[Cover photo credit to Sean Dunn]
Athens, Georgia-based rapper, linguist, activist, parent, and politician Mariah Parker (they/them), aka Linqua Franqa, has announced new album Bellringer due out April 22nd 2022 on Ernest Jenning Record Co. The album combines Hip-Hop lyricism and Neo-Soul hooks, and Parker intends the music to be a tool to “communicate and educate across cultural boundaries”. The lead single and video for “Wurk,” have been released, addressing frontline employees, calling for “organization in the face of exploitation”.
Linqua Franqa explains:
The pandemic saw the greatest transfer of wealth from the working class to billionaires, perhaps in the history of humanity. I’m shouting out the people driving FedEx trucks and getting spit on in the hospital and whipping the grocery carts around the parking lot of Kroger. I’m saying, ‘Y’all don’t have to take this. Come together and fight and you can get what you actually deserve.’
The album Bellringer was Produced by Parker, Reindeer Games and Joel Hatstat, and features guest spots from Jeff Rosenstock, Of Montreal, Kishi Bashi, Dope KNife, Wesdaruler, and Angela Davis. Bellringer touches on issues like police brutality, social media addiction, mental health, anti-capitalism, labor organizing, among other topics taken from headlines.
Mariah Parker is a voice of change and progress in the entertainment community as well as their work as Athens-Clarke County Commissioner. They also co-host popular iHeartRadio Waiting on Reparations podcast (3k+ weekly listeners) with Dope KNife.
Tour Dates:
3/12: Birmingham, AL @ Avondale Brewing
3/15-18: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/22: New Orleans, LA @ Broadside w/ Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires
4/22: Athens, GA @ 40 Watt (Album Release Show)
