Revolution Harmony
“Hello” (Independent)

The Vancouver-based activist known as Revolution Harmony certainly runs with some major-league talent. His debut single last year found him teamed up with System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, local metal madman Devin Townsend, and Norwegian black-arts ace Ihsahn. For this follow-up one-off, “Hello”, Revolution Harmony reached out to Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, Vancity rap vet Madchild, and hip-hop iconoclast Kool Keith. Also along for the ride is Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson and Kenyan activist and singer Eric Wainaina.

With that kind of team, screwing things up would have been hard, and, sure enough, “Hello” doesn’t disappoint. The track starts out with vintage CinemaScope strings, before taking on a guitar-laced West Coast space-funk vibe. On the mike, you get shout-outs to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Bob Marley, and Gandhi, which gives you a good idea that the message is positive and peace-centric. “Hello”, which, in addition to falling under the umbrella of life-affirming hip-hop, was written with the idea of making the world a better place. All proceeds go to Hope Runs, a charity that “uses running to empower AIDS orphans in Kenya with the tools of personal health, social entrepreneurship and education”.

Yes, some Revolutions are well worth supporting.