http://odeo.com/channels/3681-Breakdown-FM-w-Davey-D DaveyD no <p>Breakdown FM is where Hip Hop and Politics Meet.. Get all the latest artist interviews and updates with a political twist on Breakdown FM&#8230;</p> Breakdown FM is where Hip Hop and Politics Meet.. Get all the latest artist interviews and updates with a political twist on Breakdown FM&#8230; Breakdown FM is where Hip Hop and Politics Meet.. Get all the latest artist interviews and updates with a political twist on Breakdown FM&#8230; en-us 40 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:42:15 -0800 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:42:15 -0800 Politics, hip, Hop, Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23838664-Police-Terror-in-oakland-Interview-w-John-Burris By now everyone has seen the horrific video or videos of a Oakland BART Police Officer shooting an unarmed, Black man while he lay facedown on the ground and was fully co-operating. The man who was killed execution style was the father of a 4 year old girl and was considered a peacemaker. In fact moments before he was shot he was pleading with his friends who were all cuffed up to calm down and be cooperative with police. Grant was seen begging the police officers who had pulled tasers out and pointed them at the heads of his friends, not to shoot. For reasons unknown to us, the police officer pushed Grant to the ground. One officer kneeled on his neck while the other officer pulled out a gun and shot him point blank. The police then ran around and terrorfied witnesses by taking away their cell phones and video cameras for 'evidence'. What went down this New Years morning is very disturbing sight and it has the entire city of Oakland on edge. Adding insult to industry is the... By now everyone has seen the horrific video or videos of a Oakland BART Police Officer shooting an unarmed, Black man while he lay facedown on the ground and was fully co-operating. The man who was killed execution style was the father of a 4 year old girl and was considered a peacemaker. In fact moments before he was shot he was pleading with his friends who were all cuffed up to calm down and be cooperative with police. Grant was seen begging the police officers who had pulled tasers out and pointed them at the heads of his friends, not to shoot. For reasons unknown to us, the police officer pushed Grant to the ground. One officer kneeled on his neck while the other officer pulled out a gun and shot him point blank. The police then ran around and terrorfied witnesses by taking away their cell phones and video cameras for 'evidence'. What went down this New Years morning is very disturbing sight and it has the entire city of Oakland on edge. Adding insult to industry is the refusal of BART police to acknowledge any wrong doing. The police chief Gary Gee says the tapes are inclusive and he has thus far refused to release the name of the police officer who is on paid leave.. We sat down and spoke with famed attorney John Burris. He's the man to talk to when it comes to police terrorism. He and the Grant family has filed a 25 million dollar lawsuit, but they also want the cop in question to be criminally charged. Burris who has represented everyone from the late 2Pac Shakur to Dwayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Tone to Rodney King says this is the worse case of police terrorism he has ever witnessed. Burris who has also written a book called Black vs Blue which deals with Police brutality and minority communities gives us the full 4-1- 1 on a number of key topics. We talk about the far reaching powers of the police unions and how they have stealthly gotten lots of laws passed that give them all sorts of rights that will make your head spin. For example, the officer who is accussed of killing Oscar Grant has not been interviewed yet and won't for a while. This means all the officers on the scene can sit back listen to all the evidence against them and then come up with a well thought out counter story.. The officers have a huge right to privacy, so if we wanna have public hearings where we put a troublesome cop on blast, it has to be done in private. Thats just the tip of the iceberg Burris runs the entire scenwrio down for us. In this interview we talk about new laws citizens should pass. I would like to see cops have a three strikes law directed at them. I would also like to see special courts set up that deal with law enforcement and other public officials.. We talk about the feasibility of this.. I also speak with Burris about what sort of improvements have been made since he first came on the scene over 25 years ago.. Why are we still dealing with this sort of abuse after all the lawsuits? We start off the interview with an interview from local oakland rap artist DLabrie. We start off talking about the history of police terrorism in oakland including the killing of Black Panther Bobby Hutton, the brutality suffered by 2Pac Shakur and the horrific shooting of Gary King. The King case sounds remarkably similar to what happened to Oscar Grant .. Witnesses who we interviewed the day after King was killed described the police actionsas an execution. The officer in question had shot 2 other people including an unarmed man in a wheel chair.. Anyway enough said listen to the interview and spread the word. help create awareness.. By now everyone has seen the horrific video or videos of a Oakland BART Police Officer shooting an unarmed, Black man while he lay facedown on the ground and was fully co-operating. The man who was killed execution style was the father of a 4 year old girl and was considered a peacemaker. In fact moments before he was shot he was pleading with his friends who were all cuffed up to calm down and be cooperative with police. Grant was seen begging the police officers who had pulled tasers out and pointed them at the heads of his friends, not to shoot. For reasons unknown to us, the police officer pushed Grant to the ground. One officer kneeled on his neck while the other officer pulled out a gun and shot him point blank. The police then ran around and terrorfied witnesses by taking away their cell phones and video cameras for 'evidence'. What went down this New Years morning is very disturbing sight and it has the entire city of Oakland on edge. Adding insult to industry is the refusal of BART police to acknowledge any wrong doing. The police chief Gary Gee says the tapes are inclusive and he has thus far refused to release the name of the police officer who is on paid leave.. We sat down and spoke with famed attorney John Burris. He's the man to talk to when it comes to police terrorism. He and the Grant family has filed a 25 million dollar lawsuit, but they also want the cop in question to be criminally charged. Burris who has represented everyone from the late 2Pac Shakur to Dwayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Tone to Rodney King says this is the worse case of police terrorism he has ever witnessed. Burris who has also written a book called Black vs Blue which deals with Police brutality and minority communities gives us the full 4-1- 1 on a number of key topics. We talk about the far reaching powers of the police unions and how they have stealthly gotten lots of laws passed that give them all sorts of rights that will make your head spin. For example, the officer who is accussed of killing Oscar Grant has not been interviewed yet and won't for a while. This means all the officers on the scene can sit back listen to all the evidence against them and then come up with a well thought out counter story.. The officers have a huge right to privacy, so if we wanna have public hearings where we put a troublesome cop on blast, it has to be done in private. Thats just the tip of the iceberg Burris runs the entire scenwrio down for us. In this interview we talk about new laws citizens should pass. I would like to see cops have a three strikes law directed at them. I would also like to see special courts set up that deal with law enforcement and other public officials.. We talk about the feasibility of this.. I also speak with Burris about what sort of improvements have been made since he first came on the scene over 25 years ago.. Why are we still dealing with this sort of abuse after all the lawsuits? We start off the interview with an interview from local oakland rap artist DLabrie. We start off talking about the history of police terrorism in oakland including the killing of Black Panther Bobby Hutton, the brutality suffered by 2Pac Shakur and the horrific shooting of Gary King. The King case sounds remarkably similar to what happened to Oscar Grant .. Witnesses who we interviewed the day after King was killed described the police actionsas an execution. The officer in question had shot 2 other people including an unarmed man in a wheel chair.. Anyway enough said listen to the interview and spread the word. help create awareness.. tag:odeo.com,2009-01-06,23838664 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:42:15 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D police brutality, ,, police shooting, oscar grant, John Burris, Dlabrie, Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23800201-25-Joints-to-Get-U-Through-the-Day-6-We-re-Fired-Up 25 joints to get U Through the Day #6 We're Fired Up... As we step into the holiday season we wanted to remind you just how much Hip Hop speaks truth to power. It never takes a break even during the holidays... That's why we kicked off this week's episode with some inspiring words from Civil Rights leader Joseph Lowry. He sets the tone with his remarks which are followed by Elandra Williams a youth activist from the Highlander Center in Tennessee. Over a slamming Heiro beat she tells us how the movement has been co-opted by the Foundation Industrial complex. She's says too many leaders have become professional activists. Elandra's searing words are followed by those of embattled preacher Jeremiah Wright who hits us over the dome about Muslim and Christian contradictions and how there are some in each respective religion who erroneously use God to justify their own political and military agenda. Big shout out to Tajai of the Mighty hiero crew who I ran into this earlier th... 25 joints to get U Through the Day #6 We're Fired Up... As we step into the holiday season we wanted to remind you just how much Hip Hop speaks truth to power. It never takes a break even during the holidays... That's why we kicked off this week's episode with some inspiring words from Civil Rights leader Joseph Lowry. He sets the tone with his remarks which are followed by Elandra Williams a youth activist from the Highlander Center in Tennessee. Over a slamming Heiro beat she tells us how the movement has been co-opted by the Foundation Industrial complex. She's says too many leaders have become professional activists. Elandra's searing words are followed by those of embattled preacher Jeremiah Wright who hits us over the dome about Muslim and Christian contradictions and how there are some in each respective religion who erroneously use God to justify their own political and military agenda. Big shout out to Tajai of the Mighty hiero crew who I ran into this earlier this week. This week we push the envelop and remind people of the on going struggles endured by this country's original inhabitants. We got laced up with an album called 'Peace& Dignity Journeys; Sacred Songs for Sacred Earth'. Its a compliation that gathered Indigenous Hip Hop artists from across all borders who came together and donated songs for an album that brings attention and raises funds for the seven month spiritual run known as the Peace and Dignity Journey. It's a run that occurs every 4 years and has participants honoring the prophecy of the unification of the eagle and the condor. The album itself is slamming and is reminder that Hip Hop has touched all cultures and sadly the commercial side of it has rendered so many invisible. The two joints we rock on this episode' The Youth Conference' by Quese Imc out of los Angeles and 'Take Me Back' by Olmeca, Victor E & Tolketa should put folks on notice -Do Not Sleep. Hip Hop is flourishing everywhere. We found a few fun jams that will get people's heads nodding including 'Bay Bronx Bridge' by Motion man and Kool Keith. Producer Kutmasta Kurt rocked the James Brown inspired beats as these two bi-coastal emcees pay tribute to the classic joint 'The Bridge' by Marley Marl and MC Shan with their own version that brings two coasts together in Hip Hop unity. Also stepping to the plate is T-Kash who pays tribute to Nas and Lauryn Hill's classic 'If I Ruled the World'. Many people forget the Nas' version is a remake of the original by Hip Hop pioneer Kurtis Blow. In the T-kash version he talks about the struggles endured by folks who live in the Bay including police brutality, gentrification and other isms and what he would like to see changed. The song is dope.. LA's first Lady Medusa drops a new cut on us called 'Get Up' which reminds us just how a real emcee should sound why she is Queen of the west coast. Big shout out to DJ Ice of the Wilshire District records who spins for Medusa and laced me with this joint from her upcoming album Big shout to Beni B of ABB records who hit me up this morning with new music from 9th Wonder and fellow North Carolinian Ceasar Camnche who has a new album about to drop in February. This cut we rock called 'Hands High' lets us know this album looks to be banana's Down in the Big Eazy, New Orleans, we have Truth Universal who is steady plugging away. His song Black Culture' features Doodlebug from Digable Planets and Wise Intelligent from Poor Righteous Teachers. Together this trio hits us hard with a dose of much needed sobering consciousness. In the backdrop of Truth Universal's music is the now widely reported stories about white vigilantees who were and continue to run around NO shooting down Black folks. When artists like Truth and Sess 4-5 first told us about this people scoffed. When activists like former Black Panther Malik Rahiem of Common Ground did a documentary showing white racist with guns bragging about going on pheasant hunts everyone including Mayor Ray Nagin ignored it and tried to sweep it under the rug. When Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney talked about Black water and 5000 black deaths in NO, people said she wqas crazy. Now that the Nation magazine wrote a full length article verifying much of what was reported we now have everyone paying attention. It is under these dire circumstances that artists like Truth Universal operate. He pulls no punches as he embodies the spirit of resistance and resilliance that is sometimes forgotten within Hip Hop. A few other stand out joints to watch out for in this episode of 25 Joints include DJ B Girl Chillz out of Seattle. her new group the Knox Family which includes Jermz and Julie C is poised to make a lot of noise in '09. J Boogie teams up with Lyrics Born to drop a dope cut called 'Revolution'. its off one of my favorite albums of the year 'Soul Vibration'. Jasiri X comes super hard with a joint that talks about the an absentee father with a song called Souljah. Dude is definitely one of the tightest emcees a round..Please recognize. Finally we went digging in the crates and pulled out one of my favorite songs of all times called 'Thinking of a Masterplan'.. I love the one by YZ. That will always be classic. But this one is by MC Hammer and it will let you know there was more to Hammer time than met the eye... We wrap things up with new music from Michael Franti who did a song that pays tribute to Barack Obama. The video is dope and dude will be in DC performing at a few Inaugural Balls. We're out for now..Enjoy 25 joints to get U Through the Day #6 We're Fired Up... As we step into the holiday season we wanted to remind you just how much Hip Hop speaks truth to power. It never takes a break even during the holidays... That's why we kicked off this week's episode with some inspiring words from Civil Rights leader Joseph Lowry. He sets the tone with his remarks which are followed by Elandra Williams a youth activist from the Highlander Center in Tennessee. Over a slamming Heiro beat she tells us how the movement has been co-opted by the Foundation Industrial complex. She's says too many leaders have become professional activists. Elandra's searing words are followed by those of embattled preacher Jeremiah Wright who hits us over the dome about Muslim and Christian contradictions and how there are some in each respective religion who erroneously use God to justify their own political and military agenda. Big shout out to Tajai of the Mighty hiero crew who I ran into this earlier this week. This week we push the envelop and remind people of the on going struggles endured by this country's original inhabitants. We got laced up with an album called 'Peace& Dignity Journeys; Sacred Songs for Sacred Earth'. Its a compliation that gathered Indigenous Hip Hop artists from across all borders who came together and donated songs for an album that brings attention and raises funds for the seven month spiritual run known as the Peace and Dignity Journey. It's a run that occurs every 4 years and has participants honoring the prophecy of the unification of the eagle and the condor. The album itself is slamming and is reminder that Hip Hop has touched all cultures and sadly the commercial side of it has rendered so many invisible. The two joints we rock on this episode' The Youth Conference' by Quese Imc out of los Angeles and 'Take Me Back' by Olmeca, Victor E & Tolketa should put folks on notice -Do Not Sleep. Hip Hop is flourishing everywhere. We found a few fun jams that will get people's heads nodding including 'Bay Bronx Bridge' by Motion man and Kool Keith. Producer Kutmasta Kurt rocked the James Brown inspired beats as these two bi-coastal emcees pay tribute to the classic joint 'The Bridge' by Marley Marl and MC Shan with their own version that brings two coasts together in Hip Hop unity. Also stepping to the plate is T-Kash who pays tribute to Nas and Lauryn Hill's classic 'If I Ruled the World'. Many people forget the Nas' version is a remake of the original by Hip Hop pioneer Kurtis Blow. In the T-kash version he talks about the struggles endured by folks who live in the Bay including police brutality, gentrification and other isms and what he would like to see changed. The song is dope.. LA's first Lady Medusa drops a new cut on us called 'Get Up' which reminds us just how a real emcee should sound why she is Queen of the west coast. Big shout out to DJ Ice of the Wilshire District records who spins for Medusa and laced me with this joint from her upcoming album Big shout to Beni B of ABB records who hit me up this morning with new music from 9th Wonder and fellow North Carolinian Ceasar Camnche who has a new album about to drop in February. This cut we rock called 'Hands High' lets us know this album looks to be banana's Down in the Big Eazy, New Orleans, we have Truth Universal who is steady plugging away. His song Black Culture' features Doodlebug from Digable Planets and Wise Intelligent from Poor Righteous Teachers. Together this trio hits us hard with a dose of much needed sobering consciousness. In the backdrop of Truth Universal's music is the now widely reported stories about white vigilantees who were and continue to run around NO shooting down Black folks. When artists like Truth and Sess 4-5 first told us about this people scoffed. When activists like former Black Panther Malik Rahiem of Common Ground did a documentary showing white racist with guns bragging about going on pheasant hunts everyone including Mayor Ray Nagin ignored it and tried to sweep it under the rug. When Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney talked about Black water and 5000 black deaths in NO, people said she wqas crazy. Now that the Nation magazine wrote a full length article verifying much of what was reported we now have everyone paying attention. It is under these dire circumstances that artists like Truth Universal operate. He pulls no punches as he embodies the spirit of resistance and resilliance that is sometimes forgotten within Hip Hop. A few other stand out joints to watch out for in this episode of 25 Joints include DJ B Girl Chillz out of Seattle. her new group the Knox Family which includes Jermz and Julie C is poised to make a lot of noise in '09. J Boogie teams up with Lyrics Born to drop a dope cut called 'Revolution'. its off one of my favorite albums of the year 'Soul Vibration'. Jasiri X comes super hard with a joint that talks about the an absentee father with a song called Souljah. Dude is definitely one of the tightest emcees a round..Please recognize. Finally we went digging in the crates and pulled out one of my favorite songs of all times called 'Thinking of a Masterplan'.. I love the one by YZ. That will always be classic. But this one is by MC Hammer and it will let you know there was more to Hammer time than met the eye... We wrap things up with new music from Michael Franti who did a song that pays tribute to Barack Obama. The video is dope and dude will be in DC performing at a few Inaugural Balls. We're out for now..Enjoy tag:odeo.com,2008-12-23,23800201 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:51:55 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D davey d, breakdown fm, ,, 25 Joints, Joseph Lowry Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23767115-The-Great-Harlem-Debate-pt2 This is part 2 of the Great Harlem Debate-is the Obama Election Good for Black People? here you will hear remarks from Viola Plummer of the December 12th Movement who thinks Obama's victory is a good thing and Dr James Turner who says no. We also hear from Pam Afrika of the Free Mumia campaign and Hip Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. This is part 2 of the Great Harlem Debate-is the Obama Election Good for Black People? here you will hear remarks from Viola Plummer of the December 12th Movement who thinks Obama's victory is a good thing and Dr James Turner who says no. We also hear from Pam Afrika of the Free Mumia campaign and Hip Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. This is part 2 of the Great Harlem Debate-is the Obama Election Good for Black People? here you will hear remarks from Viola Plummer of the December 12th Movement who thinks Obama's victory is a good thing and Dr James Turner who says no. We also hear from Pam Afrika of the Free Mumia campaign and Hip Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. tag:odeo.com,2008-12-17,23767115 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:33:48 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D afrika bambaataa, ,, the Great Harlem Debate, Viola Plummer, Dr james Turner, pam afrika Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23767113-The-Great-Harlem-Debate-pt1 The Great Harlem Debate Was the Obama Election Good for Black People? by Davey D This past Sunday over 1200 people showed up at a Harlem Church to listen and weigh in on a discussion that has been raging on in our communities but oftentimes swept under the rug. The historic election of Barack Obama has been a source of pride for many. Record numbers of Black people came out and voted for him. His largest percentage , a whooping 94% of Black folks punched his name in the ballot booth. However, many did so wondering if an Obama election will lead to pressing issues within the African American community would be addressed, or if his election would symbolize to those outside the community that racism was a thing of the past? One of the nagging concerns that surfaced during Obama's historic run was him distancing himself from anything Black. He stayed away from key events ranging from Tavis Smiley's annual State of the Union where rival Hillary Clinton showed up to the 40t... The Great Harlem Debate Was the Obama Election Good for Black People? by Davey D This past Sunday over 1200 people showed up at a Harlem Church to listen and weigh in on a discussion that has been raging on in our communities but oftentimes swept under the rug. The historic election of Barack Obama has been a source of pride for many. Record numbers of Black people came out and voted for him. His largest percentage , a whooping 94% of Black folks punched his name in the ballot booth. However, many did so wondering if an Obama election will lead to pressing issues within the African American community would be addressed, or if his election would symbolize to those outside the community that racism was a thing of the past? One of the nagging concerns that surfaced during Obama's historic run was him distancing himself from anything Black. He stayed away from key events ranging from Tavis Smiley's annual State of the Union where rival Hillary Clinton showed up to the 40th commemoration ceremonies in Memphis, Tn for the death of Dr martin Luther King. His republican rival John McCain showed up for that event. There were always grumblings that Obama was distancing himself from the Black community to appease skittish white voters who lived in the middle of the country who oftentimes made no bones about their reluctance to vote for a Black man. many of us held our tongues and rationalized that Obama 'had to play the game' and 'do what was needed to get elected. Rap star David Banner explained it best when he suggested that we give Obama a chance and stop asking all these brilliant questions that we never asked white candidates who we often seem to give unconditional support. Let Obama get in the white house first and then push for him to address our issues. Banner's remarks were supported by scholars like Dr Michael Eric Dyson who often talked about Obama giving Black folks a proverbial wink as he campaigned. Dyson told us that Obama understood our concerns but had to roll a certain way to get elected. He was catching unprecedented hell including several thwarted assassination attempts by racist whites. With all that pressure the least we as Black folks could do was keep our mouths shut and help clear the way for an Obama victory which at the end of the day would be ours. Lastly the argument was put forth by many that we better go for Obama if for any reason to avoid a 3rd Bush-like term in the form of a reactionary figure like John McCain who at one point staunchly refused to vote for a Dr Martin Luther King Holiday. After a disastrous 8 years of Bush that harshly impacted the Black community to not vote for Obama was seen as treasonous. While a substantial amount of Black folks heeded the suggestions of Banner, Dyson and other supporters there were others like Glen Ford of the Black Agenda Report who boldly made the case that Obama should not get a pass and his actions and words wether he was running for office or in office should be called into question if they weren't in alignment with issues that the community was talking about. The Black Agenda Report spent much of the campaign season questioning Obama's affiliations and key players who worked for him behind the scenes. They questioned his policy decisions and expressed concern early on that Obama was running too far to the right. Ford and his partner Bruce Dixon often noted that if we don't hold Obama or anyone's feet to the fire they will take us for granted and never come to our arena because we put no demands on him. In recent weeks Ford and Dixon have raised concerns about Obama's cabinet appointments, noting that many of them have had shady and antagnostic records when it comes to dealing with Black issues. So with all this in mind, the stage was set for the Great Harlem Debate. Some thought that such a discussion was premature because Obama hasn't been sworn in yet, while others felt it was reactionary not realizing that many of the participants have debated each other throughout the campaign. Now was just as good as anytime to have this discussion. Obama is the President of the United States and not the President of Black America. hence it would be up to the community to define and articulate their concerns just as they would to any other person sitting in the Oval Office. To not do so would be fool hardy. This past Sunday attendees heard compelling remarks from great scholars and community leaders. each speaker was given 8 minutes to make their case. heres how it unfolded. Dr Leonard Jeffries kicked things off by talking about what an Obama victory symbolized. He said that he did not expect Obama to fundamentally change things or to take up causes like Reparations. He noted that it was up to him and our community to raise those issues. He said it was up to the community to put forth a Pan African Agenda not Obama. he talked about how having a Black family in the White House spoke volumes to many who felt left out as well as people all over the world. Jeffries talked about the excitement that people in other countries like Germany had with Obama being in the White House. Marimba Ani followed Jeffries and reminded folks the reason why so many had gathered that Sunday afternoon. It wasn't just to talk about Obama but also to bring attention and raise money about political prisoners. The Great Harlem debate in particular was to raise money for Mutulu Shakur-many of you know him as Tupac's stepfather. She wanted to make sure we did not lose sight of that because the plight of PP was not one that Obama has raised or was likely to unless pressured. She also noted that many of us were not on the same page in terms of what their expectations and goals were. She said that as Pan Africanist and Nationalist those goals had not been clearly laid out and until they were it would be difficult to determine whether or not an Obama election was good for Black people. She spoke at length about a racial identity and how Obama's victory has brought about a post racial climate. She talked in detail about the type of negative impact that is and will have on Black people who are increasingly being told that racism no longer exists. She concluded her remarks to by reading an excerpt from a letter that Obama had penned in response to Kenyan officials who reached out asking for help. The letter talked about that help would be forthcoming if Kenya's foreign policy was in line with that of the US. The letter noted that the US would need to set up a base in that country in order to fulfill its security interest. Ani reminded us such a base is part of what is known as Africom where the US sets up Army bases throughout Africa. You could tell by the crowds reaction that people were shocked to hear that. Malik Zulu Shabazz who heads up the New Black panther Party spoke about the type of uplifting impact Obama rise to the presidency has had with the gang members he has been working with. he talked about the Crips in LA and the Bloods in Brooklyn expressing pride in seeing Obama run and win. He talked about how many felt inspired to do better for themselves. He also questioned why we would want to rain on the parade of those elders and other community members who saw this as a great accomplishment. He asked those opposed to Obama if we had rathered had John McCain in the white house? New York City Councilman Charles Barron followed Shabbazz and talked about the type of momentum an Obama win had given to those determined to make a difference on a local level. He said he and others in his East New York neighborhood took advantage of the excitement Obama brought to electoral politics and got key people into office including his wife who is now in the state assembly. He talked about the importance of us having community control from top to bottom and that Obama's run set the tone for us to make this happen all over. Glen Ford followed Barron. The pair have debated Obama on a couple of occasions in the past. He wasted no time in laying out a compelling case against the President elect by talking about how our blind support of Obama has allowed him to run to the right and stay there. Ford underscored his remarks by talking in detail the concerns raised behind Obama's cabinet picks. He talked about Robert Gates who he described as a war monger and a war criminal who was linked to Iran Contra scandal and the mining of harbors in Nicarugua. Ford laid out arguments against cabinet pick Susan Rice who he said was aligned with George Bush in her support of the war we have with Somalia. He talked about Obama's chief of staff Ram Emmanuel and how his staunch zionist connections should be cause for concern. Ford also talked about Obama's economic team and how many of were on board the ship that has gotten us in the economic mess we are in now. Ford concluded by reminding us that Obama's victory means he has power. He is in a position to set the agenda and make sound decisions that will keep the interests of those who are often taken for granted and adversally effected by policy decisions. Those are just a few of the many highlights. We broke this Breakdown FM into two parts. In part two we hear engaging remarks from people like Viola Plummer of the December 12th Movement, Dr james Turner, Dr Don Smith, Pam Afrika and Afrika Bambaataa. On this Breakdown FM show you will hear incredible music talking about the presidential election from artists like Brother Ali, Rebel Diaz, Dead Prez, Common, Zion I, Kev Choice and Afrika Bambaataa. Big shout out to my radio colleagues, former Green Party presidential candidate Jared Ball of Freemix Radio for and Andreas Jackson of Media Electic for being at the event and documenting the proceedings. Their recordings and interviews which you are hearing on Breakdown FM are invaluable. The Great Harlem Debate Was the Obama Election Good for Black People? by Davey D This past Sunday over 1200 people showed up at a Harlem Church to listen and weigh in on a discussion that has been raging on in our communities but oftentimes swept under the rug. The historic election of Barack Obama has been a source of pride for many. Record numbers of Black people came out and voted for him. His largest percentage , a whooping 94% of Black folks punched his name in the ballot booth. However, many did so wondering if an Obama election will lead to pressing issues within the African American community would be addressed, or if his election would symbolize to those outside the community that racism was a thing of the past? One of the nagging concerns that surfaced during Obama's historic run was him distancing himself from anything Black. He stayed away from key events ranging from Tavis Smiley's annual State of the Union where rival Hillary Clinton showed up to the 40th commemoration ceremonies in Memphis, Tn for the death of Dr martin Luther King. His republican rival John McCain showed up for that event. There were always grumblings that Obama was distancing himself from the Black community to appease skittish white voters who lived in the middle of the country who oftentimes made no bones about their reluctance to vote for a Black man. many of us held our tongues and rationalized that Obama 'had to play the game' and 'do what was needed to get elected. Rap star David Banner explained it best when he suggested that we give Obama a chance and stop asking all these brilliant questions that we never asked white candidates who we often seem to give unconditional support. Let Obama get in the white house first and then push for him to address our issues. Banner's remarks were supported by scholars like Dr Michael Eric Dyson who often talked about Obama giving Black folks a proverbial wink as he campaigned. Dyson told us that Obama understood our concerns but had to roll a certain way to get elected. He was catching unprecedented hell including several thwarted assassination attempts by racist whites. With all that pressure the least we as Black folks could do was keep our mouths shut and help clear the way for an Obama victory which at the end of the day would be ours. Lastly the argument was put forth by many that we better go for Obama if for any reason to avoid a 3rd Bush-like term in the form of a reactionary figure like John McCain who at one point staunchly refused to vote for a Dr Martin Luther King Holiday. After a disastrous 8 years of Bush that harshly impacted the Black community to not vote for Obama was seen as treasonous. While a substantial amount of Black folks heeded the suggestions of Banner, Dyson and other supporters there were others like Glen Ford of the Black Agenda Report who boldly made the case that Obama should not get a pass and his actions and words wether he was running for office or in office should be called into question if they weren't in alignment with issues that the community was talking about. The Black Agenda Report spent much of the campaign season questioning Obama's affiliations and key players who worked for him behind the scenes. They questioned his policy decisions and expressed concern early on that Obama was running too far to the right. Ford and his partner Bruce Dixon often noted that if we don't hold Obama or anyone's feet to the fire they will take us for granted and never come to our arena because we put no demands on him. In recent weeks Ford and Dixon have raised concerns about Obama's cabinet appointments, noting that many of them have had shady and antagnostic records when it comes to dealing with Black issues. So with all this in mind, the stage was set for the Great Harlem Debate. Some thought that such a discussion was premature because Obama hasn't been sworn in yet, while others felt it was reactionary not realizing that many of the participants have debated each other throughout the campaign. Now was just as good as anytime to have this discussion. Obama is the President of the United States and not the President of Black America. hence it would be up to the community to define and articulate their concerns just as they would to any other person sitting in the Oval Office. To not do so would be fool hardy. This past Sunday attendees heard compelling remarks from great scholars and community leaders. each speaker was given 8 minutes to make their case. heres how it unfolded. Dr Leonard Jeffries kicked things off by talking about what an Obama victory symbolized. He said that he did not expect Obama to fundamentally change things or to take up causes like Reparations. He noted that it was up to him and our community to raise those issues. He said it was up to the community to put forth a Pan African Agenda not Obama. he talked about how having a Black family in the White House spoke volumes to many who felt left out as well as people all over the world. Jeffries talked about the excitement that people in other countries like Germany had with Obama being in the White House. Marimba Ani followed Jeffries and reminded folks the reason why so many had gathered that Sunday afternoon. It wasn't just to talk about Obama but also to bring attention and raise money about political prisoners. The Great Harlem debate in particular was to raise money for Mutulu Shakur-many of you know him as Tupac's stepfather. She wanted to make sure we did not lose sight of that because the plight of PP was not one that Obama has raised or was likely to unless pressured. She also noted that many of us were not on the same page in terms of what their expectations and goals were. She said that as Pan Africanist and Nationalist those goals had not been clearly laid out and until they were it would be difficult to determine whether or not an Obama election was good for Black people. She spoke at length about a racial identity and how Obama's victory has brought about a post racial climate. She talked in detail about the type of negative impact that is and will have on Black people who are increasingly being told that racism no longer exists. She concluded her remarks to by reading an excerpt from a letter that Obama had penned in response to Kenyan officials who reached out asking for help. The letter talked about that help would be forthcoming if Kenya's foreign policy was in line with that of the US. The letter noted that the US would need to set up a base in that country in order to fulfill its security interest. Ani reminded us such a base is part of what is known as Africom where the US sets up Army bases throughout Africa. You could tell by the crowds reaction that people were shocked to hear that. Malik Zulu Shabazz who heads up the New Black panther Party spoke about the type of uplifting impact Obama rise to the presidency has had with the gang members he has been working with. he talked about the Crips in LA and the Bloods in Brooklyn expressing pride in seeing Obama run and win. He talked about how many felt inspired to do better for themselves. He also questioned why we would want to rain on the parade of those elders and other community members who saw this as a great accomplishment. He asked those opposed to Obama if we had rathered had John McCain in the white house? New York City Councilman Charles Barron followed Shabbazz and talked about the type of momentum an Obama win had given to those determined to make a difference on a local level. He said he and others in his East New York neighborhood took advantage of the excitement Obama brought to electoral politics and got key people into office including his wife who is now in the state assembly. He talked about the importance of us having community control from top to bottom and that Obama's run set the tone for us to make this happen all over. Glen Ford followed Barron. The pair have debated Obama on a couple of occasions in the past. He wasted no time in laying out a compelling case against the President elect by talking about how our blind support of Obama has allowed him to run to the right and stay there. Ford underscored his remarks by talking in detail the concerns raised behind Obama's cabinet picks. He talked about Robert Gates who he described as a war monger and a war criminal who was linked to Iran Contra scandal and the mining of harbors in Nicarugua. Ford laid out arguments against cabinet pick Susan Rice who he said was aligned with George Bush in her support of the war we have with Somalia. He talked about Obama's chief of staff Ram Emmanuel and how his staunch zionist connections should be cause for concern. Ford also talked about Obama's economic team and how many of were on board the ship that has gotten us in the economic mess we are in now. Ford concluded by reminding us that Obama's victory means he has power. He is in a position to set the agenda and make sound decisions that will keep the interests of those who are often taken for granted and adversally effected by policy decisions. Those are just a few of the many highlights. We broke this Breakdown FM into two parts. In part two we hear engaging remarks from people like Viola Plummer of the December 12th Movement, Dr james Turner, Dr Don Smith, Pam Afrika and Afrika Bambaataa. On this Breakdown FM show you will hear incredible music talking about the presidential election from artists like Brother Ali, Rebel Diaz, Dead Prez, Common, Zion I, Kev Choice and Afrika Bambaataa. Big shout out to my radio colleagues, former Green Party presidential candidate Jared Ball of Freemix Radio for and Andreas Jackson of Media Electic for being at the event and documenting the proceedings. Their recordings and interviews which you are hearing on Breakdown FM are invaluable. tag:odeo.com,2008-12-17,23767113 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:46:49 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D afrika bambaataa, ,, ", the Great Harlem Debate, glen Ford, Dr Don Smith, Charles Barron, Viola Plummer, Dr james Turner Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23754330-Silky-Slim-Interview From Wrecking Crew to Clean Up Man An Interview w/ Silky Slim of Baton Rouge by Davey D We sat down with one of the major factor in the Louisiana rap scene-Silky Slim Da head Bussa. Today many know him for being down with newcomers like Lil Boosie. You may know his album 'Keep It Gutta'. Others know him as being a pioneering figure in the gangsta rap scene of Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Folks recall his rap group the Da Bottom Posse. Still others know Silky Slim as a guy to be feared. He was the head of the infamous Wrecking Crew and they were no joke on the streets. Today many know Silky Slim as a guy who spent most of his life in and out of prison who is now dedicated to turning lives around. He's the head of the StoptheKillings.inc . They do a radio show, a TV show and lots of community meetings and rallies where Silky Slim uses his OG status to let folks know, the street game is not the way to go. We sat down and talked to Slim as we talked about everything fro... From Wrecking Crew to Clean Up Man An Interview w/ Silky Slim of Baton Rouge by Davey D We sat down with one of the major factor in the Louisiana rap scene-Silky Slim Da head Bussa. Today many know him for being down with newcomers like Lil Boosie. You may know his album 'Keep It Gutta'. Others know him as being a pioneering figure in the gangsta rap scene of Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Folks recall his rap group the Da Bottom Posse. Still others know Silky Slim as a guy to be feared. He was the head of the infamous Wrecking Crew and they were no joke on the streets. Today many know Silky Slim as a guy who spent most of his life in and out of prison who is now dedicated to turning lives around. He's the head of the StoptheKillings.inc . They do a radio show, a TV show and lots of community meetings and rallies where Silky Slim uses his OG status to let folks know, the street game is not the way to go. We sat down and talked to Slim as we talked about everything from the how Slim found God to why ignorance is a disease. We talked about parenting as Slim warned parents not to teach their young sons to be 'soldiers'. he said it might be cute while their young, buty when they get older they're gonna go out looking for a war. He said its important that parents make a decision to fill their kids minds with positive thoughts and images at an early age. We talked about the physchology of having a gun and how it gives people a false sense of power. Slim described in detail what its like to kil a man and they type of shame and discomfort it briongs on people. he talked about the telltale gestures including the inability to look and the need to hide a gun after thei do such a horrible act. We dweled into the notion about whether or not the high rate of killings in New Orleans and Baton Rouge is the result of people suffering post traumatic stress. While social workers push this notion, Slim emphatically says 'No'. He said its the result of people not caring for one another along with embracing a slave mentality. he talked at lengthe thetype of mind games the police and other city officials like to run on people including sparking divisions. He recounted how after Katrina, the police ran around Baton Rouge telling people to be careful because people from New Orleans were dangerous. Slim talked about the history of Baton Rouge. he explained that back during slavery, unruly slaves were sent there to be broken. The city had a reputation of breaking the will of slaves or killing them. Slim pointed out that the descendent of slave owners who reside in that part of town carry that same mentality even in 2008-2009. Black people are to be broken and made to stay in their place. he talked about how city officials worked overtime to intimidate and make victims of Katrina feel unwelcome. They were made to feel unwelcome and that bad energy was passed along to average people living in BR. Before long there was a vicious 504 vs 225 feud, fueled by manipulative public officials. Slim talked about the horrors of being locked down in Angola Prison. he said it was like walking through a time capsule where slave like conditions, rapes and extreme brutality is an everyday occurance. Some of the stories Slim shared were shocking. Slim explained that it was important for people like him to share all this informationon his radio and TV shows so that people move away from trying to glamourize this lifestyle. He said that people who never really go through it have misled people by pretending its all good when it isn't. Slim talked about the books he have written that focuses on conflict resolution and how he and is organization spend hours working inside the public schools showing people how to avoid getting caught up in bloodshed. This interview is both informative and inspiring. We salute Silky Slim as an unsung hero who found the courage to turn his life around after many wrote him off. From Wrecking Crew to Clean Up Man An Interview w/ Silky Slim of Baton Rouge by Davey D We sat down with one of the major factor in the Louisiana rap scene-Silky Slim Da head Bussa. Today many know him for being down with newcomers like Lil Boosie. You may know his album 'Keep It Gutta'. Others know him as being a pioneering figure in the gangsta rap scene of Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Folks recall his rap group the Da Bottom Posse. Still others know Silky Slim as a guy to be feared. He was the head of the infamous Wrecking Crew and they were no joke on the streets. Today many know Silky Slim as a guy who spent most of his life in and out of prison who is now dedicated to turning lives around. He's the head of the StoptheKillings.inc . They do a radio show, a TV show and lots of community meetings and rallies where Silky Slim uses his OG status to let folks know, the street game is not the way to go. We sat down and talked to Slim as we talked about everything from the how Slim found God to why ignorance is a disease. We talked about parenting as Slim warned parents not to teach their young sons to be 'soldiers'. he said it might be cute while their young, buty when they get older they're gonna go out looking for a war. He said its important that parents make a decision to fill their kids minds with positive thoughts and images at an early age. We talked about the physchology of having a gun and how it gives people a false sense of power. Slim described in detail what its like to kil a man and they type of shame and discomfort it briongs on people. he talked about the telltale gestures including the inability to look and the need to hide a gun after thei do such a horrible act. We dweled into the notion about whether or not the high rate of killings in New Orleans and Baton Rouge is the result of people suffering post traumatic stress. While social workers push this notion, Slim emphatically says 'No'. He said its the result of people not caring for one another along with embracing a slave mentality. he talked at lengthe thetype of mind games the police and other city officials like to run on people including sparking divisions. He recounted how after Katrina, the police ran around Baton Rouge telling people to be careful because people from New Orleans were dangerous. Slim talked about the history of Baton Rouge. he explained that back during slavery, unruly slaves were sent there to be broken. The city had a reputation of breaking the will of slaves or killing them. Slim pointed out that the descendent of slave owners who reside in that part of town carry that same mentality even in 2008-2009. Black people are to be broken and made to stay in their place. he talked about how city officials worked overtime to intimidate and make victims of Katrina feel unwelcome. They were made to feel unwelcome and that bad energy was passed along to average people living in BR. Before long there was a vicious 504 vs 225 feud, fueled by manipulative public officials. Slim talked about the horrors of being locked down in Angola Prison. he said it was like walking through a time capsule where slave like conditions, rapes and extreme brutality is an everyday occurance. Some of the stories Slim shared were shocking. Slim explained that it was important for people like him to share all this informationon his radio and TV shows so that people move away from trying to glamourize this lifestyle. He said that people who never really go through it have misled people by pretending its all good when it isn't. Slim talked about the books he have written that focuses on conflict resolution and how he and is organization spend hours working inside the public schools showing people how to avoid getting caught up in bloodshed. This interview is both informative and inspiring. We salute Silky Slim as an unsung hero who found the courage to turn his life around after many wrote him off. tag:odeo.com,2008-12-15,23754330 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:03:38 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D Da, ,, crew,, Baton Rouge, , Da Bottom Posse, Angola prison, Silky Slim, Wrecking Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23725722-Offensive-Grape-Soda-song This is a cut that was dropped on us the other day. Its supposed to be a sad attempt at explaining whats gonna happen when Obama takes office... Its bad enough this song is being pushed. whats even sadder is that this song was done by K-Fed aka Britney's Kevin Federlind... How sad is this? This is a cut that was dropped on us the other day. Its supposed to be a sad attempt at explaining whats gonna happen when Obama takes office... Its bad enough this song is being pushed. whats even sadder is that this song was done by K-Fed aka Britney's Kevin Federlind... How sad is this? This is a cut that was dropped on us the other day. Its supposed to be a sad attempt at explaining whats gonna happen when Obama takes office... Its bad enough this song is being pushed. whats even sadder is that this song was done by K-Fed aka Britney's Kevin Federlind... How sad is this? tag:odeo.com,2008-12-08,23725722 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:52:20 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D ,, Grape soda, K-Fed, Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23722448-Sista-Souljah-Interview Still at War-Til Midnight.. An Interview w/ Sista Souljah We sat down and had an indep[th indepth interview with Sista Souljah where we talked about Politics, leadership, Barack Obama, the state of Hip Hop and of course her new book Midnight which is a prequel to the Coldest Winter Ever.... We also got Souljah to open up and talk about how some very powerful and sheisty people in the industry moved on her and attempetd to shut her down when she at 19 she got some of Hip Hop biggest names to help support her camp for the homeless.. very insightful and compelling.. This interview also weeves in excerpts from speeches that Souljah has given in the past as well as a reading from her new book Midnight Still at War-Til Midnight.. An Interview w/ Sista Souljah We sat down and had an indep[th indepth interview with Sista Souljah where we talked about Politics, leadership, Barack Obama, the state of Hip Hop and of course her new book Midnight which is a prequel to the Coldest Winter Ever.... We also got Souljah to open up and talk about how some very powerful and sheisty people in the industry moved on her and attempetd to shut her down when she at 19 she got some of Hip Hop biggest names to help support her camp for the homeless.. very insightful and compelling.. This interview also weeves in excerpts from speeches that Souljah has given in the past as well as a reading from her new book Midnight Still at War-Til Midnight.. An Interview w/ Sista Souljah We sat down and had an indep[th indepth interview with Sista Souljah where we talked about Politics, leadership, Barack Obama, the state of Hip Hop and of course her new book Midnight which is a prequel to the Coldest Winter Ever.... We also got Souljah to open up and talk about how some very powerful and sheisty people in the industry moved on her and attempetd to shut her down when she at 19 she got some of Hip Hop biggest names to help support her camp for the homeless.. very insightful and compelling.. This interview also weeves in excerpts from speeches that Souljah has given in the past as well as a reading from her new book Midnight tag:odeo.com,2008-12-08,23722448 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:28:57 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D Hip Hop, davey d, sista souljah, , Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23717673-25-Joints-5-Revolutionary-Peace-Keep-Soldiering-On 25 Joints to get U Through The Day #5 Revolutionary Peace-keep Soldiering On This week we come correct with music to stimulate your mind and inspire you to go the extra yard. A whole lot of artists have been seriously on their grind and were hard at work in the lab months ago crafting masterpieces that would help get us through these tough economic times that are just now hitting us. Those who are true to their art, knew that the best way to do things is to become skilled at making a way out of no-way, or as Shock G of Digital Underground famously stated, 'Make a Dollar out of 15 Cents'. Raw, Gritty and Uncompromisingly Intelligent we proudly salute this week's crop of artists for reminding us that Hip Hop Never Died, Never Left and Has Never Been Compromised. Dig deep into your soul and you'll find what your looking for... Don't Believe me .. Check out this week's episode of 25 Joints. Here you'll here new music from MC Lyte and her new crew Almost September. I ran into ... 25 Joints to get U Through The Day #5 Revolutionary Peace-keep Soldiering On This week we come correct with music to stimulate your mind and inspire you to go the extra yard. A whole lot of artists have been seriously on their grind and were hard at work in the lab months ago crafting masterpieces that would help get us through these tough economic times that are just now hitting us. Those who are true to their art, knew that the best way to do things is to become skilled at making a way out of no-way, or as Shock G of Digital Underground famously stated, 'Make a Dollar out of 15 Cents'. Raw, Gritty and Uncompromisingly Intelligent we proudly salute this week's crop of artists for reminding us that Hip Hop Never Died, Never Left and Has Never Been Compromised. Dig deep into your soul and you'll find what your looking for... Don't Believe me .. Check out this week's episode of 25 Joints. Here you'll here new music from MC Lyte and her new crew Almost September. I ran into her last week when she and Chuck D touched down in 'Tha Town' (Oakland) and we discussed the increasing popularity of 25 Joints. She reached into her purse pulled out some CDs and said be sure to rock their song 'Revolution'. Lyte's powerful voice sets the stage for the other women voices you will hear on this show. That includes Lah Tere of Chicago/Bronx based Rebel Diaz and their cut 'Halfway' off their mixtape 'Outro Geurrillero Mixtape Vol2' . Big shout out and congratulations to Rebel Diaz for keeping their soldier to the grind resulting in them opening up a brand new community center in the heart of the South Bronx. Repeat they Rebel Diaz-not some big corporation or anyone like that opened this facilitie up. They got creative and really made this a community center by tapping local out of work and under employed carpenters and builders to put this place together. The entire hood has a major stake in this new building-talk about community organizing. Hip hop definitely has a heart. You hear it with new comer J Ross Parrelli and Italian woman from Reno, Nevada who has been rocking mics with everyone from Supernatural to Akil of Jurassic 5. She rolled through the Bay the other week and lit up the stage alongside local artist Eyezon who will be featured here on Episode 6. She was singing and rapping and taking no prisoners. Her cut 'Outta Time' featuring Ras Tree is dope-In the words of reknowned deejay Clinton Sparks 'Get Familiar' An overlooked joint is the Public Enemy remake of 'Thank Mama for the Soul Sisters'. Its under the name Peeps of Soul Funk and is an incredible Tribute to the late James Brown. The group dips into their slam jamz label catlaogue and pulls out some very talented musicians who do more than let loose. Major props to producer Johnny Juice who could've easily been doing his thing right alongside the Godfather of Soul contributing beats, his ears and immeasurable talent to future musical offerings. In the cut 'Thank Mama for the Soul Sisters' new comer Ronnique 'MsRo' Hawkins is the featured vocalist letting loose. Go to the SlamJamz website to get this rare hard to find gem of an album. You will not be disappointed. Proceeding the PE track is singer Alice Russell who gets busy in a James Brown-like cut called 'Pushing On'. The group is Quantic Soul orchestra which is a project from Columbia based dj/producer Will Holland who goes by the name Quantic. Do not sleep on this cat and his works. We dug into the crates and pulled out a overlooked Beatminerz cut from the album 'Fully Loaded w/ Static. 'Pull Your Card' featuring Bay Area, Grammy nominated rap star Mystic. her joint sets the stage for the powerful vocals of Sista Souljah who just came to town to celebrate the release of her new book 'Midnight'. We took the vocals of Souljah who is speaking about womanhood and matched them up with a slamming beat called 'Oxidentalism' put out by my folks from the Iraq/Candian group Euphrates. Souljah takes that beat to new heights. Another strong female voice comes from my home girl Anida, who is a poet with the Chicago based I Was Born With Two Tongues'. She drops some heartfelt insight about the challenges Asians and Asian women in particular have faced when dealing with a far too often racist society. 'Excuse Me America' is apowerful song that when done live usually leaves Anida and many of the audience members in tears. Her words come after Sista Soul and reverend Jermiah Wright who is dropping bombs over another Euphrates produced track 'Orientalism'. We round things off with one of my favorite songs off Del tha Funkee Homaspaien's '11th Hour' album called 'I Got U'. This is a really nicetrack featuring Lady Bug mecca from the group Digable Planets. Lady Bug leaves you wanting to hear a lot more. Straight rewind material. Another stand out cut comes from Breeze Evaflowin and Dirt E Dutch, collectively known as the Troublemakers they put an album with the same name which has a song called 'No Room for Growth'. here they raise the issue as to why Rock--N-Roll is allowed to mature and be celebrated for years to come while Hip Hop has to suffer the cycle of 'here today and gone tomorrow'. Also featured on this week's 25 Joints is new music from San Francisco based artists Sellassie. This cat has been grinding superhard for the past couple of years and in the true spirit of the Bay Area Independent hustle, dude put out a record 200 songs. His new album 'I'm Trying to Make a Living Not a Killing' says it all as the song we feature 'Is It Even Meat' is a revolutionary message designed to reach the streets. If thats not enough, Sellassie decided not to wait around for others to give him a break, he and his crew started their own Industry networking Club night at a local spot in Frisco. The place is rapdily becoming a destination spot as Sellassie reminds both through his music and actions-Ain't nothing wrong with making a dollar out of 15 cents. Its how we do in the Yah. Here is this week's 25 Joints 01-Akrobatik 'Hand that Rocks the Cradle' (Boston) 02-Almost September 'Revolution' (LA) 03-Sellassie 'Is It Even Meat' (San Francisco) 04-Apakalips 'Peace' (San Jose) 05-Martin Luther King (Let the Children Lead..) 06-Mr Lif 'Live from the Plantation' (Boston) 07-Move.Meant 'The Scope of Things' (LA) 08-Quantic Soul Orchestra 'Pushing On' (Columbia / Worchister) 09-Peeps of Soul Funk (public Enemy) 'Thank Mama for the Soul Sister (NY) 10-Atmosphere 'Wild Wild Horse' (Minneapolis) 11-Rebel Diaz 'Halfway' (NY) 12-J Ross Parrelli w/ Ras Tree 'Outta Time' (LA/ Reno, NV) 13-Mark J 'Right Revolution' (Houston) 14-Immortal Technique w/ Ras Kass & Diabolic 'Payback' (NY/ LA) 15-Zion I 'Luv' (Oakland) 16-Ill Bill 'Gangsta Rap (Brooklyn) 17-Breeze Evaflowin' No Room for Growth' (NY) 18-Da Beat Minerz w/ Mystic 'Pull Your Card' (Brooklyn/ LA) 19-Euphrates 'Oxidentalism' Sista Soulja Remix (Iraq/Montreal/NY) 20-Euphrates 'Orientalism' Rev jeremiah Wright remix (Iraq/ Montreal/chicago) 21-I Was Born w/ Two Tongues w/ Anida 'Excuse Me Amerikkka (chicago) 22-KRS-One & Marley Marl 'All School' (NY) 23-Paris 'Can't Stop the Movement' (Oakland) 24-J-Live 'Red Light Green Light' (NY) 25-Del Tha Funkee Homosapien w/ lady Bug Mecca 'I Got U' (Oakland/NY) 25 Joints to get U Through The Day #5 Revolutionary Peace-keep Soldiering On This week we come correct with music to stimulate your mind and inspire you to go the extra yard. A whole lot of artists have been seriously on their grind and were hard at work in the lab months ago crafting masterpieces that would help get us through these tough economic times that are just now hitting us. Those who are true to their art, knew that the best way to do things is to become skilled at making a way out of no-way, or as Shock G of Digital Underground famously stated, 'Make a Dollar out of 15 Cents'. Raw, Gritty and Uncompromisingly Intelligent we proudly salute this week's crop of artists for reminding us that Hip Hop Never Died, Never Left and Has Never Been Compromised. Dig deep into your soul and you'll find what your looking for... Don't Believe me .. Check out this week's episode of 25 Joints. Here you'll here new music from MC Lyte and her new crew Almost September. I ran into her last week when she and Chuck D touched down in 'Tha Town' (Oakland) and we discussed the increasing popularity of 25 Joints. She reached into her purse pulled out some CDs and said be sure to rock their song 'Revolution'. Lyte's powerful voice sets the stage for the other women voices you will hear on this show. That includes Lah Tere of Chicago/Bronx based Rebel Diaz and their cut 'Halfway' off their mixtape 'Outro Geurrillero Mixtape Vol2' . Big shout out and congratulations to Rebel Diaz for keeping their soldier to the grind resulting in them opening up a brand new community center in the heart of the South Bronx. Repeat they Rebel Diaz-not some big corporation or anyone like that opened this facilitie up. They got creative and really made this a community center by tapping local out of work and under employed carpenters and builders to put this place together. The entire hood has a major stake in this new building-talk about community organizing. Hip hop definitely has a heart. You hear it with new comer J Ross Parrelli and Italian woman from Reno, Nevada who has been rocking mics with everyone from Supernatural to Akil of Jurassic 5. She rolled through the Bay the other week and lit up the stage alongside local artist Eyezon who will be featured here on Episode 6. She was singing and rapping and taking no prisoners. Her cut 'Outta Time' featuring Ras Tree is dope-In the words of reknowned deejay Clinton Sparks 'Get Familiar' An overlooked joint is the Public Enemy remake of 'Thank Mama for the Soul Sisters'. Its under the name Peeps of Soul Funk and is an incredible Tribute to the late James Brown. The group dips into their slam jamz label catlaogue and pulls out some very talented musicians who do more than let loose. Major props to producer Johnny Juice who could've easily been doing his thing right alongside the Godfather of Soul contributing beats, his ears and immeasurable talent to future musical offerings. In the cut 'Thank Mama for the Soul Sisters' new comer Ronnique 'MsRo' Hawkins is the featured vocalist letting loose. Go to the SlamJamz website to get this rare hard to find gem of an album. You will not be disappointed. Proceeding the PE track is singer Alice Russell who gets busy in a James Brown-like cut called 'Pushing On'. The group is Quantic Soul orchestra which is a project from Columbia based dj/producer Will Holland who goes by the name Quantic. Do not sleep on this cat and his works. We dug into the crates and pulled out a overlooked Beatminerz cut from the album 'Fully Loaded w/ Static. 'Pull Your Card' featuring Bay Area, Grammy nominated rap star Mystic. her joint sets the stage for the powerful vocals of Sista Souljah who just came to town to celebrate the release of her new book 'Midnight'. We took the vocals of Souljah who is speaking about womanhood and matched them up with a slamming beat called 'Oxidentalism' put out by my folks from the Iraq/Candian group Euphrates. Souljah takes that beat to new heights. Another strong female voice comes from my home girl Anida, who is a poet with the Chicago based I Was Born With Two Tongues'. She drops some heartfelt insight about the challenges Asians and Asian women in particular have faced when dealing with a far too often racist society. 'Excuse Me America' is apowerful song that when done live usually leaves Anida and many of the audience members in tears. Her words come after Sista Soul and reverend Jermiah Wright who is dropping bombs over another Euphrates produced track 'Orientalism'. We round things off with one of my favorite songs off Del tha Funkee Homaspaien's '11th Hour' album called 'I Got U'. This is a really nicetrack featuring Lady Bug mecca from the group Digable Planets. Lady Bug leaves you wanting to hear a lot more. Straight rewind material. Another stand out cut comes from Breeze Evaflowin and Dirt E Dutch, collectively known as the Troublemakers they put an album with the same name which has a song called 'No Room for Growth'. here they raise the issue as to why Rock--N-Roll is allowed to mature and be celebrated for years to come while Hip Hop has to suffer the cycle of 'here today and gone tomorrow'. Also featured on this week's 25 Joints is new music from San Francisco based artists Sellassie. This cat has been grinding superhard for the past couple of years and in the true spirit of the Bay Area Independent hustle, dude put out a record 200 songs. His new album 'I'm Trying to Make a Living Not a Killing' says it all as the song we feature 'Is It Even Meat' is a revolutionary message designed to reach the streets. If thats not enough, Sellassie decided not to wait around for others to give him a break, he and his crew started their own Industry networking Club night at a local spot in Frisco. The place is rapdily becoming a destination spot as Sellassie reminds both through his music and actions-Ain't nothing wrong with making a dollar out of 15 cents. Its how we do in the Yah. Here is this week's 25 Joints 01-Akrobatik 'Hand that Rocks the Cradle' (Boston) 02-Almost September 'Revolution' (LA) 03-Sellassie 'Is It Even Meat' (San Francisco) 04-Apakalips 'Peace' (San Jose) 05-Martin Luther King (Let the Children Lead..) 06-Mr Lif 'Live from the Plantation' (Boston) 07-Move.Meant 'The Scope of Things' (LA) 08-Quantic Soul Orchestra 'Pushing On' (Columbia / Worchister) 09-Peeps of Soul Funk (public Enemy) 'Thank Mama for the Soul Sister (NY) 10-Atmosphere 'Wild Wild Horse' (Minneapolis) 11-Rebel Diaz 'Halfway' (NY) 12-J Ross Parrelli w/ Ras Tree 'Outta Time' (LA/ Reno, NV) 13-Mark J 'Right Revolution' (Houston) 14-Immortal Technique w/ Ras Kass & Diabolic 'Payback' (NY/ LA) 15-Zion I 'Luv' (Oakland) 16-Ill Bill 'Gangsta Rap (Brooklyn) 17-Breeze Evaflowin' No Room for Growth' (NY) 18-Da Beat Minerz w/ Mystic 'Pull Your Card' (Brooklyn/ LA) 19-Euphrates 'Oxidentalism' Sista Soulja Remix (Iraq/Montreal/NY) 20-Euphrates 'Orientalism' Rev jeremiah Wright remix (Iraq/ Montreal/chicago) 21-I Was Born w/ Two Tongues w/ Anida 'Excuse Me Amerikkka (chicago) 22-KRS-One & Marley Marl 'All School' (NY) 23-Paris 'Can't Stop the Movement' (Oakland) 24-J-Live 'Red Light Green Light' (NY) 25-Del Tha Funkee Homosapien w/ lady Bug Mecca 'I Got U' (Oakland/NY) tag:odeo.com,2008-12-07,23717673 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 08:10:27 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D jeremiah wright, sista souljah, ,, 25 Joints, Revolutionary Peace, JRoss Parrelli, Iwas Born with Two Tongues Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23662709-Rev-Jeremiah-Wright-Never-Confuse-God-w-Government-sermon-2003 Never Confuse God w/ Government pt2 This is the 2003 sermon in its entirety that pretty much set things off and cast long time Chicago pastor Jeremiah Wright in a bad-light. Its the sermon where he says 'GodDamn America' and talks about Aids and the Government. His words are very powerful..When you hear this sermon you will see just how much they distorted his words. You will also see just how a what Rev Wright said could be taken the wrong way... Never Confuse God w/ Government pt2 This is the 2003 sermon in its entirety that pretty much set things off and cast long time Chicago pastor Jeremiah Wright in a bad-light. Its the sermon where he says 'GodDamn America' and talks about Aids and the Government. His words are very powerful..When you hear this sermon you will see just how much they distorted his words. You will also see just how a what Rev Wright said could be taken the wrong way... Never Confuse God w/ Government pt2 This is the 2003 sermon in its entirety that pretty much set things off and cast long time Chicago pastor Jeremiah Wright in a bad-light. Its the sermon where he says 'GodDamn America' and talks about Aids and the Government. His words are very powerful..When you hear this sermon you will see just how much they distorted his words. You will also see just how a what Rev Wright said could be taken the wrong way... tag:odeo.com,2008-11-24,23662709 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:34:33 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D Black, the, of, State, Reverend, world,, Wright,, Conference,, SOBWC, Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23662487-Interview-w-Jeremiah-Wright Never Confuse God w/ Government-Interview w/ Jeremiah Wright By Davey D This past weekend the State of the Black World Conference took place in New Orleans. Lots of activists, community leaders and artists came through to talk about key issues facing the Black community, developing and implementing an agenda along with the challenges we face as a community in the aftermath of Barack Obama's historic win. On hand this weekend was Reverend Jeremiah Wright who was to recieve a prestigious Legacy Award. For those who don't know, Rev Wright was and continues to be a popular figure especially in church and religious circles. His villification for sermons taken out of context was abitter pill many of us swallowed as Obama made his historic run for office. Him being distorted didn't sit well with a lot of folks. In our minds Rev Wright was never wrong. He was always right. We sat down and talked with him as he opened up about the entire ordeal he endured. He explained to us ... Never Confuse God w/ Government-Interview w/ Jeremiah Wright By Davey D This past weekend the State of the Black World Conference took place in New Orleans. Lots of activists, community leaders and artists came through to talk about key issues facing the Black community, developing and implementing an agenda along with the challenges we face as a community in the aftermath of Barack Obama's historic win. On hand this weekend was Reverend Jeremiah Wright who was to recieve a prestigious Legacy Award. For those who don't know, Rev Wright was and continues to be a popular figure especially in church and religious circles. His villification for sermons taken out of context was abitter pill many of us swallowed as Obama made his historic run for office. Him being distorted didn't sit well with a lot of folks. In our minds Rev Wright was never wrong. He was always right. We sat down and talked with him as he opened up about the entire ordeal he endured. He explained to us how he managed to stay strong and survive the storm. He said it was the love shown to him by average everyday folks who he felt always spoke truth to power that kept him going. We talked about Liberation Theology and the importance of faith and how one should use it in troubling times. Wright received death threats and talked about during his acceptance speech how the Nation of Islam protected him. He talked about his love and friendship with Minister Farrakhan and how he has always looked at other faiths as important to acknowledge, learn about and build with as we struggle for equality and true liberation for all oppressed people. He spoke to us about his current relationship with President-elect Obama and whether or not he felt Obama could've handled the controversy in another way. He noted that back in 2007 he had remarked to Obama that there would come a day when Obama would have to distance himself from Wright and his church in order to get elected. Wright spoke candidly about the toll some of this took on his family, inparticular his daughter who was a first year student at Howard and had to deal with harsh criticisms from fellow students who were unaware of Wright's work and only knew him via Fox News. He talked about his visit to the Clinton White House and how he along with several other ministers prayed for Bill and Hillary's troubled marriage. He explained how he felt knowing that the Clinton camp were among the first to throw him under the bus when they knew damn well what his sermons were really about. The Clintons were aware of the distortions and knew the types of things that are said and the manner in which things get preached on Sundays in the Black Church. Rev Wright also talked to us about the church's relationship to Hip Hop and the love he has for Common who has been a long time member of his congregation. He talked to us about the types of steps he felt needed to be taken in order for the Church community and Hip Hop generation to better connect. He also shared the disappointment and hurt he felt when some rappers tried to clown him and take him to task in their songs. He wasn't aware that there were many others like Paris, Rebel Diaz, NY Oil, Jasiri X and so many others who have been shouting him out in songs and shows in a good way. Wright also talked to us about why he may start calling himself the 7 million dollar man-making note of the amount of money Obama's opposition paid to run that slew of last minute commercials where they twisted his words and sermons. In this particular episode you will hear long excerpts of some of Wright's sermons that were taken out of context and made to demonize him. In pisode 2 we play the original sermon that set things off. The theme is the difference between God and Government. Never Confuse God w/ Government-Interview w/ Jeremiah Wright By Davey D This past weekend the State of the Black World Conference took place in New Orleans. Lots of activists, community leaders and artists came through to talk about key issues facing the Black community, developing and implementing an agenda along with the challenges we face as a community in the aftermath of Barack Obama's historic win. On hand this weekend was Reverend Jeremiah Wright who was to recieve a prestigious Legacy Award. For those who don't know, Rev Wright was and continues to be a popular figure especially in church and religious circles. His villification for sermons taken out of context was abitter pill many of us swallowed as Obama made his historic run for office. Him being distorted didn't sit well with a lot of folks. In our minds Rev Wright was never wrong. He was always right. We sat down and talked with him as he opened up about the entire ordeal he endured. He explained to us how he managed to stay strong and survive the storm. He said it was the love shown to him by average everyday folks who he felt always spoke truth to power that kept him going. We talked about Liberation Theology and the importance of faith and how one should use it in troubling times. Wright received death threats and talked about during his acceptance speech how the Nation of Islam protected him. He talked about his love and friendship with Minister Farrakhan and how he has always looked at other faiths as important to acknowledge, learn about and build with as we struggle for equality and true liberation for all oppressed people. He spoke to us about his current relationship with President-elect Obama and whether or not he felt Obama could've handled the controversy in another way. He noted that back in 2007 he had remarked to Obama that there would come a day when Obama would have to distance himself from Wright and his church in order to get elected. Wright spoke candidly about the toll some of this took on his family, inparticular his daughter who was a first year student at Howard and had to deal with harsh criticisms from fellow students who were unaware of Wright's work and only knew him via Fox News. He talked about his visit to the Clinton White House and how he along with several other ministers prayed for Bill and Hillary's troubled marriage. He explained how he felt knowing that the Clinton camp were among the first to throw him under the bus when they knew damn well what his sermons were really about. The Clintons were aware of the distortions and knew the types of things that are said and the manner in which things get preached on Sundays in the Black Church. Rev Wright also talked to us about the church's relationship to Hip Hop and the love he has for Common who has been a long time member of his congregation. He talked to us about the types of steps he felt needed to be taken in order for the Church community and Hip Hop generation to better connect. He also shared the disappointment and hurt he felt when some rappers tried to clown him and take him to task in their songs. He wasn't aware that there were many others like Paris, Rebel Diaz, NY Oil, Jasiri X and so many others who have been shouting him out in songs and shows in a good way. Wright also talked to us about why he may start calling himself the 7 million dollar man-making note of the amount of money Obama's opposition paid to run that slew of last minute commercials where they twisted his words and sermons. In this particular episode you will hear long excerpts of some of Wright's sermons that were taken out of context and made to demonize him. In pisode 2 we play the original sermon that set things off. The theme is the difference between God and Government. tag:odeo.com,2008-11-24,23662487 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:03:27 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D Black, World, the, of, hip, State, jeremiah, Hop,, Reverend, Wright,, Conference,, SOBWC, Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23639737-Breakdown-FM-Interview-w-Toki-Wright-The-Mayor-of-Minneapolis Toki Wright is one of the dopest emcees around who makes noise both on the microphone and as an uncompromising community activist in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We like to call him the unofficial Mayor of the Twin Cities. His album Meal Plan Low Budget is a cult classic. He is currently working on a new album. We sat down and spoke with Toki and he talked at length about the history, ethnic makeup and the politics of the Twin Cities. He talked to us about the challenges he faces everyday working with young people in the hood as the head of his organization 'Yo the Movement'. He notes that police brutality, education, crime and the need to better understood and engaged are key issues. He talked at length about how he worked hard to make sure his youth were brought up to speed politically and taught to think critically. He noted how Minnesota icon and comedian Al Franken had neglected campaigning in the hood and making himself known to a community which is often taken for granted or co... Toki Wright is one of the dopest emcees around who makes noise both on the microphone and as an uncompromising community activist in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We like to call him the unofficial Mayor of the Twin Cities. His album Meal Plan Low Budget is a cult classic. He is currently working on a new album. We sat down and spoke with Toki and he talked at length about the history, ethnic makeup and the politics of the Twin Cities. He talked to us about the challenges he faces everyday working with young people in the hood as the head of his organization 'Yo the Movement'. He notes that police brutality, education, crime and the need to better understood and engaged are key issues. He talked at length about how he worked hard to make sure his youth were brought up to speed politically and taught to think critically. He noted how Minnesota icon and comedian Al Franken had neglected campaigning in the hood and making himself known to a community which is often taken for granted or completely overlooked. Toki insists that his community be included and he often goes out of his way to personally take people around and give them low down as to what is really going on around his way. At the same time he is no pushover or some cat begging for handouts. He talked at length about how organizations allow themselves to be compromised in an attempt to get funding. For Toki its about speaking truth and finding common ground and at the end of the day being in partnership with those who come to his part of town seeking votes or support. he also noted that every individual and organization has a role to play. For him he likes to make sure people of like minds and interests are connected and that they build something wonderful in coming together Toki talked at length about the important role musicians in the Twin Cities have played over the years in terms of setiing an example of how to be self sufficient and independent. He talked about Prince and how he supports lots of organizations while not attaching his name and remaining behind the scenes. The same goes for other icons like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Toki also talked about the important role that the Rhymesayers Collective has played over the years. Toki Wright is one of the dopest emcees around who makes noise both on the microphone and as an uncompromising community activist in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We like to call him the unofficial Mayor of the Twin Cities. His album Meal Plan Low Budget is a cult classic. He is currently working on a new album. We sat down and spoke with Toki and he talked at length about the history, ethnic makeup and the politics of the Twin Cities. He talked to us about the challenges he faces everyday working with young people in the hood as the head of his organization 'Yo the Movement'. He notes that police brutality, education, crime and the need to better understood and engaged are key issues. He talked at length about how he worked hard to make sure his youth were brought up to speed politically and taught to think critically. He noted how Minnesota icon and comedian Al Franken had neglected campaigning in the hood and making himself known to a community which is often taken for granted or completely overlooked. Toki insists that his community be included and he often goes out of his way to personally take people around and give them low down as to what is really going on around his way. At the same time he is no pushover or some cat begging for handouts. He talked at length about how organizations allow themselves to be compromised in an attempt to get funding. For Toki its about speaking truth and finding common ground and at the end of the day being in partnership with those who come to his part of town seeking votes or support. he also noted that every individual and organization has a role to play. For him he likes to make sure people of like minds and interests are connected and that they build something wonderful in coming together Toki talked at length about the important role musicians in the Twin Cities have played over the years in terms of setiing an example of how to be self sufficient and independent. He talked about Prince and how he supports lots of organizations while not attaching his name and remaining behind the scenes. The same goes for other icons like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Toki also talked about the important role that the Rhymesayers Collective has played over the years. tag:odeo.com,2008-11-19,23639737 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:31:50 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D davey d, ,, toki Wright, Minneapolis Hip Hop Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23635644-Breakdown-FM-Interview-w-Oakland-Rapper-Ras-Ceyon We caught up with Oakland rapper Ras Ceylon and talked to him about his new album 'Scientific Non Fiction'. It's his second album and it looks to be a monster. Among the stand out tracks are cuts he did with Stic Man of dead prez called 'Better Be Ready', 'The Damage' featuring Tragedy Khadafi and 'Many Levels' featuring Bay Area icons Askari X and Taje of Souls of Mischief. We started off talking to Ras about his background which Sri Lankan and how that culture is often overlooked and misunderstood. We also talked to him about him embracing Rastafarian and how it influenced his music. We also built with Ras about his revolutionary take on politics and why he found it important to hook up with people like Chairman Fred Hampton Jr of the POCC and have him featured on the intro of this album. Ras is a force to be wreckon with in the years to come. And for those who feel like Hip Hop has lost its sense of adventure and commitment to politic, Ras Ceylon puts those nagging doubts ... We caught up with Oakland rapper Ras Ceylon and talked to him about his new album 'Scientific Non Fiction'. It's his second album and it looks to be a monster. Among the stand out tracks are cuts he did with Stic Man of dead prez called 'Better Be Ready', 'The Damage' featuring Tragedy Khadafi and 'Many Levels' featuring Bay Area icons Askari X and Taje of Souls of Mischief. We started off talking to Ras about his background which Sri Lankan and how that culture is often overlooked and misunderstood. We also talked to him about him embracing Rastafarian and how it influenced his music. We also built with Ras about his revolutionary take on politics and why he found it important to hook up with people like Chairman Fred Hampton Jr of the POCC and have him featured on the intro of this album. Ras is a force to be wreckon with in the years to come. And for those who feel like Hip Hop has lost its sense of adventure and commitment to politic, Ras Ceylon puts those nagging doubts to rest. Davey D We caught up with Oakland rapper Ras Ceylon and talked to him about his new album 'Scientific Non Fiction'. It's his second album and it looks to be a monster. Among the stand out tracks are cuts he did with Stic Man of dead prez called 'Better Be Ready', 'The Damage' featuring Tragedy Khadafi and 'Many Levels' featuring Bay Area icons Askari X and Taje of Souls of Mischief. We started off talking to Ras about his background which Sri Lankan and how that culture is often overlooked and misunderstood. We also talked to him about him embracing Rastafarian and how it influenced his music. We also built with Ras about his revolutionary take on politics and why he found it important to hook up with people like Chairman Fred Hampton Jr of the POCC and have him featured on the intro of this album. Ras is a force to be wreckon with in the years to come. And for those who feel like Hip Hop has lost its sense of adventure and commitment to politic, Ras Ceylon puts those nagging doubts to rest. Davey D tag:odeo.com,2008-11-18,23635644 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:45:09 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D oakland rap, ,, Ras Ceylon, Oakland Hip Hop, "Davey, D' Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23620183-25-Joints-4-pt-2 25 Joints to get U Through the Day # 4 The Age of Cool is Upon us.. We continue on with this week's episode.. be sure to check out the pt1 25 Joints #4 pt 2 12-DJ Oye & Samos One ' The Word of the Hour' (Bay Area) 13-Illa J 'R U Listening' (Detroit) http://www.myspace.com/illajmusic 14-Motion Man 'w/ Mista Fab 'I Crack Tall Ones' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/motionman 15-Kool Keith 'Trees' (New York) http://www.myspace.com/koolkeith 16-Baron Zen 'Turn Around' (PBW rmx) (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/baronzen 17-Captain Rapp 'I can't Stand It' (LA) http://www.westcoastpioneers.com/index.php?id=1307 18-Dismasters 'Smalltime Hustler' (New York) http://rebelbass.blogspot.com/2007/07/dismasters-and-then-some-sure-delight.html 19-DJ Muggs & Sick Jacken 'Unorthodox Blocks' (LA) http://www.myspace.com/muggsvsjacken 20-Word Burgular 'The Route' (canada) http://www.myspace.com/wordburglar 21-Paris 'One Gun' (Bay Area) http://... 25 Joints to get U Through the Day # 4 The Age of Cool is Upon us.. We continue on with this week's episode.. be sure to check out the pt1 25 Joints #4 pt 2 12-DJ Oye & Samos One ' The Word of the Hour' (Bay Area) 13-Illa J 'R U Listening' (Detroit) http://www.myspace.com/illajmusic 14-Motion Man 'w/ Mista Fab 'I Crack Tall Ones' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/motionman 15-Kool Keith 'Trees' (New York) http://www.myspace.com/koolkeith 16-Baron Zen 'Turn Around' (PBW rmx) (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/baronzen 17-Captain Rapp 'I can't Stand It' (LA) http://www.westcoastpioneers.com/index.php?id=1307 18-Dismasters 'Smalltime Hustler' (New York) http://rebelbass.blogspot.com/2007/07/dismasters-and-then-some-sure-delight.html 19-DJ Muggs & Sick Jacken 'Unorthodox Blocks' (LA) http://www.myspace.com/muggsvsjacken 20-Word Burgular 'The Route' (canada) http://www.myspace.com/wordburglar 21-Paris 'One Gun' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/guerrillaparis 22-Honey Cut 'Aluminum City' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/honeycutmusic 23-Grime 'The Thrill is Gone' (Arizona) http://www.myspace.com/grimemusic 24-Kofy Brown 'Wanna Luv You' http:// www.myspace.com-kofybrown 25-Neomythic 'Red Clay' w/ ledisi & Rain and Seed (Bay Area) http://www.isound.com/neomythic Less 25 Joints to get U Through the Day # 4 The Age of Cool is Upon us.. We continue on with this week's episode.. be sure to check out the pt1 25 Joints #4 pt 2 12-DJ Oye & Samos One ' The Word of the Hour' (Bay Area) 13-Illa J 'R U Listening' (Detroit) http://www.myspace.com/illajmusic 14-Motion Man 'w/ Mista Fab 'I Crack Tall Ones' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/motionman 15-Kool Keith 'Trees' (New York) http://www.myspace.com/koolkeith 16-Baron Zen 'Turn Around' (PBW rmx) (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/baronzen 17-Captain Rapp 'I can't Stand It' (LA) http://www.westcoastpioneers.com/index.php?id=1307 18-Dismasters 'Smalltime Hustler' (New York) http://rebelbass.blogspot.com/2007/07/dismasters-and-then-some-sure-delight.html 19-DJ Muggs & Sick Jacken 'Unorthodox Blocks' (LA) http://www.myspace.com/muggsvsjacken 20-Word Burgular 'The Route' (canada) http://www.myspace.com/wordburglar 21-Paris 'One Gun' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/guerrillaparis 22-Honey Cut 'Aluminum City' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/honeycutmusic 23-Grime 'The Thrill is Gone' (Arizona) http://www.myspace.com/grimemusic 24-Kofy Brown 'Wanna Luv You' http:// www.myspace.com-kofybrown 25-Neomythic 'Red Clay' w/ ledisi & Rain and Seed (Bay Area) http://www.isound.com/neomythic Less tag:odeo.com,2008-11-14,23620183 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:27:16 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D davey d, breakdown fm, ,, 25 Joints, 25 Joints #4 pt2 Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23620161-25-Joints-to-Get-U-Through-the-Day-4 25 Joints to get You Through the Day #4 (The Age of Cool has Begun) This week we decided to lace you up with some nice joints that personify the new era we have just enetred in this country. Out with the old and in with the new. There's alot to celebrate. Artists like Cleveland's Jahi, Oakland's Zion I, and Tim'm West, and Detroit's Illa J, the younger brother of the late J-Dilla all have new projects that are banging. We lace you up with a dope song from Paris off his new album Acid Reflex. This joints addresses the Black brown problem in America. Trust me yiou will not be disappointed. Warning this week is straight rewind material.. Yes folks the independent movement within Hip Hop is alive and quite well so lets carry on.. Also we broke this week's 25 Joints up into 2 parts thus making it easier to download.. 25 Joints Playlist #4 01-TM Juke w/ Alice Russell 'So Good' (Brighton, UK) http://www.myspace.com/tmjuke 02-J Boogie w/ Tim'm West 'Dirty' (Bay Area) http:... 25 Joints to get You Through the Day #4 (The Age of Cool has Begun) This week we decided to lace you up with some nice joints that personify the new era we have just enetred in this country. Out with the old and in with the new. There's alot to celebrate. Artists like Cleveland's Jahi, Oakland's Zion I, and Tim'm West, and Detroit's Illa J, the younger brother of the late J-Dilla all have new projects that are banging. We lace you up with a dope song from Paris off his new album Acid Reflex. This joints addresses the Black brown problem in America. Trust me yiou will not be disappointed. Warning this week is straight rewind material.. Yes folks the independent movement within Hip Hop is alive and quite well so lets carry on.. Also we broke this week's 25 Joints up into 2 parts thus making it easier to download.. 25 Joints Playlist #4 01-TM Juke w/ Alice Russell 'So Good' (Brighton, UK) http://www.myspace.com/tmjuke 02-J Boogie w/ Tim'm West 'Dirty' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/dubtronicscience 03-Jennifer Johns 'Never Give Up' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/jenniferjohns 04-Urban Ave 31 w/ Raheem Devaughn ' Still Going On' (Washington DC) http://www.citypaper.com/music/review.asp?rid=7507 05-Jahi 'The Word' (cleveland/ Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/HOTBUTTEREDFLOWS 06-Zion I w/ brother Ali 'Caged Bird pt1' (Bay Area) http://www.zionicrew.com/ 07-Zion I 'In the Morning' (Bay Area) http://www.zionicrew.com/ 08-Zion I 'Take Over' (Bay Area) http://www.zionicrew.com/ 09-Bored Stiff 'Living Right' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/boredstiffmusic 10-Kam w/ Akon 'The New Message' (LA) http://www.myspace.com/westcoastkam1 11-Charles Baron 'Hip Hop is the Most Beautiful' (NYC) http://council.nyc.gov/d42/html/members/home.shtml ------------------------------ End of Part 1 12-DJ Oye & Samos One ' The Word of the Hour' (Bay Area) 13-Illa J 'R U Listening' (Detroit) http://www.myspace.com/illajmusic 14-Motion Man 'w/ Mista Fab 'I Crack Tall Ones' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/motionman 15-Kool Keith 'Trees' (New York) http://www.myspace.com/koolkeith 16-Baron Zen 'Turn Around' (PBW rmx) (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/baronzen 17-Captain Rapp 'I can't Stand It' (LA) http://www.westcoastpioneers.com/index.php?id=1307 18-Dismasters 'Smalltime Hustler' (New York) http://rebelbass.blogspot.com/2007/07/dismasters-and-then-some-sure-delight.html 19-DJ Muggs & Sick Jacken 'Unorthodox Blocks' (LA) http://www.myspace.com/muggsvsjacken 20-Word Burgular 'The Route' (canada) http://www.myspace.com/wordburglar 21-Paris 'One Gun' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/guerrillaparis 22-Honey Cut 'Aluminum City' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/honeycutmusic 23-Grime 'The Thrill is Gone' (Arizona) http://www.myspace.com/grimemusic 24-Kofy Brown 'Wanna Luv You' http:// www.myspace.com-kofybrown 25-Neomythic 'Red Clay' w/ ledisi & Rain and Seed http://www.isound.com/neomythic 25 Joints to get You Through the Day #4 (The Age of Cool has Begun) This week we decided to lace you up with some nice joints that personify the new era we have just enetred in this country. Out with the old and in with the new. There's alot to celebrate. Artists like Cleveland's Jahi, Oakland's Zion I, and Tim'm West, and Detroit's Illa J, the younger brother of the late J-Dilla all have new projects that are banging. We lace you up with a dope song from Paris off his new album Acid Reflex. This joints addresses the Black brown problem in America. Trust me yiou will not be disappointed. Warning this week is straight rewind material.. Yes folks the independent movement within Hip Hop is alive and quite well so lets carry on.. Also we broke this week's 25 Joints up into 2 parts thus making it easier to download.. 25 Joints Playlist #4 01-TM Juke w/ Alice Russell 'So Good' (Brighton, UK) http://www.myspace.com/tmjuke 02-J Boogie w/ Tim'm West 'Dirty' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/dubtronicscience 03-Jennifer Johns 'Never Give Up' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/jenniferjohns 04-Urban Ave 31 w/ Raheem Devaughn ' Still Going On' (Washington DC) http://www.citypaper.com/music/review.asp?rid=7507 05-Jahi 'The Word' (cleveland/ Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/HOTBUTTEREDFLOWS 06-Zion I w/ brother Ali 'Caged Bird pt1' (Bay Area) http://www.zionicrew.com/ 07-Zion I 'In the Morning' (Bay Area) http://www.zionicrew.com/ 08-Zion I 'Take Over' (Bay Area) http://www.zionicrew.com/ 09-Bored Stiff 'Living Right' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/boredstiffmusic 10-Kam w/ Akon 'The New Message' (LA) http://www.myspace.com/westcoastkam1 11-Charles Baron 'Hip Hop is the Most Beautiful' (NYC) http://council.nyc.gov/d42/html/members/home.shtml ------------------------------ End of Part 1 12-DJ Oye & Samos One ' The Word of the Hour' (Bay Area) 13-Illa J 'R U Listening' (Detroit) http://www.myspace.com/illajmusic 14-Motion Man 'w/ Mista Fab 'I Crack Tall Ones' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/motionman 15-Kool Keith 'Trees' (New York) http://www.myspace.com/koolkeith 16-Baron Zen 'Turn Around' (PBW rmx) (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/baronzen 17-Captain Rapp 'I can't Stand It' (LA) http://www.westcoastpioneers.com/index.php?id=1307 18-Dismasters 'Smalltime Hustler' (New York) http://rebelbass.blogspot.com/2007/07/dismasters-and-then-some-sure-delight.html 19-DJ Muggs & Sick Jacken 'Unorthodox Blocks' (LA) http://www.myspace.com/muggsvsjacken 20-Word Burgular 'The Route' (canada) http://www.myspace.com/wordburglar 21-Paris 'One Gun' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/guerrillaparis 22-Honey Cut 'Aluminum City' (Bay Area) http://www.myspace.com/honeycutmusic 23-Grime 'The Thrill is Gone' (Arizona) http://www.myspace.com/grimemusic 24-Kofy Brown 'Wanna Luv You' http:// www.myspace.com-kofybrown 25-Neomythic 'Red Clay' w/ ledisi & Rain and Seed http://www.isound.com/neomythic tag:odeo.com,2008-11-14,23620161 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:02:28 -0800 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D davey d, breakdown fm, ,, 25 Joints #4, The Age of Cool is Here Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23555831-Bun-B-Chamillionaire-Paul-Wall-H-Town-Allstars-Speak-Out-on-Obama The H Town Allstars have been pushing folks to do the right thing this election season as they along with thousands of Hip Hop artists attempt to turn Texas from a red state to a blue state.. With less then a week left, Bun B, Chamillionare, Paul Wall, Cory Mo and Trae have all come together to do a hard hitting song called Obama 08.. It's definitely inspiring and shows the true power of Hip Hop.. I'll let these brothers speak for themselves on this track.. The H Town Allstars have been pushing folks to do the right thing this election season as they along with thousands of Hip Hop artists attempt to turn Texas from a red state to a blue state.. With less then a week left, Bun B, Chamillionare, Paul Wall, Cory Mo and Trae have all come together to do a hard hitting song called Obama 08.. It's definitely inspiring and shows the true power of Hip Hop.. I'll let these brothers speak for themselves on this track.. The H Town Allstars have been pushing folks to do the right thing this election season as they along with thousands of Hip Hop artists attempt to turn Texas from a red state to a blue state.. With less then a week left, Bun B, Chamillionare, Paul Wall, Cory Mo and Trae have all come together to do a hard hitting song called Obama 08.. It's definitely inspiring and shows the true power of Hip Hop.. I'll let these brothers speak for themselves on this track.. tag:odeo.com,2008-10-31,23555831 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 06:34:42 -0700 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D bun b, paul wall, ,, Cory Mo, H-Town Allstars, Obama 08, Chamillionaire,, Trae, Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23530304-25-Joints-to-Get-U-Through-the-Day-Election-Special Thses are 25 Jams to help inspire you to go out and do your civic duty and cast your vote. This is a historic election Thses are 25 Jams to help inspire you to go out and do your civic duty and cast your vote. This is a historic election Thses are 25 Jams to help inspire you to go out and do your civic duty and cast your vote. This is a historic election tag:odeo.com,2008-10-25,23530304 Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:21:13 -0700 no Breakdown FM w/ Davey D Politics hip Hop, http://odeo.com/episodes/23523856-Breakdown-FM-Horror-in-Paris-Texas Horror in Paris, Texas by Davey D By now most of us are familiar with the horrific story about James Byrd, a 49 year old Black man who was dragged to death on June 7th 1998 in Jasper, Texas. for those who don't remember here's how the story goes; 'On June 7, 1998, Byrd, 49, accepted a ride from three drunk men named Shawn Allen Berry, Lawrence Russell Brewer, and John William King. He had already known one of them. Instead of taking him home, the three men beat Byrd behind a convenience store, chained him by the ankles to their pickup truck, stripped the man naked, and dragged him for three miles. Although Lawrence Russell Brewer claimed that Byrd's throat had been slashed before he was dragged, forensic evidence suggests that Byrd had been attempting to keep his head up, and an autopsy suggested that Byrd was alive for much of the dragging and died after his right arm and head were severed when his body hit a culvert. His body had caught a sewage drain on the side of th... Horror in Paris, Texas by Davey D By now most of us are familiar with the horrific story about James Byrd, a 49 year old Black man who was dragged to death on June 7th 1998 in Jasper, Texas. for those who don't remember here's how the story goes; 'On June 7, 1998, Byrd, 49, accepted a ride from three drunk men named Shawn Allen Berry, Lawrence Russell Brewer, and John William King. He had already known one of them. Instead of taking him home, the three men beat Byrd behind a convenience store, chained him by the ankles to their pickup truck, stripped the man naked, and dragged him for three miles. Although Lawrence Russell Brewer claimed that Byrd's throat had been slashed before he was dragged, forensic evidence suggests that Byrd had been attempting to keep his head up, and an autopsy suggested that Byrd was alive for much of the dragging and died after his right arm and head were severed when his body hit a culvert. His body had caught a sewage drain on the side of the road resulting in Byrd's decapitation. [1]. King, Berry, and Brewer dumped their victim's mutilated remains in the town's black cemetery, and then went to a barbecue. A wrench inscribed with "Berry" was found within the area along with a lighter that had "Possum" written on it, which was King's prison nickname. [2]. The next morning, Byrd's limbs were scattered across a very little-used road. The police found 75 places littered with Byrd's remains. State law enforcement officials along with Jasper’s District Attorney Guy James Gray and Assistant Pat Hardy determined that since King and Brewer were well-known white supremacists, the murder was a hate crime, and decided to bring in the FBI less than 24 hours after the discovery of Byrd’s remains. ' It took along time for people to put their heads around this one and with the historic presidential run of Barack Obama, many have felt that such ugly, racially charged incidents were a thing of the past. Enter Paris, Texas. This sleepy town which is 100 miles north of Dalls came across many people's radar two years ago when a 14 year old Black girl named Shaquanda Cotton was sentenced to 7 years in jail for shoving a teacher's aid. The harsh sentence for a this first time offender sent shockwaves around the country and had many comparing her plight to the 6 kids who were facing life sentences for a school yard fight in Jena, Lousiana. After immense pressure, Cotton was eventually freed, but now Paris is on the map for another incident. Last month around the time that Hurricane Ike was ravaging the southern part of Texas, 24 year old Brandon McClelland was with two white friends when a fight broke out. The ened resuklt was him being dragged to death at the back of a pick up. The carnage from his death was described as something worse than what happened to James Byrd. On our recent trip to the Lone Star state we sat down Jesse Muhammad who is a writer for the Final Call newspaper. jesse was the first to blow the whistle on Jena and is now one of the first to blow the whistle on this latest incident. He updated us on the situation surrounding the Jena 6. He talked about how Mychael Bell was in a foster home and his parents have to pay child support even though he is 19 years old. Apparently as part of a plea bargain, Bell was taken away from his parents, put in a foster home and folks made to pay. Please note rthere is no problems or beef between bell and his family. This sounds like the judges way of getting back at the family for all the Jena 6 protests. After being updated, jesse broke down the story behind the dragging death of Brandon McClelland. He talked about how Paris, authorities refusesd to classify his death as hate crime and how the parents were pressured to bury their son before they were ready. According to the reportsthe police wanted to have McClelland in the ground before any federal investigation could take place on his murder. Jesse also explained the history of Paris, Texas. Apparently this was a town that was notorious for hanging Blacks during the 50-60s at the height of the Civil Rights era. Jesse concluded the interview by noting what is currently going on to bring justice to this situation. The two people accused of killing McClean have been caught, but the real crime is the government cover up.. Here's Jesse' latest article; Activists demand hate crime probe into Black man’s horrific dragging death Dragging victim Brandon McClelland Photo courtesy, the McClelland family PARIS, Texas (FinalCall.com) - When the body of a 24-year-old Black man in Paris, Texas was discovered in the middle of a busy road, law enforcement declared the case a hit and run by an unidentified driver. Now this small racially-divided town’s worst fears are brewing, with evidence pointing towards two White men who picked up Brandon Clelland in their Dodge truck before he was found mutilated and dismembered in September. Forensics performed by the Texas Rangers found blood from Mr. McClelland and other DNA evidence on the undercarriage of the truck which has the victim’s family calling the death a “Jasper-style” lynching. The term is a reference to the murder of a Black man in Jasper, Texas in 1998. “The tied my son to that truck and drugged him until his body parts were detached,” said Jacqueline McClelland, the victim’s mother in an interview with The Final Call. “His body was so destroyed that it could not even be embalmed by the funeral home. This is a hate crime. I don’t want the death penalty for these killers because that would be too quick. I want them to suffer for life in jail without parole since I will never have my son back.” The family of dragging victim Brandon McClelland wants the case to be declared a hate crime. Photos: Jesse Muhammad The Lamar County District Attorney has decided race is not a factor in the death of Mr. McClelland because he was friends with alleged assailants Shannon Finley and Charles Ryan Crostley. Both men are 27-years-old. Angry family members and community activists, however, are demanding a thorough investigation into a possible hate crime they say parallels the lynching of James Byrd Jr., in Jasper, Texas, which is several hours south of Paris. In 1998, Mr. Byrd was strapped to a pickup truck and dragged to death by three White supremacists eventually convicted of murder. The case spurred massive protests and drew international outcry Paris authorities are trying to stunt but may have a hard time avoiding. According to a police report, Mr. McClelland was walking in front of the pickup a little after 4 a.m. on Sept. 16 when Mr. Finley and Mr. Crostley allegedly ran him down and dragged him up and down a Lamar County road until his disfigured body popped out from beneath the chassis. “I don’t see how it was racial, being as how they were good friends,” said Stacy McNeal to the local press. He is the Texas Ranger who is leading the investigation. “This was not a hit and run. They (Finley’s family) hid the truck and even tried to wash the blood off. The police didn’t even tape off the crime scene and some of my son’s body parts were still lying out there,” said Ms. McClelland, as she wiped away tears. “If that would have been a White person killed they would have handled this immediately. This is just like Jasper,” she said. Ms. McClelland added that her family was forced to have the funeral quickly due to pressure applied to the funeral home director. The family wanted to delay the funeral to allow for more investigation, she said. “He (the funeral director) was told by the police to hurry up and put the body in the ground because they didn’t want any trouble coming to this town,” said Ms. McClelland. “They took the life of my only son.” “I was awakened by our dog barking around 4:25 a.m. but I couldn’t see what occurred because our camper trailer was blocking my view from my back porch. I wish I could have seen more,” said Bobbi Baker. Ms. Baker, who is White, lives with her husband and son a few feet from the crime scene. “We think this is horrible,” said Jim Baker, who added that eight law enforcement officers live nearby so “things like this hardly happen over here and this was sad.” Scene of the crime where the dragging death took place in Lamar County. Mr. Crostley was arrested and is being held in the Lamar County Jail with a bail exceeding $500,000. Mr. Finley has waived his right to extradition from Wichita, Kan., where he was arrested. Both men are charged with murder and tampering with evidence. Suspects linked to manslaughter conviction In 2003, Lamar County D.A. Gary Young served as Mr. Finley’s court-appointed defense attorney when Mr. Finley pleaded guilty to manslaughter for shooting a friend to death. The victim in the Finley manslaughter case was White and Mr. Finely told police he was sitting in a truck with his friend when two Black men tried to rob them. Mr. Finley said he fired at the robbers but accidentally shot his friend. An autopsy determined the victim suffered three gunshot wounds to the head, but the district attorney at the time accepted Mr. Finley’s story that the shooting was an accident. He was offered a plea bargain on a reduced manslaughter charge and eventually served a little over a year of a four-year prison sentence. The alleged robbers were never found. Mr. McClelland falsely testified before a grand jury that Mr. Finley was with him at the time of the shooting. For lying under oath, Mr. McClelland was convicted of aggravated perjury and served over two years in prison. Grassroots groups on the ground Members of the New Black Panther Party, Houston Millions More Movement and the Nation of Islam conducted a fact finding mission in Paris on Oct. 5 to comfort the grieving family, interview witnesses and plan a massive town hall meeting at the end of the month. “We want justice for this family and we want these two criminals prosecuted to the fullness of the law,” said Krystal Muhammad of the New Black Panther Party. “We will be monitoring this case closely.” New Black Panther Party members met with District Attorney Young Oct. 6 and held a press conference downtown. “We are asking for an outside agency to come in and ensure that justice is served,” said party member Derrick Brown. “This is a hate crime,” said Paris activist Brenda Cherry to The Final Call. She has been working with the McClelland family. “This is just like Jasper all over again.” “This killing does not surprise me and it bears witness to the racism that still exists in Paris and other towns,” Creola Cotton told The Final Call. Ms. Cotton knows firsthand about Paris’ racial disparities. Last year her then 14-year-old Black daughter, Shaquanda Cotton, was sentenced by a local judge to up to seven years in detention for shoving a hall monitor at her high school. Just three months earlier, the same judge sentenced a 14-year-old White girl to probation after convicting her of torching her family’s house. The case drew national attention and resulted in Shaquanda’s early release. “Recently after nooses started popping up everywhere, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan warned us that these type of hate filled activities would increase,” said Deric Muhammad of the Millions More Movement, who visited the victim’s family and the crime scene. “That crime scene looked like the aftermath of a bloody lynching. If this is not a hate crime, I don’t know what is.” Related links: Have things changed 10 years after Texas lynching? (FCN, 06-19-2008) Still searching for justice (FCN, 12-07-1999) Horror in Paris, Texas by Davey D By now most of us are familiar with the horrific story about James Byrd, a 49 year old Black man who was dragged to death on June 7th 1998 in Jasper, Texas. for those who don't remember here's how the story goes; 'On June 7, 1998, Byrd, 49, accepted a ride from three drunk men named Shawn Allen Berry, Lawrence Russell Brewer, and John William King. He had already known one of them. Instead of taking him home, the three men beat Byrd behind a convenience store, chained him by the ankles to their pickup truck, stripped the man naked, and dragged him for three miles. Although Lawrence Russell Brewer claimed that Byrd's throat had been slashed before he was dragged, forensic evidence suggests that Byrd had been attempting to keep his head up, and an autopsy suggested that Byrd was alive for much of the dragging