On this week’s Global Notes, Jerome and contributor Catalina Maria Johnson take a listen to recently released protest music. It’s music created to help bring about change.

The  Malian hip-hop trio SMOD’s  “Le Dirigaint Africains” (produced by Manu Chao, longtime musician activist) addresses the corruption of political leaders;  the “salsa with a conscience”  by New York’s La Excelencia denounces the fact that in the current economic crisis,  the “rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer.”

 Second generation Sri Lankan Bhi Bhiman’s “Guttersnipe” is part of a soon-to-be-released compilation, “Wen Fambul”  which unites artists from diverse conflict zones around the world in support of a peace-building organization in Sierra Leone. 

And Brooklyn-based Punk rockers Outernational are making music in favor of the Soundstrike movement of musicians supporting immigration reform.

Tracks:

1.  SMOD- Les Dirigaints Africains

2.  La Excelencia- La Economia

3.  Bhi Bhiman- Guttersnipe

4.  Outernational- Deportees

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