoing Black Lives Matter protests were magnified with Jacob Blake being shot seven times by police on August 23. Since then there has been increased violence and deaths with right-wing counter-protest groups traveling to Portland and Kenosha to stir up further divisiveness. On top of that, Corona is still killing people. At least we still have music to provide a soundtrack to the chaos. Here are some notable releases during August.
Songs/Videos
Black Thought – Good Morning (featuring Pusha T, Swizz Beatz & Killer Mike)
This dream lineup of hip-hop luminaries delivers a hard-hitting tune featuring explosive verses. It addresses issues such as systemic racism and it is well worth a listen.
Run The Jewels – Out of Sight (featuring 2 Chainz)
This is the latest video for a track off Run The Jewels excellent album RT4 (one of the best protest albums of 2020 so far).
Big Joanie – Cranes In The Sky
The latest tune by the self-described “Black Feminist Sistah Punk band” is an exceptional cover of Solange’s also exceptional “Cranes In The Sky”, off Solange’s excellent 2016 album A Seat at the Table (one of the best protest albums of the 2010s). The song is an anthem of resilience that resonates in these anxious times.
clipping. – Say the Name
The latest single by the experimental hip-hop trio uses horrorcore themes to explore social issues. The song is off their upcoming album Visions of Bodies Being Burned, due out October 23. It is the sequel to their excellent 2019 socially conscious horrorcore masterpiece There Existed an Addiction to Blood (one of the best protest albums of 2019).
IDLES – Model Village
The latest track and video of the UK punk band’s anticipated album ULTRA MONO’ released on September 25. It is the followup up to their fantastic 2018 album Joy As An Act Of Resistance (one of the best protest albums of 2018).
Beans On Toast – Save The Music
The latest tune by the cult UK singer-songwriter addresses the impact of the pandemic on musicians, music venues, and the different jobs associated with live music. In the video, he performs in the empty The Clapham Grand, a 120-year-old independent music venue which is in danger of permanent closure.
Reks – The Complex (featuring Pharoahe Monch)
The veteran underground rapper collaborates with alternative hip-hop pioneer Pharoahe Monch. The song appears on Reks’ upcoming twelfth album T.H.I.N.G.S. (The Hunger Inside Never Gets Satisfied), due out on September 11th. The poignant lyric addresses issue such as PTSD, systemic racism, and the evils of big pharma.
Bobby Sessions – Fight
A rousing battle cry to continue to take a stand against injustices.
Bobby Sessions – Reparations
Another poignant song by the Texas rapper addresses the issue of reparations, a much-needed discussion that needs to be had. The tune is also a part of his planned Chapter 3 of the RVLTN series.
Pink Siifu -Dollar Dr. Dream (featuring Fly Anakin)
The two indie rappers create a chilled out vibe blended with insightful lyrics.
Moor Mother – Forever Industries A
The experimental musician and spoken word artist continues to be prolific. This is the A-side of the two-track single (the other being “Forever Industries B”).
Jeremy Ivey – Someone Else’s Problem
The latest song by the Nashville singer-songwriter addresses those that apathetically turn a blind eye towards injustices. The song is off his upcoming sophomore album Waiting Out The Storm, which will be available on October 9. His solid debut The Dream and the Dreamer was one of the best protest albums of 2019.
Mat Ward – It’s Going To Take A Million
This is the third single from the forthcoming album Interplanetary Species by the Australian future DnB artist. The song is based on Elon Musk’s statement that it will take about a million people to build a sustainable city on Mars. The entire album is a concept piece about colonizing Mars. Ward explains the concept in more detail on episode 8 of The Ongoing History of Protest Songs Podcast.
Ace of Cups – Put a Woman in Charge
This song was originally recorded by Keb’ Mo’ for his 2018 album Oklahoma. The Ace of Cups, who is considered to be one of the first all-female bands in the 1960s San Francisco music scene, turns the song into a hard-rocking feminist anthem.
Gibson & Bronzini – Apples
This timely tune by the indie duo addresses those who claim that police killing black people are isolated instances done by a few bad apples. According to the lyrics the entire orchard is filled with bad apples and needs cutting down
Albums:
Naima Shalhoub – Siphr
This is the debut album by the Lebanese-American singer-songwriter. The concept for the album came about while she was on a retreat in Lebanon where she started studying the mystical meanings of siphr which means zero in Arabic, and the meanings of numbers 1-9 that are contained in the siphr. The nine tracks explore her Arab American heritage and address several political and spiritual themes.
Fantastic Negrito – Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?
The latest album by the blues rocker features several tunes which address different aspects of the Black American experience.
Oceanator – Things I Never Said
The debut full-length album by Oceanator (the performance moniker of Elise Okusami) may not be a protest album in the traditional sense, but it is socially aware and there is an acknowledgment of the current political turmoil. The songs balance an apocalyptic dread with a sense of dread which also makes it a timely pandemic/social upheaval soundtrack. I had the opportunity to interview Elise Okusami for episode 14 of The Ongoing History of Protest Music, where we discussed the album in more detail (among other things).
Jyoti – Mama, You Can Bet!
This is the third album by the one-woman jazz ensemble project of experimental soul artist, Georgia Anne Muldrow. The album is dedicated to Muldrow’s mother Rickie Byars, who was also an acclaimed singer-songwriter. The album explores themes of empowerment and tracks such as “This Walk” and “Orgone” address violence and racism.
Billy Nomates – Billy Nomates
The debut album by the UK indie rocker is an edgy collection of songs which are filled with scathing wit. She denounces capitalism, apathy, hypocrisy and misogyny.
The Avett Brothers – The Third Gleam
This is the long-awaited third installment of The Gleam series by the veteran Americana band. The album is less politically direct than their previous album, 2019’s Closer Than Together, but it still touches upon many of the same themes. Because the lyrics come across as less forced and preachy ends up adding emotional weight to the social commentary.
Levellers – Peace
The veteran UK rock band return with their first album in eight years. It is an explicitly political album that deals with the anxieties of living in a crumbling world, which is on the brink of extinction due to climate change and other issues.
James Dean Bradfield – Even In Exile
The latest solo album by the Manic Street Preachers frontman is a concept album about Victor Jara, the influential Chilean protest singer and political activist who was murdered by the regime of dictator Augusto Pinochet on September 16, 1973.
Below is the ongoing playlist of 2020 protest tunes.