Skip to content or view mobile version

Home | Mobile | Editorial | Mission | Privacy | About | Contact | Help | Security | Support

A network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.

Ed Greens: ‘Screaming Revolution' & Palestine

mswithacause.blogspot.co.uk (mswithacause) | 03.04.2012 10:55 | London

Ed Greens, 21 year old musical artist & poet from Camden Town, London performed at the Hackney Picture House on 29th March 2012. The show premiered the music video to ‘Screaming Revolution' by Empdy x Ed Greens. I caught up with Ed to ask a few questions, particularly, how he came to start making ‘active' music and why Palestine is a common thread in his music.

Guests were treated to an event, ‘Beats Rhymes & Revolution' featuring ‘You Can't Live Twice [EP]' by Empdy x, Ed Greens ft Melissa Melodee, Hach & D; music by Kwake (drums), Adam (Azedia) (keyboard) and DJ Snuff (decks). The full set can be viewed here - http://youtu.be/mcde-6NvX-A

The show premiered the music video to ‘Screaming Revolution' by Empdy x Ed Greens. The video, shot on the streets of London, sends out clear messages, including to ‘Boycott Israeli Goods, Stop Israel's War Crimes in GAZA, this is our time, we are the people and unite together'. http://youtu.be/CL7yTJ11Fco

I have been following Ed's music for a while and find it refreshing & inspiring that he speaks from his heart about messages which include reality, struggle, deception and change. I caught up with brother Ed to ask a few questions, particularly, how he came to start making ‘active' music and why Palestine is a common thread in his music. http://edgreens.bandcamp.com/

What's ‘Screaming Revolution' about & what's the message you are trying to get across?

"Basically, best way to describe it, it's an expression of how we feel in the system we are living under. The message is, in order to change the terrible situation of the world, that a revolution is needed. That doesn't necessarily entail a violent event."

"We try to make music that highlights our situation here and abroad, to try and relate to a global struggle and what we want to see as a global revolution."

What do you mean when you use the word ‘revolution'?

"For me a revolution is complete systematic change, whereby the structure of the system &/or the people at the top, are completely changed, to enable full equality amongst the people."

How do references to Palestine & the ‘Boycott of Israeli goods' in your video, fit into your song ‘Screaming Revolution'?

"In terms of empire and western imperialism, I would say the Zionist state is a modern neo-colonial project and acts as a military extension of the West into North Africa & Western Asia. Therefore, as people standing against empire we must continue to support the Palestinian struggle."

What are your views on the ‘Occupy Movement' in London and do you feel it's a step towards achieving a revolution?

"As a human being, I perceive the word occupy as an adjective; not a noun or a brand name. Therefore, I do not associate myself with ‘Occupy London' or any other group or organisation for that matter but I will use occupation to achieve anti-empire, anti-imperialist, pro people and pro equality political aims and therefore, I engage and support blockades like ‘Save our Leyton Marsh'."

Have you visited Palestine & are you planning any trips there?

"I am going for 3 months to Palestine with the Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association (CADFA) to further their linking programme that links Camden with Abu dis. I will be working on a drama/film project, as well as maybe poetry and music with the children in Abu dis. This is my first time to Palestine. I am hoping to have time away from London, to be in another environment Inshallah, to get further on my deen and be of some use or encouragement to the Palestinian people. Twinning allows Palestinians to further feel the support of the international community by connecting with them." http://www.camdenabudis.net/

When did you start making music?

"I started freestyle rapping with friends at 16, messing around and then at around 17 I started to write stuff. I then added music to it and began to write full songs instead of freestyling to a beat."

Does any particular artist or music inspire you?

"Definitely, like Skinnyman, Taskforce, Lowkey, Logic, Peoples Army, The Roots, Talib Kweli, De La Soul, Immortal technique, like... I could go on all day. I am a fan of all good music, including hip hop with good content that makes people think about their surroundings and their impact on it."

Was there a first main political event which motivated you towards activism & if so, what was it?

"For me, the thing I kind of remember is 911 to a certain extent. I recall when I was younger, when I was first told about what happened I had an uncle in New York. When I heard that towers had fallen down I got worried for him because I thought from a physics & scientific perspective. I thought of a tower falling on its side and not on its footprint. Basically, I didn't get politically active then as at such a young age. After watching documentaries and further research, the ‘official conspiracy theory' that the mainstream media and government supported, I felt didn't add up and on further investigation and reading of the ‘Official 911 commission report', obvious we were not being told the truth. This led me onto researching different areas that we are often lied to by mainstream media or the government. This led me to understand that the world we live in is hugely influenced by a very small amount of families and individuals who maintain power over people and their resources. When I started to look at the colonisation of Palestine, it made me have a more urgent sense of action."

What's your message to people generally?

"Let's come together and build for equality, Inshallah."


One of my favourite songs by Ed, is 2 by 2 where he sings: "so we'll try for that one and only means, doesn't mean that we don't have the right to self-defend, if you come with a tank running over my fence, doesn't mean that I can't still defend. What's that? I might just throw a rock back but what's that? I might just throw a rock back but really what's that? Dedication, to the little kids in Palestine, throwing rocks, never stop. So I try, to stick to the righteous, cause I know together we can fight this, cause the revolution is inside us, literally and metaphysically, so they divide us, you've been taken for a ride bruv, no matter how they hide or disguise us, even if they use violence, we are never staying silent. Victory to the Intifada, Inshallah, peace, love, respect, unity." http://youtu.be/_4ofqdsGoLA

A discussion with Abdul Wahab, a Palestinian CADFA coordinator and a Palestinian student from Al Quds University (who both reside in Abu Dis) took place recently when they visited London as part of the CADFA exchange project. They shared their experiences, difficulties and struggles of living under apartheid Israel. Videos of these discussion can be viewed here:

http://youtu.be/Cia70AEWLgI
http://youtu.be/932k94qAq0Y

Assalam alaikum, peace be upon you.

 


mswithacause.blogspot.co.uk (mswithacause)
- Original article on IMC London: http://london.indymedia.org/articles/11992

Upcoming Coverage
View and post events
Upcoming Events UK
24th October, London: 2015 London Anarchist Bookfair
2nd - 8th November: Wrexham, Wales, UK & Everywhere: Week of Action Against the North Wales Prison & the Prison Industrial Complex. Cymraeg: Wythnos o Weithredu yn Erbyn Carchar Gogledd Cymru

Ongoing UK
Every Tuesday 6pm-8pm, Yorkshire: Demo/vigil at NSA/NRO Menwith Hill US Spy Base More info: CAAB.

Every Tuesday, UK & worldwide: Counter Terror Tuesdays. Call the US Embassy nearest to you to protest Obama's Terror Tuesdays. More info here

Every day, London: Vigil for Julian Assange outside Ecuadorian Embassy

Parliament Sq Protest: see topic page
Ongoing Global
Rossport, Ireland: see topic page
Israel-Palestine: Israel Indymedia | Palestine Indymedia
Oaxaca: Chiapas Indymedia
Regions
All Regions
Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World
Other Local IMCs
Bristol/South West
Nottingham
Scotland
Social Media
You can follow @ukindymedia on indy.im and Twitter. We are working on a Twitter policy. We do not use Facebook, and advise you not to either.
Support Us
We need help paying the bills for hosting this site, please consider supporting us financially.
Other Media Projects
Schnews
Dissident Island Radio
Corporate Watch
Media Lens
VisionOnTV
Earth First! Action Update
Earth First! Action Reports
Topics
All Topics
Afghanistan
Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-Nuclear
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Fracking
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Policing
Public sector cuts
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista
Major Reports
NATO 2014
G8 2013
Workfare
2011 Census Resistance
Occupy Everywhere
August Riots
Dale Farm
J30 Strike
Flotilla to Gaza
Mayday 2010
Tar Sands
G20 London Summit
University Occupations for Gaza
Guantanamo
Indymedia Server Seizure
COP15 Climate Summit 2009
Carmel Agrexco
G8 Japan 2008
SHAC
Stop Sequani
Stop RWB
Climate Camp 2008
Oaxaca Uprising
Rossport Solidarity
Smash EDO
SOCPA
Past Major Reports
Encrypted Page
You are viewing this page using an encrypted connection. If you bookmark this page or send its address in an email you might want to use the un-encrypted address of this page.
If you recieved a warning about an untrusted root certificate please install the CAcert root certificate, for more information see the security page.

Global IMC Network


www.indymedia.org

Projects
print
radio
satellite tv
video

Africa

Europe
antwerpen
armenia
athens
austria
barcelona
belarus
belgium
belgrade
brussels
bulgaria
calabria
croatia
cyprus
emilia-romagna
estrecho / madiaq
galiza
germany
grenoble
hungary
ireland
istanbul
italy
la plana
liege
liguria
lille
linksunten
lombardia
madrid
malta
marseille
nantes
napoli
netherlands
northern england
nottingham imc
paris/île-de-france
patras
piemonte
poland
portugal
roma
romania
russia
sardegna
scotland
sverige
switzerland
torun
toscana
ukraine
united kingdom
valencia

Latin America
argentina
bolivia
chiapas
chile
chile sur
cmi brasil
cmi sucre
colombia
ecuador
mexico
peru
puerto rico
qollasuyu
rosario
santiago
tijuana
uruguay
valparaiso
venezuela

Oceania
aotearoa
brisbane
burma
darwin
jakarta
manila
melbourne
perth
qc
sydney

South Asia
india


United States
arizona
arkansas
asheville
atlanta
Austin
binghamton
boston
buffalo
chicago
cleveland
colorado
columbus
dc
hawaii
houston
hudson mohawk
kansas city
la
madison
maine
miami
michigan
milwaukee
minneapolis/st. paul
new hampshire
new jersey
new mexico
new orleans
north carolina
north texas
nyc
oklahoma
philadelphia
pittsburgh
portland
richmond
rochester
rogue valley
saint louis
san diego
san francisco
san francisco bay area
santa barbara
santa cruz, ca
sarasota
seattle
tampa bay
united states
urbana-champaign
vermont
western mass
worcester

West Asia
Armenia
Beirut
Israel
Palestine

Topics
biotech

Process
fbi/legal updates
mailing lists
process & imc docs
tech