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." The album was officially released Feb. 1st 2007, and on this past May 1st 2007, the news came down regarding Kenneth's execution date.
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.de
"Cruel and Unusual Punishment" - the album, was produced by the Welfare Poets. 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, Ill Sonic, 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 deathrow. 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 strugggles 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.
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.
It's now been 5 years of lies and atrocities in Iraq. If we wait for the next president, many more soldiers and civilians will be needlessly killed or maimed in the meantime. Please protest to end the occupation NOW, and ask others to do likewise. If someone you know is still undecided, please ask them to watch veterans testify in the WINTER SOLDIER hearings, MARCH 13-16. Go to ivaw dot org to learn more about the hearings. ... War, poverty, ecocide, arrogant bullying --they're all from greed and fear, which come from ignorance. But it's not too late -- we can still learn to make peace. Talk with people. Love, Eric
If you believe the war on Iraq needs to end or if you oppose imperialist government wars in general, PLEASE REPOST THIS BULLETIN Especially to any Myspace page/website/email listserv of anti-war activists
Peace & Revolution, Leigh-Anne
**Taken from FREE LEONARD PELTIER!!!! at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=208318567
Indigenous Peoples Message to the U.S. antiwar movement
We call on the U.S. antiwar movement to acknowledge that the very establishment of the United States and it's expansion was built on the genocide against the First Nations/Indigenous Peoples of the continent, along with the enslavement of African peoples & exploitation of peoples from around the globe.
Iraq (and the over 130 countries that have a presence of U.S. military) is just a continuation of "Manifest Destiny" which cleared the continent for settler colonization. Thus it's not a "mistake" of U.S. policy, but is at the core of the very foundation of the U.S. from it's beginnings continuing thru to today.
Thus, we say that the antiwar mobilizations that are taking place in March/April 2008
1)have an indigenous person opening the events ackowledging the above history and it's continuation into the present day and how U.S. history is linked to today's war(s).
2)that there be an organized and visible collective presence of contingents focused on indigenous peoples concerns at the mobilizations along with that presence being also on the websites, press releases, media spokespeople, et. al of these groups/mobilizations.
3)that the indigenous names of cities/towns in the various indigenous languages be acknowledged by also being mentioned to remind people of the indigenous origins of this land (for example "Manatay" for what is now called Manhattan) along with the peoples (for ex... Lenape (& others) and the original languages.
Thanks for being in our MySpace family. We are pleased to announce that The Cracked Door Radio Broadcast is going national on Easter Monday. Join Donnell Duncan, the author of "I Curse Death" at the following times in the following cities across the US;
1 KCNW AM 1380, Kansas City, Kansas - Saturdays at 10:15AM 2 WVTJ AM 610, Pensacola, Florida - Sundays at 11:45AM 3 WBXR AM 1140, Huntsville, Alabama - Saturdays at 11:15AM 4 WYYC AM 1250, York, Pennsylvania - Mondays at 2:15PM 5 WLMR AM 1450, Chattanooga, Tennessee - Wednesdays at 8:15PM 6 WIJD AM 1270, Mobile, Alabama - Mondays at 7:45PM 7 WFAM AM 1050, Augusta, Georgia - Mondays at 6:30PM
This is an annual event with participation from CEDP chapters across the US. The Austin CEDP will be organizing a week of activities including:
A People’s Tribunal Against the Death Penalty Tuesday, February 26 at 12 PM UT Campus, West Mall Steps We will present strong evidence against the continued use of the death penalty. Our verdict: the death penalty is dead wrong!
Is the Death Penalty on the Way Out? A CEDP Presentation Wednesday, February 27 at 7 PM At UT, NOA Room 1.116. From the Supreme Court moratorium due to a case about lethal injection, high profile cases like that of Kenneth Foster, Jr. in Texas, to abolition of the death penalty in New Jersey, support for the death penalty continues to slowly decline. Join the CEDP for a presentation that will describe these recent developments, as well as look at the CEDP's role in the struggle to end the death penalty.
Displays and tables on the West Mall Wed. the 27 in the afternoon, and at Wheatsville Co-Op on Friday early evening.
We Demand a New Trial for Rodney Reed! March and Rally in Downtown Austin Saturday February 2, Starting at 12PM at South Congress and Monroe, Northeast Corner March to City Hall Plaza Rally at City Hall at 1PM (Lavaca and Cesar Chavez)
Featuring speeches from the family and supporters of Rodney Reed.
Texas death row prisoner Rodney Reed’s case is in a critical phase, with the possibility of a new trial greater than ever. His case sits before the Court of Criminal Appeals (over which Texas' killer judge Sharon Keller presides) and oral arguments on the case are scheduled for March 19.
We need your help now to draw Austin's attention to this case and send a clear message to the Court: New trial for Rodney Reed!
In recent weeks, there has been a lot of media around the case. Rodney's defense has long posited that another suspect in the initial investigation is responsible. That suspect, Georgetown police officer Jimmy Fennell was recently indicted for rape and other charges.
Here is a good article on recent developments: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/01/07/0107fennell.html
Rodney's case is currently in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and one goal of the CEDP has been to win a new trial. Your participation in the march is needed to bring us one step closer to winning justice for Rodney Reed!
Hey There, Thanks so much for the Add. You are right:WHERE IS THE JUSICE ??? NO JUSTICE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE. Bless you all Greetings from Germany MAYDAY*
Kein halbgarer Mixtape-Scheiß, keine B-Seiten Ansammlung, sondern ein 25 Tracks starkes Album mit über einer Stunde Spielzeit!
Ausschließlich neues, exklusives Material mit Beats aus eigenem Hause, plus einem Beitrag von Bennett On, sowie insgesamt drei Remixe von Der Battler, Elbis und Mystik Manners. Features kommen von Al Petschino, Carina, Cuebic, endlizZ, Kaspah Hausa, Konse und Migo.
Ladet es euch jetzt runter, hört es durch, immer wieder, und verbreitet es.
Hi ! thx for the add and much respect for your fight against bullshit and nonsense ! I don't understand everything but I heard about Mummia's case ! America is a beautiful country... for rich people ! that's all ! too many injustice around the country ! Keep the fist high ! ! ! France sucks in many ways but not so much ! Peace and love for those who cares about justice and equality !
