Thug Life Army

Hip Hop Time to represent. The egalitarian committees of Project SweatShop/NonStop are organizing a youth party/rally this Saturday, April 7th, boldly entitled the ‘We The People Festival’. Because we are, after all, people. It's going down at The Center on South Central Avenue in Los Angeles, it is all ages, and the gathering sprawls from four PM to midnight. Among the cavalcade of important figures they have arranged to speak, sing, flow, and gesticulate for this important occasion are: the one and only hip hop notables Dead Prez, Psycho Realm, RZA, GZA, DJ Muggs, Sabac Red, Georgia Anne Muldrow, 2 Mex, Los Nativos, Hasan Salaam, Quinto Sol, and many, many more familiar to hip hop culture citizens. What a line up. What a party. What a reason to rise up, get together, and throw your hands in the air like you just DO care.

For those of you have seen Dave Chappelle's Block Party, you will well know the consciousness-raising vocal lyrical gymnastics of Florida-based hip hop rap duo Dead Prez. From their insurgent name to their controversial rhymes, the group has set out from the start to change minds and wreck repressive socio-political boundaries. Comprised of notable hip hop rappers Stic.man and M-1, Dead Prez dropped their debut record, Let's Get Free, in 2000, and immediately won a devoted following amongst hip-hop enthusiasts eager for beats and rhymes with actual meaning, unlike so much of the shallow rap refuse clogging the radio airwaves.

They spent the next few years touring and compiling their Turn Off The Radio mix-tape projects (it was two volumes, and both were rapturously received). Eventually though, in 2004, they unleashed their legitimate follow-up LP, RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta, which was more sophisticated condensation of their sound and message. They''ve also teamed up with Outlawz (former group of slain hip hop icon Tupac Shakur / 2Pac) for the Can''t Sell Dope Forever record, as well as Solier 2 Soldier, a collaboration between Stic.man and Young Noble. They are always an act to watch, and their set at this festival should be the ultimate setting for such a power-to-the-people pair of artists.