Checktheweather.net has been following the Hip Hop Caucus’ journey into the world of Green Activism since they launched the Green the Block Campaign last April 2009. One thing we can say is that the Hip Hop Caucus is good at connecting Hip Hop to awareness building. The new Stop Offshore Drilling Mixtape is just one more example. From Black Gold by Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek to classics like Shut em Down by Public Enemy this mixtape is a great soundtrack before you peddle/march/carpool to the next direct action against the Big Dirty Oil Man.

The one thing missing from the mixtape is a track from Green The Block Promoting artist, Drake.  In his exclusive interview on the Green The Block Campaign site, the rapper Du Jour discusses how he is taking baby steps for the environment. Hopefully, Drake will be feeling eco-conscious by the time Checktheweather.net drops our 2nd classic mixtape. (Grind for the Green Drake!).

To download the Stop Offshore Drilling Mixtape follow the link below:

http://www.4shared.com/get/315262026/c02ee87b/STOP_OFFSHORE_DRILLING_MIXTAPE.html;jsessionid=4FD5F1D74620D9376C95366BE7CA1650.dc216

In case you missed this season’s issue of Race, Poverty & the Environment, the amazing folks at Grind for the Green were featured in a piece about youth of color who are using hip hop to spread environmental awareness in Bay Area hoods. Check it out below.

And in the same issue, ChecktheWeather.net’s co-founder Ellen Choy co-authors an article on Richmond, CA’s Chevron refinery and climate justice organizing! Get the whole issue online here.

Youth in Action: Greening Hip Hop

The Greening of Hip-Hop: Urban Youth Address Climate Change and Sustainability

By Eric Arnold

Twenty-year-old aspiring rapper Tre Pound was born in San Francisco’s Hunters Point, a predominantly low-income community of color with the dubious distinction of housing the two most toxic Superfund sites in the United States, as well as power and sewage treatment plants. Asthma, cancer, and diabetes rates in that area are all disproportionately higher than in other parts of the Bay Area. “I kinda knew where I was living wasn’t environmentally safe,” says Pound, but the public school he attended provided little information about industrial pollution or climate change.

Pound says he frequently incorporates socially-aware themes into his music, but he had never made an environmentally-aware rap song until he signed up to compete in Grind for the Green’s (G4G) Eco-Rap battle. He ended up winning the competition, earning a $1000 prize and studio time, by outpacing several other contestants with his eco-friendly flow during G4G’s second annual free concert at the Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco.

Pound is just one voice in the growing number of youth voices engaged in community organizing for social change. Millions of young people around the world participate in social activism. According to Wiretap Magazine, there are more than 600 youth-led community organizations currently creating green jobs, removing toxic waste, combating corporate pollution, and fighting against violence in their communities.

(more…)

Last week, Checktheweather.net got the opportunity to sit down with legendary rap duo, Dead Prez. You may remember them from songs like “It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop” and “Mind Sex”. The dynamic Florida raised, Brooklyn based duo are back again with their latest album The Pulse of the People: Turn off the Radio Vol. 3. During our conversation with M1, we discussed the concept behind Pulse of the People and what makes it a “Green” Hip-hop album.

CTW:What was the concept behind The Pulse of People, What kind of vibe can listener’s expect?

M1: we wanted to catch history being made at a moment we wanted to catch it from every angle. It is a checking of the pulse of the people at this time From Feel good songs, to hood songs, to Africa.

CTW: What are some of your favorite songs on the Album?

M1: I really love the Africa Hot song.The chorus is hot and on the hook we got people speaking in arabic and swahili. I also like Warpath we rap from the identity of police officers who murder and continue to murder Africans in our community it’s like a rock song. Another song was Summertime, really like the vibe.

CTW: What makes this album a “Green” Album?

M1: Green in many ways not only are we using this as a way to know more about ourselves the concept of green in this country has not been made totally for the african community that’s why we make songs like healthy. We also printed the album on recycled paper and included 5 hood reasons to “Go Green”. 1 of the main reasons being because it’s healthy. The album was also produced by our comrade DJ Green Lantern.

CTW: Where do you see this Green Movement going for people of color around the world?

M1:Well at this time I think we have to translate it. It should hit you from a emotional standpoint. But also from an economic aspect African people have to get on and see it as a way of economic development. Also how it relates to our general health that’s why we die so soon. We have to really make it relevant because we are the ones being hurt the most. We need to use this as a way to open up avenues and make it work for working class people.

(editor’s note: CTW had more questions but M1 had to dip to finish filming Dead Prez’s new video which is sure to drop SOON. Check back with us soon for the update on this story)

Wanna hear a couple songs from the Album? Check it out below. Also visit Deadprez.com to buy the album and official Boss Up Merchandise.

Dead Prez Pulse of the People Teaser