Without Net Neutrality, ccMixter and the thousands of artists in our community could be censored, blocked and throttled. This energetic, funky, hip-hop dance remix by Alex Beroza features poignant lyrics from Project Question that warn “hands off the internet” -- and we agree.
lyrics
verse one:
narration: “so what up bird, what’s the word on this net neutrality?”
well, the same mugs that charge your monthly access fee
are lobbying congress to let them put speed limits on websites
where the fastest speed is reserved for who can pay the biggest price
like a wide hov lane for money and power
leaving the mom and pop sites stuck in rush hour
ain’t a chance if you can’t spend like them big boys
they say it’s for progress, but yo, I keep hearing this pig noise
see, it’s more than just your average scam
if they got the juice to manufacture an online traffic jam
not only can they crush competition, they can crush dissent
the best democracy that money can rent
‘cause when the health of our society relies on information
rationing speed is like rationing care to a patient
when they decide if, how, and who you get access to
it’s game over, the promise of the internet is through
chorus:
hands off the internet
hands off the internet
let’s cut the invisible hands off the internet
let me hear you sing net neutrality if you believe
the internet should be commons and commons should be free
verse two:
But yo there’s more than just monopoly dreaming to corporate scheming
The problem is wider than just providers and telecom demons
To be truly net neutral, we gotta expand the definition
It ain’t just who we pay, but who gives us permission
Search engines, social networks, media aggregators
Those we deem our online benevolent dictators
who filter your searches and feeds, what you watch what you read
They give you what they think you want, but not what you need
It’s like we’re children and they’re the adults
How can you and I do the same search, get different results
And yo, I get it’s convenient, and that’s ok when it’s trivial
But our preference can’t be the formula to filter the political
That only reinforces our current ideological vision
With no counter info to help us make an informed decision
And that, of course, is if they want us to see it at all
What’s to stop them from gate keeping if we make it their call
When it comes to news and important information
do you really want to give more control to corporations
chorus:
hands off the internet
hands off the internet
let’s cut the invisible hands off the internet
let me hear you sing net net neutrality if you believe
the internet should be commons and commons should be free
verse three:
narration: “come on, man, you really think they would do that to people?”
it ain’t about if they would do it, it’s about if it’s legal
and speaking of legal, you know it’s more than just the masses
viewing the internet through corporate colored glasses
we gotta expand the definition again to react
to when the government decides to get in on the act
to put us on an information diet, to keep us quiet
shut it down in the name of security, blame it on a riot
we want a bill reflecting real net neutrality
preparing for the worst becoming reality
patriot act mentality, thought police brutality
again it’s not if they would do it, it’s about the legality
and if we’re serious about the sanctity of the internet
it’d be smart to start planting the seeds for the indynet
a guerilla web of handsets, tablets, and gadgets
a network independent of corporate bandwidth
the technology already exists to chart a course
occupying public airwaves, everything open source
create a force that they can’t ignore or cast aside
then double down, lobby for the spectrum to be recognized
now I know that sounds like pie in the sky, but whatever
it may be our only hope to keep the net neutral forever
chorus:
hands off the internet
hands off the internet
let’s cut the invisible hands off the internet
let me hear you sing net net neutrality if you believe
the internet should be commons and commons should be free
credits
from Amplifiers,
released October 30, 2018
Producer: Alex Beroza
Mixer: Alex Beroza
Composer: Alex Beroza
Lyricist: Project Question
Mastering: Kara Square
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