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O'Brien 'raps' up leadership convention

Rapping for the working class took on a whole new meaning when Mike O'Brien of Kill The Autocrat joined forces with Timmins-James Bay NDP MP Charlie Angus to perform at the party's leadership convention last weekend.
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Rapper Mike O'Brien, left, joined Timmins-James Bay NDP MP Charlie Angus on stage at the recent NDP leadership convention to perform Longer Than A Lifetime — a song they wrote in honour of Jack Layton. Supplied photo.
Rapping for the working class took on a whole new meaning when Mike O'Brien of Kill The Autocrat joined forces with Timmins-James Bay NDP MP Charlie Angus to perform at the party's leadership convention last weekend.

What was originally supposed to be a song featuring harmonica work by former NDP leader Jack Layton turned into a tribute to him — Longer Than A Lifetime was written so “people could remember his legacy.”

O'Brien, who became known after performing One Day Longer during the 2010 Vale Strike, said aligning music with politics is his way of promoting social justice and equal opportunity.

“I will continue to align myself with any person or organization that tries to help make the world a better place,” he said.

O'Brien said it was an “absolute honour” to work alongside Angus on stage, in support of the party, “whether it's hammering the Conservatives in Parliament (or watching Charlie) wailing on his guitar, singing mining songs. I also found that we're a lot alike being artists from small mining towns.”

To get a copy of the song, visit 682records.com/featured_top_stories/longer-than-a-lifetime.

Posted by Arron Pickard 

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