Right now we will highlight a few socially conscious videos and tunes released this week.
Songs and Videos:
The OG – A Tribe Called Red featuring Black Bear
The latest single from the Indigenous Canadian EDM group is dedicated to Romeo Saganash, an Indigenous Member of Parliament. The tune samples a Saganash speech where he called out Candian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons. It also features vocals from the First Nations group Black Bear.
Diamonds Back To Coal – Jeremy Ivey
“Diamonds Back To Coal” is the second single off Ivey’s debut album The Dream And The Dreamer, due out September 13. Both the video and song touches upon modern social ills. The upcoming album is produced by Ivey’s wife, acclaimed socially conscious country singer Margo Price.
Notable lyrics: “Is this the land that we borrowed? Is this the land that we stole? Who’s gonna be the fool tomorrow? Who’s gonna try to play that role? Turning diamonds back to coal.”
Black Snow – Pussy Riot featuring Mara 37
The latest single and video from the Russian activists addresses environmental concerns in Russia. They also posted an open letter to “Putin and his cronies” on their website.
OMG – Sampa The Great
“OMG” is off the Zambian born, Australian based rapper’s official debut album The Return (in 2017 she released the mixtape Birds and the BEE9), due out September 13. The video features her parents and is a celebration of culture.
Concerning the intent of the tune and video, Sampa made the following statement: “I personally feel that people on the continent have a duty to our family in the diaspora, to re-teach our culture, language, spirituality, ways and return our peeps to ourselves. To me ‘OMG’ sounds like the songs we heard in our childhood. It’s broadly about flexing your culture! Loving where you’re from and even being shocked at the realization of not knowing how dope it is to be ‘who you are.’”