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songs about inprisonment & immigration brainstorm

ayresayres 1,452 Posts
edited April 2005 in Music Talk
I'm making a mix CD for a non-profit that deals with immigration & the criminal justice system in the US. The idea they had was to do an entire CD of mashups with all kinds of songs about immigration and imprisonment. They wanted hip-hop, reggaeton, bhangra, reggae, classic rock and all kinds of stuff. I explained how you can't really do mashups without accapellas and they are cool with it being sections of different kinds of music, so now I'm getting the music together (mostly their suggestions, with a few of mine thrown in there).Long story short, I'm looking for more songs that are about being in jail or immigrants being treated badly. It shouldn't be too obscure (it has to be stuff I can find, and preferably stuff that will mix with what I already have). Any ideas would be appreciated.Public Enemy - Black Steel in the Hour of ChaosKRS 1 - Sound of Da PoliceRakaa Iriscience - Caution Jurassic 5 - FreedomDead Prez - Behind Enemy LinesStyles P - I'm BlackJadakiss - Why RemixTalib Kweli - Get ByNas - One LoveAkon & Nas - Locked Up (remix)Akon & Richie Spice - Locked Up For Marijuana (remix)Peter Metro - GreencardRankin Toyan - ImmigrationMystic - Bruk Pocket ForeignerJunior Reid - Foreign MindPinchers - Borders Peter Tosh - ApartheidGenesis - Illegal AlienPolice - Walking On The Moon Crosby, Stills & Nash - Wooden ShipsRolling Stones - Gimme ShelterLed Zeppelin - Immigrant SongMIA - AmazonSade - Immigrant
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  Comments

  • peacefulrotationpeacefulrotation 3,481 Posts
    Brand Nubian - Hold On
    Jawnny Cash - Folsom PRison Blues
    Jacob Miller- Tenement Yard ?





  • johmbolayajohmbolaya 4,472 Posts
    Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song

    This song wouldn't fit in with what you want to cover. It's more along the lines of Lord Of The Rings-type immigration, the whole hammer of the Gods will drive our ship to new lands[/b] thing.

    I don't know if Crosby Stills & Nash's "Wooden Ships" would fit, although it is politically toned. All of them, as well as Neil Young, have done their share of songs that would fit. Graham Nash has "Immigration Man".
  • soulrezsoulrez 565 Posts
    nwa - fuck the po*ice
  • SwayzeSwayze 14,705 Posts
    Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song

    This song wouldn't fit in with what you want to cover. It's more along the lines of Lord Of The Rings-type immigration, the whole hammer of the Gods will drive our ship to new lands[/b] thing.

    eh, Lord of the Rings??? it's about the Vikings!
  • The_Hook_UpThe_Hook_Up 8,182 Posts
    I just got a great record of field recordings of women's prison work songs from the Parchman Prison in Mississippi. The recordings date from the 30s. All accapella too, so you can blend them with ease.

    I just tried to look for it so i could post the cover, but no luck(I gotta get more organized) but there are lots of field recordings of prison songs out there and there are usually accapellas.
  • tallbobsmoketallbobsmoke 715 Posts
    Gil Scot Heron - Angola Louisiana
  • djdazedjdaze 3,099 Posts
    Lifers Group - Belly of the Beast

    actually, anything from them really
  • faux_rillzfaux_rillz 14,343 Posts
    Beanie "What Your Life Like"
  • Jonny_PaycheckJonny_Paycheck 17,825 Posts
    Beanie "What Your Life Like




    Part II as well (which I prefer)

  • bassiebassie 11,710 Posts
    Burning Spear - Ethiopians Live It Out
  • jamesjames chicago 1,863 Posts
    In the Indigo Grulls' "Shame On You," the line "We've been looking for illegal immigrants--can we check your car?" is left fairly open.



    And for the oblique in you: "The Royal Scam" by Steely Dan.
  • HAZHAZ 3,376 Posts


    Lench Mob - Lost in the System

    Billy Bragg - Rotting On Remand

    Askari X - Ward of The State

  • bassiebassie 11,710 Posts
    Attica Blues - Archie Shepp
  • Birdman9Birdman9 5,417 Posts
    Attica Blues - Archie Shepp

    good one!
  • The_NonThe_Non 5,691 Posts
    Angelo Bond-Bondage
  • rape_donkeysrape_donkeys 615 Posts
    maybe not exactly imprisonment or immigration.. kind of a little of both

    'driva man' by max roach and abbey lincoln on the we insist! record. shit is too real.
  • djdazedjdaze 3,099 Posts
    I just remembered this compilation that came out a few years back...The Unbound Project. Definitely that same theme.



    Here's the tracklisting:

    Human Element, The - Reflection Eternal
    Us Kids Are Doing It - J Rocc
    Caution - Iriscience
    Strata - Jerry Quickley
    Objective, The - J Rocc
    Dance Of The Dead - Saul Williams
    Mumia 911 - The Unbound Allstars
    Feb. 4th 1999 (For All Those Killed By The Cops) - Mike Ladd
    Social Policy Derelicts - Mike Ladd/Seeing I
    Full Court Press - Medina Green
    Ms. Amerikkka - AceyAlone
    Degredation - J Rocc
    Soul In Flesh - Blackalicious
    Soon - Ursula Rucker
    Lincoln`s Lie - Mums The Schemer
    Slaves In America - Poor Righteous Teachers
  • ayresayres 1,452 Posts
    unfortunately the music on that sucks. i'm using the iriscience joint off that though - it is pretty OK musically and definitely on topic lyrically. the non-profit folks gave me a bunch of comps that mostly suck.
  • djdazedjdaze 3,099 Posts
    yeah...I couldn't remember if it was any good or not. oh well. haha.
  • johmbolayajohmbolaya 4,472 Posts
    Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song

    This song wouldn't fit in with what you want to cover. It's more along the lines of Lord Of The Rings-type immigration, the whole hammer of the Gods will drive our ship to new lands[/b] thing.

    eh, Lord of the Rings??? it's about the Vikings!

    Thus the reason I said -type. I'm not all into that Dungeons & Dragons/18-sided die shit.
  • johmbolayajohmbolaya 4,472 Posts
    Sir Mix-A-Lot's "One Time's Got No Case". I thought the way Mix-A-Lot said "boots" in the song would have become one of hip-hop's biggest trends.
  • edpowersedpowers 4,437 Posts
    Jayo Felony....the loc is on his on
    Jayo Felony....penitentary bound
  • rootlesscosmorootlesscosmo 12,848 Posts
    "Fighting Against Conviction / Battering Down Sentence"
    -Bunny Wailer
  • DJ_NevilleCDJ_NevilleC 1,922 Posts
    John Prine - Christmas in Prison

    It was Christmas in prison and the food was real good.
    We had turkey and pistols carved out of wood.
    And I dream of her always even when I don't dream.
    Her name's on my tongue and her blood's in my stream.

    Wait a while eternity;
    Old mother nature's got nothing on me.
    Come to me, run to me, come to me now.
    We're rolling, my sweetheart, we're flowing, by God!

    She reminds me of a chess game with someone I admire,
    Or a picnic in the rain after a prairie fire.
    Her heart is as big as this whole goddamn jail.
    And she's sweeter than saccharine at a drug store sale.

    Wait a while eternity;
    Old mother nature's got nothing on me.
    Come to me, run to me, come to me now.
    We're rolling, my sweetheart, we're flowing, by God!

    The search light in the big yard swings round with the gun,
    And spotlights the snowflakes like the dust in the sun.
    It's Christmas in prison, there'll be music tonight:
    I'll probably get homesick. I love you. Goodnight.

    Wait a while eternity;
    Old mother nature's got nothing on me.
    Come to me, run to me, come to me now.
    We're rolling, my sweetheart, we're flowing, by God!
  • JxarchiveJxarchive 23 Posts
    Dylan's "Hurricane"
  • djdazedjdaze 3,099 Posts
    John Prine - Christmas in Prison

    It was Christmas in prison and the food was real good.
    We had turkey and pistols carved out of wood.
    And I dream of her always even when I don't dream.
    Her name's on my tongue and her blood's in my stream.

    Wait a while eternity;
    Old mother nature's got nothing on me.
    Come to me, run to me, come to me now.
    We're rolling, my sweetheart, we're flowing, by God!

    She reminds me of a chess game with someone I admire,
    Or a picnic in the rain after a prairie fire.
    Her heart is as big as this whole goddamn jail.
    And she's sweeter than saccharine at a drug store sale.

    Wait a while eternity;
    Old mother nature's got nothing on me.
    Come to me, run to me, come to me now.
    We're rolling, my sweetheart, we're flowing, by God!

    The search light in the big yard swings round with the gun,
    And spotlights the snowflakes like the dust in the sun.
    It's Christmas in prison, there'll be music tonight:
    I'll probably get homesick. I love you. Goodnight.

    Wait a while eternity;
    Old mother nature's got nothing on me.
    Come to me, run to me, come to me now.
    We're rolling, my sweetheart, we're flowing, by God!


    I never ever ever ever ever thought I would see someone quote John Prine on this board. wow. just fucking wow. hahahaha. My dad used to play the hell out of his Bruised Orange 8 track when I was little.
  • bonzaisk8bonzaisk8 946 Posts
    Bob Nesta Marley "Burning and Looting"



    This morning I woke up in a curfew;

    O god, I was a prisoner, too - yeah!

    Could not recognize the faces standing over me;

    They were all dressed in uniforms of brutality. eh!



    How many rivers do we have to cross,

    Before we can talk to the boss? eh!

    All that we got, it seems we have lost;

    We must have really paid the cost.



    (that???s why we gonna be)

    Burnin??? and a-lootin??? tonight;

    (say we gonna burn and loot)

    Burnin??? and a-lootin??? tonight;

    (one more thing)

    Burnin??? all pollution tonight;

    (oh, yeah, yeah)

    Burnin??? all illusion tonight.



    Oh, stop them!



    Give me the food and let me grow;

    Let the roots man take a blow.

    All them drugs gonna make you slow now;

    It???s not the music of the ghetto. eh!



    Weeping and a-wailin??? tonight;

    (who can stop the tears? )

    Weeping and a-wailin??? tonight;

    (we???ve been suffering these long, long-a years!)

    Weeping and a-wailin??? tonight

    (will you say cheer? )

    Weeping and a-wailin??? tonight

    (but where? )



    Give me the food and let me grow;

    Let the roots man take a blow.

    I must say: all them - all them drugs gonna make you slow;

    It???s not the music of the ghetto.



    We gonna be burning and a-looting tonight;

    (to survive, yeah!)

    Burning and a-looting tonight;

    (save your baby lives)

    Burning all pollution tonight;

    (pollution, yeah, yeah!)

    Burning all illusion tonight

    (lord-a, lord-a, lord-a, lord!)



    Burning and a-looting tonight;

    Burning and a-looting tonight;

    Burning all pollution tonight. /fadeout/

  • The_NonThe_Non 5,691 Posts
    WAIT!!!!
    I just remembered, IMO, the best prison song EVAR!!!!:

    ARKANSAS STATE PRISON[/b]-Bobby Womack

    Folsom County Blues-anyone

    No More Prisons-various hip hop dudes collabo against prison complex

    25 Ta Life-D Nice

    Death Row (?)-Intelligent Hoodlum (great Adderley sample)

    Johnny Cash shiz

    Peace
    T.N.
  • funky16cornersfunky16corners 7,175 Posts
    MERLE HAGGARD[/b]



    Mama Tried

    Sing Me Back Home
  • On_the_Red_ClayOn_the_Red_Clay 1,728 Posts
    Last tune on the mix:

    Nina Simone - I wish i knew how it would feel to be free[/b]
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