Kenneth Haramia Foster along with Tony Egbuna Ford, Randy Arroyo and the late Hasan Shakur (executed unjustly by the state of Texas on August 31st 2006) contacted the Welfare Poets in 2004 and asked for our assistance in their individual cases and with abolishing the death penalty in general. These four brothers have been movers and shakers on death row. They are all artists, writers, thinkers and organizers on behind the walls who have fought to change things not only for themselves but for everyone else who yearn for true justice. The initial contact has led to the creation of this Hip Hop CD against the death penalty "Cruel and Unusual Punishment."
Cruel and Unusual Punishment was inspired by Texas death row inmate and activist Hasan Shakur (Derrick Frazier). This warrior struggled not only to save his own life, but the lives of any and everyone on death row in the united states. He was unjustly executed by the barbaric state of Texas on August 31st 2006.
Influences
"Cruel and Unusual Punishment" was influenced by the need to dismantle the inhumane death penalty system. Murder is barbaric on all fronts, in particular state sponsored. The death penalty is both racist and classist in its intention and application. The most important factor when determining whether someone is executed is the race of the victim. Additionally, the wealth of the defendant is directly related to whether he/she receives their due process. Death row continues to be filled with poor defendants who cannot afford their fair day in court, guaranteed in this country's constitution. These defendants are left virtually defenseless with less than incompetent attorneys against a system that is designed to murder them.
This CD is done in the memory of Hasan Shakur, Frances Newton, Shaka Sankofa, Tookie Williams, Dominique Green and everyone put to death by this demonic country and their broken system of justice.
Rayzer
The Welfare Poets
Sounds Like
Background on how the Welfare Poets got involved with the death penalty:
In September of 2004, the Welfare Poets were contacted by 4 brothers on death row in the state of Texas to come down and support them and their cause at a rally against the death penalty. These brothers were Randy Arroyo, Kenneth Foster, Tony Egbuna Ford and Hasan Shakur, who we soon found out were amazing writers, artists, prison organizers and developers of non-for-profit organizations. They heard about our group and music from behind the walls on death row and reached out to us for assistance.
We went down to Texas, attended and performed at the rally and in other venues, and began a journey to fight against the death-machine of Texas and the death penalty in general.
For more information, you can go to: welfarepoets.com, hasanshakur.com, tonyeford.com, geocities.com/randyarroyobaez and kennethfoster.org
"Cruel and Unusual Punishment" - the album, was produced by the Welfare Poets. It was also co-sponsored by The Shield Magazine (out of Hunter College, NYC) and The Campaign to End the Death Penalty (NYC chapter). This Hip Hop CD compilation features some of the most prolific Hip Hop emcees from around the country (and world for that matter). Many of the artists that appear on the album have for years been cultural workers doing the necessary work to abolish the death penalty and make real change happen.
Participating artists:
Hasan Shakur -- His song -- Gots To Know was created before he was railroaded by the Texas system of injustice;
The Welfare Poets - Rayzer, The Legendary MIC and Jamaki-Bo with music from Djibril and Jamaki (Harlem, BX and BK);
Abiodun (of the Legendary Last Poets- NYC);
HiCOUP (NJ);
Blitz (Ghana/NYC);
Hasan Salaam (NJ);
Chosan (Sierra Leone/London/NYC);
Son of Nun (Baltimore);
A-Alikes (NYC);
Tru-N-Livin (NJ);
Warclub (Cali/Phili);
Jav'lin (Amsterdam);
InI Mighty Lockdown (New Rochelle);
Hec-1 (NY/Chi);
Rebel Diaz - Rodstarz and Lah Tere (Chi);
Wordplay (Cincinatti);
JuggaBlak (Mount Vernon);
LemBoogie (Mount Vernon);
Block McCloud (Brooklyn);
Bolos (Brooklyn);
Truth Universal (New Orleans)
and Wise Intelligent (of Poor Righteous Teachers - NJ).
YOU CAN PURCHASE A FEW SINGLES FROM THE ALBUM RIGHT HERE!!!!!
Only the following 9 of the 19 album songs are available for single downlaod.
YOU CAN ALSO PURCHASE A DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE ALBUM IN MP3 FORMAT!!!!!!
This is an MP3 Download of the entire album - all 19 songs!
YOU CAN ALSO PURCHASE THE FULLY PACKAGED "CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT" CD (WITH US SHIPPING): $15
THE FULLY PACKAGED "CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT" CD (WITH INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING): $18
About Call for Hasan: Lyrics by Chosan, The Legendary MIC (The Welfare Poets), Lah Tere (Rebel Diaz), Jamaki-Bo (welfare poets) and Rayzer (welfare poets). The song was done for brother Hasan Shakur (hasanshakur.com), Texas death row inmate, activist and political prisoner who was executed on August 31st 2006.
About Hasan Shakur's track, GOTS TO KNOW, was written and recorded before he was locked up and sentenced unjustly to death row. He was about 18 years old then. The song shows where this young man mind was, at that age, and how he saw and treated women. No evidence was presented on his behalf to talk about the content of his character regardless of the family struggles he has gone through. We received the song in horrible condition, and have had a few people assist us in making it as clear as possible.
Cruel&Unusual Punishment Artists's Friend Space (Top 12)
Cruel&Unusual Punishment Artists has 3180 friends.
Thank you very much for the add! Help TIM, an INNOCENT MAN ON DEATH ROW & VISIT: www.timmckinney.org SIGN THE PETITION on: www.petitiononline.com/j4mckinn/petition.html
NO, I WON'T STAND!!!"
So tired are these feet of mine, been catering to, and working hard for WHITE FOLKS all day long
Can't wait to give rest to them, the moment when I reach my home
Oh! Good, here comes the bus
Headed to the back I am, where the WHITE FOLKS seat US
In a SECTION that COLORED FOLKS were permitted to sit, is where I perched my behind
Stop after stop, the bus was now full, no longer available were any seats MARKED with a "WHITES ONLY" sign
To STAND the passenger could not, for it was LAW that all WHITES be seated to recline
In demand of a seat the BUS DRIVER turned to the COLORED portion of the bus' dividing line
Ordering several BLACKS from our seats he did, but, to BUDGE the body of me DECLINED
NO WAY was I to DETHRONE myself to SURRENDER a WHITE MAN a seat of mine
I paid my FARE, sat in the SECTION that DISCRIMINATION had given me
Now, to RISE for a WHITE PASSENGER because in his area no seats were empty
The COURAGE of me REFUSED to take anymore of the WHITE FOLKS desecration
From my seat COMPELLED I was, and HEADED to JAIL for an INFRINGEMENT of the rules of SEGREGATION
At the DRIVER of the BUS command, off the bus, escorted I was, by a WHITE policeman
Cuffed tightly behind my back rested my RESTRAINED hands
Now in a CELL encompassed by steel bars, the MIND, SOUL, and BODY of me had to STAND
Not for a doing of WRONG, but, for SIMPLY not GIVING what was MINE to a WHITE MAN
So TIRED was I, of being STOMPED and BEATEN by WHITE FOLKS cruelty, for possessing a FACE of a DARK SHADE
To have STOOD UP for the RIGHTS of SELF and MY PEOPLE, the PRICE to obtain EQUALITY was PAID
Now, on the BUS seated RIGHT NEXT to one another
Are the PEOPLE of WHITE FLESH and THOSE of COLOR
BY: Amelia Finley Copyright:2009
Inspired by the experience of Rosa Parks
What it do???
Yo, you don't ever hit me up, that ain't right...
But yo, I just wanted to let you know about the show commin up and
also, please add the new Parkin Lot Drunks myspace....
http://www.myspace.com/imapld
HOLLA ATCHA BOY!
-ÉL
Feb 6th (Friday)
GET UR BUZZ UP, LIVE AT MALONE'S!
LIVE PERFORMANCES BY NOAH JONES, PARKIN LOT DRUNKS, AND MORE!!!!
THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT, SO GET YA TIX WHILE YA CAN!!!!
**LADIES, THERE WILL BE A $100 VICTORIA'S SECRETS GIVE AWAY,** SO DRESS TO IMPRESS.
(LESS CLOTHING IS BETTER)
MALONE'S
604 E DYER RD
SANTA ANA, CA 92705
21+/$15 DOOR/$10 PRESALE!
GET AT ME (714) 305-5284 OR ELTHESELF@GMAIL.COM
GET YOUR PRESALE TICKETS AND DRINK MORE!!!!!
%0
We're now accepting submissions for our next mixtapes, please submit your info at www.coast2coastsubmissions.com for your chance to get a spot on the next mixtape!
UK'S DESIRE McNEISH
NEW SONG UP BEST AROUND
SEARCHING FOR AN AGENT MANAGER
OR A DEAL
VIDEO'S ON PAGE WITH DESIRE AND ESTELLE
CRAIG DAVID TREVOUR NELSON
TIM WESTWOOD
DESIRE IS LOOKING FOR
GOOD PRODUCERS MANAGERS
PR ALSO PICTURES WITH RAZOR LIGHT JLS AND MORE
xxxxxx
"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." -- Thomas Jefferson
New Album out help InI spread the word go to the www.reverbnation.com/inimightylockdown page to get the single featuring M1 and trusfund.com for physical cds with artwork and full lyric booklett!! holla at the ras
thanks for the add! and thanks for everything you do! we appreciate you!
We work in the women's jail in Los Angeles. please check out our website: gettingoutbygoingin dot org
perhaps your friends might enjoy/benefit from our book: "Prison, Getting Out by Going In" --real tools for making positive choices (we can send books to any inmate anywhere)
RBG Community Connections Inc. In collaboration with The Black Star Project Presents: “Voice of the Youth” We Got Something To Say Spoken Word Open Mic at The Negro League Café 301 E. 43rd St. (43rd and Prarie) Hosted By M’Reld and Binkey of Verbal Balance And Deana Dean and Phenom Live Music August 16, 2008 & September 13, 2008 Doors Open at 5pm Show Starts at 6pm
If you or your child would like to perform please call (773) 699-0325 To reserve a space. Open Mic Slots are limited!
Primary Sponsor: (Black Star Project Logo) The Black Star Project and its Individual Tutoring and ACT Test Prep Program For more information, call (773)285-9600 or visit www.blackstarproject.org
Other Sponsors Include: (There Logos or Pic)
Sunday Night Open Mic Poetry at The Negro League Café Hosted by Phenom Live music by Dawi and Friends 301 E. 43rd St. 8pm Until www.myspace.com/negroleaguecafechicago
Wednesday Open Mic with Verbal Balance At The New Gentle Persuasions Hosted by Binkey and Ugly 8959 Ashland Ave. Doors Open at 9pm $6-10 Cover www.myspace.com/mreldandherpoetry
Friday Night Open Mic Da Book Joint (9527 S. Jefferey Ave. Chicago IL) Every Friday Night Donations taken at the door. Deana Dean Presents: The Lyrical Work Out! 8pm-12am www.dabookjoint.com
Featured Performers: From Def Poetry Jam Triple Blak (Pics)www.myspace.com/blakblakblak & Kristiana Colon (Pics) www.myspace.com/kristianacolon
Free to youth 11-19 and accompanying adults.
Since there is no cover we ask that you please patronize this Black Businesses so that we can continue to have a place for our children to express themselves!
To learn more about RBG Community Connections INC. please visit our website: www.rbgcommunity.com or www.myspace.com/rbgcommunity
RBG Community Connections Inc. www.rbgcommunity.com In collaboration with the River North Coffee Café Presents: “Voice of the Youth” We Got Something To Say
RBG Community Connections Inc. - Sponsors Tupac Amaru Shakur Birthday Celebrations professional
Monday (After Work) Open Mic Pete’s Sports Lounge Presents Pass the Mic Mondays 8pm 154th & Wentworth Calumet City http://www.myspace.com/1klovethepoet
Tuesday Open Mic at Giovannis Poetry Hosted by K.B. & June-June Sounds By D.J.E & DJ Wild Child 9pm Giovanni's 1131 E. Sibley blvd Dolton, IL 60419. 4 more info Contact Nico (708) 819-BIGG(2444) www.myspace.com/biggguyproductions
Wednesday Open Mic with Verbal Balance At The New Gentle Persuasions Hosted by Binkey and Ugly 8959 Ashland Ave. Doors Open at 9pm $6-10 Cover www.myspace.com/mreldandherpoetry
Thursday Night Open Mic PEPE'S (943 RIVER OAKS DR. CALUMET CITY, IL 60409) EVERY THURSDAY $5 COVER B4 11P (219) 981-7788 hosted by Afro Rican sister Elena Luv Music by DJ Lowe Key www.myspace.com/urbnfx414
Friday Night Open Mic Da Book Joint (9527 S. Jefferey Ave Chicago IL Deana Dean Presents: The Lyrical Work Out! 8pm-12am www.dabookjoint.com Donations taken at the door
Come out and help us celebrate Tupac’s life Let’s Blow Out the Candles RBG Style (Together) not with a wish but with a commitment that together we are going to do something to help the children in our communities with the same spirit that Tupac Amaru Shakur helped so many of us.
Saturday June 14 da Bronx/NYC Hostos Community College/CUNY 9AM-5PM Free the Cuban Five (held in U.S. prisons) regional conference http://www.freethecuban5conference.com/
PROTEST THE FIRST TEXECUTION IN 8 MONTHS: STOP THE EXECUTION OF DERRICK SONNIER!
Tuesday, June 3 at 5:30 PM Texas State Capitol, Street Steps at 11th and Congress.
Between September 2007 and May 2008 there were no execution in the United States, while the Supreme Court deliberated over the current method of lethal injection. In the end the court decided that the use of lethal injection is not cruel and unusual punishment. As abolitionist we say all executions are cruel and unusual. It's time to end the barbaric death penalty. Let's tell Texas there's…
NO RIGHT WAY TO DO THE WRONG THING!
Sponsored by Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Campus Progress, International Socialist Organization, Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Texas Moratorium Network, Texas Students Against the Death Penalty
A Broken System – Crying out For Justice 2007 – 2008 National Speaking Tour
In Austin, April 9, 2008 7 PM at UT, The Texas Union Chicano Culture Room, 4.206
Featuring Mothers of Texas Death Row Prisoners:
Sandra Reed – mother of Rodney Reed Anna Terrell - mother of Reginald Blanton Lee Greenwood – mother of Joseph Nichols, killed March 7, 2007 Chaired by Jeannine Scott – Wife of Michael Scott, in prison for life.
A “Live From Death Row” Event, with a call from a death row prisoner.
Something is wrong. What can we do? The first step to action is awareness. Come and hear these voices and together let's fight for justice.
