New releases always slow down in December, but there was still some notable socially conscious music that came out during the final month of a shitty year.
Songs/Videos:
Run The Jewels – The Ground Below (Royal Jewels Mix) (featuring Royal Blood)
This is a reworking of a tune that appeared on the rap duo’s 2020 masterpiece RTJ 4 (which was one of the best protest albums of the year). This rocking remix features the UK rock duo.
Run The Jewels – Walking In The Snow
Speaking of Run The Jewels, they also released an animated video for one of the album’s highlights (which was previously featured as a Daily Dose of Protest).
Femi Kuti – Pà Pá Pà
Just like his legendary father Fela, Femi has established a long career speaking out against global injustices. This galvanizing tune is from Legacy +, a two-album project with his son Made, due out February 5, 2021.
Made Kuti – Your Enemy
When both your father and grandfather are afrobeat pioneers you have big shoes to fill. Made holds his own with this stirring tune, which will also appear on Legacy +.
Zion I – Endtimes (featuring Locksmith & Sa-Roc)
I was debating whether to include this song because some of the lyrics border on conspiracy theories, but the hard-hitting tune effectively spotlights systemic ills.
Lowkey – I Still Believe 2020 (featuring Akala & Black The Ripper)
This optimistic anthem is a reworking of the 2010 tune “I Still Believe” (which was a reworking of the 2009 song “I Believe”). Black The Ripper, sadly died April 6, 2020.
Th1rt3eN – 666 (Three Six Word Stories)
This chaotic tune is the latest by the project of underground rapper Pharoahe Monch. Their debut album, “A Magnificent Day For An Exorcism” is set to release on January 22, 2021.
LumbeRoss – There Are Concentration Camps in Xinjiang
LumbeRoss is an alternative hip hop artist and his part of the Lowlives Collective. He has been living in China for the last two years and he has recently returned to the UK. In his time there, he heard many horror stories from Hong Kong people and Uyghurs. The Uyghur persecution has been ongoing since 2016, and that inspired him to write a song about the Uyghur genocide in China.
Albums:
KRS-One – Between Da Protests
This is the latest album by the legendary socially conscious rapper. If he released it earlier, the timely album would have been considered for the 40 best protest albums of 2020 list. Also, previously featured album track “Don’t Fall For It” as a Daily Dose of Protest.
Moor Mother & Billy Woods – Brass
Moor Mother had a prolific 2020, with two albums she was involved with making the best protest album list, Irreversible Entanglements’ Who Sent You, and her solo album Circuit City. This recently released album with underground rapper Billy Woods is also exceptional and if it was released a bit earlier would have been considered for the best album list.
Beans on Toast – The Unforeseeable Future
Ever since 2009, the cult UK singer-songwriter has released an album on December 1st, his birthday. This year he released two albums, Knee Deep In Nostalgia and The Unforeseeable Future. The Unforeseeable Future is the more explicitly political of two, and heavily deals with life during the pandemic. Many of the tunes from the album were released earlier in the year. “Strange Days” off the album was previously featured as a Daily Dose of Protest.
Intellectual Dark Wave – Gauche Caviar
This four-song EP features 80’s inspired r&b and soft rock/yacht rock. The songs target moderates and expose the flaws of the current two-party system. Along with three original songs, it also reworks Phil Ochs’ “Love Me I’m a Liberal” into a romantic soul slow jam, complete with bass pops, Rhodes piano, and a string synthesizer. It is a brilliant satire.
Here is a playlist of 2020 protest music that was featured on the website.