Featuring artists such as Jasiri X, Rebel Diaz, Logic, Marcel Cartier, Akala, Big Frizzle and Nana D. 

Radical hip-hop (free downloads)

An album of instrumental hip-hop, with a theme of liberation and struggle against injustice.

All cuts by Terry Hooligan. Guitars, bass, keys and background vocals by Agent of Change.

Agent of Change - Soul Liberation

VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyMNYvkNfdY

Rest in power, Nelson Mandela! July 18, 1918 - December 5, 2013.

"It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that animated my life, that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a life-loving man to live like a monk. I am no more virtuous or self-sacrificing than the next man, but I found that I could not even enjoy the poor and limited freedoms I was allowed when I knew my people were not free. Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me.

"The truth is that we are not yet free; we have merely achieved the freedom to be free, the right not to be oppressed. We have not taken the final step of our journey, but the first step on a longer and even more difficult road. For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. The true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning.

"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb."

Rest in power to one of the greatest revolutionaries and political strategists of our time, a hero of the ongoing global struggle against apartheid, colonialism, racism and imperialism. May his memory inspire us to struggle harder and live stronger. Tears of joy for a life fully lived.

Jasiri X - Mandela (Listen To What The Drums Say) [prod Agent of Change]

A hip-hop remix of this beautiful African liberation anthem which is currently the national anthem of South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania. Posted in tribute to Nelson Mandela.

Amandla (Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika hip-hop remix)

In solidarity with Gaza.

Lyrics:

(Verse 1)
This didn't start October 7th on a quiet, peaceful Saturday
when prison gates blew open, the prelude to tragedy
the ones who beaten down and left without dignity
are bound to inflict violence without mercy
death is terrible, but if you hate the scenes
of innocent Israelis being killed on your screens
you should loathe the violence unleashed by their state
for 75 years against the people they replaced
this ain't a conflict, not between two parties who equal
it's imperial power against indigenous people
Genocide Joe, the commander-in-chief
of trails of war crimes and volumes of grief
the author's of chapters even darker than most
an empire in decline that is trying to stay afloat
their proxy in Tel Aviv is just a U.S. base
as an American I gotta say it's not in my name

(Hook x2)
Gaza is starving, yet Gaza Survives
The dream is alive of a Free Palestine
We want peace but we need liberation
You can't erase the Palestinian nation

(Verse 2)
It's deliberate and indiscriminate how they choose to kill
it's truly sickening and maddening, what this reveals
is the long held dream of colonialists
not intent with Little Israel, these Zionists
are not content with a siege or apartheid 
they want annexations and a genocide 
they want the dispossession to be permanent
they want the Nakba to never know its ending
what is Gaza but the biggest refugee camp
an open air prison where humanity stands
or goes to die, depending on your view
I always choose to stand with the vulnerable few
the most anti-Semitic thing would be to equate
the Jewish people with the fascist Israeli state
because it means accepting Jewish identity is this
hatred, genocidal madness, naw that ain't it

Gaza Survives

Marcel Cartier - Gaza Survives (produced by Agent of Change)

This track matches the vocal from 2Pac's classic "Changes" with a moving Victor Jara guitar riff ("Canción del árbol del olvido"), melding the sounds of two great revolutionary artists from different eras. 

For those that don't know, Chilean singer Victor Jara was one of the leaders of the Nueva Canción (New Song) movement – a movement based around socially committed music; music that takes a clear stand for freedom, against poverty, against imperialism and against human rights abuses. Nueva Canción gave voice to the millions of peasants, workers and indigenous peoples of Latin America who were being crushed under the weight of US economic and political dominance. In the aftermath of the brutal CIA-backed military coup of 11 September 1973, thousands of socialists, trade unionists, community activists and communists were taken hostage by the army and rounded up in Chile Stadium. Along with many others, Victor Jara was beaten and tortured; his hands were broken, but his resolve was not. When soldiers taunted him and told him to play something on his guitar, he played Venceremos (We Shall Triumph) - the campaign song of the 1970 election that had brought the socialist Salvador Allende to power. On 16 September 1973 he was machine-gunned to death by soldiers in the stadium. His legacy is profoundly to important to all those seeking to use music as part of a movement for social change.

This remix is part of the forthcoming Agent of Change project, "The Ghost of Victor Jara".

Dreams of Change (Victor Jara vs Tupac Shakur)

To mark Remembrance Day 2014, here's an Agent of Change remix of Rodney P's verse from last year's "Revolution" (Rodney P feat Rebel Diaz, Logic, Big Frizzle, Renee Soul): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NoRb64xSYQ

Samples include Rule Britannia and Kwame Nkrumah's independence speech. 

Down with empire and imperialist war. 

Fall Britannia (feat Rodney P)

Marcel Cartier - Right To Rebel remix feat Terror Bliss, Kaktan, Marx Sickmind. Produced by Agent of Change. Additional vocals by Nana D.

In solidarity with the people of Ferguson.

Marcel Cartier - Right To Rebel remix feat Terror Bliss, Kaktan, Marx Sickmind

Released on the 125th anniversary of the birth of Ho Chi Minh (19 May), this beat tape samples Vietnamese traditional music, freedom songs and music from the global anti-war struggle. Voices include Ho Chi Minh, Mohammed Ali, Martin Luthur King and Victor Jara.


The Rivers Remain

The Guns of the Viet Minh

A selection of beats sampling or inspired by Indian film and classical music. Released to coincide with the anniversary of Indian Independence Day (15 August 1947), when India achieved independence from one of the most brutal political entities the world has ever known: the British Empire.

Sub Continent

You Can't Kill Ideas

Street Karma

Five Rivers

One People

A hip-hop tribute to Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, by Rebel Diaz and Agent of Change. Intro speech samples a speech by Fidel; the track samples the incredible 'El Necio' by Silvio Rodriguez: "yo me muero como viví" - I die the way I lived. Viva Fidel!

Rebel Diaz - Viva Fidel

A small tribute to the Vietnamese people who, on 30 April 1975, achieved total victory in the war against US occupation. As Fidel Castro remarked, it was "one of the greatest events in modern history".

Together Again (The Liberation of Saigon)

Having listened to one of Ishmahil Blagrove's interviews, I felt it was so powerful it should be put to music. Here's the result - hopefully a bit more representative of (and respectful to) the community's feelings than Simon Cowell's offering. The reggae element is a tribute to the resistant Caribbean tradition in Notting Hill/Ladbroke Grove, and the drums are in a style of The Infamous Mobb Deep, as a small tribute to the recently deceased Prodigy.

Agent of Change - Bullet Proof Vest (Justice for Grenfell)

To mark Assata Shakur's 70th birthday, and to celebrate the ongoing struggle for black liberation in the US (and the solidarity shown towards that struggle by Cuba, where Assata lives), here's a new instrumental from Agent of Change, sampling Assata. Cuts by Terry Hooligan.

More about Assata here: http://www.invent-the-future.org/2014/09/assata-autobiography-review-quotes/

Agent of Change - Assata Taught Me

An album of instrumental hip-hop, with a theme of liberation and struggle against injustice.

Break It Down Again

Stop Being Cowards

Unconscious

A tribute to the great Etta James. 

Cuts by Terry Hooligan. 

Follow Jasiri X on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jasiri_x
Follow Agent of Change on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/agent_of_change

FREE DOWNLOAD: Jasiri X - Etta (prod Agent of Change)

Solidarity with Syria in the face of imperialist provocation, intervention and demonisation. 

FREE DOWNLOAD: Marcel Cartier - Hands Off Syria (prod Agent of Change)

Funky Flow

An album of militant conscious hip-hop from rapper Marcel Cartier and producer Agent of Change, with guest appearances from Akala, Jasiri X, Logic, Rebel Diaz, Big Frizzle, Nana D, Ed Greens, Melissa Melodee and Kayohes. 

Lead vocals on all tracks by Marcel Cartier
All tracks produced by Agent of Change

www.beatknowledge.org
www.soundcloud.com/agentofchange
www.twitter.com/marcelcartier
www.twitter.com/agent_of_change

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - A New World ft Big Frizzle

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - Start The Revolution ft G1

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - 99 to 1

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - Never Be A Slave ft Logic and Big Frizzle

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - Get Your Hands Off Africa ft Akala and Nana D

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - Be All You Can Be ft Intikana

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - Never Too Late ft Wordplay and Nana D

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - Never The Answer

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - Beautiful Together ft Nana D

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - Unoccupy The World ft RodStarz

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - Hands Off Syria

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - 99 to 1 remix ft Jasiri X, Kayohes, Ed Greens, Melissa Melodee

Marcel Cartier and Agent of Change - History Will Absolve Us

Dedicated to Hugo Chávez Frias. We carry on in his name! 

Rebel Diaz - Work Like Chavez (prod Agent of Change)

A selection of jazz and soul-inspired hip-hop instrumentals made with a laptop and some guitars.

Moment To Celebrate

Fractured Soul

Summer On Lock(down)

Unity Of Opposites

Uncertain Embrace

Path To Progress

Presidential election commentary from Rodrigo Starz of Rebel Diaz. Whatever happens in the elections, neoliberal capitalism has won. Resistance to it must continue and deepen.

Beat by Agent of Change.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS2_Cm36kxk

Rodrigo Starz - Aint No Other Option

Today marks 25 years since the army of apartheid South Africa was forced to start withdrawing from Angola after 13 years’ intervention in that country’s civil war, having been defeated in battle by a joint Angolan-Cuban force. Over the course of 1975-88, nearly 400,000 Cubans volunteered in Angola, mostly as soldiers but also as doctors, nurses, teachers and advisers. This is one of the greatest historical examples of revolutionary internationalism. When Nelson Mandela visited Cuba a year after his release from prison, he made an emotional speech in Havana in recognition of Cuba's contribution to the liberation of southern Africa. That speech is sampled in this track. 

"This is revolutionary Cuba; internationalist Cuba; the country that has done so much for the peoples of Africa. The Cuban people hold a special place in the hearts of the people of Africa. The Cuban internationalists have made a contribution to African independence, freedom and justice unparalleled for its principled and selfless character. From its earliest days the Cuban Revolution has itself been a source of inspiration to all freedom-loving people. We admire the sacrifices of the Cuban people in maintaining their independence and sovereignty in the face of a vicious imperialist-orchestrated campaign to destroy the impressive gains made in the Cuban Revolution. We too want to control our own destiny... Long live the Cuban revolution."

Read the full speech: http://www.themilitant.com/2010/7428/742850.html

Fidel was overcome with emotion on hearing Madiba's speech. In his own speech, he said: 

"It would not be right for us to emphasise Cuba's modest contribution to the cause of the South African people, but on hearing Mandela's speech, compañeros, I believe that he paid the greatest and most profound tribute that has ever been paid to our internationalist fighters. I believe that his words will remain, as if they were written in gold letters, as a homage to our combatants. He was generous, very generous; he recalled the epic feat our people performed in Africa, where all the spirit of this revolution was manifested, all its heroism and steadfastness... 

"We knew - how could we not know! - that those events [in Angola] would have a profound effect on the life of South Africa itself, and this was one of the reasons, one of the motives, one of the great incentives that pushed us on. Because we knew that once the problem in Angola was resolved, the forces that were fighting against apartheid would also benefit from our struggles.

"But have we said it this way before? No, never, because we believe that above and beyond the enormous support from abroad ... the decisive and determining factor behind the ANC's successes was the heroism, the spirit of sacrifice and struggle of the South African people led by the ANC.

"This man, in these times of cowardice and so many things, has come to tell us what he told us this afternoon. It is something that can never be forgotten and it reveals the human, moral and revolutionary dimension of Nelson Mandela."

Please enjoy and share the track! Long live Cuba and long live free Africa! The legacy of Nelson Mandela lives forever! 

Read more about Cuba's intervention in Angola: http://www.invent-the-future.org/2013/06/cuito-cuanavale-25-years-on/

Carlos Martinez / Agent of Change

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