new music: deathbomb arc drops ‘evil ii’ a noise rap mixtape for a cause #soundcheck

Deathbomb Arc has quickly achieved a reputation for putting out records that explore the space between hip-hop, noise, and punk rock. With releases by Death Grips, Clipping, JPEGMAFIA, Signor Benedick The Moor, and frequent AFROPUNK contributor Lightning Pill, the label’s releases are always compelling. They recently dropped a mixtape EVIL II, in support of CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for A Sustainable Economy), which features tracks from both Deathbomb mainstays and newcomers. It’s a set of songs that are challenging and exhilarating in various degrees, with highlights like Signor Benedick The Moor’s “Newest Things” and True Neutral Crew’s “X-Files Clan” more than justifying the purchase.

The mixtape is pay-what-you-can on Bandcamp, and proceeds go to benefit CAUSE, a central coast organization that works on issues of racial, environmental and economic justice. The label explains their support of CAUSE (causenow.org)

“In addition to the poor wages, unpaid overtime, and horrible health conditions the farmers are subjected to, now the Santa Barbara county government is trying to replace the farm workers with prison inmates. Considering the institutional racism of our legal system, this is not a far cry from having slaves picking crops again. Deathbomb Arc is, simply, not down with that.”