Donald Trump is our president, so pack a bowl, crank these protest anthems and have a deep think about how to stop this racist reality star from destroying our way of life.
YG – FDT
Compton rapper YG has been smoking Cali loud and taking shots at Donald Trump since before it was recreationally legal. “FDT”, from his excellent 2016 album Still Brazy, stands for “FUCK DONALD TRUMP”. After this nonsensical election, scream-singing “FUCK DONALD TRUMP” to a smooth and funky West Coast gangsta rap beat is deeply cathartic. You thought all this Donald Trump bullshit was a joke? IT’S NOT A JOKE, STONERS. IT’S REAL LIFE. HASN’T IT GOT YOU APPRECIATING OBAMA WAY MORE? YG AGREES!
David Bowie – I’m Afraid Of Americans
Now that Trump is president, David Bowie’s death has been downgraded to the second-worst tragedy of 2016. Bowie loved Young Americans all night when he was the Thin White Duke, but on this Trent Reznor-assisted industrial pop gem from 1997’s Earthling, Bowie is scared shitless of the USA. Here’s Bowie on the song’s inspiration (from Virgin Records’ Earthling press release): “I was traveling in Java when the first McDonalds went up: it was like, ‘for fuck’s sake.’ The invasion by any homogenized culture is so depressing, the erection of another Disney World in, say, Umbria, Italy, more so. It strangles the indigenous culture and narrows expression of life.” Donny (rhymes with Johnny) Trump may strangle and limit innumerable cultures with corporate croneyism by the time his four years in office are up. IS THERE LIFE ON MARS? If so, the Martians are probably afraid of how Donny’s America might narrow their life expression and expectancy. Aren’t you afraid of Americans at this point? I’m afraid I can’t help it…
Pussy Riot – Make America Great Again
In Mother Russia, Pussy doesn’t just grab back—it can land you in a Putin prison. In 2012, that’s exactly what happened to Pussy Riot, a feminist punk protest group who uses guerrilla theater tactics and pop music to challenge patriarchal control and topple dictators. These brave and bombastic women have been on hunger strikes to protest Putin’s putrid prison conditions. Meanwhile in America, our prison system is for profit and full of mostly non-violent stoners separated from their kids. So, we might wanna listen to our women, let other people in, stop killing black children, stop killing families, stop torture, stop terrorizing other humans based on their race or sexual identity, and think about what we need from our leaders if we’re gonna make America great again.
M.I.A. – Born Free
Is anyone else really freaked out by the fact that the NRA, police unions, the FBI, and the KKK all threw their support behind Trump? Nationwide stop-and-frisk egged on by xenophobia is gonna mean imprisonment, murder, or deportation for immigrants, people of color, and stoners if their papers aren’t in order (and I don’t mean rolling papers). On “Born Free” from 2010’s MAYA, M.I.A. is flipping the bird at man-made towers and systems of totalitarian control. 2016 casualty Alan Vega’s Ghost Rider motorcycle hero appears to blow fiery blunt smoke in a racist cop’s face, screaming “I WAS BORN FREE”.
Leonard Cohen – Everybody Knows
Everybody knows Leonard Cohen picked a good time to check out.
Everybody knows this election was a shit show.
Everybody knows what to do next, but only on Facebook.
Everybody knows that Trump lies, except when he’s being racist and talking about dismantling healthcare.
Everybody knows the war is over, and that 10 more are about to begin.
Everybody knows the good woman lost.
Everybody knows the fight was fixed (by Wall Street) and the deal is rotten.
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich (and don’t pay taxes).
That’s how it goes.
Everybody knows that when our heroes start dying,
it’s now or never to fill their shoes and fight for our rights.
So, take one last look at this sacred heart before it blows,
and prepare for battle.
