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)

A set of beats sampling or inspired by music from the frontline African states in the struggle for liberation from colonialism and apartheid. 

Other beat-tapes in the series: 

https://soundcloud.com/agentofchange/sets/drums-of-revolution
https://soundcloud.com/agentofchange/sets/the-displaced-soul-of-an-agent
https://soundcloud.com/agentofchange/sets/deconstructed-soul

Hani's Song

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)

In celebration of what would have been Bob Marley's 70th birthday.  Bob was one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century; a great musician and revolutionary teacher who spread a message of resistance and love.

My Life Is For People (Bob Marley tribute)

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

Advance South

Updated version of a beat I made in March 2011, sampling Farrakhan's radio broadcast in opposition to NATO war on Libya.

The Prediction

"An artist must be an authentic creator and in very essence a revolutionary... a man as dangerous as a guerrilla because of his great power of communication" - Victor Jara.



Urgent Message

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

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

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

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)

To mark the 70th birthday of Dr Huey P Newton, celebrated radical MCs Jasiri X and Rodstarz (of Rebel Diaz) drop the track 'Panther Power'. 

Follow Jasiri X on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jasiri_x 
Follow Rebel Diaz on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rebeldiaz
Follow Agent of Change on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/agent_of_change
Blog post on Huey Newton's autobiography: http://www.invent-the-future.org/2015/02/huey-newton-revolutionary-suicide/

FREE DOWNLOAD: Jasiri X and Rodstarz - Panther Power (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)

A selection of soulful hip-hop instrumentals by Carlos Martinez, mixed by Terry Hooligan.

Free download: Brapple Juice (Carton 1), mixed by Terry Hooligan

A little instrumental hip-hop tribute to an incredible musician and fighter for social justice.

Aretha Samplin'

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 - Start The Revolution ft G1

Track 8 from the new album, Soul Rotation.

fanlink.to/SoulRotation

Carlos Martinez - Ray of Hope | Soul Rotation LP

A selection of jazz and soul-inspired hip-hop instrumentals. All beats, guitars, keyboards played by me.

Quick Diversion

Summer Break

Bass Embrace

Hip-hop instrumental dedicated to the people of Gaza, resisting Israeli colonial occupation and war. Feel free to download and record on it. 

FREE DOWNLOAD: Agent of Change - Gaza Fights Back (instrumental)

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

Popular tracks by Carlos Martinez / Agent of Change