Doc Jazz releases powerful protest song: All About The Benjamins

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Doc Jazz, the Palestinian musician known for his profound fusion of music and activism, has recently captured a lot of attention with his latest release, “All About The Benjamins.” A hard hitting funk-rock track, exclusively published on X with an intense and confrontational lyrics video, the song has seen massive engagement. It clearly is resonating deeply with audiences who are eager for music that speaks truth to power. In this interview with this unique surgeon and multi-instrumentalist musician, we delve into the creation, impact, and significance of this powerful protest song. WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO!

  • The title “All About The Benjamins” seems to have a reference to the Puff Daddy song from the 90s. What motivated you to choose this title for your protest song?

Doc Jazz: Actually, believe it or not, I was not aware of Puff Daddy’s song. It is not in a genre that I usually listen to. I came up with that title as a reference to the undue influence of Benjamin Netanyahu on American foreign policy, and the fact that ‘The Benjamins’ typically refers to 100 dollar bills. Money, in abundant amounts, is being used to buy influence, and it is blatantly clear that the Zionist colony thereby completely controls the United States.That is what the song is about, in response to the joint US-Israeli genocide of the Palestinians.

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO!

  • Your song has been described as a “work of defiance & rejection of supremacy.” Can you elaborate on how you intended to convey these messages through your music?

Doc Jazz: My lyrics are the best answer to your question. I guess people will have to watch the music video on X, and ponder on the meaning of the words. The song also focuses on how ruthlessly the powers that be are clamping down on dissent. There is barely any room left for speaking up against genocide, land theft, and ethnic cleansing.

  • You’ve mentioned on X that this song was born out of a simple guitar lick. How did the rest of the composition evolve, and what was the creative process like for this particular piece?

Doc Jazz: Yes, it started with that funky guitar lick that you can hear at the beginning. It’s a pretty straightforward, simple one. I then added the drums and the bassline, keeping everything down-to-earth. The Gaza genocide had completely stifled my musical spirit, and I had just picked up my guitar again shortly after the ceasefire. One thing led to another, and I found myself spilling out the lyrics in one continuous flow, apparently emanating from 16 months of pent up frustration. My guitar solos came last, as the icing on the cake. I really enjoyed doing that.

  • With the song being exclusively on X, how has the platform’s audience influenced or shaped the way you approach your music releases?

Doc Jazz: My largest follower base is 122K followers on Facebook, but it is an outrageously oppressive platform, where any support for Palestinian rights can get you suspended. Also, my shadowban there is massive. If I post anything on my Facebook page, it may result in 5 to 10 likes at best. That’s obviously a futile exercise. Although my follower count on X is much smaller, I have a significantly wider reach there. Also, I wanted to concentrate all my efforts on one platform. It looks like that approach is working out so far.

  • There’s been significant engagement on your song, from views to reposts. How does this feedback from your audience affect your future projects or your perception of your role as an artist?

Doc Jazz: It has been significant indeed. I kind of felt it when I had finished All About The Benjamins. I thought to myself: this one will have a bigger appeal than any song I have ever made. My hunch fortunately turned out to be right. I don’t think about the future, to be honest. I just do what I do. I’m a musical person, so things I feel strongly about sometimes come out in a song.

  • You’ve set a target of 1000 reposts for “All About The Benjamins.” Why is this goal significant to you, and what does it represent for your community?

Doc Jazz: There isn’t anything specific about that goal, I just feel that if I get 1000 reposts, it does justice to the song. The mp3 is downloadable for free, as my music always is, so there are no financial objectives. I feel that with 1000 reposts, the message will have reached enough people. And I find this very important, especially at a time when Trump has shamelessly declared that he plans to complete the Nakba, the total erasure of our Palestinian people from our land. That is something we can impossibly remain quiet about.

  • Your song has drawn endorsements from notable figures like Muntadhar al Zaidi. How does such support influence your work and its visibility?

Doc Jazz: Yes, not only Muntadhar, the journalist who had the courage to throw his shoes at George W. Bush, the war criminal responsible for the mass murder of the Iraqi people. Also George Galloway, the world famous British politician and activist, who not only reposted the song but also reposted several comments about the song. While this hasn’t affected the visibility as much as one would expect, due to shadowbans and other factors, the moral support that comes from such endorsements can’t be described in words. Courageous people like them, who stand up against injustice, relating to my song, is the strongest testimony to its worth. It’s the best thing a writer of protest songs could wish for.

  • Looking at the broader picture, how do you see your music contributing to the larger political discourse, especially in the context of the issues you address in “All About The Benjamins”?

Doc Jazz: To be honest, that’s not up to me to decide. The audience decides this. Every revolution has to have an anthem, or multiple anthems. If the masses decide to embrace this song, I will feel accomplished and grateful. If not, that’s not something I am not used to. I have released tens of protest songs for the Palestinian cause over the course of my life. Not all of them have really struck a chord with the masses. It’s normal. I create a tool; whether it will be used or not, is not in my hands. I am trying to make sure it reaches the people, at least.

  • On X, you’ve described this release as a “small Palestinian victory in hard times.” Could you share more about the personal significance of this song in the current socio-political climate?

Doc Jazz: For me, this song is very special. My last protest song before this was ‘Stare it in the Face’, from 2015, so that’s a hiatus of a whole decade. I didn’t plan this new song; it just happened. It kind of took me by surprise. Also, how it eventually turned out. I think it’s really powerful, and considering the reactions I am getting, there are many who think so.

  • Finally, what’s next for Doc Jazz? Are there more projects in the pipeline that will continue this thread of protest music?

Doc Jazz: I have no other protest songs in the pipeline. I do have some non-political songs I am working on. I truly enjoy making music, with a very wide collection of genres that I like to express myself in. Every different instrument that I play on, inspires me in its own unique way. I hope I won’t suffer a musical chokehold again, like what happened during the Gaza genocide. We are entering a very challenging period, but one thing you all know about our Palestinian people: we never give up!

Doc Jazz’s “All About The Benjamins” stands as a testament to the enduring power of music as a form of resistance and expression. In an era where protest music has become rare, his work shines a light on the ongoing struggles and the resilience of the human spirit. As Doc Jazz continues to navigate the intersection of art and activism, his work remains a beacon for those who use their voices to challenge the status quo. We eagerly await to see how his music will further shape and reflect the complexities of our times. Thank you, Doc Jazz, for sharing your journey and vision with us.

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO!

Note: the interview questions, the intro, and the outro, were generated by Grok, the AI of the platform X. The answers were of course given by Doc Jazz himself.

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Doc Jazz

Doc Jazz is a Palestinian musician, currently based in the United Arab Emirates. He was born and raised in the Netherlands, which is where he started his first musical endeavors. He works full-time as a surgeon, and produces his songs in his free time. He usually does all the instruments and vocals in his recordings by himself. His music, which covers a wide variety of genres ranging from funky pop and jazz all the way to rap and Arabic music, has been featured on many media outlets in the Netherlands, in the Middle East, and elsewhere. The Palestinian cause plays a big role in the themes of his songs.

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