MIM Notes, Issue 69: October, 1992
Radical rap calls for an end to the occupation
by a comrade
Culture is a powerful force -- under all modes of production -- but as powerful as culture is under capitalism, revolutionaries must remember that it is not the cause of oppression. Oppression is caused by the imperialist structure which depends on economic exploitation for its survival.
On this anniversary of the fifth century of genocide at the hands of a Euro-Amerikan elite, many oppressed groups are not only resisting oppression but fighting back -- especially in the cultural realm. The radical rap artists of Aztlan Nation are one such force.
'Til the Border Crumbles
It all started out as a fight for the land, they took away Texas
and began to expand
The punk rednecks say "Remember the Alamo!" They don't want to know
who I am, but I let them know
I'm the M-E-X-I-C-A-N
Take what I got, I'm gonna take it all back
It took an invasion of millions to push the borders back
But my people remain, and the reason I came is to spark a flame,
we can't be tamed
Coming live and direct from Aztlan so I lay upon your mind this phenomena
I stand for the land, the land stands for me
One day in the future, Aztlan will be free
Until that day we must struggle, and keep on till the border crumbles.
-- Aztlan Nation
Aztlan Nation's agenda is to awaken the Chicano people to the reality of Aztlan, a territory that includes what is temporarily called the southwest region of the United States. In contrast to purely cultural movements, the group does not idealize Aztlan as a romantic memory, but instead assert that Chicanos and other oppressed nations are living in an occupied nation. By making the occupied territory more tangible to the cholos and cholas on the street, Aztlan Nation puts turf battles into perspective. MIM interviewed Chapo Zul, Minister of Information, to get a grip on Aztlan Nation's agenda.
MIM: What is the main mission of A.N.?
AN: We want to ingrain the land issue, give a direction to the anger that keeps people divided, this fighting over small turfs comes from the institutions that keep us divided, to fight over one block is ridiculous when the whole nation is occupied.
MIM Who is your music aimed at?
A.N.: It's aimed at gangsters and cholos, the so-called, the watta ya call it, the lumpen proletariat, that's where we are really getting our work done, . (it) makes them feel strong and proud again, a way of empowering the dispossessed.
MIM: What is your relationship to gangster rap?
A.N.: We are a part of gangster rap, we don't think there is a problem with gangs, joining a gang is a way of rebelling -- it's just misdirected.
MIM: What has been the response from the masses?
A.N.: The buzz is out, we are constantly selling all of our tapes and t-shirts, we are saying what the youth wants to hear, expressing and giving direction to the anger that is not addressed by mainstream rap.
MIM: What is your view of the Chicano movement?
A.N.: On the grassroots level there is a lot of good work going on, but there are problems with ageism, some corruption and infiltration . the leadership is not spending enough time with the youth, not responding to the anger.
MIM: Your lyrics call attention to the fact that Aztlan belongs to the indigenous people, and calls for taking back the land. Are you aligned with any political party or ideology?
A.N.: No, we're a rap group, that's doing something. We're throwing out ideasDpeople can either bite or absorb them and not act . spoken word is more powerful than armed confrontation, can make more ripples -- sometimes. We want no part of sectarianism, we're independent, we might be more down with some groups more than others but will do a benefit based on the cause, regardless of the ideology. If we object to something, like we're doing a Chicano festival next month, but THEY call it a Hispanic festival, well we'll still do it but in this case we call it an intervention, we will set the record straight on that.
MIM: Aztlan Nation performs at car shows, nightclubs, colleges and community events in the Bay Area, Southern California and other western states. MIM recommends checking them out for some revolutionary hip hop that tells it like it is.
Who is the real illegal alien
Who is the real wet back
They came from Europe man
Who is the real wet back
In two triple O we'll take it back.