s_os: Recent Episodes
s_os
The Soundz of the South (SOS) is an anti-capitalist political-arts collective bias to the working class and all oppressed people. We use Hiphop and poetry to spread revolutionary messages, raise consciousness and resist neo-liberalism.
Co-founders and orgainisers of Afrikan Hiphop Caravan. hiphopcaravan.net
FOR POWER
The coronavirus has rapidly spread across the world, with South Africa joining the top ten countries with most COVID19 cases. According to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize (on 16th July) there are now over 300 000 positive cases, with the total number of deaths standing at 4 669.
All of this is occurring within the context of a global neoliberal hegemony, where public healthcare has become increasingly privatised . It is within this context that Soundz of the South (SOS), an anti-capitalist hip-hop collective, is responding with this song, ‘FOR POWER’.
‘FOR POWER’ sheds light on the various impacts of the capitalist crisis: exploitation, neoliberalism and the effects on access to quality healthcare for working class people, more especially given the ongoing impact of the COVID19 pandemic.
The song responds to South African realities: the state of the plunder of the public purse, government’s role in deepening and entrenching capitalist exploitation as well as police brutality during these days of national lock-down. The song hopes to inspire the South African working class to critically engage with this moment and organise themselves to collectively deal with the challenges they face.
Credits:
Verse 1- Anela Jahmena Verse 2 – Karl Myx Verse 3 - Millz the first Beatmaker: Aqeel Bucks
Recorded by Soundz of the South at uMkhululi Freedom Station Mixed and Mastered By Aylo Pbr
Research by International Labour Research and Information Group
Soundz of the South's contribution to Anti-racist organising, Cape Town to Minneapolis. Love and Solidarity to everyone resisting racism, fascism and state brutality. Forward to Peoples Power!
In recent weeks we’ve seen a steep spike in global awareness around police-brutality and the anti-working class, the anti-black nature of the capitalist system. Across social media people have been posting black squares and reposting messages of solidarity. People across the world have been gathering on streets carrying slogans declaring ‘we can’t breathe’ and ‘get your boot off our necks’. This directly connected to the death of George Floyd in the US, but also, closer to home, to the death of Collins Khosa at the hands of the army. All of this occurring within the context of a global pandemic. It is from this environment that of Soundz of the South (SOS), an anti-capitalist hip-hop collective, is responding.
Hip-Hop is a historic symbol of the culture of resistance. It originates from young black people in poor communities who organised themselves to host jam sessions in the park and street corner cyphers to share with others their socio-political realities. Hip-Hop is a tool against voicelessness putting power back in the mouths of the people. Soundz of the South uses Hip-Hop to mobilise the community to collective resistance against fascist capitalism and towards actions of solidarity.
The latest single by the collective, Young, Black and Unfree, sheds light on issues of racist capitalism and its effects on the living conditions of young working class people. This is especially important in this lockdown as we see signs of repression and authoritarianism from the South African state. The government has received major backlash from poor communities whose freedoms have been infringed on during this lockdown.
The song responds to this state of unfreedom and hopes to inspire South African youth to critically engage with this moment and organise themselves to collectively deal with the challenges they face. Young, Black and Unfree brings together the skills of local and international creatives, this includes: Verse 1 - Anela Verse 2 - Java Verse 3 - Karl Myx Verse 4 - Tsidi Beat: Absinth (Odessa Trickmakers)(Athens) Recorded: Hlumelo Zulu (Cape Town) Mix: Daniel (Bremen) Master: Chris (Bremen) @laplagesound Art: Ricardo Pinto Jorge (Maputo/Kigali)
Soundz of the South, based in Khayelitsha, have been doing political education work using hip-hop and poetry for over ten years. Some of their more experimental projects include Hiphop against the Afrikan Hip-Hop Caravan, uQhagamishelwano, Toyi-toyi Live, and the Rebel Sistah Cypher project.
This track is part of a larger research project on mapping casualisattion and precarious work in South Africa,done by the International Labour Research and Information Group (ILRIG) www.ilrigsa.org.za
Verse 1 - Java On hook & Verse 2 - Anela Verse3 - Karl Myx Verse 4 - Millz Verse 5 - Tsidi
Beat by DJ Inffo (RIP Comrade) Track recorded, mix and mastered by Hlumelo Zulu for Soundz of the South. Illustration by Lambi of Lemila