Music is never simply noise: it is the sound of a society, of a time, of a place. Music marks the spirit of people; people make music that reflects their thinking and feeling. Music, then, always has the potential to be dangerous - it can inflame the revolutionary - which is why it has been banned and censored at many points in history. It articulates the ideas and emotions that are too strong for words, and that "cannot remain silent." This refusal to remain silent is why music has so much social power. In this month's theme, we explore music as a reflection of, and force for, social change. Music that is angry, joyous, and necessary.

Lady B is an up-and-coming hip hop artist and one of the few female hip hop artists in Tanzania. She says: "I think the music scene in Tanzania is a male-dominated field, but if you want to do something that you love and it's in you, you can do it. It does not matter if you are a male or female." Lady B also sees the impact of music in her society. "Music is big in my society, even if it is kind of a new thing to females, but people accept it. They like to listen to some of my works, not only on recordings, but even on the streets so it's like I play a big role. There are so many ways to use music for social change, for instance; educating people, especially youth, about diseases like HIV/AIDS and drug abuse. Music can give them strength to survive in this world."

"I Am Hip Hop" is a video created by youth through the Global Action Project, a project that defines hip hop as a youth movement and culture, an expression of the daily life experiences of urban youth.
Watch the video!