The following was initially published at Ongoing History Of Protest Songs. Black Thought, the MC of The Roots, recently released the EP “Stream of Thought Vol. 2,” his follow-up to the second volume released earlier in the year. Because many now associate Black Thought by his birth name Tariq Trotter, as part

There are at least six million Syrian refugees who have fled the war-torn country since 2011. Millions are in countries, where they fled, waiting in camps for a chance to sail to freedom. They yearn for an opportunity to rebuild their lives in Europe, even as the rise of virulent

The following was originally published at Ongoing History Of Protest Songs. 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. And,

Molly Nilsson is a Swedish synth-pop artist, who recently released her eighth studio album. Even though the tunes on the album are more influenced by the personal than the political, the mood of the music is heavily influenced by the current political climate. This is evident on the opening track “Every

The O’Jays, a well-known rhythm and blues group from Canton, Ohio, that has recorded music for several decades, plan to release a final album before retiring next year. That album includes a tune which confronts the class warfare of the rich and their political defenders in Washington. The song, “Above

Chan Marshall, better known by the stage name Cat Power, gave birth to her son in April 2015 around the same time that protests were unfolding in response to Baltimore police who killed Freddie Gray. She immediately grappled with a world seemingly thrown into complete and utter chaos, and that

Marc Ribot is a guitarist, who has released 25 albums that span more than 40 years. His work fuses genres from soul to punk to jazz to roots music. With his latest project, “Songs Of Resistance 1942-2018,” Ribot attempts to connect current resistance against President Donald Trump’s administration to musical

Noname is the moniker of Fatimah Warner, a 26-year-old indie rapper from Chicago. She recently released her first official album “Room 25,” a much-anticipated follow-up to her acclaimed 2016 free mixtape, “Telefone.” The album is already receiving wide praise. Her music couples inventive musical arrangements with an insightful lyrical flow.

Shemekia Copeland is a blue musician who has been part of the Alligator Records family in Chicago since her debut in 1998. Her latest album, “America’s Child,” grapples with the resurgence of hate in the United States, particularly since the election of President Donald Trump. One of the more moving