(The following article is from the April 1-15, 2008 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St. Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3).

The People's Poets are three young Edmonton artists who make conscious Hip Hop. Active for just over a year, 4Life, Solidario, and Rosouljah grew up in Canada and share Latino roots. The group cites influences from Dead Prez and Common to Silvio Rodriguez, Violeta Parra and even Sting. Earlier this year, People's Voice spoke with the group about Hip Hop and the struggle for a better world.

People's Voice: What is the meaning of People's Poets?

Solidario: "We be the People's Poets and we believe another world is possible." I think it is very important the People's Poets is not just a name belonging to us. It is a name belonging to all of humanity, and poets who have always expressed the masses.

PV: Why Hip Hop?

Rosouljah: We like it, we've been listening to it our whole life. It is music from the marginalized. We grew up listening to folk music from our own homelands, which talked about social change. Today, Hip Hop is an accessible medium internationally. In every corner of the world, people are using it to raise consciousness.

Solidario: Red Hip Hop is a growing movement across Latin American and the Caribbean. We're not so much into Regitonne, which is really sexualized. Our approach is for the people, our perspective is revolutionary.

PV: Do you see connections between your struggles and black youth?

4Life: I've been inspired by the African American civil rights

movement, just like Malcolm X was an inspiration for Dead Prez. Hip Hop tries to also counter gang culture, and people on that level really inspired me as well.

Rosouljah: Most definitely. Racism is a dominant factor in the analysis of society. The reality of colonial history is all one history, and the way our people from the global south have been treated is an oppressive one.

Solidario: These are systems of oppression, racism and class intersect. The level of racism certain groups face in society will be different, but we will all be affected by class - women too.

PV: How did you become becoming politically conscious?

Rosouljah: I can remember going to the library at 13, looking at photographs of Chile and the Presidential Palace. President Salvador Allende at the window. And then - rubble. That made me realize I had to do something. This historical context was always very important. It wasn't until I was an adolescent that it all came together. I heard Sting's song "They Dance Alone." It wasn't until I heard that song that I began being more politically consciousness about what had happened in the past, and what is currently happening.

Solidario: My Dad was a political prisoner from Chile, we came to Canada as refugees. My father was active here in Chilean Communist Party, as well as unions, political and cultural movements. Outside of Latino folk music, I find hip hop artists speak about injustices, they also brought historical events to life in their music.

PV: What do you think about Latin America today?

4Life: Latin America's move toward the left definitely inspiration,

gives hope. I think when you are talking about this you're [talking

about the] youth movement.

Rosouljah: When a country like Venezuela gets over 80 percent of its petroleum back - for us this is a foretelling of a socialist future to come. Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Cuba: they all want more for their people. There is huge inequality in South America. But people are becoming aware of who is responsible.

PV: How do you find Alberta?

Solidario: I've lived here since 1977. I've always met activist people. It is not what you see on the news. People in Alberta rallied against Bill 11, privatizing health care. There is also culture of resistance, and groups working for social change.

4Life: The reality is that there are so many sub-cultures, because of all the cultures here, because of the imbalance between rich and poor, you see radicals. In Edmonton you sometimes can't keep track of how many good things are going on every night.

PV: What are you doing now?

Solidario: Check out Myspace.com/peoplespoets. Our first event was the Day of Action for peace in March, our last event was just recently, during AIDS awareness - people know that we are committed. We also make an effort to be part of the movement, which is really important to us. If you are an artist you should be out there sharing your craft.