Jesikah Maximus

New York City Settles Sean Bell Civil Suit [HHDX]

Lorenzen Wright, 1975-2010 [Slam]

50 Cent Visits ‘The View,’ Talks New Film Role in ‘Twelve’ [TheBVX]

All The Rage: Our 10 Favorite (Alleged) Steroid Users [Complex] Read the rest of this entry »

As expected, a host of rappers have already begun to speak their minds on the unfortunate and unjustified slaying of Oakland resident Oscar Grant by BART police. Read the rest of this entry »

Starting off the day the way we ended last night: with a heavier dose of injustice.

The above is a video of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Police executing Oscar Grant. Read the rest of this entry »

“Sources have confirmed with AllHipHop.com that Jay-Z is working closely with Nicole Paultre Bell, Sean Bell’s widow, to institute the trust funds for both of their children. Typically, a trust fund is regarded as a long-term, profitable program that can provide significant monies that vest when a child becomes an adult or graduates from college.”

Oftentimes, actions (and dollars) speak louder than words.

Jay-Z Establishes Trust for Sean Bell’s Children [AHH]

Previously Posted — “I Will Not Lose…”

Phonte speaks via his Myspace…

“…he would’ve been signed to a record deal.”

I know it sounds crazy, but it really ain’t THAT crazy.

It seems to me that becoming a rapper is the only way that Black male victims of our justice system can receive any sort of “justice” at all. After all, NOTHING sells more magazines and CD’s apparently than dead and/or criminally insane niggers, right?

RIGHT?

*sigh*

Conventional wisdom says that people often laugh in order to keep from crying.

But even my halfway joking in the subject line couldn’t stop the tears from falling once I heard the Sean Bell verdict a few days ago. To echo the sentiments shared by the brother Ant Springer on hiphopdx, the Bell verdict made me shed tears for the first time in what seems like forever.

The Darfur Genocide?

Absolutely horrendous, but no tears from the kid.

Hurricane Katrina?

Sadness at first, but later turned to rage as I saw how our government completely mishandled it. I was at the brink of tears, but still not quite there.

9/11?

A tragedy, of course. But once I got over the shock of seeing two planes hit the WTC on some Jerry Bruckheimer shit, and called to make sure my fam in the DC area was cool, I (like many other Black males in their early 20′s at that time) just wanted to know what that new Hov was taumbot.

The Sean Bell verdict was the first news piece that was able to break through the emotional numbness that I, and many other Americans have been dealing with in the wake of our declining empire. For the first time in my 29 years, I just shook my head out of frustration and wondered a), “When does this shit ever stop?” and b), “What the fuck do I tell my sons?” Read the rest of this entry »

Prime example of why Drew says rappers don’t need to get involved.

But I digress.

David D. expressed a need for our artists to use their voices to make sure our generation & Hip-Hop itself was heard. I’ll spare you my full opinion Read the rest of this entry »

Words By David D.

This past weekend was the biggest party weekend at Davidson College. I drank, partied and was in that zone since Wednesday night.

Then I woke up this morning and it hit me…

Those muthafuckin pigs got off the hook. No time. Nothing. 50 shots.

Usually my iPod gives me a lot of answers.

When I am getting ready for a party, Boosie does the trick. When I wanna get some work done, Illmatic is there. Pressured? Kanye. Angry? DMX.

But right now I’m at a loss.

I’ve tried everything. I flipped open some books of poetry for Dunbar, Robeson, Langston Hughes and the rest to see what the forefathers said in their trying times. It did help me a little bit, but I want more.

Amerikkka’s Most Wanted, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Some Immortal Technique, even the new Roots album, nothing. They can’t grasp the anger, confusion, sadness and loss I feel today.

On the night of 9/11, I sat in front of the television and blasted my newly purchased Blueprint. I zoned out and let the lyrics take me to a different place where these tragedies didn’t happen. Read the rest of this entry »

Words By Jason Hortillas & Contraâ„¢

Pic – NY Daily News

How ironic the title might seem.

So the cops who murdered, I’m sorry – allegedly murdered Sean Bell are acquitted. Why am I not surprised? All I’m going to say is this:

Peruse the front page of the New York Daily News website. While all three men charged with Sean Bell’s murder are acquitted, look at next headline below – “Judge Gives Max To Wesley Snipes.” So you’re saying I can make it rain with a 50 bullet barrage and go free but get the book thrown at me for a failure to pay taxes?

Amadou Diallo.
Patrick Dorismond.
The family of Maria Herrera.
Timothy Stansbury.

Now, Sean Bell.

And that’s not even the whole list, sadly. Read the rest of this entry »

Those who persevere from adversity shine brightest.

Nicole Paultre-Bell, the widow of Sean Bell – himself the victim of the now infamous murder by the New York Police Department – extends her fight to the magazine world. Paultre-Bell is featured in the new “I Will Not Lose” campaign by Jay-Z’s Rocawear clothing line along with daughters, Jada & Jordan. I’m glad she got paid for the advertisement, although the amount has not been disclosed. Left to raise two daughters on her own, the money will definitely help.

Obviously, this visual statement has kept the story going. If that was one of the goals, then Paultre-Bell has been successful.

50 Shot Bride In Paid Ad [NY Post]

Stray Shots

T Rock – Guest Appearances Volume 1

Extra Prolific – Like it Should Be

DJ Noodles & Red Cafe-Paper Touchin

Bohagon-We_Bout_To_Go_Live

Drake – Comeback Season

DJ Noodles & Red Cafe-Paper Touchin

Crooked I-St.Valentine`s Day Bossacre (Hosted By DJ`s Nik Bean & Felli Fel)

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