It's doubtful that even Lin-Manuel Miranda had any inkling about what a runaway hit his musical Hamilton would turn out to be. Let's face it: in another set of hands, the combination of hip-hop and history could have been an unintentionally comedic disaster.
Over two years after its Broadway debut, Hamilton has truly taken on a life of its own, with the non-theater world embracing Lin-Manuel Miranda in a way few playwrights ever experience. (Can you think of any others that have hosted Saturday Night Live?) Miranda's combination of savvy, smarts, and boundless creativity means Hamilton is the gift that keeps on giving, as evidenced by last year's The Hamilton Mixtape album -- a collection of covers and reinterpretations performed by the likes of The Roots and John Legend.
Just two days after the Supreme Court permitted portions of Trump's travel ban to go into effect, a video to accompany Mixtape standout "Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)" has been released. Performed by K'naan featuring Residente, Riz MC, and Snow Tha Product, the song's title and refrain is taken from a line in one of Hamilton's most famous songs, "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down).”
Timely, powerful, and perfect for protests, here it is:
