Looking for anti-police-brutality song recommendations
July 7, 2016 7:10 AM   Subscribe

Help me expand my "Fuck the Police" playlist!

My actual, considered opinion about the complex issue of police brutality is more sober and nuanced than this question would suggest. However, my immediate, from-the-gut reaction is "FUCK YOU, YOU CHICKENSHIT REDNECK PIECE OF SHIT".

So I maintain a playlist of songs which express this feeling. Recommend me some tracks to add?

Below are the better-known tracks that are already on my list. As you can see, I like hip-hop and hardcore punk, but I'll accept any genre. I'm definitely looking for defiance, anger, and catharsis, though – there's a place for other reactions to abuses of police power, but this playlist ain't it. This playlist is a cry of rage.

N.W.A. – "Fuck tha Police" (of course)
Greg Ginn – "Yes Officer"
Body Count – "Cop Killer"
Black Flag – "Police Story"
Boogie Down Productions – "Bo! Bo! Bo!"
Anti-Flag – "Fuck Police Brutality"

Thanks for your suggestions.
posted by escape from the potato planet to Media & Arts (46 answers total) 26 users marked this as a favorite
 
Dead Prez - Police State
posted by beau jackson at 7:17 AM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]


Run the Jewels! Early
posted by Dressed to Kill at 7:19 AM on July 7, 2016 [5 favorites]


SSD - Police Beat.
posted by kevinbelt at 7:28 AM on July 7, 2016




Kendrick Lamar The Blacker the Berry
posted by Dressed to Kill at 7:31 AM on July 7, 2016


Youth Brigade - Men In Blue

Dead Kennedys - Police Truck
posted by Ufez Jones at 7:34 AM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]


Oi Polloi - Pigs for Slaughter, Thugs in Uniform.
Le Tigre - Bang! Bang!
posted by wakannai at 7:39 AM on July 7, 2016


Violence - Officer Nice
posted by Boxenmacher at 7:41 AM on July 7, 2016


KRS-One - Sound of Da Police

The Dicks - Dicks Hate the Police
posted by Ufez Jones at 7:41 AM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]


There's gotta be a recording of the ACAB song somewhere:

I'll sing you a song and it's not very long
All coppers are bastards

I'll sing you another just like the other
All coppers are bastards

posted by scruss at 7:46 AM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]


The 4-Skins - ACAB
posted by griphus at 7:47 AM on July 7, 2016


Asian Dub Foundation - Officer XX
posted by runincircles at 8:04 AM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]


Propagandhi - “Pigs Will Pay
Tupac - "Trapped"
Sinéad O’Connor - “Black Boys on Mopeds
The Clash - “Know Your Rights
Anti-Flag - “Police Story
Bruce Springsteen - “American Skin (41 Shots)
Dicks - “(The Dicks) Hate the Police
KRS-One - “Sound of Da Police
Against Me! - "Baby, I'm An Anarchist!"
Dave Goodman & Friends - "Justifiable Homicide"

Oh, man, I'm going to end up on some lists.
posted by General Malaise at 8:05 AM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]


Pharcyde - Officer.
Junior Murvin - Police and Thieves
The Clash - Police and Thieves
Kaliphz - Police N Thieves
The Goats - TV Cops
posted by ZipRibbons at 8:21 AM on July 7, 2016


I asked a similar question a few years back. Many of the same songs show up there. Some haven't shown up here yet, like KRS One's "Black Cop" or Operation Ivy's "Officer".
posted by kendrak at 8:33 AM on July 7, 2016


Oh the The Coup's "Pork and Beef" is a must listen.
posted by kendrak at 9:03 AM on July 7, 2016


You're not going to believe this but it's true: The Insane Clown Posse "Chicken Huntin'"
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:04 AM on July 7, 2016


'Know Your Rights' The Clash
posted by j_curiouser at 9:05 AM on July 7, 2016


The parody version of ACAB by the joke band Hard Skins (ACAC) is just as good imho.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:05 AM on July 7, 2016


MDC - Dead Cops
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:08 AM on July 7, 2016






Also from the Clash, Guns of Brixton.
posted by praemunire at 9:32 AM on July 7, 2016




"FILM THE POLICE" B. Dolan ft. Toki Wright, Jasiri X, Buddy Peace, Sage Francis
posted by Lexica at 10:23 AM on July 7, 2016


Black Flag - "Screw the Law"
posted by porn in the woods at 10:28 AM on July 7, 2016




Here's an r/punk thread about this same subject.
posted by Lazlo Hollyfeld at 11:03 AM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]


Vince Staples - Hands Up
posted by isauteikisa at 11:29 AM on July 7, 2016


Johnny Cash -- Starkville City Jail.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:30 AM on July 7, 2016




The Crucifucks, “Cops for Fertilizer

The recorded phone call at the end is part of a series of clips stuck between some of the songs on the album.
posted by D.C. at 11:34 AM on July 7, 2016


Perhaps more on the theme of police corruption -

Concrete Blonde, "God is a Bullet"
MDC, "I Remember"
posted by bile and syntax at 1:00 PM on July 7, 2016


Sir Mix-A-Lot, One time's got no case.
posted by terooot at 1:41 PM on July 7, 2016


Blue Scholars, Oskar Barnack ∞ Oscar Grant

not specifically about the cops, but Brother Ali's Uncle Sam Goddam is on my mind and in my ears today
posted by karayel at 2:59 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]


"For what it's worth", Buffalo Springfield.

Not "fuck the police", but a plea to get folks to consider what the fuck is going on.


I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

posted by she's not there at 3:06 PM on July 7, 2016


Leftover Crack "Gang Control", "So You Wanna Be a Cop" (or basically every other track by Leftover Crack/Choking Victim)
posted by johnnybeggs at 4:18 PM on July 7, 2016


Terrorgrupe - All Cops Are Bastards
posted by namewithoutwords at 10:49 PM on July 7, 2016


Not precisely eff the police anthem, but "Ashes in the Fall", "Wake Up", and "Down Rodeo" by Rage Against the Machine all come to mind. Ooh, and they compose 1 song from each of their albums--cool!
posted by bookworm4125 at 11:13 PM on July 7, 2016


Ooh, ooh, also Rage's "Know Your Enemy" (bonus: guest vocals by Maynard from Tool).
posted by bookworm4125 at 11:16 PM on July 7, 2016


KARP - Bacon Industry
posted by rose-selavy at 4:08 PM on July 8, 2016


Sic 'em Pigs by Canned Heat.
posted by Rash at 10:28 PM on July 8, 2016




Illegal Left - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Rank & File - Mephiskapheles
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:08 AM on July 9, 2016


Evan Greer has a few good things in this vein. Off the top of my head: Never Surrender, !Ya Basta!, and Even if the End is Near are probably the most relevant.
posted by sibilatorix at 11:20 AM on July 9, 2016


Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" surely belongs on the list.

Also the Corrido de Gregorio Cortez. Here is Ramon Ayala's version.
posted by spitbull at 5:09 AM on September 4, 2016


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