‘We Outside’ mixtape drops to get out the vote
As millions of voters head to the polls, Popular Democracy and acclaimed Harlem rapper Smoke DZA released the new hip-hop mixtape We Outside on Monday, November 2, 2026. Produced by the Grammy-nominated duo Mike & Keys, the project combines hip-hop, fashion, and grassroots organizing into a cultural call to action. It urges communities to get involved, get organized, and make their voices heard ahead of the November 3 midterms.
Presented by Smoke DZA and Popular Democracy and produced by Mike & Keys, We Outside features a lineup of heavy hitters including Bun B, Kai Kash, Fergie Baby, Benny the Butcher, BIG K.R.I.T. and more. The EP contains six songs with a total runtime of 16 minutes.
The release launches alongside a limited-edition capsule collection developed with Union Los Angeles and Barriers. The streetwear items include hoodies, sweatshirts, and tees that extend the project's message from the music into everyday community life.
“Hip-hop came from the street. It's always been about telling our own stories, speaking truth, and making sure our people tell our own story,” said DaMareo Cooper, Executive Director of Popular Democracy. “That's the spirit behind We Outside. We know that our culture has power. It’s defined so much of this country’s history. The same communities shaping the music, the fashion, and the culture should have the power to shape the future. We're bringing that energy to the streets and to the polls, because our voices deserve to be heard everywhere decisions about our lives are made.”
Smoke DZA, rapper and songwriter added, “Hip-hop has always been about where you come from, what you stand for, and making sure your people are heard. With We Outside, we’re taking that same energy beyond the music and back to our communities. Partnering with Popular Democracy felt like a natural fit because they understand the power of our culture and the importance of bringing our community and artistic voices into the conversations that shape our future. Our voices matter, and we have to show up, get involved, and have a say in what happens next. This is bigger than a mixtape—it’s about our culture, our people, and our power.”
Hip-hop has never been just about music. Born from communities demanding to be seen and heard, it has long told the stories of working people, challenged injustice, and spoken truth to power. From neighborhood block parties to global stages, hip-hop has shaped culture, sparked movements, and given voice to people too often shut out of political power. We Outside builds on that legacy, bringing artists, producers, designers, and organizers together around the idea that culture moves people, and people move democracy.
For Popular Democracy, the project builds on a long term strategy of investing in cultural organizing. The organization is a network of 49 grassroots organizations across 33 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico that demand transformational change for Black, brown, and low-income communities. Through initiatives including We the Poets, its Storytellers program, and Let’s Get Free Concert aimed at protecting the 14th Amendment, the organization has brought artists, grassroots leaders, and organizers together to connect creative expression with collective action. We Outside takes that work into the final stretch of the midterms, reaching audiences beyond traditional political spaces through the voices and cultural institutions they already know and trust.
The release comes as Popular Democracy's network works nationwide to strengthen civic participation, protect voting rights, and organize Black, Latine, immigrant, and working-class communities. Affiliates are knocking on doors, making calls, engaging voters, and helping communities overcome barriers to participation through initiatives including Guardians of Democracy and Election Protection trainings. The work does not end November 3. Popular Democracy and its affiliates are building lasting community power around issues affecting people's lives, from healthcare and housing affordability to immigration enforcement, economic justice, and constitutional rights.
We Outside is available on Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, and Amazon Music. The mixtape can be streamed at mypowermyvote.org/weoutside. The accompanying limited-edition capsule collection, created in collaboration with Union Los Angeles and Barriers, also launches today.
