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Latest antiwar singles

March of Death - Zack de la Rocha and DJ Shadow
Seems like Zack was born pissed off. Good thing he's working for the good guys.

The Price of Oil - Billy Bragg
(props to Goddess for the tip!) Everyone's favorite British socialist speaks truth to power.

Self Evident - Ani Difranco
This one actually came out soon after 9/11, underscoring Ani's status as a fearless and uncompromising righteous babe.

Ready for more? The Peace Not War Compilation website should keep you busy for a good while.

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Ask Lyrics Born

Although a direct link is impossible thanks to the dizzyingly high design of the Quannum Records site, you should find out what Lyrics Born has to say (once you have the site open, use the site navigator to go to the fifth page from the left). One half of Latyrx, one of the ways he keeps busy is by answering questions on the Ask Lyrics Born feature on the Quannum site. Questions range from "How much sampling is too much?" (no such thing as too much), to "Is Quincy the pinnacle of american culture?" (Yeah, but only because of the theme music)

Quannum, BTW, is a killer label. In its previous life, it gave us the artists featured on the superb Soleside's Greatest Bumps.

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View only: | Hip-Hop | Downloading

Mr. Lif

In a hip-hop world where lots of MC's want to say they're talking about what's real, Mr. Lif actually is. Live from the Plantation is a jam you can only relate to if, say, you work for a living. And Lif understands that the political and the personal aren't so far apart: Earthcrusher paints a picture of nuclear war putting an end to the day-to-day life of the whole planet.

And his website is actuallly a pretty good way to kill some time. The trivia quiz game Devolution includes this test of your knowlege of politics:

How much of a dick is G. W. Bush?

1) lil' pecker
2) raging, oversized, elephant cock
3) horse cock
4) I think that G.W. is a fine and especially literate member of the American society

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View only: | Hip-Hop | Political I Gotta Get

Now this would be a battle to see

Boy George surprised lots of folks a while back by not being particularly offended by Eminem. Indeed, BG seems as obsessed with Slim Shady as he claims Emimem is with gays in general. You always hurt the one you love.

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View only: | Hip-Hop | Musicians

I come not to praise Ceasar

Considering what last Saturday was, a list of rock'n'revolution tunes.

5. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who

4. London Calling - The Clash

3. Guns Before Butter - Gang of Four

2. Fight the Power - Public Enemy

1. The Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff
The soundtrack of the first feature film from Jamaica contains this gem, along with many others. BTW, Michael Thelwell's novelization of the movie stands up on it own as a great read.

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View only: | Rock | Hip-Hop | Top 5s

Beastie Boys for U.N. Secretary General

My man Kofi does his best, and he does a damn fine job, considering, but I'd just love to see the Beasties running a security council session. (All in favor of egging the s*** out of Saddam Hussein's palace AND the White House, then going back to the crib and sparking up a fatty, raise your 40 ounce!!)

Anyway, the Beastie Boys are the latest to have cut an antiwar single and posted it on their website.

Antiwar singles (and cheezy satires) are coming fast and furious lately, as musicians, like an ever increasing number of the rest of the U.S., do their best to drown out the sound of the murderous drumbeat of war.

This site might need to start doing a weekly roundup just to keep on top of 'em. Let me know if you hear about one that I didn't, mouseketeers.

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View only: | Rock | Hip-Hop | Downloading | Political I Gotta Get

Kid Koala

It's not that often you find a musician who made their website themeselves. It's even less often when you find one who drew it.

Kid Koala's got his hand in a few other pies too. He's got a graphic novel, (including CD soundtrack) coming out April 1. (Check the book trailer.) There's going to be a book tour in support of that, then... well, look at the website. He's got himself scheduled out til about 2009.

Folks like Kid Koala make you realize something. The reason art sucks so much lately is that anyone who was the least bit creative switched over to turntables in about 1990.

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View only: | Hip-Hop | Funk | Musicians | Streaming / Broadcasts

Top 5 Bad Relationship Story Songs

5. Vincent Black Lightning - Richard Thompson
Red hair, black leather, and good motorcycles. Makes for an exciting relationship, but only for a little while.

4. Ellen and Ben - Dismemberment Plan
The last track on their latest is a catchy, jangly departure from the tone of the rest of the record. It also bears the distinction of being the only tune on this week's list in which nobody gets wasted.

3. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts - Bob Dylan
Better writing in under 10 minutes than the combined output of Philip Roth. Faint praise aside, Dylan here at peak form. What actually happens in the song, you ask? C'mon, don't ruin it.

2. Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa - De La Soul
Along with Prince's Another Lonely Christmas, one of the songs about Christmas you are least likely to hear around Christmastime.

1. Frankie and Johnny - Traditional
He was her man, and he was doing her wrong. Folks have been singing this tale for long time, few as convincingly as Doc Watson.

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