Rip Up The Sun, R.I.P The Victims, released by Class Actions as a free download to raise awareness on the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, features 16 tracks that veer from hard core rap, to poetry, to German ragga.
What unites all the tracks, some directly hitting Hillsborough, others slamming the system that allowed a huge cover up, is just massive anger at the state of things – and some massive tunes to soundtrack it.
The compilation begins with Salford rap collective, Class Actions' Rip Up The Sun slaughtering Rupert Murdoch (see previous Salford Star feature here). It sets the tone nicely for an array of ire in words, song and beats, not just about Hillsborough but slagging a system that doesn't spawn justice for ordinary people the world over – summed up superbly by Mark Gorman and the People's Villain and the anthem No-one Likes Us We Don't Care.
Next up is Salford street music legend Markus De Rawkus doing Be Yourself, an ambient, trancey, dancey laid back killer of a track, which paves the way for The MOLOTOV's In The Red… `This is the sound of it all coming down…Kids aren't thick they're listening…There ain't no power like the power of the people…No F*cking More!' Ace.
And from Germany, Holger Burner, do two tracks, the first a ragga rap, Hey Poliziemann, the second, a tirade called Generation Krise. The language might be German but the attitude could be burning all the way from Salford.
Geoff Chandler's The 96 is a classic protest song directly relating to Hillsborough and Stephen Sarsen's Why Did You Have To Leave Me is top class short and bitter indie pop. These are breathing spaces before the hard core Hard Code's Tory Scum steams in, and D.I.S.L. Automatic give out hyper political hip hop with Power To The People… `If we don't start a revolution it will never be done'.
The second half of the compilation is given over to street poets – Yorkshire Matt's One Of The Mass – `One of those on the dole…one of those that hates the rich, one of those that gives a shit…Stringin' up bankers, not forgetting those ConDem wankers, singing Maggie Maggie Maggie…Die! Die! Die!'...
Salford activist Keith Dewsnup showcases his own prose with Hillsborough and Justice for the 96… `This message goes out to all football fans because this isn't Liverpool's tragedy it's football's…next time it could be you.'
Solomon Scribble weighs in with 2-1, about a goalkeeper's lot, and David Brooke donates his poem Ed, which Mr Miliband won't want to hear… `He can now only stare with a dry open jaw at the carcass of a proud working class…We can only expect sadness. We can only expect Ed Miliband…'
The compilation ends with Class Actions' No Retreat… an anti-fascist rap by the Sunderland supporting Aslan AK, a message to fans still pondering the appointment of Paolo Di Canio as manager. For Class Actions and others on this album Hillsborough, fascism, the system is all the same fight.
"As a Sunderland supporter, I feel disgusted by the decision to appoint a known fascist as manager" he says "This is a kick in the teeth to all the anti-racism campaigns the club has supported, all the trade unionists and miners who have stood by the club and all the decent people who died fighting fascism during World War II.
"The Rip Up the Sun R.I.P. The Victims compilation is all about solidarity, all football fans must support the Hillsborough victims" he adds "The late inclusion of No Retreat is there to show all football fans must oppose fascism."
Meanwhile this week the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster takes centre stage…
"The Hillsborough disaster must not be forgotten, and the shameful lies from The Sun newspaper must not go unknown" says Mike F, Class Actions producer "Justice is needed for the '96 and I am grateful to be part of a compilation supporting the many victims of this tragedy."
Some of the language on the tracks might not be to everyone's taste but the sentiments are pure gut reaction to everything that's going off at the moment. It's totally refreshing.
Rip Up the Sun R.I.P. The Victims can be downloaded free from Class Actions' website - www.classactionsuk.com
See also facebook - www.facebook.com/classactions
And Twitter - twitter.com/classactionsuk
* Ding Dong!!! Class Actions have also rush re-released their ace Thatcher track M Is 4 Maggie - click here
Main photo of Aslan AK by Dawne Sheldrick Keating
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