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July 15th 2013 – Compelled by the Not Guilty verdict in the murder of Trayvon Martin, Pharoahe Monch has unexpectedly released “Stand Your Ground”. Produced by frequent collaborator Lee Stone, Pharoahe once again demonstrates his ability to utilize hip hop as a platform for political engagement. Monch flips the script on the use of “Stand Your Ground,” the highly controversial law used to protect George Zimmerman, giving the power back to the people collectively and defensively against an unjust government system.

“Stand Your Ground” employs tempos and lyricism designed to unify the listener into responsive action. No stranger to rebel music, Pharoahe Monch’s song “Clap,” from the W.A.R. album, shocked audiences with a video directed by Terence Nance. The clip ends with a police officer suicide pressured by the community following the officer killing a child while on duty.

Pharoahe decided to release the song in its rough version immediately after learning of the verdict. “Stand Your Ground,” originally slated to appear on Pharoahe Monch’s fall release of PTSD, provides an additional opportunity to peek inside the mental journey Monch has alluded to in P.ost T.raumatic S.tress D.isorder

Pharoahe Monch has released “Stand Your Ground” in support of the Martin family by asking people to donate to the ongoing work in repealing the Stand Your Ground laws thru the Trayvon Martin Foundation. http://www.trayvonmartinfoundation.org

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