As war with Iraq seems imminent, rappers have
come forward to express their anti-war sentiments.
Former Run-DMC front man Rev. Run is planning
an untitled all-star antiwar record.
Internet company UBO.com is planning one as well.
Their single, "Raise Your Hands…Not In Our Name," will be available
for free download at midnight on March 14.
The song will feature Killa Priest, Chubb Rock,
Buju Banton, Supernatural and others.
Well known pacifists, The Beastie Boys, have
also released a track, "In
"A war in Iraq will not resolve our problems,"
Beastie group member Adam Yauch said. "It can only result in the deaths
of many innocent civilians and US troops. If we are truly striving for safety,
we need to build friendships, not try to bully the rest of the world."
"We felt it would be irresponsible not to
address what’s going on in the world while the events are still current,"
added Mike D.
"It didn’t make sense to us to wait until the entire record was finished
to release this song."
Chuck D. labeled the war as "grand theft
oil." "God sent a message to Son Of A Bush and his agenda on President’s
Day by spitting a blizzard that paralyzed the northeast especially the DC area,"
Chuck D. said.
Jay-Z, Nas, Outkast, Russell Simmons and a host
of others have joined Musicians United to Win Without War.
"Iraq is disarming," Simmons told AllHipHop.com.
"Can we take their actions as a ‘yes we are disarming?’ War on Iraq isn’t
the answer."
"Everybody’s asking me what I think about
this war," Common said during a concert in Philadelphia last week. "I
ain’t down with this war. I ain’t down with this President. And I ain’t down
with this government."