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First Listen: Street Pharmacy – They Don’t Give A $$$$ (feat. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad)

STREET PHARMACY AND GIANT PANDA GUERILLA DUB SQUAD TEAM UP TO RELEASE A SOCIO-POLITICAL CHARGED ANTHEM FOR ACTIVISM.

Canadian reggae-rockers Street Pharmacy have teamed up with American roots-reggae veterans Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad on their newest single “They Don’t Give a $$$$.” The song tackles the root of the world’s rising tensions amid a year full of crises, the ongoing manipulation of power and modern corruption over humanity-focused ambitions.

Mixing reggae and punk — two genres deeply rooted in social commentary and calls to action — “They Don’t Give A $$$$” adds a modern rock anthem-edged chorus that serves as a rallying cry, calling on the people to demand change from the top down.

“The chorus lyrics and the use of the cash register sample was intentional from the very beginning,” said Street Pharmacy’s frontman and songwriter, Ryan Guay. “Using the cash register sample in the midst of a heavy, alternative rock-oriented chorus allows for a two-fold meaning: the pseudo-use of profanity for the purpose of hammering home the severity of the message and, more obviously, the issues of corruption and wealth distribution that have plagued marginalized and poverty-stricken people for far too long.”

Guay’s lyrical and sample-based hook are accompanied by Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad frontman and bassist, James Searl’s call to action in two reggae-rock infused verses. “It’s impossible to squeeze all of our world concerns into a verse chorus verse,” Searl explained. “We thought it important to stress the call to action and awareness. Whether the focus is that Black Lives Matter or that the fossil fuel industry is running roughshod over entire [indigenous and scientific] communities and are actually destroying the natural world, the common denominator is always that there is a disgustingly wealthy 1% elite with more control than most and they don’t give a $$$$ about the rest of us.”

“Not a damn or a dime,” Guay added.

“There is so much positivity to be had about this moment of connectivity in the world amongst people and we wanted to lend an anthemic tune to help empower the resistance.” Searl continued. “It made sense for it to have a modern rock feel because it’s what both Ryan and I grew up on in close proximity to each other (Rochester NY, and Welland ON) separated by a border but brought together by music. I think we both had our political compasses tuned by the rock, reggae, and the hip hop of our youth. This song sounds like something that would have kept me up all night excited when I was 14 and for me that’s some special stuff. This was an incredibly fun beginning to more collaboration I’m sure.”

The collaboration between artists promotes further dialogue between changemakers within society, calling for a unification of citizens across the globe to promote a broad expansion of human rights and an end to oppression.

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