Music has always played an important role in political thinking and activism, from the united anti Vietnam war movement of the sixties to the more recent attacks on George Bush by the likes of Eminem and George Michael.

For years, Dead Prez have been working in communities across America, supporting and initiating causes for black power and politics - using music as one way of promoting their beliefs. Their individual style of political Hip Hop has attracted much critical acclaim and their fan base across the world continues to grow.

Here we talk to M1 and Stic.man about their role in the struggle for black power, their goals and how their music showcases their beliefs.

You guys are quite outspoken and have a growing fan base - do you feel that you have a certain responsibility towards people that are listening to you and your message?

M1: I have a responsibility towards my oppressed black and brown community. I don't think I have a responsibility to everyone who buys my album because realistically not everyone who listens to revolutionary music is not going to do a revolutionary act.

So for you, what would your ideal response be from people who listen to your music?

M1: We want people to get organised. Hopefully I can help to do that - if I can't, please find somebody who can lead you better than me. I'm just trying to make the music that people feel like getting organised to.

Many people in England have branded you as ignorant and racist. What would you say to those people?

M1: They don't know me. If you look at this conversation and say I'm ignorant then obviously you don't know me. If you look at this conversation and say that I'm racist, you also don't know me. What happens is that assumptions are made when we stand up for our rights. People assume that we want to do to other people what they've done to us for five hundred years. That's what the natural assumption is when you say you want to stop being oppressed. But that's not me, that's not the nature of African people. All we want is peace. We don't want to have more power than white people, we want to have the same power. I don't want to oppress them, I just want to stop that from happening to me. That desire can't be racist.

Do you think for that kind of revolution to take place there needs to be violence?

M1: There's already violence.

Stic.man: This country [US] is so hypocritical. They just assassinated one of our heroes, Stan Tookie Williams, out in LA - he was the true definition of redemption. He transformed all that negative energy into something that was way more powerful - and he was doing that from behind the steel gates, and doing it sincerely.

M1: But when I want a little bit of freedom, some justice, you want me to be non-violent. Please, we're just trying to reposition ourselves a little better. I'll use any method I have to use. I would love to be non-violent, but realistically when it comes down to actual defending, we've got to defend. By any means, whether it's violent or not.

Have you got a message for all the white people out there who listen to your music and who feel affected by it and the issues you talk about - that understand your message and would like to be involved in the struggle somehow?

M1: White people have a role in our revolution, and this revolution we're talking about will stand up all the right people of the world. What white people can do is assist our movement to get free. That means they have to work under the leadership of us, who are experts at being oppressed. Listen to us when we lead. Don't lead us, don't come in and say: "Oh I've got a programme that you poor people can fit into and I can save you all."

And a message to your fans in the UK?

Stic.man: We're gonna be there like you've never seen us. We're coming with a purpose. We're not just out there to be rapping.

M1 and Stic.man are set to perform at a number of events across the UK as part of the Bigger Than Hip Hop tour, which will see musical talent and spoken word showcased, alongside raising awareness for charitable causes and highlighting issues such as the war in Iraq and the BNP in Britain today.