Regardless of your opinion on the guilt or innocence of journalist
Mumia Abu-Jamal in the murders of which he was convicted, this intriguing spoken word collection will prove an eye-opening listen. With songs, poems, and speeches that address everything from
Abu-Jamal's quest for justice to the way today's urban music glorifies materialism, it's a bit of a heady listen, and while spoken word can be something of an acquired taste, tracks like "A Rap Thing" offer up intelligent, thought-provoking concepts every hip-hop fan should hear. Everyone from Rubin Hurricane Carter (who was falsely accused of murder and served more than a decade on death row) to Assata Shakur (Tupac's mother) drops by to lend their support, as do rappers like Chuck D,
Pharoahe Monch, and
dead prez, whose "Mumia 911" is a fiery diatribe against the U.S. government for
Abu-Jamal's status as a "political prisoner." It may not change your mind, but
175 Progress Drive will almost certainly serve to open it. ~ Bret Love