New Music: People Under the Stairs Raps about Climate Change in Los Angeles
The title of west coast hip-hop duo, People Under The Stairs, latest song, “The Effects of Climate Change on Densely Populated Areas” sounds more like the title of a report published in a scientific journal than a rap song, but, it’s 2019 and here we are. The song is featured on their 9th and reportedly, last album, Sincerely, the P.
The roughly four-minute track offers a humanized perspective on the impact of Climate Change in an urban community. According to the American Lung Association 2018 State of the Air report, California has 8 out of the top 10 cities for Air Pollution; Los Angeles, California is ranked number one.
Listen to the track from People Under the Stairs below:
Former Governor of California, Jerry Brown, worked to address air pollution in California by advancing some of the most progressive environmental policies in the United States of America. Right before leaving office, Brown signed the 100 Percent Clean Energy Act of 2018 into law. The act aims to transition the state to 100 percent renewable electricity and carbon neutrality by 2045.
However, Climate Justice advocates, like the Climate Justice Alliance, say California is not doing enough to protect vulnerable communities. Protestors made their voices heard by shutting down activities at the Global Climate Action Summit hosted by Governor Brown in September of 2018
Protesters Disrupt Gov. Brown’s SF Climate Summit (San Francisco, September 14, 2018)
If you would like to read an actual report on the effect of Climate Change on Densely Populated areas here is a 2009 report from the United Nations Population Fund entitled: Analytical Review of the Interaction between Urban Growth Trends and Environmental Changes (https://www.uncclearn.org/sites/default/files/inventory/unfpa14.pdf)
