When Bono calls, you answer. The U2 frontman has enlisted the help of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, will.i.am, Mumford & Sons, Ed Sheeran and more for Agit8, a One Campaign initiative that pays homage to the greatest protest songs in history.
The music compilation aims to raise awareness about poverty issues at next week’s G8 Summit, when leaders of eight of the world’s wealthiest countries will meet in Northern Ireland to discuss global issues.
The tunes, which are available for fans to stream now, were recorded by 50 artists from all genres and include old-school hits by the likes of Bob Dylan and Donovan to more modern tracks by artists like Macklemore as well as Tupac (whose “Changes” is covered by Disiz & Freddy Evans).
On the compilation, Sheeran put his own new-age folk stamp on Dylan’s classic “Masters of War” and Mumford & Sons are joined by Elvis Costello for a cover Bruce Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad.”
While some artists covered the classics, others offered the campaign their own tunes. Those cuts include “Same Love” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (who is joined by singer/songwriter Cam Nacson on the release), “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” by Kanye West, will.i.am’s “It’s a New Day” and “Paper Planes” by MIA.
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