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Alameda rap song on renters struggle against corporate landlords, urges "No on K" vote

by Rasheed Quaduple X
Corporate landlords recently attempted to force a weak rent law into the City of Alameda's charter in order to prevent future changes. Alameda historian, journalist, and MC Rasheed Shabazz dropped a"No On K" rap documenting the recent renters' rights struggle there and the battle against the landlord-backed Measure K on the November 6, 2018 ballot.
Copy the code below to embed this movie into a web page:
Alameda historian, journalist, and MC Rasheed Shabazz published a "No On K" rap song documenting the recent renters' rights struggle there and the battle against the landlord-backed Measure K on the November 6, 2018 ballot.

Lyrics:

Prelude: "Renters invade Alameda City Council meeting"

Intro:
I’m from West Alameda, not born but raised
Woodstock Park is where i spent most of my days
Alameda Breaking Crew, swimming in the pool,
Cougars playing hoop at Chipman Middle School
Until a couple slumlords that were up to no good
Kicked everybody out of the neighborhood
Nearly 400 families had to all Get Out
They raised the rents and changed the name to Summer House

Verse 1:
Once upon a time not long ago
Back when Alameda rents were still low
Renter laws were weak, but people lived cool
Until rent hikes forced kids out the school
See there was a landlord all about his bread
Sridhar Equities, this is what he said
I want to make more money from this rental
All 33 families have to leave 470 Central
For a year renters pushed to pass Just Cause evictions
But landlords didn’t like that decision
They paid signature gatherers to circulate petitions
To overturn it and lockin No-Cause evictions
Don’t be tricked by the misleading mail pieces
Measure K has no caps on rent increases
Protect Alameda’s rent control”, Purely fiction
That’s why I’m joining the Alameda Renters Coalition, because

Chorus:
Renters say (No on K), Homeowners say (No on K)
On Election Day remember to Vote No on K
Alamedans say (No on K), Everybody say (No on K)
On election day remember to Vote No on K

Verse 2:
So who’s behind Measure K? Just follow the money
It obvious: Landlord Lobbyist
Corporations so-called “Alamedans in Charge
Really corporate investors whose properties are large
Just read the fine print underneath the image
Major funding from Park Central, Ballena Village
Not ‘housing providers” or “Moms and Pops”
They’re out-of-town investors with private stock
Driftwood Apartments, Wavecrest, Lanai
Casablanca all linked back to one guy
The “Landlord in Chief”, Donald Lindsey lies
Vote NO on K! The rent is too damn high! That’s why:

[Chorus]
Renters say (No on K) /Homeowners say (No on K)
On Election Day remember to Vote No on K
Seniors say (No on K) / Students say (No on K)
On Election Day remember to Vote no on K

[Bridge]

Verse 3:
On November 6, join us vote NO on K
We’re the real Alamedans and we’re here to stay
Don’t be fooled by the lies and malarkey
Being sold to you by the landlord oligarchy
Wake up Alameda, it’s not just rent control
This is fight for the island’s soul
How can Everyone truly Belong Here
When over half the population has to live in fear,
Of being forced to the streets, cars, and tents?
Because greedy landlords want to raise our rents
To fund an anti-tenant ballot measure at our expense
And say it’s good, that don’t make no sense
Measure K is bad, its Not OK
That’s what the League of Women Voters had to say
To the little brother that let them landlords misuse your face:
Come back from the sunken place, where:

[Chorus]
Renters say (No on K) / Homeowners say (No on K)
On election day remember to Vote No on K
Alamedans say (No on K) / Everybody say (No on K)
On election day remember to Vote No on K
[Outro: “You turn off the mic for the Blackman” ]
§Vote NO on K
by Rasheed Quaduple X
sm_k_-_rasheed_says_no_.jpg
§Higher resolution MOV version
by Rasheed Quaduple X
Copy the code below to embed this movie into a web page:
(video 4:40)
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