“The people, with their participation, showed once again that it’s possible to change Bolivia… We have the responsibility to deepen and accelerate this process of change.” - Evo Morales

Our Bolivian brothers and sisters are making it. Yesterday, Bolivian president Evo Morales got re-elected. He stands for change: more freedom and more equality for the indigenous and impoverished majority of Bolivians. And now, since the defenders of the privileges of the old elite have been defeated once again, the change can go on.

Even though Latin America can be a great source of inspiration, we shouldn’t forget where our struggle takes place: here and now. We can make it too!

And if you thought things are not going so bad here, think again. And read this for example. In Helsinki, right-wing politicians, representing the interests of “our” wealthy and privileged minorities, are pushing for more cuts in public services.

The song above is by Spank Pops from San Francisco. His new “Beautiful Noise EP” is out now on Hella Records.

Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek visited Helsinki this monday when two Zizek books got published in our language. He probably dislikes contemporary urban music but still, he’s an influence for many of us. Did you know that in Buenos Aires there’s a club named after him? Zizek Urban Beats Club! They play some dope cumbia digital, publish records on their ZZK label and do worldwide tours.

Slavoj Zizek was on BBC, Zizek Club was on CNN.

Slavoj Zizek touches many important topics such as, should we let the capitalist system fuck up our world or not? Do we believe we can help the poor and save the planet by buying a cappuccino at Starbucks?

People love Zizek also because he’s entertaining. Looking nervous and neurotic, he speaks non-stop and has these gestures - constantly touching his nose as he speaks, then his shirt, then nose again… shirt, forehead, nose, beard, nose, nose, shirt. Take those gestures on the dance floor and you have ZIZEK SKANK. We don’t have a video for the dance style yet, but here are some videos by ZZK Records.

Shantel - Disko Partizani

Besides swine flu, there’s Balkan fever on the rise. Last night in Helsinki there was a party going down at Dubrovnik with a local live band Baklava and dj Repe Sorsa playing very danceable Balkan stuff by the likes of Dunkelbunt, Shantel and Goran Bregovic. Balkan sounds seem to appeal to a wide range of people, I guess people from different parts of Europe quite equally find it quite easy to relate to - and dance to.

Shantel is probably one of the biggest names of contemporary Balkan dance music. We’d like to interpret his song “Disko Partizani” as an antifascist party anthem - honouring the antifascist struggle of the Partisans. “Disko disko partizani! Parti parti partizani!”

Some other Balkan tunes to check out:
Dunkelbunt - Chocolate Butterfly
Goran Bregović vs. Shantel - Gas Gas

And previously we’ve posted about Shazalakazoo who make Balkan folkstep.

23.11. Miike Snow
27.11. DJ Ayres
27.11. Zed Bias, Hijak
27.11. DJ Funk
28.11. Barrington Levy
28.11. Nadastrom
2.12. Fuck Buttons
5.12. Skream
5.12. In Flagranti
8.12. Maskinen
12.12. DJ Vadim
13.12. Mr Vegas
19.12. Roni Size

Last Saturday afternoon some 300 people took to the streets in cold and rainy Helsinki to protest against the price of rents. Saturday 17 October was the annual Night Of The Homeless (Asunnottomien yö) day of protest. People marched through Kallio and in the end occupied an empty office building in Vallila.

There was some dope music played at the demo. Downtempo songs for the most part, and that went well together with the atmosphere of a dark and rainy day. Even a song by Tapio Rautavaara if I’m not mistaken.

Wu-Tang Clan - Bring Da Ruckus
Fredi - Kolmatta Linjaa

More pictures here and here, video footage here.

In Helsinki, this day (and night) is dedicated to homeless people. It’s October 17, the international day against poverty, and every year local social movement activists come together to organize this event called Asunnottomien yö, “the night of the homeless”.

Today in Helsinki, Asuntotoiminta network - consisting of people from autonomous movements like Opiskelijatoiminta and Social center Satama, and of diverse left-wing folks - organized a demonstration and occupied an empty house in Vallila district in Helsinki. Read here why. There’s lots of media coverage in Finnish - see here, here and here.

Casa Del Mirto - Gypsy Woman
DJ Tameil - Gypsy Theme
DJ Ayres - La Da Dee

Sany Pitbull - Blues’n'Funk

What do you know about Baile funk?

Quoting favelafunk.net:

Baile Funk was born as a kind of party especially for dancing. They came up only in the Favelas and poor areas of Rio de Janeiro. Baile Funk started already in the 60s with the aim to give an option to party for the poor and underprivileged people of the suburbs and favelas.

At the beginning the sort of music that was played was soul and funk from the USA. Some years after, more and more different influences happened. At the end of the 80s with the appearence of electronic/digital music from f.e. Kraftwerk from Germany, Funk music changed and somehow emerged as Electro, Freestyle and after all Miami Bass in the middle of the decade. With the beginning of Miami Bass, Baile funk turned into as we know it today.

Sany Pitbull from Rio de Janeiro is playing tonight in Helsinki. He’s been here a few times before. Here’s some footage from the last time.

Saturday night was fun. First, there was the re-opening party of Social Center Satama with nice atmosphere. Went there myself to rep Multitunes and dropped tracks like this:

Crookers ft. Kelis - No Security
Felix Cartal - Skeleton (Pance Party Remix)
Zoom & DBX - Commin’ Again

Afterwards went to check out the Nomad Latin Party at Underbar. Local DJ collective Autogestión Project is organizing these parties more or less regularly in Helsinki. They play Latin American music that’s very danceable, and you don’t hear those tunes in other clubs. A year ago we invited them and they came and played at the Helsinki University main building which was occupied by students. With their EZLN shirts and Clandestino banners, they make it clear they are down with zapatista style revolutionary struggle.

Here’s one Brazilian hip hop track they played last night:

They didn’t play this one (afaik) but I’m still embedding it here because the tune is B I G:

If you like it, grab it here:

Cidinho & Doca - Rap Da Felicidade

Houston rapper Trae is coming to Helsinki next week, definitely worth checking out. He’s been around since the 1990’s. With his cousins Z-Ro and Dougie D, Trae formed this group called Guerilla Maab who put out some underground classics… emo gangsta songs, melodic and mellow, with lyrics from a proletarian perspective.

I’ve been thinkin’ bout my big bro / And I swear on my life that we never gon let go / I’ve been thinkin’ bout my kinfolk / Missing my T. Jones thinkin’ there ain’t nothin’ left to live fo’

Analyzing Guerilla Maab lyrics, somebody put it well: “It’s about their life, things they go to, strugglin’, hustlin’, survivin’. It’s about life in poverty, about money hungry women, about jealous people. About Rising, working hard to achieve their goal - to get a better life. They lament about the classic urban struggles of poverty and hopelessness, and often look toward heaven with an intriguing sense of desperation.”

The way they “look toward heaven” and talk about putting faith in God can be alienating though. Putting faith in empowering people through organizing and struggling in common would make more sense. But actually, Trae himself is involved in some kind of community activism, and to honor his work, the City of Houston celebrates Trae Day.

Guerilla Maab - Nothing Left 2 Live 4
Guerilla Maab - Not My Home
Guerilla Maab - Problems

Trae performs on Friday, October 9, at the Helsinki Hip Hop Festival.

TRAE! TRAE! TRAE!

4.10. Poison Dart
7.10. Designer Drugs
9.10. Trae, DJ Krush
10.10. Cormega, AZ, Ill Insanity
10.10. AUX 88
16.10. Sany Pitbull
16.10. Omar-S
17.10. DJ Format
18.10. Peanut Butter Wolf
30.10. Souls of Mischief
5.12. Skream