Or artist's? always been into political music, but i recently am really digging it

the guys who got me into politics where

Bob Dylan

Frank Zappa

Public enemy

U2

Besides those guys some of all time favorite groups with a political message

Bob Marley

Rage Against The Machine

W.A.S.P

System Of A Down

Stevie Wonder

Living Colour

Curtis Mayfield

What are your favorite political artist's or song's?

[Edited 11/23/10 4:17am]

U2

Fishbone

Curtis Mayfield

Marvin Gaye

Black Uhuru

The Impressions

Gil Scott Heron

Jimi Hendrix

dead prez

Jimmy Cliff

Peter Tosh

Mos Def

Steel Pulse

Erykah Badu

Me'shell Nedegeocello

Sly & The Family Stone

Parliament-Funkadelic

The Last Poets

The Coup

Yomo & Maulkie

Public Enemy.

The prophet Bob Marley, for sure! I couldn't really think of any until I read what was already here, though. So now I can steal other people's answers. Fishbone and Black Uhuru - LOVE both of them, but nobody talks about 'em anymore. I loved Living Colour back in the day, but haven't listened to them for years and years. Definitely a big SOAD fan, too, but I don't understand what happened with them. I guess they're done.

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Cerebus said:

The prophet Bob Marley, for sure! I couldn't really think of any until I read what was already here, though. So now I can steal other people's answers. Fishbone and Black Uhuru - LOVE both of them, but nobody talks about 'em anymore. I loved Living Colour back in the day, but haven't listened to them for years and years. Definitely a big SOAD fan, too, but I don't understand what happened with them. I guess they're done.

Living Colour where such a great band! it's a shame they only had a few albums. But at least they did reform for awhile!

SOAD Is from what i hear on a definite Hiatus =[

diamondpearl1 said:

U2

Fishbone

Curtis Mayfield

Marvin Gaye

Black Uhuru

The Impressions

Gil Scott Heron

Jimi Hendrix

dead prez

Jimmy Cliff

Peter Tosh

Mos Def

Steel Pulse

Erykah Badu

Me'shell Nedegeocello

Sly & The Family Stone

Parliament-Funkadelic

The Last Poets

The Coup

Yomo & Maulkie

All great choices my friend!

I Actually feel dumb. Cause i forgot to list most of these myself!

U2 was one of the first big band's in my life! & Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Jimi Hendrix. Where as well.

Sly is another great band that i forgot!, Mos Def i only have one album by him... i need to get the rest

Nice choices so far!

Some more honourable mentions:

God, I forgot about Fela.

If "Coffin For Head Of State" isn't a strong statement, I don't know what is.

Harlepolis said:

God, I forgot about Fela.

If "Coffin For Head Of State" isn't a strong statement, I don't know what is.

Hell, yes - gotta have some Fela! ^That's a great record too, and I have to respect the act of protest he talks about on it after his own personal tragedy at the hands of the violent Nigerian state. He always seems so fearless in his writing; I'm amazed he was never bumped off.

Btw, I found a remix of that record on YT a little while back. Sounded pretty tasty to me - see what you reckon.

Gunsnhalen said:

diamondpearl1 said:

U2

Fishbone

Curtis Mayfield

Marvin Gaye

Black Uhuru

The Impressions

Gil Scott Heron

Jimi Hendrix

dead prez

Jimmy Cliff

Peter Tosh

Mos Def

Steel Pulse

Erykah Badu

Me'shell Nedegeocello

Sly & The Family Stone

Parliament-Funkadelic

The Last Poets

The Coup

Yomo & Maulkie

All great choices my friend!

I Actually feel dumb. Cause i forgot to list most of these myself!

U2 was one of the first big band's in my life! & Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Jimi Hendrix. Where as well.

Sly is another great band that i forgot!, Mos Def i only have one album by him... i need to get the rest

lol If you feel dumb for forgetting I feel embarassed 'cause I didn't wanna over do or forget anybody important Man, after I cried hearin Pride, Sunday Bloody Sunday and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Bono and the boys became one of my fav bands.

Gunsnhalen said:

Cerebus said:

The prophet Bob Marley, for sure! I couldn't really think of any until I read what was already here, though. So now I can steal other people's answers. Fishbone and Black Uhuru - LOVE both of them, but nobody talks about 'em anymore. I loved Living Colour back in the day, but haven't listened to them for years and years. Definitely a big SOAD fan, too, but I don't understand what happened with them. I guess they're done.

Living Colour where such a great band! it's a shame they only had a few albums. But at least they did reform for awhile!

SOAD Is from what i hear on a definite Hiatus =[

They are indefinitely on a break, whatever that means. But Serj is still releasing solo albums that are different to SOAD but worth a listen..

I would also add Immortal Technique to the list, the most overtly political artist that I know of...

deebee said:

Nice choices so far!

Some more honourable mentions:

DAMN ME=[

Another great artist i neglected! Tracy Chapman! i have her self titled great stuff!

Across the lines & Behind The Wall are my fav!

crass.

rage against the machine are/were hypocrites..no matter how many times de la rocha defends his psuedo-anarcommunist band.

Of the not already named:

The Who

The Dead Kennedys (or anything w/ Jello Biafra)

John Lennon

George Harrison

baroque said:

crass.

rage against the machine are/were hypocrites..no matter how many times de la rocha defends his psuedo-anarcommunist band.

I'm intrigued, please tell me more. If you don't mind that is

CPest1 said:

baroque said:

crass.

rage against the machine are/were hypocrites..no matter how many times de la rocha defends his psuedo-anarcommunist band.

I'm intrigued, please tell me more. If you don't mind that is

Yes how where they hypocrites? i must know this to.

I think John Lennon talking politics certainly challenged the authorities, but was he or the likes of RATM more genuinely political than your local city councillor? How does that work? Politics is more about unblocking drains and fixing street lights than it is clenching yer teeth and being seen to donate royalties to sexy revolutionaries from the seventies.

I've seen Mos Def on the Bill Maher panel a few times and it's like an overgrown kid pestering adults.

elmer said:

I think John Lennon talking politics certainly challenged the authorities, but was he or the likes of RATM more genuinely political than your local city councillor? How does that work? Politics is more about unblocking drains and fixing street lights than it is clenching yer teeth and being seen to donate royalties to sexy revolutionaries from the seventies.

I've seen Mos Def on the Bill Maher panel a few times and it's like an overgrown kid pestering adults.

Difficult question to answer without an essay! BUT I do think people like John Lennon et al can influence a large number of people, raise awareness of issues and contribute towards a movement, the same as other art forms. The book Uncle toms cabin was supposed to be one of the things that started the American civil war and I don't doubt that some music has influenced people in a similar way. You often hear certain songs being played at political events, marches rallies for example.

The argument is often not done in a particularly eloquent way (as you mentioned) and yeah perhaps it can simplify things but raising awareness or causing debate of issues is always good in my mind.

Gunsnhalen said:

CPest1 said:

I'm intrigued, please tell me more. If you don't mind that is

Yes how where they hypocrites? i must know this to.

the whole anarcho-communist thing. then denouncing the capitalists and yet they were founded and sponsored by a capitalist record company! seems at least to me like they were hypocrites. zach de la rocha is a great example to LA RAZA movement however hypocrisy can infect us all.

[Edited 11/24/10 9:42am]

baroque said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Yes how where they hypocrites? i must know this to.

the whole anarcho-communist thing. then denouncing the capitalists and yet they were founded and sponsored by a capitalist record company! seems at least to me like they were hypocrites. zach de la rocha is a great example to LA RAZA movement however hypocrisy can infect us all.

[Edited 11/24/10 9:42am]

I see your point but it then becomes a decision to stick with your ideals, reach less people and probably not earn enough to make a living, or go with a label and do the opposite. I'm glad I get to hear their music even if i don't like the label they are with. Same as pretty much any art form though, political authors still need a publisher, painters a gallery, filmmakers etc etc. You have to have made it already to have the best of both worlds...

CPest1 said:

baroque said:

the whole anarcho-communist thing. then denouncing the capitalists and yet they were founded and sponsored by a capitalist record company! seems at least to me like they were hypocrites. zach de la rocha is a great example to LA RAZA movement however hypocrisy can infect us all.

[Edited 11/24/10 9:42am]

I see your point but it then becomes a decision to stick with your ideals, reach less people and probably not earn enough to make a living, or go with a label and do the opposite. I'm glad I get to hear their music even if i don't like the label they are with. Same as pretty much any art form though, political authors still need a publisher, painters a gallery, filmmakers etc etc. You have to have made it already to have the best of both worlds...

I agree. The fact that they got a major label to release and promote their music is great. At least they got some kids to think about something outside their own little worlds once in a while.

Gunsnhalen said:

DAMN ME=[

Another great artist i neglected! Tracy Chapman! i have her self titled great stuff!

Across the lines & Behind The Wall are my fav!

Yes, both great songs! She seemed to leave some of the more overtly political stuff alone on her later albums, though songs like Subcity and Bang Bang Bang are nice pieces of social commentary, I reckon.

I saw her give a solo acoustic performance here in Bristol a couple of years ago, and she opened with Behind the Wall; completely acapella, as it is on the record. Stunning!

the jam

it's 'bands' , 'artists' and 'songs'

there's no need for any apostrophes

The Clash, the Wailers, the Impressions & Public Enemy

[Edited 11/25/10 16:17pm]

Funny how many of these political bands are "clearly" leftist...until they have to pay higher taxes...

pathetic...

Dewrede said:

it's 'bands' , 'artists' and 'songs'

there's no need for any apostrophes

Thank you Jimi! and can you play Rainy Day for me to

JoeTyler said:

Funny how many of these political bands are "clearly" leftist...until they have to pay higher taxes...

pathetic...

Hear Hear! U2 moving their business affairs to Holland to escape Ireland's higher top rates of tax is just the latest example. Oh Bono, that's not going to help your county's African aid budget, is it now?