World famous rapper Snoop Dogg has joined a London Catholic band and homeless film director to challenge prejudices around homelessness which were ignited by then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s comment that homelessness is a ‘lifestyle choice.’
Sleeping rough on the streets of London (or any major city for that matter) is a hazardous past-time. David Fussell, a homeless film director, had glass bottles smashed in his face seeking shelter on London’s park benches and in shop doorways. That is, until David was handed a pop-up tent by street workers concerned for David’s safety.
David, with London band Oooberfuse, has joined forces with rap royalty’s Snoop Dogg to challenge hidden prejudices around homelessness. They have created a track called Hard Times. These prejudices recently erupted in the UK when former Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, promised to crackdown on tents and said that rough sleeping in a tent is a ‘lifestyle choice’.
Eradicating homelessness is something that is close to Snoop Dogg’s heart. “When you get it, make sure you give it back, that’s how you keep getting it!” Snoop Dogg said. He has said that he lives his life by this belief.
London rough-sleeper David said: ‘I lived in a tent for 4 out of the 10 years that I lived on the streets. I started using a tent after someone threw a glass bottle that smashed in my face and I was lucky only to have a small cut on my forehead. A tent will keep you out of the wind and rain/snow and greatly increases your chances of survival on winter nights.’
Fr Dominic Robinson from the Central London Catholic Churches Homeless Services, who worked on the track with Ooberfuse, shared his hopes that the high-profile collaboration track ‘raises awareness’ about homelessness.
“It’s been wonderful to work together with Cheerie, Hal and our friend David on this project,” Fr Dominic told the Universe.
“David (Fussell) is a wonderful, talented person whose progress represents a really good news story from the Central London Catholic Churches Homeless Services at Farm Street. His is a heartening story amid all the growing tragedy on our streets with the largest numbers of rough sleepers ever recorded, 12% up on last year, and now with new punishing policy on those just granted asylum to find accommodation within seven days, we are faced with a flood of new homeless. It’s hoped that this song not just raises awareness of the situation but spurs us to much needed action.”
Hal St John of London band Ooberfuse said: “Suella Braverman’s recent comments highlight the disconnect between the comfortable corridors of power in Whitehall and what’s happening on our city streets. Rough sleeping in a tent is not a lifestyle choice; it’s a mirror reflecting back to us the failings of government housing provision. No one should be punished for being homeless.”
Cherrie Anderson of Ooberfuse said: “Having Snoop Dogg as a feature in this track is amazing. Technology today means that we were able to record our parts in Abbey Road whilst Snoop Dogg, our producer and musicians recorded their parts in the US. Our song Hard Times is about weathering tough times and shining a light on actual lived experiences of homelessness”.
Any proceeds from the track will be going to the Central London Catholic Churches.
Hard Times featuring Snoop Dogg is released on 1st December 2023.
Listen to the track and watch the music video here: https://youtu.be/gBHIFpC0eak