Info â†’ Calling Mumia                  

• Development
• Additional Info
• Sampled From
• Notable Quotes
• Lyrics
• External Links

News first hit of this unusual collaboration between Massive Attack and American hip-hop star, Snoop Dogg, back in May 2007. The genesis of the song was from both artists being musically apart of the documentary film, ‘In Prison My Whole Life’.

In Massive Attack’s case, they had been commissioned (under the guise of 100 Suns, a name they have been using to disassociate certain film/advertising projects and collaborations like this one away from the Massive Attack name/brand) to pen the instrumental score for the film, while Snoop Dogg had already produced a song named after the film. From there, under the suggestion of the filmmakers, Snoop Dogg sent Massive Attack his vocals for Calling Mumia allowing them to get to work on composing the backing music track for the song.

The film itself, is a look at the life of imprisoned political activist and former Black Panther member, Mumia Abu-Jamal, who received a death sentence in 1982 for the supposed killing of a Philadelphia policeman. Many people to this day believe Mumia to be innocent of this crime, including a young London man named William Francome (who also just so happened to be born on the same day of the killing – hence the film’s title) makes it his mission in the film to piece together what happened on the night of the killing and also look at, in general the state of the prison and justice system in the USA.

Even though Calling Mumia was produced and finished in early 2007, it would’nt be until October 2008, when the official Massive Attack website made available a digital stream of the song, did the majority of fans get to hear it, as the film ‘In Prison My Whole Life’ was only shown in a limited fashion at film festivals across the world in the preceding year.

The film was even screened at Massive Attack’s own Meltdown festival in London on 19th June 2008. It is also through Massive Attack’s involvement in the film that they became aware of the Reprieve organization and their ongoing fight for improvement of prisoner and detainees rights around the world. This involvement with Reprieve, together with understanding the newfound plight of prisoners such as Mumia Abu-Jamal, influenced the subsequent2008 tour, with many of the statistics on the accompanying LED screen behind the band displaying such facts concerning rendition flights, detention without charge and surveillance societies we live in today.

Interestingly, another well-known rapper, Mos Def, also appears in the film ‘In Prison My Whole Life’ and contributed a new song (Dollar Bill) to the film’s soundtrack. Massive Attack fans should be aware of the previous and highly successful 2002 collaboration, I Against I, Massive Attack undertook with Mos Def, which in many ways was similar to the making of Calling Mumia, i.e. a collaboration with an American rapper for a film project with no direct contact between the two parties.

Extract concerning Massive Attack’s involvement in the score for ‘In Prison My Whole Life’ – â€œMA have been creating original, current and groundbreaking music since the late 80’s. Always breaking new ground while sounding fresh, they have changed the British musical landscape forever. As well as their music, they have been politically active and supported many worthwhile causes so when they agreed to do the score for ‘In Prison..’ we were over the moon.”[Official ‘In Prison My Whole Life’ website – March 2008]

William Francome on his appreciation for Massive Attack and their involvement in his documentary – â€œWhen I think back to growing up in North London before I moved to the states, the soundtrack was par for the course at that time with bands like the Prodigy, Massive Attack and Tricky blaring out of my older sisters stereo. Having an older sister and also the fact that one of the rooms in my dad’s house was rented out to Jonny L (of ‘Hurt you so’ fame and later of the Truesteppers– Remember Victoria Beckam?) meant that I was exposed to music that others my age perhaps weren’t. Massive Attack then maintained their position as huge part of the British music scene, evolving as our tastes did. So when we were working on the film and our music coordinator Liz Gallagher mentioned it might be something that Neil Davidge and Robert Del Naja from the band might be interested, we jumped at the chance. Now it’s done, they’ve created a great score and the film is much better for it. I’d just like to thank them for the great work they’ve done. “[‘In Prison My Whole Life’ MySpace Blog – October 2007]

Just want to come up to pull me down. I just got my feet on solid ground. Disconnect the plug. No more sound. I can’t be heard or seen. Now what does it mean. No conclusion. Open your eyes. See, ’cause the revolution will be televised. I gained support. I came to court. Cursed the judge. Did’nt even budge. Did’nt even look at me. Shrugged and shooked at him. He gave me life and threw the book at me. It’s sad ’cause a man lost his life. Families crying. Witnesses lying. Played by the P.A Made by the D.A And it’s in the game just like E.A You’ve gotta have fun when your in the pen. With the game over, ain’t no motherfucker starting again.

(Locked away) (Nowhere to turn) (Put that shit down)(You live like we live) (Back against the wall) What up man! (repeat and fade)

You just might lock up. Maybe shut the fuck up. Before you get stuck up. The way you feel. That’s the way I feel. The will to deal. Mean the will is. What up man! (repeat and fade)

Kill or be killed. Dead man talking. Dead man walking. The will to will. That will is the way I used to live. And the way I live now is to educate and elevate the kids. And give them more than weed and bottles of beer. And show them how to live like this here! Yeah, got alot to say. ‘Cause it ain’t no fun when your locked away. You’ve gotta pay me, stay wagey, stay free. Flexible. Seems like I’m going through obstacles. None to heavy. None to deep. Pined to the back. Wrapped up the leaf. Ben’s in the jack. Just traded them in. Just sent all of the money to the homie in the pen. Yeah I’ve got a what up man. To my homie, Jamal. What up man!

Any wonder why we say. “Fuck The Police!” What up man!

(Locked away) Wrongfully accused. (Nowhere to turn) I’m locked away with nowhere to turn. (Back against the wall) My back against the motherfuckin‘ wall. (Locked away) Yeah, but I’m still speaking the truth. (Nowhere to turn) (Back against the wall) Can’t stop me. My words gonna live on, man. You can kill the body but you can never kill the spirit. My back against the wall. Nowhere to turn. That’s whats up, nigger! That’s whats up! What up man! (Locked away) What up man! (Nowhere to turn) Nah nigger, what up! Nah, what up! (Back against the wall) Yeah, what up man! (Locked Away) (Nowhere to turn) Man! (Back against the wall) Y’all (Locked away) (Nowhere to turn) What up man! (Back against the wall) We go. (Locked away) (Nowhere to turn) (Back against the wall)

•  Wikipedia Entry For Mumia Abu-Jamal
• Official Site For The Film “In Prison My Whole Life”
• Promo Video For The song Featuring Clips From “In Prision My Whole Life” Posted On Neil Davidge‘s YouTube Channel
• Trailer For “In Prision My Whole Life”
• Interview Segment From “In Prision My Whole Life” Featuring Snopp Dogg