Smoke DZA Pairs “We Outside” With Grassroots Voter Organizing
Originally published by AllHipHop Read the original
Smoke DZA and Popular Democracy released We Outside on November 2, pairing a rap project with a push for community involvement before the midterms.
Mike & Keys produced the release, which features Bun B, Benny the Butcher, BIG K.R.I.T., Kai Kash and Fergie Baby.
The project is an EP credited to Smoke DZA and Mike & Keys, with six songs running 16 minutes. Its catalog gives the same November 2 release date and an RFC Music Group copyright line.
“Our voices matter, and we have to show up, get involved, and have a say in what happens next,” Smoke DZA said in the project announcement.
Popular Democracy said its affiliates were reaching voters through calls and door knocking while offering election protection training. The network organizes Black, Latine, immigrant and working-class communities.
A clothing collaboration with Union Los Angeles and Barriers adds hoodies, sweatshirts and T-shirts to the project.
The partnership follows another Popular Democracy event that put performers in the same room as organizers. Its July 9 People’s Convention and Let’s Get Free concert took place at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia.
The event marked the 14th Amendment’s anniversary.
Dead Prez, Mumu Fresh and Flor De Toloache headlined, with Kemba and Roque Starz among the other performers, The Washington Informer reported.
The use of music to reach voters also extends beyond this project. In a separate effort, DJs at the Polls sent about 2,000 DJs to nearly 5,000 polling sites across 24 states on November 3.
Founder Anton Moore developed the idea while working on BET’s “Rap City.” The sets come with training and rules against partisan promotion.
Popular Democracy also named housing, health care and immigration enforcement among the issues it plans to organize around after November 3.
