OccupySandy Relief Concert – Musians as Activists! Immortal Technique and Music for Occupy as Example.

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Our 15 Minutes of Fact today features an interview with a dynamic and well-known Hip Hop artist, Immortal Technique (or, “Tech” as his friends and fans call him).  It will also explore how activism, music and the Occupy movement are important – no, essential – to each other and to the correction of so many of the ills we see in this world.

 Music for Occupy (a creation of Jason Samel www.MusicForOccupy.com) is presenting “Hurricane Sandy Relief Hip Hop Jam” on Tuesday, December 18, at the Brooklyn Bowl.  Immortal Technique is the anchor, and a dozen or more local musicians will use this occasion to raise spirits as well as raise money.  (A $15 minimum donation – more if you can afford it – is requested)

 All proceeds will go to benefit Occupy Sandy relief efforts.

 But, what does all this have to do with Occupy, Music, Activism and Resistance, and “Tech?”  Everything.  Tech, like his friend “Brother Ernie” Panioccioli, is an early and ongoing critic of the music industry.  The “1% vs. the 99%” is clearly in existence there.

 “Look at the role we (in Hip Hop) are forced to play in music…and movies…how badly this industry is in causing a caricature of people of color.”  This is because the music industry “votes with its money” – and the money is always on cookie-cutter ideas of how Hip Hop or Rap should sound in order to sell the largest number of albums.

 The parallels of the musician and Occupy are stark – both point out how the playing field is rigged in favor of making the rich richer and the poor poorer.  Challenging the status quo has been – and will continue to be – the passion of both parties and mutual support the obvious need.

 The beneficiary of this at this moment are those who have lost so much to Hurricane Sandy.  In the long run, passionate activist musicians and passionate occupiers will benefit us all.

 For those of you wishing to know more about OccupySandy, go to www.OccupySandy.org.

 Immortal Technique, you can go to www.myspace.com/immortaltechnique, www.viperrecords.com or write: info@viperrecords.com.  On Twitter he is @ImmortalTech.

 Please follow me on Twitter as @WrittenOffUSA and by way of my blogs for the Huffington Post at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jerry-ashton/.