One of the problems with complying year-end lists is that albums released towards the end of the year often get excluded. That was the case with Big Joanie’s debut album, Sistahs. Even though they released their album a week or two before I started working on my list of the 40 Best Protest Album of 2018, I sadly didn’t have […]
Learn more →Noname’s Room 25 wasn’t just the most critically acclaimed album of 2018, but it was also important for its social awareness. The Chicago indie rapper skillfully blended a personal narrative with insightful commentary. The album was included as one of the 40 Best Protest Albums of 2018. “Prayer Song” off the album was also featured as a Daily Dose of […]
Learn more →Black Thought, the MC of The Roots, recently released the EP Stream of Thought Vol. 2, the follow-up to Vol. 1 released earlier in the year. Because many now associate Black Thought by his birth name Tariq Trotter, as part of the house band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, it is easy to lose sight of his influence as a socially […]
Learn more →After a couple of solo albums, Canadian singer-songwriter Anime Oscen released a four song EP with Hive, entitled North Country. It was executive produced by Chuck D. On the surface the legendary rapper helping to produce a country act may seem to be an odd pairing, but there is similarities in the socially conscious message of the music. The EP […]
Learn more →When studying the history of socially conscious hip-hop very few have had the impact of Chuck D. As the MC of Public Enemy, he contributed several albums and songs that make up the canon of essential protest music. With rap-rock supergroup Prophet of Rage and as a solo artist, he is still going strong with his brand of political rap. […]
Learn more →Singer-songwriter Amos Lee just released a deluxe version of his recent album My New Moon. The deluxe edition features seven new tracks including a strip down acoustic reworking of Marvin Gaye’s 1971 socially conscious soul classic “What Going On”. Even though Lee takes some liberties with the music arrangement, he stays true to the spirit of the tune. Lee has […]
Learn more →Margo Price recently released a new music video for the title track of her acclaimed 2017 album All American Made. Both the album and song were among the best protest albums and songs of 2017. Price was also included among 10 women who are transforming protest music. The description on the videos YouTube video makes the following statement: “The new […]
Learn more →“A Little Peace” is a new tune from socially conscious singer-songwriter MILCK. She originally wrote the song after the Las Vegas shooting that took place on October 1, 2017 and tragically killed 59 people. The recording and video are a collaborated project in connection with Creators For Change. The video starts off with MILCK explaining the genesis of the tune […]
Learn more →“Grab Em” is a new single and video credited to D.J. Trump. The tune features mostly Trump quotes set to gangsta rap samples. The video features clips from more than 150 documentaries. The press release describes the video as “a quilt of footage that shows what has always made America great despite any rhetoric of divisiveness.” The press release goes […]
Learn more →Veteran indie singer-songwriter and violinist Andrew Bird, recently released a powerful new single and video, “Bloodless”. The tune is an insightful commentary on the current divisive political climate where “They’re profiting from your worry.” Bird posted the following comment on the YouTube page for the video: “We find ourselves in a cold civil war. Everyone is playing their part too […]
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