Calle 13’s Residente to write song with WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange

Rene Perez Joglar, a.k.a. Residente, outspoken lead singer of the multiple Latin Grammy-winning, politically activist band Calle 13, is teaming up with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on a songwriting session that’s intended to strike a blow for free speech and against censorship, “disinformation and media manipulation,” according to a statement released by Calle 13’s publicist.

Perez told his 5 million Twitter followers that he met with Assange on Wednesday night at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where Assange has been confined for several months while law authorities seek to extradite him to Sweden in a sexual assault case.

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“We support Assange because he is a victim of media manipulation. He is accused of releasing information to which we should have had access, because we deserve to be well informed. He brought out in the open a lot of people and he’s being blamed for that, when it is not Assange who is killing people. Assange just revealed information about what governments are doing. Those who do not support him are attacking their own human rights, fundamental rights,” Residente is quoted as saying.

Fans can follow the collaboration online. Meanwhile, Calle 13’s fifth studio album is expected out this fall.

Can an Edward Snowden album of duets be far behind?

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