Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

When discovering a series of currency-themed street art in the city this week, we were reminded of the relentless daily pressure there is today to make ends meet—and of the regular headlines showing how the big players run their own schemes to squeeze the public. It also calls to mind the 1980s hip hop track “What People Do for Money” by Divine Sounds, with its sly reminder: “They’ll sell their soul to the devil, just to make a dime.” (See video at end of posting)

Whether it’s war profiteering, scamming public programs, turning charities into piggy banks, buying up public goods to squeeze ratepayers, or preaching salvation from the cabin of a private jet, corporations, banks, and street hustlers only differ in scale, not intent.

The news today is littered with examples: Ukraine’s mineral wealth carved into joint ventures, relief funds turned into jackpots by fraudsters, children’s hospitals doubling as executive perk machines, Wall Street creeping into your utility bill, and preachers registering private jets to their ministries.

From the street perspective, this may look like the same hustle that they do – but with a press release accompanying it.

Here’s a survey of our weekly interview with the street, featuring Atomiko, Cash4, Drones, Grouchy, Jappy Agoncillo, Rene Lerude, Skewville, TFP Crew, and Zexor.

What People Do For Money – Divine Sounds