mrDaveyd | Hip-Hop and Politics

War on Youth: 10 Years Later We Remember the Historic Fight Against Prop 21

April 22, 2010 By mrDaveyd

Ten years ago, various Bay Area youth organizations and movements found themselves coming together to fight a hideous juvenile crime bill called Prop 21. This bill among other things would charge youth as young as 14 as adults and gave the police sweeping powers including the right to detain and arrest three or more people ‘dressed in similar attire’ as a gang. It was a special time in the Bay Area and even though the bill passed in California it was defeated here in the Bay Area where most of the organizing took place..

The fight against Prop 21 was more than just walk outs and chants… It was strategy building. It was coalition building. It was connecting to other movements and struggles with obtaining Social Justice as a guiding principle. It was elders from past movements sitting down and working with young people. It was building upon and working with movements that had been sparked by freedom fighter Angela Davis and the historic Critical Resistance Conference at UC Berkeley. It was working with the movements sparked in earlier years by the Chicano Moratorium, Olin and Student Empowerment Project which were key in organizing students to fight propositions targeting immigrants like the English language only Prop 227 and the so called ‘Save Our States‘ anti-immigrant Prop 187.

The fight against Prop 21 was one that saw folks take momentum that had been sparked with organizations like the October 22 Coalition, Ella Baker Center and the then emerging Third Eye Movement around the police killings of Aaron Williams and later Sheila Detoy in which a police officer said Detoy got killed because she was ‘living a hip Hop lifestyle’ .

The Fight Against Prop 21 was one in which Hip Hop artists of various disciplines came together and the It was young people going around from corner to corner politicizing their peers. It was artists like a then unknown Goapele showing up at rallies and blessing us with inspiring songs like ‘Aint No Sunshine‘ where she flipped a Noreaga beat and told us why we needed to Fight this insidious Crime Bill. It was popular artists like Boots Riley of the Coup going around with organizers like Marcel Diallo and giving impromptu concerts on the back of flat-bed trucks in West oakland. It was artists like The Deliquents, Money B, Mystic Journeymen, Blackalicious and so many others using their clout to speak out against t the bill It was artists like Michael Franti connecting his s 9-11 Power to the Peaceful concerts which was focused on freeing Mumia and political prisoners to the Fight against Prop 21.

The Fight Against Prop 21 eventually led to the formation of our current syndicated Hard Knock Radio Show on KPFA which is also celebrating its 10 year anniversary. It was a huge boost to my Sunday night show Street Knowledge on commercial giant KMEL with various organizers coming on each week to lace people about the protests and events being planned around the fight.. Later that fight helped spark the Local Flava Hour that myself and DJ Sake 1 did -special shout out to Gold Toes and the Deliquents who helped flipped that for us..

There are so many stories to tell and so many people cut their teeth and became well-known around the country for their organizing. One of the more nationally known figures was former White House Green Jobs appointee Van Jones..but there were scores of people who came out and put in work.. Yesterday some of those key organizers like George Galvis, Krea Gomez, Laatefah Simon, Malachi Garza, Nancy Pili and Tony Coleman came together to share reflections and insights, mistakes made and victories won. We’ll be airing some of that conversation later today (april 22 2010) on Hard Knock Radio 94.1 FM 4Pm PST www.kpfa.org

Below are some articles and videos to gives folks a flava of what took place during a time that many out here found special…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dadsaBzOjYE

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Third Eye Fights Back Against Prop 21
by Davey D-2/4/00

http://www.daveyd.com/thirdeyefightsback.html

Big Props are in order to The Bay Area’s premier Hip Hop organization Third Eye Movement. This past Thursday they were featured on NPR [National Public Radio] where they brought to light the types of methods currently being employed to engage the Hip Hop community and politics. Most notable was was when the group recently showed up with over 300 folks and shut down San Francisco’s Hilton Hotel. Folks are still talking about that incident when Third Eye came down and brought the heat when it was discovered that the hotel chain was supporting Prop 21, California’s Anti-Gang Youth Crime Prevention initiative. It was a sight to behold when all these Hip Hop headz showed up and completely surrounded the hotel. They raised their fists and began chanting in unison a customized version to the popular rhyme featured in the Sugar Hill Gang classic ‘Rapper’s Delight‘.

Hotel Motel –And The Hilton
If you start a war on youth
You ain’t gonna win!

The youth then entered the hotel lobby while still holding up raised fists and began chanting a customized version of the chorus to DMX‘s ‘Ruff Ryder’s Anthem’.

Stop! Drop! People Gonna Rise To the Top!
ooh! ooh! Prop 21’s Gotta To Go!
Stop! Drop! People Gonna Rise To the Top!
ooh ooh Prop 21’s Gotta To Go!

The end result was the Hilton coming out and clarifying their position on the Prop 21. They made it known that it was the president or chairman of the Hilton who was backing Prop 21 and not the chain itself. It was great to get that sort of response and un-blurring of the lines. That wasn’t bad for a bunch a Hip Hop headz who are just getting into politics. The other noteworthy event involved several other Bay Area Hip Hop and youth organization who co-ordinated efforts and held three simultaneous protests against PG &E [Pacific Gas and Electric]. This included San Jose’s UKAH, Concord’s C-Beyond and Third Eye. Again more then 300 folks showed up at each PG &E office demanding that they back down on their support of Prop 21. The result was a sit down meeting with PG &E management in which they came and stated that they would be neutral on the position. Because PG & E had given money to the initiative, there was a push to have them donate equal money to fight the initiative. That hasn’t happened yet.

The other victory Third Eye had was with Chevron where they got this big corporation to come out and publicly state they were neutral on Prop 21. All this is encouraging at a time when so many insist on holding a negative image of Hip Hop.The other thing that should be emphasized is that while Third Eye and these others Hip Hop organizations were out there bringing the heat noticeable absent were some of the more traditional organizations who haven’t been aggressively breaking bread with Hip Hop.

In addition to organizing these large scale protests, Third Eye has been hard at work passing out literature and literally going door to door explaining to people the provisions in Prop 21. At first the education was taking place within the High schools and various college campuses but with a month left before the March 7th election, you will no doubt see their activities and visibility increased. There is some sort of big hip Hop rally/concert activity scheduled for February 21st.

Other Hip Hoppers stirring up noise on this on the political front include Keith Knight of the social conscious Hip Hop band Marginal Prophetshttp://www.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Marginal_Prophets. In addition to throwing down on the mic..Knight has made a name for himself as a cartoonist whose work can be seen in all sorts of publications ranging from The SF Examiner Newspaper to Salt Lake City Weekly tohttp://www.salon1999.com. Recently he penned a powerful cartoon bringing attention to Prop 21. All sorts of organizations have made copies and have been passing them out. By the way folks may want to peep the group’s album ‘Twist the Knob’.

The Bay Area’s hottest act The Delinquents from East Oakland are also getting into the act. They’re in the process of making post cards that shows their picture on the front with a big Vote No on Prop 21 on the back. They have also included some facts about the proposition as well as their position on other electoral issues. In addition to their popularity, the group has a huge truck that is shrink wrapped with their picture and album cover. They’ll be using this truck promotional tool to get the word out to their folks in the hood to get out and vote as bring them up to speed on some of the politics getting ready to effect ‘The town’.

Respond to Davey D at: Mrdaveyd@gmail.com

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPkFvABs9HU

Hip Hop ActivismTo The Fullest!
by – Davey D

http://www.daveyd.com/FullArticles%5CarticleN224.asp

2/1/00 9:57:26 AM

It was a weekend of intense activism here in the Bay Area as there were several successful ‘No On Prop 21‘ [Juvenile Crime Initiative] rallies that brought together clergy, elected officials and scores of Hip Hoppers. Rarely has anyone witnessed this type of activism and coming together.Things kicked off on Saturday morning with the opening of the ‘No on Prop 21’ campaign office here in Oakland [1019 Clay St in downtown Oakland]. Alameda County supervisor Keith Carson along with Congresswoman Barbara Lee secured a spacious location in downtown. Rap artists and Hip Hop organizations including, Boots of The Coup, Son of Nat Turner The 2Pac One Nation Committee, The Black Dot Collective, Underground Railroad and Third Eye Movement to name a few came out in full force.

Here they broke bread with more established community activists and elected officials like the The Mayor of Berkeley [Shirley Dean] , the former Vice Mayor of Oakland [Ignacio De La Fuente] , County supervisors [Mary King, Keith Carson], local City Council members [Larry Reid, Nancy Nadel] and a number of Ministers representing every religion from Baptists to Muslims to Jews. It was really a beautiful thing and the energy that resonated throughout was contagious.

The Ministers led people in prayer while Boots and several emcees ripped some wicked freestyles that directly dealt with the Prop 21 initiative. Everyone took time out to directly address the large audience by offering insight, possible solutions and words of encouragement. Several members who are down with the 2Pac One Nation Committee, The Black Dot Collective and Black Folks Against Prop 21, have put together a weekly political education newsletter called the ‘Daily Struggle [Makin Sure The Hood Knows What’s Crackin]‘ which they have been delivering door to door throughout the hood.

After the introductions were made and strategies imparted the large gathering grabbed pens and pads and went canvassing local neighborhoods. Everyone realizes there is a lot of work to be done getting the word out to the masses. In spite all the activism, there are still lots of people who simply do not know and need to be brought up to speed.Later that afternoon, former Black Panther chief of staff and current Oakland City Council candidateDavid Hilliard put together a large rally in West Oakland. In a move that was reminiscent of the old Panther days of the ’60s, he along with his crew gave out free lunches and brought out emcees from numerous local crews came out to perform and help get people registered.

.Lockdown 2000 Event A Success!

The highlight of the weekend was an event called Lockdown 2000. Here more than 1500 people showed up for a night of ‘cultural revelation’ which included spoken word, Hip Hop performances and dance. All the artist which include Michael Franti, Jason ‘The Kreative Dwella’, Local 1200 DJs and Amandla Poets to name just a slight few, donated their time as each one passionately brought attention to the issues at hand. Those issues were the case surrounding Mumia Abu Jamal and other political prisoners, the building of prisons as opposed to schools and Prop 21. To see all these folks from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, both young and old come together in such large numbers was incredible. Here’s a brief description from former Black Panther and activist Kiilu Nyasha. For folks who are unfamiliar with this sista she is one of the key elders in the Bay Area who early on had sat down and directly worked with a lot of the Bay Areas ‘conscious’ artists like Paris and Boots to name a few and laced them with some serious political game.

Every group and individual who performed or spoke packed a powerful political punch — and the messages were delivered with terrific artistry and pizazz. Our keynote speakers were Ida McCray Robinson of Families With A Future and Pam Africa of MOVE and The International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, who brought with her from Philly her husband, Buck, and daughter, Pixie (11). There was sooo much love in that venue, such positive spiritual energy that folks walked away saying things like “amazing,” “awesome,” “the bomb!” I’m hoping Wanda Sabir will write a fuller description of the performances in her own unique style, so you can get the full flavor of the event.. All the organizers and performers/speakers volunteered their time, so we cleared well over $6000! We not only packed the place; every group imaginable was represented — from babies to teenagers, young adults and elders, Africans, Asians, Latinos, and Natives. What made it all happen, of course, was the wonderful spirit of cooperation displayed by all who helped pull it together. As one of the organizers, I can say honestly that I never got a “no” from anyone I approached for help; and lots of folks called and volunteered their assistance.

Noticeably absent from all these positive events were reporters from all of the Bay Area’s major TV and newspapers. As early as Saturday morning, I was still getting phone calls from reporters who still wanted to drudge up the drama behind the Cash Money concert violence from two weeks ago. Unfortunately, while they were diligent in covering the violence, not one of them bothered to be diligent in covering the building and coming together of Hip Hoppers who are successfully getting people politicized. There was no mentions on the radio. There were no articles in the local papers and no film clips on the 6 o’clock evening news.

What was most troubling, was the fact that calls were made directly to the weekend assignment editors of these outlets both the day of the event as well a couple of days before alerting them of these activities. The people who placed these calls were some of these high ranking elected officials who normally don’t have a problem obtaining press coverage. In fact while reporters were conspicuously absent from these rallies and events they managed to cover some of these same elected officials at other gatherings. For example, Congresswoman Barbara Lee who helped secure the ‘No On Prop 21’ campaign office spoke at the ‘No on Prop 21’ rally.

So to the average person who still religiously depends upon traditional mediums for his news and community information, there is no such thing as Prop 21. The thought of Hip Hoppers engaging in politics is still unfathomable. All he knows is that his local congresswoman was hard at work fighting for rent control and that’s it. Now, I’m not naive enough to expect anything different from the mainstream news media, but I had no idea it would be so blatant in its dismissal. Maybe its me, but I figured at a time when we have all sorts of drama surrounding Hip Hop in the form of Puffy, Jay-Z and other rap stars, seeing Hip Hop headz working alongside elected officials and the religious community would be a welcome change that one would proudly want to report.

The reason behind doing this would be to first, give props to people who are hard at work doing the ‘right’ thing and secondly, encourage and inspire a supposedly apathetic public to do the same. The big story here was that these Hip Hop artists and organizations working with elected officials is not a gimmick. It isn’t a cute stunt put together to create a photo op. It’s the real deal. It was months and even years of hard work finally manifesting itself in a new type of activism. When was the last time you went to a political rally and Hip Hoppers were equal participants? When was the last time you came across artists who were more interested in addressing the audience and expressing their views as opposed to getting wreck on the mic and using tan occasion as a disingenuous way to promote their album? I guess a multi-ethnic, intergenerational, multi-faceted gathering of people is threatening to the assignment editors of an industry that thrives on divisiveness and continuous mayhem.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT_dNVzsOGA

Here’s a few other articles to peep

http://www.daveyd.com/FullArticles/articleN549.asp

http://www.daveyd.com/FullArticles%5CarticleP60.asp

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Children/NewYouthMovement_Calif.html

Return to Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner

Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, Life style articles, Political articles Tagged With: C-Beyond, George Galvis, Hip Hop activism, Hip Hop ActivismTo The Fullest, Krea Gomez, Laatefah Simon, Malachi Garza, Nancy Hernandez, Nancy Pili, prop21, The deliquents, Third Eye Fights Back Against Prop 21, Tony Coleman, Van Jones, War on Youth, War on Youth: 10 Years Later We Remember the Historic Fight Against Prop 21

DJ Premier officially Responds to Guru and Addresses the Letter Released by Solar

April 21, 2010 By mrDaveyd

What a class act.. and good man.. DJ Premier did what any ‘real adult’ would do.. He showed love.. make3s me even angrier that such an ugly letter smashing him was allowed out by Solar..

http://www.djpremierblog.com/

IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR ME TO GET CONFIRMATION ON THE DEATH OF A MAN WHO I WILL CONTINUE TO CALL MY BROTHER, KEITH ELAM, BETTER KNOWN AS GURU OF THE LEGENDARY GANG STARR.

FROM 1988-2004, WE EXPERIENCED SO MUCH SUCCESS TOGETHER THAT WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR BUSINESSES INDEPENDENTLY AND GIVE EACH OTHER WHAT GURU CALLED “CREATIVE SPACE”, BEFORE PLANNING TO REUNITE FOR OUR 7TH LP WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT. TRAGICALLY, WE WILL NEVER REACH THAT DAY.

I’VE BEEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON A LETTER SPEAKING ILL OF ME WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY WRITTEN BY GURU IN HIS DYING DAYS. ALL I WILL SAY ABOUT IT IS THAT OUR TIME TOGETHER WAS BEAUTIFUL, WE BUILT A HIP HOP LEGACY TOGETHER, AND NO ONE CAN RE-WRITE HISTORY OR TAKE AWAY MY LOVE FOR HIM. ONE THING I WOULD NEVER DO IS PLAY AROUND WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS LIFE.

I WILL CELEBRATE GURU’S LIFE… I WILL HONOR HIS MEMORY… I WILL GRIEVE WITH THE ELAM FAMILY OVER HIS UNTIMELY DEATH… I WILL REMEMBER THE GANG STARR FOUNDATION AND ALL OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF GANG STARR WHO CAME BEFORE ME – WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER… MOSTLY, I WILL CHERISH EVERYTHING WE CREATED TOGETHER AS GANG STARR, FOREVER. I’M GONNA MISS HEARING HIS SIGNATURE MONOTONE VOICE WHEN HE WALKS IN THE ROOM, BUT THE SONGS WILL ALWAYS BRING IT BACK TO ME….HIS RHYME FLOWS WERE INSANE, AND I WILL NEVER REMOVE HIM FROM MY HEART AND SOUL…….REST IN PEACE TO THE MAN WHO FELT “SATISFACTION FROM THE STREET CROWD REACTION” … I LOVE YOU GOO…….DJ PREMIER

Return to Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner

Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News Tagged With: DJ premier, DJ Premier officially Responds to Guru and Addresses the Letter Released by Solar, Guru, Hip Hop, Premier responds to Death of Guru, Solar letters

NY Times Talks w/ Guru’s Brother About His Death-Solar Responds to Skepticism Over Letter

April 21, 2010 By mrDaveyd

Thank God we got some information about Guru’s passing from his family… The NY Time’s Music writer Jon Carmanica gives us a rund own with remarks from Guru’s brother Harry Elam Jr.. there’s no mention of any of the controversy surrounding Guru’s ‘supposed’ letter and all of his belongings and son going off to live with Solar…

In another article posted at http://www.rhymeswithsnitch.com/2010/04/gurus-family-casts-doubt-on.html

Here’s an excerpt from a longer release:

GURU died far too young but he was, and we are, proud of all his many legendary musical contributions.

The family is not aware of any foundations established by GURU. We know and understand that countless fans want to express their condolences and love and, to that end, we are planning a memorial event in the near future that will be all-inclusive. Please look for further details from the family as they become available.

Solar on the other hand responded to the outrage over the letter to MTV..

He’s quoted as saying

“I mean, it’s ridiculous,” he said. “Guru knew this time would come. The great artist he is, us being intelligent people, we knew there was going to have to be a statement relating to this. Unfortunately, there are those who have the wicked agenda, and just can’t accept that Guru and I have handled this thing as men and not children, and this is how men of honor handle their business. He arranged his press release. I’m the repository of Guru’s life story. I recorded his life story for book and for movies. We’re not foolish. He was diagnosed with cancer well over a year ago. It’s been operations and so forth. It would be ridiculous for him to not be prepared.”

Guru had been sick for more than a year with multiple myeloma..

-Davey D-

Guru, Rapper Known for Social Themes, Dies at 47

By JON CARAMANICA

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/arts/music/21guru.html

Guru, the gravel-voiced rapper who as a member of the duo Gang Starr was one of the most expressive rappers of the 1990s and a major figure in bridging hip-hop and jazz, died Monday in New York. He was 47.

He learned he had multiple myeloma last summer and was hospitalized for related respiratory problems in February, his brother, Harry Elam Jr., said. Soon afterward he slipped into a coma, from which he did not recover, his brother said.

Though Guru came to be known as one of the formative rappers of the flourishing New York hip-hop scene of the late 1980s and early ’90s, he was not a native. Born Keith Elam in the Roxbury section of Boston on July 17, 1962, he began his career in the mid-1980s as MC Keithy E, but soon switched to Guru (which he later turned into an acronym, for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal).

In 1988, after an early version of Gang Starr splintered, Guru met DJ Premier — Christopher Martin, a Houston transplant to Brooklyn — forming a partnership that would lead to six influential and critically acclaimed albums, two of which, “Moment of Truth” and the hits collection “Full Clip,” were certified gold.

Together, Guru and DJ Premier made archetypal East Coast rap, sharp-edged but not aggressive, full of clear-eyed storytelling and suavely executed, dusty sample-driven production. In the early 1990s, as hip-hop was developing into a significant commercial force, Gang Starr remained committedly anti-ostentatious. As a lyricist, Guru was often a weary moralist weighed down by the tragedy surrounding him, though the group’s music was almost always life-affirming, never curmudgeonly.

From a young age, Guru had been “creative like crazy,” his sister Tricia Elam said. “Dynamic and curious, eager and ambitious.” But his artistic impulses didn’t neatly line up with his middle-class upbringing.

Guru’s father, Harry Elam, was the first black judge in the Boston municipal courts, and his mother, Barbara, was the co-director of library programs in the Boston public school system. Before beginning his rap career in earnest, Guru graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta in 1983 and took graduate classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. He worked briefly as a social worker.

Leaving school to pursue a rap career flummoxed his family, said Guru’s brother, Harry Jr. “I was on my way to becoming a professor, and my brother is dropping out of grad school, and I’m saying, ‘What are you doing?’ But he believed in it and followed it through.”

Besides his brother and sister, Guru is survived by his parents; another sister, Jocelyn Perron, and a son, Keith Casim.

Guru’s music bridged generations in part thanks to his career-long engagement with jazz, even after hip-hop largely ended its flirtation with it in the early 1990s. As a solo artist, Guru released four volumes of his “Jazzmatazz” series, the first of which, from 1993, was one of the most influential in the fleeting jazz-rap movement of the day. And “Jazz Thing” a Gang Starr collaboration with Branford Marsalis, was used over the closing credits of the Spike Lee film “Mo’ Better Blues.”

For all of Guru’s gifts as a storyteller — songs like “Just to Get a Rep” are among the starkest tales hip-hop has told — he benefited from an unusually forceful voice, rich and burred around the edges. It was tough to compete with, which he explained on “Mostly Tha Voice,” from Gang Starr’s fourth album, “Hard To Earn”: “A lot of rappers got flavor, and some got skills/ But if your voice ain’t dope, then you need to chill.”

Returned to Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner

Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News Tagged With: harry Elam jr, Jon Carmanica, NY Times, NY Times Talks w/ Guru's Brother About His Death-Solar Responds to Skepticism Over Letter, Solar Guru's death

Bakari Kitwana: Hip Hop Activism & Politics The Next Steps to Take Under Obama-His Keynote Address at Mills College

April 21, 2010 By mrDaveyd

This past weekend author, journalist and political commentator Bakari Kitwana swung through the Bay Area and gave a keynote speech at the Hip Hop 4 Change conference held at Mills College in Oakland. His speech was insightful as he explained to the capacity crowd that a lot rests on their shoulders and that they will have to step their game up and be keenly aware that they are under the gun by politicians and other outside forces who feel they are fair game to taken advantage of and be politically exploited. Bakari laid out a clear road map for people who identify with Hip Hop to follow.

We broke the 40 minute speech into 4 parts. Here in pt1 Bakari centers his remarks around premise that Hip Hop played a key role in getting President Obama elected but have not mastered the ways to hold him accountable. He noted that many have become discouraged and checked out of politics without fully considering that getting people to stay away and not be political engaged is a desired goal by those holding power. Here Bakari talks about the sudden emergence of the Tea Party. He explains that while there maybe folks showing up at these rallies who are legitimately concerned and angry at the government, we should realize its a media created phenomenon. Bakari goes in as he speaks on the topic of racism, media manipulation and thought control. He also goes in on the topic of how and why we must hold President Obama accountable. He feels that many of us have not mastered this task and sadly many have not spent anytime figuring out what angles to take to push a President he feels is the consummate politician and can be pushed.. He concludes by talking about the biggest threat facing our generation which is incarceration. He explains that this is not an individual scenario but one that needs to be looked at with the understanding that its systematic for a number of reasons deeply rooted in social, political and economic agendas by many in power. He breaks this down.. The Hip Hop Generation and its role in Electoral Politics, The Tea Party, Racism ,Media Manipulation and Thought control, How to Hold President Obama Accountable..Stopping the Incarceration Tide.

You can hear that part of the speech by clicking the link below..

Bakari Kitwana-pt1 Mills College Speech

In pt 2 Bakari lays out a lot of detail about the economy. This is one of his areas of expertise and the current topic being addressed by his Rap Sessions Town halls. He goes in on this topic and explains how the flow of wealth has changed directions and talks about the new economic centers springing up around the world in Asia, Russia and India. He notes that this generation will have to think globally if they choose to be entrepreneurs and increasingly so if they even wish to find decent employment and we must familiarize ourselves with what is going on in these places. Many traditional jobs have left the country and will not be returning.

Bakari talks about some of the issues that comedian/social critic Bill Crosby brought up during his recent tour about personal responsibility and why much of what he said was overly simplified. He notes that while personal responsibility is indeed something we all must fully embraced, part of what that entails is fully understanding today’s social-political landscape. Bakari spends some time laying out some unique challenges ranging from the increasing divide between the Have and Have Nots that started with colonialism, was perfected with neo-colonialism and now in full swing with globalization. Bakari parallels some of this with the birth and evolution of Hip Hop music and culture.

He talks about the onslaught of new laws designed to contain people and the militarization of police departments which first emerged in cities like LA under former police chief Daryl Gates to suppress organizations like the Black Panthers. Those militarized police forces stayed around and grew after the Panthers were destroyed to wreak havoc in our communities and continued to grow and be a suppressing force in our communities as they fought the war on gangs, the war on drugs and now the war on terror. Bakari stresses that these and a host of other problems are challenges that must be tackled by today’s post civil rights and Hip Hop generation…

Bakari Kitwana-pt2 Mills College Speech

Pt3 of Bakari’s remarks are perhaps the most eye-opening and humbling. Here he talks ver specifically about the emergence and roles played by Hip Hop activists and Hip Hop political organizations. He talks about the beginnings of groups like the Bay Area’s Third Eye Movement stepping up to Fight prop 21 ( The 10th anniversary of that movement is being celebrated this week ) to the formation of the Hip Hop Political Convention. He talks about the emergence of groups like League of Young Voters, Hip Hop Congress and various other youth movements around the country as well as Russell Simmons Hip Hop Summit Action Network. Bakari goes in and explains how much of the work people were doing around the country was fragmented but through Hip Hop and new technology we were able to connect and become aware of each others work, triumphs and tribulations in detail the work many of these groups did to politicize and excite the Hip Hop generation and how that laid the ground work for Barack Obama’s historic presidential campaign which many leaders within those organizations played key roles.

Bakari contends that there was a movement and momentum that was sidetracked and severely slowed down with Obama’s election because folks got caught up in his agenda which was to win an election and not OUR collective agenda which was to be long-term fixtures designed to address critical issues facing our communities Bakari goes in on those points and leaves us with a lot to think about..

Bakari Kitwana-pt3 Mills College Speech

Here in pt 4 Bakari concludes his talk by laying out ten concrete steps the Hip Hop generations needs to take to solves some of the unique challenges facing us as well as the steps we need to take to be better equipped and aware when engaging today’s politic climate. Bakari lays out some important solutions..

Bakari Kitwana-pt4 Mills Collage Speech

Below is a link to the interview we did with Bakari at the conclusion of his speech. He clarifies a few points. Here’s what he has to say

Interview w/ Bakari Kitwana after Mills College Speech

Return to Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner

Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, Political articles Tagged With: Bakari Kitwana keynote address, Bakari Kitwana: Hip Hop Activism & Politics The Next Steps to Take Under Obama-His Keynote Address at Mills College, davey D Hip Hop news-bakari Kitwana address, Hip Hop 4 Change, Holding president Obama accountable, Mills College, Tea Party

Today We Lose a Civil Rights Legend-Dorothy Height

April 20, 2010 By mrDaveyd

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dorothy Height, who as longtime president of the National Council of Negro Women was the leading female voice of the 1960s civil rights movement, died Tuesday. She was 98.

Height, who continued actively speaking out into her 90s, had been at Howard University Hospital for some time.

As a teenager, Height marched in New York’s Times Square shouting, “Stop the lynching.” In the 1950s and 1960s, she was the leading woman helping the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other leading activists orchestrate the civil rights movement.

The late activist C. DeLores Tucker once called Height an icon to all African-American women.

“I call Rosa Parks the mother of the civil rights movement,” Tucker said in 1997. “Dorothy Height is the queen.”

Height was on the platform at the Lincoln Memorial, sitting only a few feet from King when he gave his famous “I have a dream” speech at the March on Washington in 1963.

“He spoke longer than he was supposed to speak,” Height recalled in a 1997 Associated Press interview. But after he was done, it was clear King’s speech would echo for generations, she said, “because it gripped everybody.”

Height became president of the National Council of Negro Women in 1957 and held the post until 1997, when she was 85. She remained chairman of the group.

“I hope not to work this hard all the rest of my life,” she said at the time. “But whether it is the council, whether it is somewhere else, for the rest of my life, I will be working for equality, for justice, to eliminate racism, to build a better life for our families and our children.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edCvDSN_QFE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxLzeti2jBk

Here’s a bio of Dr Height

Chair and President Emerita
National Council of Negro Women

For nearly half a century, Dorothy Irene Height has given leadership to the struggle for equality and human rights for all people. Her life exemplifies her passionate commitment for a just society and her vision of a better world.

Dorothy Height was born in Richmond, Virginia March 24, 1912, and educated in public schools in Rankin, Pa, a borough of Pittsburgh, where her family moved when she was four.
Height established herself early as a dedicated student with exceptional oratorical skills. After winning a $1,000 scholarship in a national oratorical contest on the United States Constitution, sponsored by the Elks, and a record of scholastic excellence, she attended New York University and earned her bachelor and master’s degrees in four years. She did postgraduate work at Columbia University and the New York School of Social Work.
In 1933, Height became a leader of the United Christian Youth Movement of North America in the New Deal era. It was during this period that Height’s career as a civil rights advocate began to unfold, as she worked to prevent lynching, desegregate the armed forces, reform the criminal justice system and for free access to public accommodations.
- Height was named to deal with the outcome of the Harlem riot of 1935.Height was an organizer and served as Vice President of the United Christian Youth Movement of North America. In this capacity she was chosen as one of 10 American youth delegates to the World Conference on Life and Work of the Churches in Oxford England. Two years later (1939), she was a representative of the YWCA to the World Conference of Christian Youth in Amsterdam Holland.
- 1937 was the turning point in the life of Dorothy Height. She was serving as Assistant Executive Director of the Harlem YWCA when Mary McLeod Bethune, founder and president of the National Council of Negro Women, noticed young Height who was escorting Eleanor Roosevelt into the NCNW meeting. Mrs. Bethune invited Height to join NCNW in her quest for women’s rights to full and equal employment, pay and education.
- In 1938, Height was one of 10 American youth invited by Eleanor Roosevelt to spend a weekend at her Hyde Park NY home to plan and prepare for the World Youth Conference to be held at Vassar College.
- Height served in her dual role as YWCA Staff member and NCNW volunteer, integrating her training as a social worker and her commitment to rise above the limitations of race and sex. She rose quickly through the ranks of the YWCA, from the Emma Ransom House in Harlem to the Executive Director of the Phyllis Wheatley Association in Washington D.C. and to the National Staff.
- For thirty-three years – (1944 – 1977), Height served on the staff of the National Board of the YWCA of the USA and held several leadership positions in Public Affairs and Leadership Training and as Director of the National YWCA School for Professional Workers. In 1965, she was inaugurated and became Director of the Center for Racial Justice, a position she held until her retirement.
- In l952, Height served as visiting professor at the University of Delhi, India, in the Delhi School of Social Work, which was founded by the YWCAs of India, Burma and Ceylon. She became known for her internationalism and humanitarianism, and conducted international studies and travel to expand the work of the YWCA.
- Height made a study of the training of women’s organizations in five African countries: Liberia, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria under the Committee of Correspondence.
- Height was elected National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1947 – and served until l956. She carried the Sorority to a new level of organizational development, initiation eligibility and social action throughout her term. Her leadership training skills, social work background and knowledge of volunteerism benefited the Sorority as it moved into a new era of activism on the national and international scene.
- In l957, Height was elected fourth National President of NCNW and served until l998 when she became Chair and President Emerita.
- In 1960, Height was the woman team member leader in the United Civil Rights Leadership along with Martin Luther King, Whitney H. Young, A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins and John Lewis.
- In 1961, while Height was participating in major Civil Rights leadership, she led NCNW to deal with unmet needs among women and their families to combat hunger, develop cooperative pig banks, provided families with community freezers and showers, etc..
- In 1964, after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Height with Polly Cowan, an NCNW Board Member, organized teams of women of different races and faith as “Wednesdays In Mississippi” to assist in the freedom schools and open communication between women of difference races. The workshops which followed stressed the need for decent housing which became the basis for NCNW in partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop Turnkey III Home Ownership for low income families in Gulfport Mississippi.
- In l970, Height directed the series of activities culminating in the YWCA Convention adopting as its “One Imperative” to the elimination of racism.
- In 1970, Height established the Women’s Center for Education and Career Advancement in New York City to prepare women for entry level jobs. From this experience in 1975, Height in collaboration with Pace College established a first-time Associate Degree for Professional Studies (AAPS) – now incorporated as a regular professional studies degree course at Pace University.
- In l975, Height participated in the Tribunal at the International Women’s Year Conference of the United Nations in Mexico City. As a result of this experience, NCNW was awarded a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to hold a conference within the conference for women from the United States, African countries, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean. This was followed with a site visit with 50 of the women to visit with rural women in Mississippi.
- Under the auspices of the USAID, Height lectured in South Africa after addressing the National Convention of the Black Women’s Federation of South Africa near Johannesburg (1977).
- Height led a crusade for justice for Black women and since l986 worked to strengthen the Black family. Under her leadership:
  - In 1966, NCNW achieved tax-exempt status.
  - In 1974, NCNW dedicated the statue of Mary McLeod Bethune in Lincoln Park, Washington D C; the first woman on public land in the Nation’s Capital and to an African American or woman of any race.
  - Developed model national and community-based programs ranging from teen-age parenting to pig “banks” – which addressed hunger in rural areas – and were replicated by many other groups.
  - Established the Bethune Museum and Archives for Black Women, the first institution devoted to black women’s history; and established the Bethune Council House as a national historic site.
  - Height placed NCNW on a course of issue-oriented politics, sponsoring “Wednesdays in Mississippi” when interracial groups of women would help out at Freedom Schools; voter registration drives in the South; and established communications between black and white women.
  - Established the Black Family Reunion Celebration in 1986 to reinforce the historic strengths and traditional values of the Black family.
Dorothy I. Height has received awards and citations including the:
- John F. Kennedy Memorial Award
- Hadassah Myrtle Wreath of Achievement
- Ministerial Interfaith Association Award
- Ladies Home Journal – Woman of the Year
- Congressional Black Caucus – Decades of Service
- President Ronald Reagan – Citizens Medal
- Franklin Roosevelt – Freedom Medal
- Essence Award
- Camille Cosby World of Children Award
- Caring Institute – Caring Award
- NAACP – Spingarn Medal
- National Women’s Hall of Fame
- President Bill Clinton – Presidential Medal of Freedom
- On Height’s 92nd birthday March 24, 2004, President George W. Bush presented her theCongressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian and most distinguished award presented by the United States Congress.
She has received thirty-six Honorary Doctorate Degrees from universities and colleges such as:

Tuskegee University, Spelman College, Pace University, Bennett College, Lincoln University, Harvard University, Howard University, Princeton University, New York University, Morehouse College, Meharry Medical College, Columbia University.

Return to Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner

Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, Political articles Tagged With: Civil Rights leader, National Council of Negro Women, Today We Lose a Civil Rights Legend-Dorothy Height

Sad News Today We Lost a Legend RIP Guru… He Loses His Battle to Cancer

April 20, 2010 By mrDaveyd

From DJ Premier’s Blog RIP GURU

This is heartbreaking news to lose a legend like Guru..It’s heartbreaking reading his letter which personally I find a bit suspect..I’ve known Guru since 1991 or 92.. Always had a good relationship when he came to the Bay.. He made a special trip and opened up for my old Friday Night Vibe radio show.. He blessed it. He came to a surprise birthday party a couple of years later and blessed the crowd with a nice promptu performance. Over the years he’s come by shows numerous times and always had good conversation and keen insight..

Can’t say for sure what his relationship with Solar has been, but it definitely made a cool friendship strained. The last time I saw him about two years ago, I had stayed over from a scheduled trip to catch up with Guru.. We sat down started off doing a nice interview and suddenly it went south.. He bolted out in the middle of an interview because his boy Solar who I included in the interview got upset when I asked ‘How Do You Guys as veterans in the rap game manage to stay relevant for today’s audience? He took offense and claimed they weren’t old men.. said he didn’t wanna do the interview, Guru looked at Solar and bolted out..He bounced out refused to talk unless Solar said it was cool which he didn’t and that was pretty much last time I chopped it up with him…That was too bad….

In any case I wish him well in the afterlife He was a good dude…Today we lost a legend and he will be missed

-Davey D-

Guru aka Keith Elam has passed away yesterday morning (April 19) after a long battle with cancer.

According to Solar, Guru suffered from the malicious illness for over a year and after numerous special treatments under the supervision of medical specialists failed, the legendary MC succumbed to the disease. Guru always tried to keep this harrowing diagnosis in private but in early 2010 he had to admit himself to hospital due to serious effects caused by the disease.

Since the onset of illness, Guru tried to live a “normal” life as an influential and outstanding musician, loving father, family man, and best friend. Doctors encouraged Guru to think positive that the cancer can be arrested and that a full recovery is possible but several special treatments including hard hitting chemotherapies failed.

While in hospital with terminal cancer, Guru wrote a letter, which was provided by Solar, to his fans addressing his illness, his shining music career, his family and loved ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqh1s6vMfhc

“I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options. I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting,” read the official Guru statement.

“My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.”

The statement reads on, “I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life.”

Guru, born Keith Elam, rose to fame in the 80’s as the founder of the legendary rap group GangStarr. The group released the classic single Words I Manifest followed by their critically acclaimed debut album No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989) and the classic album Step In The Arena (1991). Guru was the first artist to truly blend Hip-Hop with Live Jazz beginning in 1993, and seeing the vast influences his Jazzmatazz concept has had on the industry, it is clear that Guru’s musical contributions have been way ahead of their time. Guru has worked with such great artists as Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, Donald Byrd, Ramsey Lewis, Roy Ayers, Chaka Kahn, Branford Marsalis, David Sanborn, Bob James, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Common, Angie Stone, Jamiroquai, Macy Gray and Damien Marley, to name a few. Despite the fact that Guru isn’t hailing from New York, he is noted as a pioneer of the New York sound and true lyrical Hip-Hop. Guru later on joined forces with hit producer Solar and formed his label 7 Grand Records with the goal to keep “real” Hip-Hop alive.

Guru’s longtime partner, Solar, issues an official statement about the lost of the legendary MC which you can read below:

“The world has lost one of the best MCs and Hip-Hop icons of all time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru! Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it but tragically this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius. For the fans that reached out with love and support, I can’t tell you how much that meant to Guru and myself. Guru prepared this letter [read above] while he was in the hospital for the fans. I hope now that Guru has moved on to a better place! Guru is a great Black American Hero and should always be remembered as such and he is much more that just a Hip-Hop icon — he has changed the world for the better. I salute my fallen brother Guru! He will be missed tremendously!” Solar stated.

We will sorely miss Guru, both from a personal and from a professional standpoint. Our warmest condolences to Guru’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.

Return to Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcrG05S_xoE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emdVmO_7QA8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eh16a7n_44

Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News Tagged With: ad News Today We Lost a Legend RIP Guru... He Loses His Battle to Cancer, GangStarr, Guru, Guru Dies of Cancer April 20th, Keith Elam, Sad news RIP Guru... He Loses His Battle to Cancer

As the Poor Get Poorer Look for Brutalizing Police to become the New ‘Buffer’ Middle Class Set to Protect the Rich

April 19, 2010 By mrDaveyd

I been saying this for a minute and will most likely do a show on this later this week. But as the economy worsens and the gap between the Have and Have Nots widens we are going to have some serious problems. One disturbing note is that an estimated 75% of the people do not trust the government. That’s playing out with the rise of militias, increasing threats by Tim McVeigh like domestic terrorists and just an overall overt disrespect for anyone in office. A lot of anger has been directed at President Obama, but increasingly more and more ire is being turned toward anyone in office.

Part of what has driven this is the nagging perception is that the those in office work for the rich and powerful and not for the people. There’s a lot of media middleman efforts seemingly designed to keep people’s anger directed at politicians and not the rich and powerful figures behind the scenes who are driving policy. It’s only a matter of time before folks come to realize that no real changes are gonna take place until the proverbial Wall Street fat cats are put in place. Sadly they seem to realize this as well.

Now once upon a time the Aristocratic class and Land Barons who ran this country realized it was just a matter of time before their African slaves and white (European) indentured servants would come to realize as they were working side by side on the fields they were being smashed on by the same person. They feared these lower class folks would rise up and turn on the rich and so these Aristocrats did a couple of things. First they elevated the status of the indentured servant. They were granted more privileges than their African counterparts and were literally told they were better. Many were given overseer status. Their job was to keep everyone especially the African slaves in check and basically protect the rich land owners.The overseers became the first police officers.

The original concern from our founding fathers was to protect the rich and powerful from the poor they were exploiting

Next they put laws in place that would protect them from the ‘Tyranny of the majority’. This is one of the basis for the Federalist Papers put forth by early president James Madison. As Professor and fellow radio host Dr Jared Ball once explained to me…The ‘tyranny of the majority’ the Aristocratic class was afraid of was the poor and desperate who were being oppressed yet vastly outnumbered the ruling class. If they should ever get into power the fear was they would start redistributing the wealth and might start returning the harsh oppressive favors they levied on everyone else. Because of that fear, in a nutshell the game plan was to find ways to protect the interests and property of the rich and powerful and with each passing year and generation different scenarios, tactics and schemes have been thought up. It might’ve been saying slaves were only 3/5th human and not allowing them to vote. It might’ve been making women property and denying them the right to vote. It might have been concocting the ‘American dream’ narrative and leaving a whole lot of poor whites under the illusion that with a bit of hard work, elbow grease and determination they to could one day become rich and powerful.

For decades the rich and powerful were able to keep things moving because they had a buffer class that kept the misery of the poor from smashing on the oppressive nature of the rich. They were the Middle class. For the overwhelming majority of people in this country getting a nice house and a white picket fence was the goal. Forget being a land baron, just give me a small piece of the pie and I’m straight is how most people thought. Become Middle Class and issues of inequality, injustice and the existence of an underclass would be swept under the rug. We saw this with poor whites who became working class and would show a disdain for Blacks and Browns shooting for the same goals. It was the outspoken voices of the so-called working and Middle class who shitted on things like affirmative action and welfare. We even saw this amongst Middle class Blacks and Browns who would buy into what has often been described as the illusion of inclusion. The need to continue to struggle for total freedom and equality was abandoned by many ‘who got theirs’ who would then turn around and arrogantly chastise those who didn’t make it..

But as we can see that illusion has all but crumbled and those who were happy being middle class the reality has sunk in that they to are not only poor, but they may now be a part of this expanded permanent underclass. This realization is setting on for many as they’ve seen their 401ks tank, their credit completely ruined, overwhelming mounting debt that they can’t get rid of thanks to new and more stringent bankruptcy laws designed to protect the rich, sky-high school tuitions and jobs permanently gone while more and more workers are being told they are too old or too irrelevant for today’s youthful and politically dumbed down job market. Today in 2010 we’ve seen a collapse of the Middle Class. It’s either your rich or poor. Very very few are in between. Those who are holding on desperately and willing to do whatever it takes to avoid the plight of those around them. Enter the new Middle class.

Private 'security' outfits like Blackwater are increasingly being used to be a buffer between the rich and poor.

To protect themselves from the ‘Tyranny of the majority‘ we are now seeing the formation of a new buffer class made up of law enforcement. Police, prison guards, Border patrol, ICE, private security firms like Blackwater or whatever name they now go by, IRS agents etc…Those who are willing to smash on ‘their own’ are finding they can escape being apart of this permanent underclass by joining up. We’re hearing about the formation of more and more gated communities and private police forces being used to patrol them. We’re seeing this phenomenon in areas where gentrification is taking place and there is concern that newcomers may have to endure the anger of displaced residents.

We’re also hearing about how private police forces are being used to ‘supplement’ supposedly beleaguered police departments. Journalist Jeremy Scahill noted this a while back with Blackwater mercenaries who has been investigating. What took place in New Orleans during Katrina with them being them holding down empty hotels while poor people around them desperate for food and shelter were forced away seems to have just been a test run for what will soon be commonplace.

Adding to all this is the increasing number of egregious incidents of police brutality. First, many of these incidents seem to be more brazen. It doesn’t seem to matter that incidents are caught on film as is shown in the video below. Here we a police officer from a Chicago suburb ruthlessly clobber a driver over a dozen times. The passenger was already tasered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8WCEAIcaT0

Such incidents also seem to be taking place beyond the confines of the hood where police suppression has been an everyday thing. What took place with innocent students many of them white during the G20 Summit at the University of Pittsburgh is one of the more glaring examples. Having experienced being tear gassed and seeing out of control police running into dorms whupping on students while pursuing ‘fictional’ anarchists was eye-opening. It suggested that it did not matter that students from this prestigious university who are generally heralded and cuddled by the city were gonna be shielded. Police came after them like there was no tomorrow and left many of us this is just the tip of the iceberg.. Look at what happened to students in California protesting fee hikes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etv8YEqaWgA

In this video notice the officers of color seem to be going off the most.. Also note how many people seem to cheer the cops on in the comment boxes. They praised the cops for samashing on students protesting 40% fee hikes at a time when everyone is losing jobs.. What sort of backward thinking is that? The type to prevent the ‘tyranny of the majority’.. Something to ponder..

-Davey D-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOI5l2_RghQ

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Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, Political articles, Southern Shift Tagged With: As the Poor Get Poorer Look for Brutalizing Police to become the New 'Buffer' Middle Class Set to Pro, Blackwater, Dr Jared Ball, Have and Have nots, Middle class, Police brutality, t James Madison, Tyranny of the majority

Is T-Pain an Uncle Tom? Should Hip Hop Treat Him the Way Country Treated the Dixie Chicks?

April 18, 2010 By mrDaveyd

Is T-Pain an Uncle Tom?: The Coming Out of Closet Conservatives

by Paul Scott

“But they use you for an example. They would rep’ but our heroes got their hands full”

-These are our Heroes-Na-s

Sellout; Sambo; Uncle Tom. These are all terms to describe someone who turns his back on the black community to serve the interests of white supremacy. While these terms have usually been reserved for the likes of Conservatives such as Clarence Thomas or Michael Steele, today we have to add some Hip Hop artists to this dis-honor roll. One being Faheem Rasheed Najm, known to the world as T-Pain.

Recently, Right Wing hitman, Sean Hannity posted a video on his website featuring T-Pain big uppin’ his Fox News television show. Not only that, but when Hannity asked him to say “Conservative victory in 2010” in pure “yessa boss” fashion, he gladly agreed.

This is just another part of the recent trend of the Right Wing to get a black co-signer to prove once and for all that they are not the bunch of racist bigots that we think they are. Recently, there was attempt by the folks at Fox News to use an old interview LL Cool J to promote Sarah Palin’s new reality show.

Historically, black entertainers have shied away from taking overtly political stands. It must be remembered that even during the height of the Civil Rights movement, music giant Motown had its artists sitting on the sidelines while black folks were fighting in the streets for equal rights.

Entertainers have had, perhaps, just cause to be a little cautious. There is a long history of persecution of those who dared to use their popularity as a bully pulpit to speak truth to power.

It is rumored that Billie Holiday‘s 1939 anti-lynching anthem “Strange Fruit” was banned by radio stations. Paul Robeson was blacklisted for his open embrace of Communism and Eartha Kitt was persecuted for her statements against the Vietnam War.

During the late 80’s and early 90’s, Hip Hop artists such as Public Enemy, Ice Cube and Ice T all felt the wrath of the establishment for daring to rap about something other than gold chains and Air Jordans. The list goes on.

So most entertainers got the message and stuck to singin’ and dancin’.

This fear of taking political stances is not just limited to musicians but athletes have also been cowards. During the early 90’s, basketball legend Michael Jordon refused to donate any money to build a black cultural center at the University of North Carolina; avoiding the fate of former teammate, Craig Hodges, whose Afro-centric activism, allegedly, resulted in his being blackballed by the NBA for a time.

This legacy of political apathy and persecution is what makes T-Pain’s photo op with Hannity so alarming. There are many worthy black empowerment organizations that could have used his endorsement to help their causes. Instead he chose to give fuel to a racist Right Wing machine that has been running rampant since the ’08 election.

While there are some who will argue that T-Pain’s actions are just an example of a politically naive hood dude being bamboozled by the media savvy Slick Sean Hannity, I doubt that this is the case. I am sure that neither T-Pain nor his handlers would have allowed his picture to be taken with Rev. Jeremiah Wright or posing with a copy of “Message to the Black Man.”

I didn’t buy the late gangsta rapper Eazy E‘s flimsy excuse for attending a George Bush Sr luncheon nor do I buy the idea that T-Pain’s Conservative endorsement was just a gag. As we approach the mid -term election season, the stakes are too high to play sophomoric games with the lives of poor folks.

It is a widely accepted myth that Hip Hop artists share the same socio-political ideology as their constituents in the hood. Perhaps the sad fact is that the multi-millionaire rappers have more in common with the wealthy, Right Wing Conservatives than they do with the strugglin’ people in the ‘hood whom they are supposed to represent. Maybe, the video with Sean Hannity and T-Pain was, merely, about two rich guys having a chuckle over the gullibility of their fans.

It has ,also, been assumed by Hip Hop conspiracy theorists that rappers and Conservatives are in cahoot’s, just using the classic “every hero needs a villain” scam. Despite the faux Fox morality of commentator’s like Bill O’Reilly, the Right Wingers, actually need rappers to use as poster children to justify their accusations of the “failure of big government,” in order to advocate for the elimination of social programs to help the less fortunate.

Hip Hop fans must handle T-Pain with the same passion that hardcore country music fans used to deal with the Dixie Chicks after they criticized George “G-Dub” Bush. If Jay Z can criticize T-Pain for the over use of the auto-tune, Hip Hop headz should be able to criticize him for being used as a flunky for the Right Wing.

We must begin to hold rappers accountable not only for their lyrics of violence and misogyny but also for their political stances that run contrary to the needs of the children in poor and oppressed communities.

Until he denounces the Right Wing’s attack on the ‘hood, the “T” in T-Pain will henceforth and forever more stand for “Tom.”

Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Join the Right Wing Rap Attack http://www.facebook.com/rightwingrapattack

No Warning Shots Fired.com
(Hardcore News and Views with a Gangsta Attitude)
http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
(919) 451-8283

Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, Political articles Tagged With: Fox News, Paul Robeson, Paul scott, s T-Pain an Uncle Tom-Should Hip Hop Treat Him the Way Country Treated the Dixie Chicks?, Sean hannity, T-pain

Neo-Nazis Catch Beatdowns at LA Rally-So Called ‘Non Racist’ Tea Party Types Are Absent

April 18, 2010 By mrDaveyd

The day before this Neo-Nazi rally directed toward Brown folks in LA took place, I put out a call to the so-called ‘Non-racist’ Tea Party people who have insisted they are not racist. I pointed out that in many of the rallies the Tea Party folks have been seen carrying signs depicting President Obama as Hitler. There have been signs using the N word and other racial epithets. There have in recent days been reports about Tea Party types threatening members of Congress and using racial and sexual oriented epithets toward members of Congress.. Sadly Congressman Ron Paul who has been a favorite among Tea Party folks downplayed these incidents as something that is apart of politics..

Anyway I put out a call to Tea Party folks via Twitter to join the hundreds who would be coming out to oppose the Neo Nazi’s who ironically call themselves ‘Socialist‘. This as you know is a term that many Tea Party have vehemently railed against and accused President Obama of being. My call to Tea Party folks, many who I follow and have engaged in the past was met with a deafening silence. They claim to be against racism , yet was no where around to join those who were standing up to a well-known racist organization-The Neo-Nazis. They say they hate socialism, yet a racist org that calls themselves ‘The National Socialist’ was left unchallenged by the Tea Party Express people. At the time of this writing, I could find no written statements denouncing the rally and expressing their solidarity with those who oppose racism. I have come to the conclusion the Tea Party types are racist.. End of story..

As for the rally itself..These idiots who were recently featured on local news programs bragging about how they were running Mexicans out of LA and showing up to small mostly white suburbs outside of LA, were dependent upon LAPD to protect them. People who were at the rally said the cops were mainly Black and Brown.. Here is some footage including one dingbat Nazi getting beat down…

Davey D-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQqAggRuBzc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlHXdFKoyv4&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVwq1CSrevQ

White supremacist rally at L.A. City Hall draws violent counter-protest

Two men are beaten by mobs of counter-protesters, and five are arrested for throwing objects at the neo-Nazis and their police escorts.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-white-supremacist18-2010apr18,0,4043821.story

A rally of about 40 white supremacists Saturday on the lawn of Los Angeles City Hall drew hundreds of counter-protesters, sparked brawls in which two people were severely beaten and ended with crowds of demonstrators hurling rocks and bottles at police and departing supremacists.

The rally, conducted by the National Socialist Movement, prompted the Los Angeles Police Department to go on tactical alert as counter-protesters from throughout the region flooded into downtown L.A. They included a wide assortment of African American, Jewish, Latino, immigrants-rights and anarchist groups.

While some counter-protesters said they had heard about the event through social media such as Twitter and had come to urge peace in the face of the group’s hateful message, others had clearly come for a fight. At least five of them were arrested by the end of the demonstration for throwing eggs and rocks.

Before members of the white supremacist group had arrived, a bare-chested middle-aged man with Nazi insignias tattooed on his chest and back walked into a crowd of hundreds of counter-protesters gathered near 1st and Spring streets.

Surrounded, the man mockingly bobbed his head to the rhythm of demonstrators chanting “Nazi scum.” About a dozen protesters suddenly began pelting the man with punches and kicks. He fell and was struck on the back with the wooden handle of a protester’s sign, which snapped in two. Police eventually reached the man and pulled him from the melee, as blood poured from the back of his neck.

Another man was rushed by a mob on Spring Street. He was punched in the face and kicked for about 20 seconds before police made it to the scene. After that beating was broken up, the man began running south on Spring Street, only to be chased down by a protester and slugged in the face. He collapsed and his face slammed to the curb as protesters began pummeling him again.

The bloodied man was then escorted away by police. Both victims were treated and released, police said.

His sign, unclear in its intended meaning, read “Christianity=Paganism=Heathen$” with an arrow pointing at a swastika.

“Gosh, I think he just didn’t have a clear message. I don’t even think he was a Nazi,” said one man, looking at the broken pieces of the sign left behind.

The neo-Nazi group had obtained a permit for its demonstration earlier in the week, and police prepared the rally area by taping off a section of City Hall’s shaded south lawn. About 12:30 p.m., members began delivering anti-immigrant tirades and shouts of “Sieg Heil” that echoed down the street.

“We are tired of you clogging up our streets,” shouted one white supremacist.

Another group member repeatedly denounced illegal immigrants, saying, “If the city supports illegal aliens and criminals, that is treason.”

A counter-protester shouted back with a bullhorn.

“You’re being protected by black and Latino cops, you cowards!” she said.

The rally ended around 2:30 p.m. with counter-protesters rushing toward the criminal courts building parking lot where the white supremacists had parked their cars. Dozens of them hurled rocks and glass bottles at the neo-Nazis and their police escorts.

One vehicle failed to start. As a group of white supremacists attempted to jump-start the car, others raised swastika-emblazoned shields over their heads to protect themselves from projectiles. After the white supremacists left, police allowed the crowds to dissipate.

Cmdr. David Doan said the LAPD’s goal was to protect free speech and avoid using force. “There was a tremendous amount of restraint shown by our officers,” he said. “We allowed both sides to exercise their 1st Amendment rights.”

Doan said it was a frustrating situation for LAPD officers. “We took some rocks and bottles when they arrived, and we took some again when the car had some trouble starting.”

robert.faturechi @latimes.com

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Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, Political articles Tagged With: Hitler, National Socialist Movement, neo Nazi Rally in LA, Neo-Nazis catch Beat Downs at LA Rally-So Called 'Non Racist' Tea Party Types Are Absent, Tea Party

Is T-Pain a Republican? Is He Stomping for Sean Hannity?

April 17, 2010 By mrDaveyd

There’s a lot of hoopla about T-Pain hooking up with Fox News icon Sean Hannity and him endorsing the Republicans.. Below are a couple of videos. One shows how Hannity and T-Pain hooked up.. The other one shows whats been going around on YouTube.. Personally I don’t think its a big deal.. There have been and will continue to be conservative folks in Hip Hop as well as artists who back causes pushed by conservatives..

For starters.. a few years ago LL Cool J endorsed GOP Governor Pataki over Carl McCall who was running and would’ve been NY’s first African American governor.. I did an interview with MC Serch and Pete Nice of 3rd Bass at the Source Awards back in 99 or 2000 and they both said they were Republicans.. Bill Stepheney co-founder of Public Enemy I believe is Republican and if you recall Canibus came out and supported George Bush‘s call to war. In fact he did a song called Draft Me and then went off and served in the army..Not sure about Pitbull, but he’s definitely not supporting anyone (mostly non-conservatives) who are down to open up talks with Cuba. His stance against Cube prompted Mos Def to write an open letter challenging him..I was just reminded about Daddy Yankee showing up to the 2008 GOP Convention to support John McCain.. He said he was down to roll with him because he was against illegal immigration.. His remarks drew the ire of Fat Joe who publicly chastized him..

On a side note we can’t forget that in 2004, Jay-Z opened up his 40/40 Club to the GOP where RNC head Michael Steele held a big party and was bragging about how the GOP was connecting to Hip Hop the next day.. Jigga wasn’t there, but they sure did try to make the connection big time..

Peep the videos with T-Pain and you decide..Personally I think Hannity was having fun knowing that him standing nxt to T-Pain would cause everyone to talk.. I think Pain didn’t really care.. he wasn’t tripping like that.. Its publicity for both

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RunkCmu36Bw