Arizona rappers unite to denounce SB 1070

Russell Pearce: legalizing guns and criminalizing Mexicans since 2001

Unless you've been living with your head under a rock, you've probably heard about SB 1070, a bill passed by the Arizona legislature and signed by Gov. Jan Brewer that essentially forces average beat cops to act as immigration enforcement officers. The bill was the brainchild of Sen. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa), a conservative Mormon and apparent neo-Nazi sympathizer. As if Sheriff Joe wasn't a big enough embarrassment for a state still trying to live down the whole MLK holiday flap from the early '90s, we now have a law set to go into effect that, for all intents and purposes, requires brown people to carry proof of citizenship every time they leave the house.

One of the biggest ironies of this bill (and there are many, believe me) is that the majority of its backers are conservatives who support a free market capitalist economy. These people have no problem with huge corporations outsourcing thousands of American jobs to countries full of brown people, but god forbid one of those brown people sneaks into America to bus their table, wash their dishes or pick the lettuce that went into their salad. That we simply cannot abide.

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox and move on to the real reason for this post - namely that the Phoenix music community has been quick to respond.  The Phoenix New Times (full disclosure: I freelance for them) is putting together an anti-SB 1070 comp, set for release in July, right before the law goes into effect. But a group of Phoenix rappers has already sprung into action, recording an epic, eight-minute denouncement of the bill, set to the tune of Public Enemy's 1991 classic "By The Time I Get to Arizona." Check out the video for "Back to Arizona," featuring DJ John Blaze, Tajji Sharp, Queen Yonasda, Yung Face ,Mr. Miranda, Ocean, D' Aaron Anthony, Atllas, Chino D, Nhytee, Pennywise, Rich Rico and Da Beast.