Indonesian hip hop artist Tuan Tigabelas picks up the mic to bring attention to the country’s political, social, and environmental affairs with “Fought The System,” his contribution to Greenpeace Indonesia’s 2019 compilation album, Senandung Energi Bumi (Hum Of Earth’s Energy).
Contrary to the use of tense in the title, “Fought The System” (The system won, Tuan Tigabelas raps) isn’t defeatist: it’s a reminder that the threat looms; it’s a rallying cry to not waver and continue fighting for a better future.
The accompanying music video directed by Tito Harijanto shows interspersed clips of the dire climate issues, including deforestation. It ends with a sharp reminder: Mereka coba mengubur kami, tapi mereka lupa kami adalah benih. (They tried to bury us, but they forgot we were seeds.)
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The 13-track Senandung Energi Bumi album also includes tracks from other Indonesian artists, such as Navicula, Oscal Lolang, Syarikat, Zat Kimia, and WestJamNation.
(Update: October 13, 2021) Watch a live performance of the track, to “commemorate the one year [since the passing of] the Job Creation Act, and at the same time, became the day of the awakening of the oligarchy,” Tuan Tigabelas wrote.
