Forget the TV Show ‘Scandal’, Leland Yee’s Arrest Reveals the Darkside of Politics

Leland Yee

Leland Yee

With the recent arrest of California state Senator Leland Yee, many who work to improve their community will have lots to think about and factor in as it relates to gun related violence. One of the most disturbing things Yee was arrested for was weapons trafficking and we’re not talking something that’s minor or a big stretch  where he’s accused of selling a improperly gun to someone.

Yee’s accused of wanting to do 2.5 million dollars worth of business. That business included selling rocket launchers and all sorts of weaponry. On top of that they’re saying all the people arrested with Lee including his friend, long time political consultant Keith Jackson and his son Brandon Jackson, were part of an organized crime syndicate..

Jackson who is a well-known fixture around San Francisco and the Bay Area in general is high-powered politico who like Yee served as school board president in SF.  He was indicted for a murder for hire plot on top of weapons and drug tracking charges.

Again, if any or all of this is all true there’s a helluva a lot we should be thinking about next time we talk about how certain neighborhoods are flooded by guns and drugs. Is it really low-level street corner cats or high and mighty powerful folks who shot call and manipulate this system?

Mayor Ed Lee

Mayor Ed Lee

People should keep in mind that last year the Mayor Ed Lee was contemplating bringing Stop and Frisk style policing to San Francisco. He was concerned that there were ‘too many guns‘ on the streets. In nearby Oakland there’s a defacto stop and frisk program underway where Black folks who make up 28% of the population are 62% of police stops. You find similar targeting in other California cities. Perhaps the police should be stopping and frisking public officials and leave the average person alone. Ask yourself, where all those guns Yee and others were trafficking went to? Did anyone get killed with one of them? Let’s reflect on that for a minute.

Yee was a strong advocate for gun control. He penned some of the strongest anti-gun legislation in the state and maybe the country. He was named to the  Brady Bill Honor Roll for his strong anti-gun stances. Yee’s bottom line was all about making sure assault weapons were off our streets.

Leland Yee went hard on the industry for violent video games

Leland Yee went hard on the industry for violent video games

On top of that, Lee went HAM on the video game industry. He felt that many of the military and gun games were too realistic and would lead to folks being desensitized to violence. He also went after the military for investing money in these games. Yee was the go to guy for anti-violence and as a result was championed up and down the state, so much so that he had a good chance to become California’s Secretary of State. He just pulled out of that campaign.

Looking at all this strictly from a political stand point, Yee’s arrest alone has given the NRA and gun-lobby folks all sorts of ammunition (no pun intended) to not only make sure guns stay accessible with little or no restrictions, but it also lays ground work for folks to make arguments to enhance Castle doctrines and Stand Your Ground Laws.

One can easily see the gun-lobby making the argument that the public is at risk by ‘powerful people who are selling rocket launchers, guns etc’ to ‘nefarious types’ while an unwitting public is in the dark. The argument will be made that the public has a right to protect itself when such powerful forces using their political clout and connections are in the mix.

It should also be noted that Yee is accused of trying to buy rocket launchers for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in which the state department considers a terrorist organization. Maybe that was a freedom fighter move on his part because he supports their cause or maybe it was just him wanting to get money. Our concern should be whether or not this realization will lead to increased domestic surveillance or will the NSA and other spy agencies narrow their focus to rich and powerful vs the average person trying to make ends meet?

It’s probably safe to say that Yee is not really where the buck stops. Many feel he’s just the tip of the iceberg and while there were 26 people altogether arrested around this FBI sting operation that netted Yee, all of us should asking who else is in the mix? Are they Judges? rogue cops? the Mayor? Any Supervisors? Who else has their hands dirty? For example, in the report you read Keith Jackson’s associate stating that he got bullet proof vests straight from the police. They later corrected themselves and said the FBI? Were they stolen or gotten from someone involved?

Raymond Chow aka Shrimp Boy

Raymond Chow aka Shrimp Boy

When you read the FBI report its straight out of series like 24 or a spy novel. It has activities and people involved from all over the country. It has arms dealing on an international level. It has money laundering from here to Boston, it has marijuana grow houses around the Bay including one in Oakland. They’re shipping cocaine from here to Memphis, Tn. They’re shipping weapons all over the world. They have kill for hire plots and lots of powerful people in the so-called underworld as well as in political circles rubbing elbows. It’s all there.

The way it reads it has Raymond Chow aka Shrimp Boy the former high level gangster who had ‘reformed’ as a central figure who has been rewarded and honored by all sorts of high-profile politicians including our own Senator Diane Feinstein  but you get the sense that there’s a lot more to this-a lot more. One thing for sure, politics is a dirty, filthy, scandalous business. Check out the report HERE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FukuL6WVJeU

On another note in recent months there have been a number of Democrats up and down the state caught up in scandals.. That’s sadly ironic when u consider Dems are often railing about the Koch Brothers, Rupert Murdoch and other far right entities that are corrupt..One would think they of all people would keep their noses clean, but far too many have not. They are seduced by power and money like the people they criticize.

Adding to all this are the corporate payoffs to Civil Rights organizations which has resulted in them twisting their decision-making on key issues like GMO Food labeling, Soda Tax, Net Neutrality and Media consolidation (Yes a number of key Civil Rights orgs have been in favor of Comcast and Time Warner merging). Wonder what dirt doings are going on in those circles??

Its more than just Leland Yee who has a lot of explaining to do..

The Murder of Alex Nieto by SFPD and Scared Gentrifiers (Town Hall Meeting)

Chief Greg Suhr of SFPD addressing an upset crowd at the Town Hall

Chief Greg Suhr of SFPD addressing an upset crowd at the Town Hall

Long time residents in the City of San Francisco have been growing more and more upset with each passing day as word about the brutal murder of honor student & security guard, 28 year old Alex Nieto at the hands of SFPD gets out…

The police attempted to calm things down by holding a town hall meeting the other night which left people even more disturbed. Many felt what they were being told didn’t add up.

The family of Alex Nieto were on hand and so were damn near half the Mission and Bernal Heights district where Nieto lived. Everyone was demanding to know why Alex was shot and who called the police on him?

SF Police Chief Greg Suhr went all over the map trying to explain why his highly trained officers couldn’t tell the difference between a gun and a taser in daylight hours and why more than 50 shots were fired at Nieto.

What was gathered from the meeting was someone became suspicious of Alex and called the police 3 times. The first call was to report he had a gun, which was actually his work taser. The second call was to say he was pacing back and forth with ‘his gun’ (taser) still at his side.

A third call was made to say that Alex was eating with his ‘gun still at his side’ .. Police showed up on the scene 3 deep.. surrounded Alex from 75 feet away and shot him after they say he pointed his taser at them which the police thought was a gun.

Alejandro 'Alex' Nieto

Alejandro ‘Alex’ Nieto

Tiny Garcia who heads up Poor News Network and Poor Magazine was on hand with her crew and captured high points of the meeting.. You will hear that on this episode HKR. Here’s an excerpt from her article on the gathering, titled: GentriFUKation Killed Alex- the brutal murder by Po’Lice of Mission sun Alejandro Nieto

“We don’t want to hear Alex’s murderers,” People shouted intermittently into the air of the Leonard Flynn Elementary school auditorium. The standing room only Town Hall was yelling above the Po’Lice as they spoke  about the murder of young Raza organizer, City College of SF student and beloved sun de la mision, Alejandro Nieto.

check out the entire article at http://www.poormagazine.org/node/5083

 https://soundcloud.com/mrdaveyd/hard-knock-radio-03-27-14-the

Below is the interview we did with community activist and organizer Jason Wallach from the Center of Political Education who attended the both the vigil and town hall meeting and penned the first article around Alex’s murder. In our interview he brings up the tactics that are often used by police during these incidents which he says comes from a ‘play book’. It starts with demonizing and blaming the victim and ends with presenting a picture that the cop/cops were in fear and danger of their lives.

Wallach notes that insidious narrative doesn’t match up with Alex’s reputation and and statement from friends. It also doesnt match up with a guy who was trying to go into law enforcement

https://soundcloud.com/mrdaveyd/hard-knock-radio-03-26-14-the

SFPD Kill Scholarship Student & Security Guard After ‘Gentrifiers’ Get Suspicious

This story comes courtesy of local activist Jason Wallach.

Alejandro Nieto

Alejandro Nieto

I am upset this evening because today I learned about Alejandro Nieto, who was killed by a barrage of San Francisco Police Department bullets last Friday evening near the service road leading up Bernal Hill.

I attended the vigil in Alex’s (as he was known to friends) honor that took place at the site where he died, on the service road leading up Bernal Hill. At the vigil, I learned that he was a scholarship student at City College of San Francisco, studying Criminal Justice. He wanted to be a parole officer to help guide young men’s lives into good directions. He was a devout Buddhist who believed in creating the peace in his community that he wanted to see spread across the Earth. He was a loving, caring individual. I found out through a poem that his birthday was March 4th.

I also learned that the SFPD shot him last Friday as he ate a burrito just before heading to work as a security guard. He was wearing his work-authorized tazer on his belt, but the police did not ask him about that. They did not consider the source of racist fear that motivated the (mostly) white dog-walking residents to frantically call police because of Alejandro’s presence. The cruel irony is that his job was to provide a sense of security for patrons at a restaurant/bar — so they could eat in peace. But Ale’s presence — his simple presence IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HE GREW UP IN — was enough to create a sense of IN-security for his recently arrived neighbors… and that not only could he not eat in peace, but because of it Alejandro is now Resting in Peace.

There is so much work to be done on so many levels to prevent this type of thing from ever happening again. It won’t be changed in a day. But if we show up for Alex in the coming days, maybe we can show that he did not die in vain. (Cuz for right now, it sure feels like his life was senselessly stolen from him.)

There will be a Town Hall meeting about this police murder of one of our community members tomorrow, Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 6:00 PM at Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School, 3125 Cesar Chavez. Alejandro’s family and friends are asking for community support and presence at this meeting. Please come if you can.

written by Jason Wallach for the Center of Political Education

Here’s another story about this

http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2014/03/25/sfpd-answer-questions-fatal-shooting-alejandro-nieto

500 Female Emcees Everyone Should Know- ( Davey D’s Ultimate List )

maria Isa

Maria Isa

Below is a list of 500 Female Emcees and the first thing that everyone reading this should know is that the list is not complete. To be honest there’s more than 500 names, much more, but still the list is not complete nor will it ever be. There are too many places and spaces that I have never been nor have the incredible artists like Aisha Fukashima the Raptivist, Mad-lines, Aima the Dreamer, Raw G, Ximbo, Invincible and D’Labrie who over the past year contributed greatly to this list.

The list is not complete even as we have other wonderful lists like; the Illest Female Rappers, Women of Hip Hop, Female Rappers Tumblir, The Female Rappers Network or more recently Patrick McNease‘s Ultimate Female Emcee List. If we really think about it, we don’t want this or any list to be complete. There will always be more emcees to add as long as this culture call Hip Hop is alive, well and is global. If the list stops growing Hip Hop stops growing..

With that being said, the reason why the list came about in the first place was out of frustration and a realization that many within this industry , in particular my male brethren needed to be enlightened.

It was a frustration that many of my women friends within Hip Hop were having when they would hear some pompous music critic or ‘industry expert’ say some ignorant crap like; ‘all women sound the same‘ or ‘these women need to put out hit songs‘, women need to grind harder and promote themselves better or ‘there aren’t a lot of quality women emcees out there‘. All those statements are gross generalizations and reflect a laziness on the part of those making the claim or extreme bias.

The frustration many were feeling was one that would come after hearing announcement after announcement for some huge mega-Cochella-Sumer-Jam-Rock-the-Bells-Spring-Bling type concert that would feature 20 plus acts and only one woman would be on the bill. It was frustration that was felt after pointing out such egregious oversights only to be ignored and ridiculed.

female-emcees-psoterlightIt was the frustration of hearing promoters doing smaller shows claiming that women won’t attract an audience and hence would not be a sound business move even to have one open up a show.

It was frustration of going to a club featuring a popular deejay lauded for being a Hip Hop icon with a reputation for ‘digging in the crates’ and turning audiences onto new music from far off lands and forgotten times only to discover that they rarely dig in crates and ‘discover’ a dope female emcee…

And don’t get it twisted, this refusal to share space has been going on a for a while and many women have expressed frustration the ones I know have not been sitting around waiting for miracles to occur. Many have started doing their own shows and put on vibrant events..From Invincible out of Detroit who I saw do several all women showcases at SXSW and have them packed with lines out the door to Aisha the Raptivist who has traveled the world and and done her own tours to Raw G who promotes here in the Bay Area locally and always brings out incredible women emcees like Alika from Argentina Dunay Surez from Cuba or Ximbo from Mexico, folks are steady grinding and making moves

Where I think folks are getting short changed are in male dominated spaces where female voices, POV and approaches toward Hip Hop are not readily present. Its a cipher that’s incomplete and that has got to change.
The list below was ideally to serve as a guide of sorts to anyone who had this female emcee blind spot.

Its a guide for deejays caught yapping about how ‘there ain’t no good female emcees‘. Its a weak excuse often given for them not rocking any women during a deejay set or mixshow.. Out of all the emcees featured on this list there are  some hard hitters out there they can not and will not be denied. This list gives them no excuse. There are sistas on here who do Trap, Backpack, boom bap, raggamuffin, pop, underground, commercial, hardcore etc..The variety is endless.

The list below is guide for promoters who say there’s ‘no market out there for women emcees‘.  A quick look at some of the folks on this list crushes that assertion down to its very last compound. From the days of Her Story Hip Hop Tours and See It Live showcases to 5th Element gatherings to upcoming Queendom Concerts to all women showcases put on by Invincible to showcases like Black Women Rock w/ Jessica Care Moore to Rock Like A Girl on the Mic w/ Toni Blackman to Hip Sister Radio to name a few, the scene is healthy. No matter what city. No matter what country, there are emcees listed for you to check out.. From Brooklyn to Oakland to Russia to new Zealand to Pakistan and beyond..

Sa-Roc

Sa-Roc

The list is a guide for academic types who can speak at length about male artists over various eras in Hip Hop but when it comes time to referencing women, they only know MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Nicki Minaj and maybe a Lil Kim. This list is for them to check out and help expand their hip hop vocabulary so they can reference dynamic women like; Sa-Roc, Stahhr, Rocky Rivera, Shadia Mansour, Keny Arkana, Cihuatl Ce, Kellee Maize or Farrah Burns. Rock their songs, play their videos, examine their lyrics

The way the list works is each name is linked to a video and in a few cases to a sound cloud page.. Some of the names are linked to 3 Dope Song series page or a 500 Female Emcee page. In putting this list together it was noted that one song or video often didn’t do artists justice. They are much more complex. As you will note, included on the list are several singers and  spoke nword artists whose presence and influence in Hip Hop can not be denied.

It’s hoped that folks will peep the music, read about the artists click on the links associated with them and start digitally digging in the crates. Not everyone is gonna be great. Not everyone is gonna have a masterpiece of a song or album, but many do and as lovers and protectors of this culture we all should be pushing ourselves to do a better job bringing forth ‘new finds‘ vs having it be dictated to us by corporate interests and their mouth pieces.

 

-Davey D-

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10 white Female Rappers

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Team Backpack female Cypher #2

Rocky Rivera, Plane Jane, Oh Blimey, Raven Sorina ‘Girlz Rmx

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Mujeres Trabajando

Meet Jessica Care Moore Legendary Poet-Build Black Institutions

Jessica Care MooreLast week the Bay Area was blessed when legendary poet, playwright, actress, educator, businesswoman and mother Jessica Care Moore made the trek from Detroit to historic Merit College (birthplace of the Black Panthers) to give a talk. Inside the Huey P Newton/ Bobby Seal Lounge, Moore talked for about an hour to a packed room about a number of topics ranging from her friendship with the late Amiri Baraka and why she felt her generation were connected with the Black Arts Movement which is often erased and marginalized in history. She talked about some of the projects folks are working on the preserve the memory of Baraka and bring a larger spotlight on to BAM.

We spoke about her native Detroit and the legacy of techno music and its pioneers Juan Atkins and her good friend Mad Mike Banks who opened a techno museum. We talked about how many forget techno is a black music genre and why Detroit and its gritty conditions gave birth to it in the early 80s. Jessica noted that she had recorded her album inside the techno museum and was working on a project with Mad Mike that will soon be released.

We talked with Moore about her close friendship with John Doe aka J-Dilla who actually made beats for her spoken word that have yet to be released. Yes, there are unheard Dilla beats sitting around..

We spoke about her close friendship with Detroit’s unofficial mayor the late Proof of the group D-12. We talked about the early days of his now iconic Hip Hop Shop and what it meant to the city. We talked about Eminem and his rise to fame and what its meant for Detroit. We talked about the strong women artists who come from that city.

 Jessica Care mooreWe talked about Moore’s current project Black Women Rock which went down last weekend and why she formed it and its overall goal of showcasing and empowering talented women not just from Detroit but from around the country.

During our interview we talked about the city in general and its current financial hardships and how Detroit is changing for the better if you are rich. She noted the city is deliberately changing to exclude and oppress the poor. She talked at length about what and how people are fighting back..

Moore talked at length about the importance of institution building and why its essential for Black folks and artists to make moves in direction. She talked about Black Women Rock is an institution and we spoke about her publishing company Moore Books which has been home to a number of important spoken word artists including Saul Williams. She talked about how she learned from Third World Press publisher Haki Madhubuti who was a key member of the Black Arts Movement

We talked about the work she did with Nas and her current project she has done that features stellar figures like Roy Ayers..

https://soundcloud.com/mrdaveyd/hard-knock-radio-03-24-14-intv

Our Intv w/ Legendary Poet Jessica Care Moore-Build Black Institutions

Screen Shot 2014-03-24 at 3.47.33 PMLast week the Bay Area was blessed when legendary poet, playwright, actress, educator, businesswoman and mother Jessica Care Moore made the trek from Detroit to historic Merit College (birthplace of the Black Panthers) to give a talk. Inside the Huey P Newton/ Bobby Seal Lounge, Moore talked for about an hour to a packed room about a number of topics ranging from her friendship with the late Amiri Baraka and why she felt her generation were connected with the Black Arts Movement which is often erased and marginalized in history. She talked about some of the projects folks are working on the preserve the memory of Baraka and bring a larger spotlight on to BAM.

We spoke about her native Detroit and the legacy of techno music and its pioneers Juan Atkins and her good friend Mad Mike Banks who opened a techno museum. We talked about how many forget techno is a black music genre and why Detroit and its gritty conditions gave birth to it in the early 80s. Jessica noted that she had recorded her album inside the techno museum and was working on a project with Mad Mike that will soon be released.

We talked with Moore about her close friendship with John Doe aka J-Dilla who actually made beats for her spoken word that have yet to be released. Yes, there are unheard Dilla beats sitting around..

We spoke about her close friendship with Detroit’s unofficial mayor the late Proof of the group D-12. We talked about the early days of his now iconic Hip Hop Shop and what it meant to the city. We talked about Eminem and his rise to fame and what its meant for Detroit. We talked about the strong women artists who come from that city.

 Jessica Care mooreWe talked about Moore’s current project Black Women Rock which went down last weekend and why she formed it and its overall goal of showcasing and empowering talented women not just from Detroit but from around the country.

During our interview we talked about the city in general and its current financial hardships and how Detroit is changing for the better if you are rich. She noted the city is deliberately changing to exclude and oppress the poor.  She talked at length about what and how people are fighting back..

Moore talked at length about the importance of institution building and why its essential for Black folks and artists to make moves in direction. She talked about Black Women Rock is an institution and we spoke about her publishing company Moore Books which has been home to a number of important spoken word artists including Saul Williams. She talked about how she learned from Third World Press publisher Haki Madhubuti who was a key member of the Black Arts Movement

We talked about the work she did with Nas and her current project she has done that features stellar figures like Roy Ayers..

https://soundcloud.com/mrdaveyd/hard-knock-radio-03-24-14-intv

500 Female Emcees: Meet Isis Tha Saviour-Speaking Heartfelt Truth to Power

Isis tha SaviourThey say music is a universal language and when done right it can excite and agitate and it can calm, sooth and heal. When it comes to Hip Hop we often hear folks say the old adage ‘Hip Hop saved my life’. When you listen to Philly emcee Isis tha Saviour you hear someone who speaking to the pain of a community under siege. You hear someone addressing the senseless violence and mayhem that has visited far too many in our community. Her song Forever on My Mind which is about the murder of her cousin is one that will touch us all. Isis tha Saviour is an emcee with a purpose.

According to her bio

Isis Tha Saviour is an up in coming Lyricist, screen play writer, poet & activist who exploded on Philadelphia’s music scene last fall with her critically acclaimed single “Street Chronicles”. Since her musical debut she has been nominated for both lyricist & female freshman of the year honors at Philly’s 2011 Hip~Hop Music awards!

Isis has also featured as poet of the week for “The Renaissance” which is a collaborative effort by Embacy Entertainment & Legendary Host Tiffany Bacon of WRNB 107.9fm/ Praise 103.9fm to create a resurgence of artistic pride & creativity within Philadelphia’s inner city.

Isis has performed at numerous Open Mic & Showcase venues within the city including “World Cafe Live”, “Fluid Night Club”, “The Arts Garage”, “Dowlings Palace”, “The Boys & Girls Club”, “Sneaker Villa”, “Black & Nobel”, “The Rotunda” & “Waterview Lounge”.

She has appeared on Several Internet & mainstream Radio Shows including “Brain Kave Radio”, “Air It Out Radio”, “Critical Mass Radio”, “Official Smack Radio” & “Batcave 2.0 Radio” on 91.7fm. She has graced the cover of M~PIRE Magazine & is slated to appear in Go Getter Magazine when it launches in September.

Isis has collaborated on mixtapes released both locally and abroad while finishing up her highly anticipated album “The Isis Papers”. This summer her work will also be published in a book called “Creative Beams Of Light” which will be comprised of 27 inspirational poems for children suffering with Autism. Co~ written by artist all around the country, the proceeds from this cooperative project will be donated to help build sensory rooms at Autistic schools.

In addition, Isis networks with fellow artist, community organizers, promoters & activist to coordinate “Stop The Violence” rallies & concerts throughout the city of Philadelphia.

In the past, Isis Tha Saviour teamed up with G.R.A.V.I.T.Y (Get Real About Violence Impacting The Youth) for an 18 city “Stop The Violence” music tour. G.R.A.V.I.T.Y is a non~profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and finding solutions to help curb youth violence.

Isis states that her main goal throughout the tour was “to encourage the youth to find alternatives ways to express themselves through the arts rather than getting involved in criminal activity.” Isis believes that many of the issues affecting todays youth “stem from limited outlets & resources in their communities for constructive and engaging activities.”

Isis Tha Saviour Forever on My Mind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWrvTV7uhPU

Isis Tha Saviour The Fall of America

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuNuCA2WbDA

Isis Tha Saviour Gunshots & Tattoos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1dSORFhzT4

Isis Tha Saviour Black Rose

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT2K6pFNV-w

 

500 Female Emcees: Meet Boog Brown-Always Grinding and Being Herself

Boog BrownOriginally from Detroit and now living in Atlanta is an emcee, songwriter and poet who many like to say has skillz comparable to artists like Nas, Rakim and Lauryn Hill. We’re talking Boog Brown who is no stranger to set-backs. After moving from Detroit to Atlanta in 2007, she found herself without a job , a car or even a mattress to sleep on. But nothing feeds the soul of a true Detroiter like adversity.

Determined to make her unique voice heard, Brown donned her work clothes, put pen to paper, Chuck Taylors to the pavement and started to grind. Boog became a regular at Atlanta’s hip-hop venues, meeting producers, promoters, writers and aficianados. The message of her music was simple and the purpose, pure: Be yourself. Grind hard. Be better. Get paid.

Since the release of her first “official” mixed tape, Grind Season Vol. 1 in 2009, Boog has grown an impressive following, both online and off. She’s been featured on PotHolesInMyBlog.com, TheGrittyCommittee.com, and TheFembassy.com. Boog Brown has also graced the pages of Creative Loafing and MetroTimes- Detroit.

Boog Brown signed with Mellow Music group and in September of 2010 released the critically acclaimed ‘Brown Study’ with producer Appollo Brown. An instant classic, the album earned a spot on ITune’s Top 10 New Hip-Hop Artists list as well as a 2010 Itunes Indie Spotlight.

Fresh off her stellar performance at the AC3 music conference in Atlanta, Boog Brown was featured on BET’s My Mic Sounds Nice: the Truth About women in Hip Hop and has since gone on to win Best Female Emcee from ATL’s coveted Heart of The Hood Awards.

check for Boog Brown at http:/www.twitter.com/boogbrown

Boog Brown In Tune

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3hIDtY14Kw

Boog Brown Polaroids

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JySHTD5iTEI

Boog Brown Shine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKmjJi9HvoI

Boog Brown Window Open

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jf3jyZXeVs

500 Female Emcees: Meet Mystic-Beautiful Resistance & Keen Insight

mysticMost people know the Bay Area’s Mystic as a dope emcee who put out the critically acclaimed album Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom in 2001. This album was best known for  hit songs like ‘The Life’, the empowering ‘Girlfriend Sistagirl‘  and the heart-wrenching Fatherless Child which was about her losing her father to a drug overdose.

Many know Mystic as an independent artist who broke ground with that album by having her song The W which was also  on that album and featured Planet Asia be nominated for a Grammy.

For those who are here in the Bay or in LA where she spent a number of years, Mystic is more than just an artist who can spit. It’s common knowledge that her skillz comes from years of paying dues which included singing hooks for her home girls and fellow Bay Area artists, the Conscious Daughters or hanging tough as the only female member of Digital Underground. Mystic was on the scene grinding away for a number of years before her big breaks came.

Locally we know Mystic as a sharp businesswoman who when it came time to signing her deal was adroitly able to negotiate a number of advantageous terms that very few veteran artist at the time had been able to obtain. For good measure, after she was signed and released her album, Mystic spent a number of years working behind the scenes in the industry where she was able to accrue more game. In short, she shall not get got…

Many of us know Mystic as Mandolyn the school teacher and educator who is currently enrolled at UC Berkeley getting a higher degree in that field.

We know her as a committed activist who shows up at events and places not as a celebrity but as someone who truly cares. From fact-finding trips to Haiti after the earthquake to helping maintain the Children’s Library at the Occupy LA site, Mystic stays connected and comes to the table with keen knowledge of the issues.

Many of us know her as an environmentalist who could and does maintain a garden or a greenhouse and not miss a beat. And from that garden she throws down and whips up unprocessed, non GMO meals good enough to pen a cook book or open up a restaurant which many have urged her to do..She is often online kicking out recipes and letting folks know how to combine spices and where to find the best vegetables etc..

All these activities are important to note, because they help inform, and are the core of Mystic’s searing and reflective lyrics. These activities enable her songs to be timeless, affirming and healing for many who hear them. For example, shortly after the tragedies of 9-11, a memo was sent out to the local urban station in the area to play her song ‘The Life‘ because it was one that help ease people’s tensions.

MysticSongs like Girlfriend Sistah Girl and Breath have become anthems of empowerment. While songs like Beautiful Resistance which is off a yet to be released album, reflect timeless political realities.  For example, when the song was done it was just  as President Obama was getting into office and was enjoying immense popularity with everyone talking about Hope and Change. Initially one wondered if she was taking a swipe at the President who had just made history or  was the song done with George Bush in mind and was released late?

Mystic noted that ideally she hoped that what was written would never apply to President Obama or his policies but noted the truth is the office of the President is such that very little could or would be done to change the conditions she described and many will no longer be as enamored. Hence the over riding message for people to come together and support each other no matter who is in the white house. In short stay grounded and look beyond the hype.

check for Mystic at http://www.twitter.com/thatgirlmystic

Mystic Beautiful Resistance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSCw-V3MpI8

Mystic The Saga

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzKJWNDx3wk

Mystic & Da Beatminerz Pull Your Card

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioszXnvMcjk

Mystic The Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkrdiABTcaI

Mystic and the Angel Destiny Complete

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUjwGqMpBII

500 Female Emcees: Meet Bahamadia-A True B-Girl-& One of Philly’s Best

BahamadiaBahamadia is a Philadelphia-born hip hop artist who started out as a DJ and later became an emcee. As a member of Gang Starr Foundation, she released her critically-acclaimed debut album entitled Kollage in 1996. The album featured production by Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr.

Kollage was followed in 2001 by BB Queen, an EP release.That was followed by the critically acclaimed Good Rap Music. Her most recent project came out in 2013 was called HERE  and featured ground-breaking collaborations with artists like Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, Sweetback (Sade & Maxwell’s band), drum n’ base auteur Roni Size. Its on her own B-Girl Records.

Bahamadia is a respected lyricist in hip hop and is known for her silky, subdued monotone delivery. She has expressed a positive attitude toward globalism as an emerging trend in hip hop. For example, in a 2003 collaboration with little-known group the Sisters of the Underground on a track entitled “Global“, she performs lyrics in the chorus which acknowledge Japan, Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Thailand, among other countries, for fostering vibrant hip hop communities, and Japan in particular for the dedication of her Japanese fans.

She has recorded a number of bootlegs exclusively released in Japan. Her reputation in North America has been enhanced by a number of highly regarded guest appearances on tracks by artists including Talib Kweli, The Roots, Jedi Mind Tricks and Planet Asia, and through her association with the Philadelphia hip hop collective Army of the Pharaohs.

Check for Bahamadia  at http://www.bahamadiamusic.com/ and http:/www.twitter.com/Bahamadia

BahamadiaUknowhowwedu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyGUesyG7bU

BahamadiaUknowhowwedu w/ Mecca Star and K-swift

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIxNPJqKGS4

Bahamadia – Total Wreck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZJz0Gx47SY

BahamadiaReal Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vJrlySunBE