This track was in response to a global news story accompanied with a now famous photo of the boy and his Teddy bear lying lifeless on a Greek beach. But American media do not show Americans these stories as it highlights the consequences of these wars that they promote😢
Lowkey's album "soundtrack to the struggle" from 2011 was one of the first conscious/political rap albums i ever listened to. his music and interviews were definitely a major reason i started being interested in politics and organising! i think these topics, especially in hip hop, are so important because its able to spread a message to a demographic that maybe wouldn't typically care or hear about it otherwise. thanks for showing lowkey love- as always, great video guys! cheers
One of my favourite album ever still listen to it now an album with no fillers put it on and play from start to finish and be amazed at the tallent, passion,wordplay, knowledge he has
Feel welcome to pick my brain on this guys. I'm British 6FT 6 and 56 and I am moved to tears every time I listen to this track. Back in 2016 I was heavily involved with the refugee boat rescues on the the island of Lesvos where Ahmed lost his life. I've seen hundreds of these boats coming into shore. I was one of the look outs at Katia Point late into the night and the small hours each night scouring the sea looking for any sign of the boats as they made their way from Izmir in Turkey over to Lesvos and other islands in the eastern Aegean Sea. We lost over 3,500 to drowning that year. Every night we would have half a dozen boats coming ashore. Each very large inflatable dinghy filled to the absolute brink with anywhere between 70-120 souls on board. Elderly people, married couples, lots of young kids and babies all arriving ashore freezing cold, soaking wet and absolutely terrified. I witnessed a lot of the horrors you saw in this video and it still affects me to this day. I still feel guilty that I could not help save more lives. To keep my costs down, as I was a long term independent volunteer, I slept in the back of my old British (Cornish) van on the clifftop just above where the cliff scene is shown in the video. Every night I would cry myself to sleep. Once I had a very lucid dream when I was asleep for a few hours in the back of the van on my mattress when I floated out above the surface of the water looking for the victims of those who had drowned. I remember making the conscious decision in the dream to disappear below the waves whereupon I went down to the sea floor a couple hundred feet below and there spoke with several of the drowned souls who gave me messages to relay back to their family members on land that they were at peace now. At this point I came back to the surface and woke up from the dream quite distressed. For quite a long time after all of this was over, and I was back in Cornwall in the UK, like many of the other long term independent volunteers down there I had PTSD. Changing the subject slightly but still talking of Lowkey, have you guys watched his video about honouring the victims of the Grenfell tower block fire in London? If not, I strongly encourage you both to watch it. It's very moving and the message again is very poignant. th-cam.com/video/ztUamrChczQ/w-d-xo.html
Any help that you gave wouldn’t have been there without you, you shouldn’t feel any guilt whatsoever, but I can appreciate the ‘what if I did more’ feeling completely. I’ve never read a TH-cam comment that long all the way through before but I respect you so much. I think you have to earn disrespect rather than the other way round but I feel we might be outliers in that empathy. The same people that say ‘they’re coming into this country on boats and stealing our jobs’ are the same people that say ‘they’re coming over here and leeching off the benefit system’ so which is it then… 🤔
@@CraigMacMemeMan TBH the refugees don't typically leech off the system, however from my vast experience in the field the illegal migrants almost without exception absolutely do. In Greece the migrants were absolute pains in the bloody arse to deal with. The genuine refugees on the other hand were a pleasure to help and gave a lot back to help the volunteers on the ground. That was my personal observation after spending months there and doing my best to help many thousands of refugees. Thank you for your lovely comment btw, I appreciate it Craig.
I implore you to read up on the story that was the catalyst for this song. A single picture of this poor young boy, drowned, washed up on our shores, trying to flee a war torn country. It's heartbreaking, and fuck every politician that stood by and allowed it.
How desperate must these people be to risk their lives and their children's lives. This song is a good few years old but it's still as relevant today as it was back then.
Ahmed fled syria trying to make it to europe for safety. He died on the beach at bodrum turkey trying to make it to the greek island of kos. So many die every year in the crossings fleeing wars we caused usually
It's worth mentioning that the real boy who was the main inspiration for "Ahmed" was Alan Kurdi. They're right that Lowkey uses the name Ahmed in a way to refer to refugee children as a whole, since Alan was by no means the only child to suffer such a fate, he is merely the most recognised.
This is a thing that happends alot here in europe. I know americans dont have a good look into the european history or maybe even the news, but the kid that was laying on the beach is a thing that happend a few years ago. So everything you see in this video is possibly 100% true. I am glad you are listen and reacting to european music, you gain so much by doing so, especially lowkey, he is a tutor in history with his music, just lean back, relax and enjoy the schooltime 😁
Love & peace to all. Lowkey - lyrical genius. Plenty of amazing productions from this legend. Ignorance is bliss right. The media and the government mask the problems and the atrocities around the world. Thanks for posting this.
Glad you covered this one. Always good to discover the conscious stuff and respect for just helping the message reach places it might usually not, certainly when nothing has changed.
From Wikipedia: Alan Kurdi (born as Alan Shenu), initially reported as Aylan Kurdi, was a two-year-old Syrian boy (initially reported as having been three years old) of Kurdish ethnic background whose image made global headlines after he drowned on 2 September 2015 in the Mediterranean Sea along with his mother and brother.
@@BeersBarsbut not twenty five years ,over hundreds of years in the middle East, Africa and its always the people with brown skin who die at the hands of the colonial powers of America and UK, Check out his new song about Gaza 😮 Free Palestine 🇵🇸! Respect from socialist Liverpool.
I find it impossible to get through this song and not cry. You did it (the message) justice. Big up to everyone who’s recommending you all this material to react to. Personally Lowkey, Akala,Mic Righteous, Wretch32 etc….it’s as good as it gets music wise.
Great reaction once again. The people on those boats/rafts are trying to escape wore torn middle eastern countries. In this case, they attempt to get to Europe. Ren actually makes a point about such things in his song Money Game by saying to countries of the west: if your country was in flames you'd emigrate in a second. The sad reality is those trying to find safe havens in the west are being turned around, not allowed to reach land causing many of their crafts to capsize or, as is the case in the UK, shipped off to Uganda to likely be imprisoned, tortured or worst. Oftentimes the refugees are so desperate they pay their life savings to criminals who put them on overcrowded vessels across oceans. Ahmed was the name given to a boy that was found washed up on a beach in Greece. Lowkey is using that story to shine a light on the plight of thousands. So many risk their lives because they are desperate. The actions of governments of the west have been the cause of these issues.
Tell me a mainstream rapper that sends this message any better. Low-key and the People's Army. Rappers showing the power of verse to change the world and inform.
It is a generalisation of all the kids that die trying to flee from war stricken zones, many die trying to flee to different countries and this is because of politics and war its really sad
This was such a good reaction, I think you might be the only reaction channel that actually listens to the message and tries to understand what it is without trying to say something about how Britain copied USA etc. I’ve never thought of it like Lowkey was talking about Ahmed as everyone in that situation. It’s so great to have a different viewpoint from someone that doesn’t see this in the UK news everyday because that interpretation didn’t even cross my mind. Once again, sick reaction, keep up the great work 👊🏼
@Beers&Bars lowkey his Dad is British his mom is originally from Iraq but she fled to Europe met Lowkeys father and the rest is history. he was born in London and had a revolutionary upbringing with a lot of influences from the black revolutionaries like Martin Luther K and Huey P newton to Malcom X. He studied at Oxford University and majored on History and English if im correct. now you know his real background
You need to cover Hand On Your Gun. It's deep but the beat is jaunty and he even rhymes in Oppenheimer, so you know it's gonna be good. Thank you for what you're doing. Peace.
@Beers&Bars this song I believe is from a old 80's song but I'm not sure what it was called I think it was Roxette listen to your heart but don't quote me on it :)
I think I heard about this a couple of years ago 200 immigrants drowned off the shore of the UK because there was to many people on board. It couldn't have been fixed tho because the boat was from over sea and they didn't know the restrictions on the boat for how many it was safe for and it was probs only safe for about 30 people at a time hence why it capsized and they all drowned. If the government was open to letting people in the boat wouldn't have had 200+ on board and there would be restrictions but the UK is already pretty populated. They need someone to soft out what ever there running from like war and poverty by no one cares enough but I'm glad low-key isn't blind because it needs fixing. We do except immigrants tho however they get put in the system but deported if they can't work or pay there bills.
You'd have hoped that things would have improved since this time, but sadly they've got even worse, the UK basically shut down all legal routes to the UK for refugees from many of these countries that the west destabilized in order to scream about too many illegal migrants coming here (in reality the UK takes in far less than other European countries) and have now gone as far as making a deal to send all the people arriving on these boats to Fking Rwanda whilst they're claims are being processed. If they are eventually declared a legitimate refugee then are then left to settle in Rwanda (more unstable and dangerous than many of the places they fled in the first place) It's simply government level racist trolling of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet. It's sickening.
Please refrain from arguing politics in the comments, making your opinion know on a stand alone comment is fine but we are here for music not politics. Thank you 🙏🍻
@@BeersBars The band. You can try any song but use lyrics. Maybe "Bullet in the head" from their debut album or "Bulls on parade", "Down Rodeo". Thx for answering.
The problem in this world is the COMPLACENCY, just because it's not happening to us. Well first it's the other side of the world then it's on your doorstep and by that time you're too late, you were too busy partying and having fun. When will the men become men again and protect?
The little girl that gets picked up hits me everytime with the beautiful baby following reminds me of schindlers list war happens i know but this land doesnt belong to any of us its awful adults have to suffer but children i cannot sit happy with this children are no fear or threat to anyone its just where they are from and live these people are to blame the policians and media who deserve these souls on there concisenes its vile i hate we have to watch something like this us in tge west are so lucky and very ungrateful and we should think and not follow the west is of to hell in a hand basket
![[#2024MAMA] G-DRAGON - 무제(Untitled, 2014)+POWER+HOME SWEET HOME+뱅뱅뱅+FANTASTIC BABY | Mnet 241123 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ox29z5Nf1Uk/mqdefault.jpg)
This track was in response to a global news story accompanied with a now famous photo of the boy and his Teddy bear lying lifeless on a Greek beach. But American media do not show Americans these stories as it highlights the consequences of these wars that they promote😢
Scheduler here - I remember this very well 😩
Lowkey will be remembered for generations
Lowkey's album "soundtrack to the struggle" from 2011 was one of the first conscious/political rap albums i ever listened to. his music and interviews were definitely a major reason i started being interested in politics and organising! i think these topics, especially in hip hop, are so important because its able to spread a message to a demographic that maybe wouldn't typically care or hear about it otherwise. thanks for showing lowkey love- as always, great video guys! cheers
🙏🍻
One of my favourite album ever still listen to it now an album with no fillers put it on and play from start to finish and be amazed at the tallent, passion,wordplay, knowledge he has
@@leefinn8958 💯
Feel welcome to pick my brain on this guys. I'm British 6FT 6 and 56 and I am moved to tears every time I listen to this track.
Back in 2016 I was heavily involved with the refugee boat rescues on the the island of Lesvos where Ahmed lost his life. I've seen hundreds of these boats coming into shore. I was one of the look outs at Katia Point late into the night and the small hours each night scouring the sea looking for any sign of the boats as they made their way from Izmir in Turkey over to Lesvos and other islands in the eastern Aegean Sea. We lost over 3,500 to drowning that year.
Every night we would have half a dozen boats coming ashore. Each very large inflatable dinghy filled to the absolute brink with anywhere between 70-120 souls on board. Elderly people, married couples, lots of young kids and babies all arriving ashore freezing cold, soaking wet and absolutely terrified. I witnessed a lot of the horrors you saw in this video and it still affects me to this day. I still feel guilty that I could not help save more lives.
To keep my costs down, as I was a long term independent volunteer, I slept in the back of my old British (Cornish) van on the clifftop just above where the cliff scene is shown in the video. Every night I would cry myself to sleep. Once I had a very lucid dream when I was asleep for a few hours in the back of the van on my mattress when I floated out above the surface of the water looking for the victims of those who had drowned. I remember making the conscious decision in the dream to disappear below the waves whereupon I went down to the sea floor a couple hundred feet below and there spoke with several of the drowned souls who gave me messages to relay back to their family members on land that they were at peace now. At this point I came back to the surface and woke up from the dream quite distressed.
For quite a long time after all of this was over, and I was back in Cornwall in the UK, like many of the other long term independent volunteers down there I had PTSD.
Changing the subject slightly but still talking of Lowkey, have you guys watched his video about honouring the victims of the Grenfell tower block fire in London? If not, I strongly encourage you both to watch it. It's very moving and the message again is very poignant.
th-cam.com/video/ztUamrChczQ/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for helping our fellow humans and good luck in your mental health recovery
Any help that you gave wouldn’t have been there without you, you shouldn’t feel any guilt whatsoever, but I can appreciate the ‘what if I did more’ feeling completely.
I’ve never read a TH-cam comment that long all the way through before but I respect you so much. I think you have to earn disrespect rather than the other way round but I feel we might be outliers in that empathy.
The same people that say ‘they’re coming into this country on boats and stealing our jobs’ are the same people that say ‘they’re coming over here and leeching off the benefit system’ so which is it then… 🤔
@@CraigMacMemeMan TBH the refugees don't typically leech off the system, however from my vast experience in the field the illegal migrants almost without exception absolutely do.
In Greece the migrants were absolute pains in the bloody arse to deal with. The genuine refugees on the other hand were a pleasure to help and gave a lot back to help the volunteers on the ground. That was my personal observation after spending months there and doing my best to help many thousands of refugees.
Thank you for your lovely comment btw, I appreciate it Craig.
🙏🙌💪❤🩹
@@tomraymond9795 You're an amazing person. Thank you for your service.🙏🏽
Oh shit.... hats off to you boys for checking this one. It's a hard one to get through, but SO FUCKING IMPORTANT.
I implore you to read up on the story that was the catalyst for this song. A single picture of this poor young boy, drowned, washed up on our shores, trying to flee a war torn country. It's heartbreaking, and fuck every politician that stood by and allowed it.
This one always gets me as i was on this beach a week before ahmed.
Seen So many women and children begging it was heart breaking.
Surreal...
Always here for Lowkey..the album is fire. Never heard a disappointing track 💯
🍻 🫡
Nice one lads, hit the nail on the head with how well written his tracks are constructed with a real message packaged inside. Always here for lowkey🍻
How desperate must these people be to risk their lives and their children's lives. This song is a good few years old but it's still as relevant today as it was back then.
Deeper than the sea he drowned in.
😥
ye he was a fefuee from sieria and washed up on a beach trying to escape rip he was 6 or 7
Ahmed fled syria trying to make it to europe for safety. He died on the beach at bodrum turkey trying to make it to the greek island of kos.
So many die every year in the crossings fleeing wars we caused usually
It's worth mentioning that the real boy who was the main inspiration for "Ahmed" was Alan Kurdi. They're right that Lowkey uses the name Ahmed in a way to refer to refugee children as a whole, since Alan was by no means the only child to suffer such a fate, he is merely the most recognised.
This is a thing that happends alot here in europe. I know americans dont have a good look into the european history or maybe even the news, but the kid that was laying on the beach is a thing that happend a few years ago. So everything you see in this video is possibly 100% true. I am glad you are listen and reacting to european music, you gain so much by doing so, especially lowkey, he is a tutor in history with his music, just lean back, relax and enjoy the schooltime 😁
Love & peace to all.
Lowkey - lyrical genius. Plenty of amazing productions from this legend.
Ignorance is bliss right. The media and the government mask the problems and the atrocities around the world. Thanks for posting this.
Glad you covered this one. Always good to discover the conscious stuff and respect for just helping the message reach places it might usually not, certainly when nothing has changed.
Gets me every times 🤘 love and peace! Cheers for reviewing lads 🤘
Lowkey - Terrorist is a really good song too
Thats the whole point!
It wasnt a major incident, happens every week.
Logic-Spectator He gets into the Israel/Palestine situation, the Balfour declaration etc. you won’t be disappointed
been waiting for Logic FITB 🙏
@@editdog2211 I hope they get to it. The Link Uo TV’s also 🔥
From Wikipedia:
Alan Kurdi (born as Alan Shenu), initially reported as Aylan Kurdi, was a two-year-old Syrian boy (initially reported as having been three years old) of Kurdish ethnic background whose image made global headlines after he drowned on 2 September 2015 in the Mediterranean Sea along with his mother and brother.
Thank you for providing the background 🙏
I’ll never forget that image in the press
Great reaction to an incredibly powerful track, good job 🍻
Glad you enjoyed it ✌️🍻
@@BeersBarsbut not twenty five years ,over hundreds of years in the middle East, Africa and its always the people with brown skin who die at the hands of the colonial powers of America and UK, Check out his new song about Gaza 😮 Free Palestine 🇵🇸! Respect from socialist Liverpool.
Lowkey should be protected
😢.... deep & powerful ; Mic Righteous: pathways is a must
You need to check out murder runs the globe by akala that’s another awesome track with a lot of controversy
some more checks!!
Logic FITB 🇬🇧🔥🙏
Well done guys ... respect
I find it impossible to get through this song and not cry. You did it (the message) justice.
Big up to everyone who’s recommending you all this material to react to. Personally Lowkey, Akala,Mic Righteous, Wretch32 etc….it’s as good as it gets music wise.
Over in the UK Ahmed is based on the front page of all the papers of a young boy lay on the beach dead next to him was his Teddy
This isn't a 'major' event, it's happening almost daily in Europe
😔
Thats the thing with art it can be interpreted differently by every person. Great react keep dropping the lowkey content.
Lowkey bars for my brother very deep track for his brother that passed away
Great reaction once again.
The people on those boats/rafts are trying to escape wore torn middle eastern countries. In this case, they attempt to get to Europe. Ren actually makes a point about such things in his song Money Game by saying to countries of the west: if your country was in flames you'd emigrate in a second. The sad reality is those trying to find safe havens in the west are being turned around, not allowed to reach land causing many of their crafts to capsize or, as is the case in the UK, shipped off to Uganda to likely be imprisoned, tortured or worst. Oftentimes the refugees are so desperate they pay their life savings to criminals who put them on overcrowded vessels across oceans.
Ahmed was the name given to a boy that was found washed up on a beach in Greece. Lowkey is using that story to shine a light on the plight of thousands. So many risk their lives because they are desperate. The actions of governments of the west have been the cause of these issues.
LOWKEY - TERRORIST? (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
Lowkey has so many good tracks, I also recommend Akala or Immortal Technique
Tell me a mainstream rapper that sends this message any better. Low-key and the People's Army. Rappers showing the power of verse to change the world and inform.
It is a generalisation of all the kids that die trying to flee from war stricken zones, many die trying to flee to different countries and this is because of politics and war its really sad
It is indeed sad
This was such a good reaction, I think you might be the only reaction channel that actually listens to the message and tries to understand what it is without trying to say something about how Britain copied USA etc.
I’ve never thought of it like Lowkey was talking about Ahmed as everyone in that situation. It’s so great to have a different viewpoint from someone that doesn’t see this in the UK news everyday because that interpretation didn’t even cross my mind.
Once again, sick reaction, keep up the great work 👊🏼
Really appreciate it ✌️🍻
@Beers&Bars lowkey his Dad is British his mom is originally from Iraq but she fled to Europe met Lowkeys father and the rest is history.
he was born in London and had a revolutionary upbringing with a lot of influences from the black revolutionaries like Martin Luther K and Huey P newton to Malcom X.
He studied at Oxford University and majored on History and English if im correct.
now you know his real background
Yous should definitely do Lowkey’s, Obama Nation part 1&2, and Terrorist.
Much love, as always💙🏴
You need to cover Hand On Your Gun. It's deep but the beat is jaunty and he even rhymes in Oppenheimer, so you know it's gonna be good. Thank you for what you're doing. Peace.
Obamanation one and two is a must
HAPPENS EVERY DAY, THATS HOW MY MUM GOT WHERE SHE IS
Mic righteous don’t it make you wonder 🙌🏽
React to lowkey - Obama nation 1 and 2
You need to do lowkey ft logic- relatives. Powerful song.
@Beers&Bars this song I believe is from a old 80's song but I'm not sure what it was called I think it was Roxette listen to your heart but don't quote me on it :)
the melody reminds me of Eminem - Mockingbird
Juice Wrld - Coachella freestyle 💯💯
I think I heard about this a couple of years ago 200 immigrants drowned off the shore of the UK because there was to many people on board. It couldn't have been fixed tho because the boat was from over sea and they didn't know the restrictions on the boat for how many it was safe for and it was probs only safe for about 30 people at a time hence why it capsized and they all drowned. If the government was open to letting people in the boat wouldn't have had 200+ on board and there would be restrictions but the UK is already pretty populated. They need someone to soft out what ever there running from like war and poverty by no one cares enough but I'm glad low-key isn't blind because it needs fixing. We do except immigrants tho however they get put in the system but deported if they can't work or pay there bills.
So sad 😢
This track is more or less about the migrant crisis that happened in Europe almost a decade ago.
Deep
LOWKEY - OBAMA NATION (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - BANNED FROM TV
You'd have hoped that things would have improved since this time, but sadly they've got even worse, the UK basically shut down all legal routes to the UK for refugees from many of these countries that the west destabilized in order to scream about too many illegal migrants coming here (in reality the UK takes in far less than other European countries) and have now gone as far as making a deal to send all the people arriving on these boats to Fking Rwanda whilst they're claims are being processed.
If they are eventually declared a legitimate refugee then are then left to settle in Rwanda (more unstable and dangerous than many of the places they fled in the first place) It's simply government level racist trolling of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet. It's sickening.
About time we blocked it stop talking rubbish feel free to catch the flight to Rwanda with them if you don't like it
said the troll.
Please refrain from arguing politics in the comments, making your opinion know on a stand alone comment is fine but we are here for music not politics. Thank you 🙏🍻
Great reaction, thx for sharing. Have you reacted on Rage against the machine?
The band or the song 😅
@@BeersBars The band. You can try any song but use lyrics. Maybe "Bullet in the head" from their debut album or "Bulls on parade", "Down Rodeo". Thx for answering.
The problem in this world is the COMPLACENCY, just because it's not happening to us. Well first it's the other side of the world then it's on your doorstep and by that time you're too late, you were too busy partying and having fun.
When will the men become men again and protect?
Hundreds of refugees are dying still every month trying to get to Europe. 😢
Sad 🙏
🥃🥃🥃
The little girl that gets picked up hits me everytime with the beautiful baby following reminds me of schindlers list war happens i know but this land doesnt belong to any of us its awful adults have to suffer but children i cannot sit happy with this children are no fear or threat to anyone its just where they are from and live these people are to blame the policians and media who deserve these souls on there concisenes its vile i hate we have to watch something like this us in tge west are so lucky and very ungrateful and we should think and not follow the west is of to hell in a hand basket
🤲🏽
Surprised you haven't done Obama nation part2 yet
Try Obama nation also lowkey
He spent the whole song telling you he was called Akmed and then you say Ahmed ffs