That's Why They Gave Ricky Ross All The Crack

nearly half of America's largest cities is one-quarter black
That's why they gave Ricky Ross all the crack
Sixteen ounces to a pound, twenty more to a ki
A five minute sentence hearing and you no longer free
-Mos Def

"What I've attempted to demonstrate in my book was how the collapse of a brutal, pro-American dictatorship in Latin America, combined with a decision by corrupt CIA agents to raise money for a resistance movement by any means necessary, led to he formation of the nation's first major crack market in South Central Los Angeles, which led to the arming and the empowerment of LA's street gangs, which led to the spread of crack to black neighborhoods across the country, and to the passage of racially discriminatory sentencing laws that are locking up thousands of young black men today behind bars for most of their lives."-Gary Webb

Years ago an article had been released concerning the CIA's involvement with the crack epidemic and their alleged use of Ricky Ross, Los Angeles drug dealer, as a scapegoat for spread of crack cocaine and gang violence in CA. In fear of being called a terrorist and being ransacked from my home I am not going to state whether or not I believe this is true because I am so not a terrorist! Damn "defense" laws.However, if this were true..how fucked up would that be. I mean that's bigger than forget us after Katrina, stop us on the highway, police brutality shit. Honestly its comparable to slavery big. I really would like to know who came up with it. Like who sat in their basement with some coke thinking why don't I just cook this up with some baking soda and see what happens..2 days later..crack is born..I mean it's liek when someone asks how did they come up with the idea for the internet or recorded music. We look at it as if we always had it but someone had to invent it.

So according to Gary Webb, among others, during the Cold War, and for the non historians..it ended in the 1980s so its pretty reccent..America was all anti-communist and was willing to support any country that shared their beliefs, in fear that the USSR might take over and spread communism to that country if the US didn't take them on their team first. So to fund the anticommunist crew in Latin America they sold crack to Americans in Los Angeles..or so they say...to Ricky Ross who then distributed it across LA gangs which later spread to other cities and states..and hence the birth of the crack epidemic and gang violence across the nation. Now Webb make sit clear that the CIA did not distribute the crack but instead practiced "gross negligence" and a blind eye to the anticommunist groups transporting it here in the states. It has even been reported that there were kilos of coke on US army planes...or so they say. Now I can't say that the CIA did allow them to start this whole drug war whateva whateva but I can say this...the crack epidemic is still in full effect and the coke gotta be coming from somewhere and it obviously it ain't all made in the states so....how is it crossing over to American soil unnoticed? We are constantly penalizing small time drug offenders while molesters and rapists run loose on the streets because thats our "thing"..'War on Drugs'..but wouldn't it make more sense to sanction the main distributors overseas if you were trying to end the drug phenomenon? Well thats if..emphasizing IF one wanted to end the spread...so if the US wants to end the spread...why do they let drugs in?...are they trying and the drug dealers are just that good?

Diaspora

Decency to 'Those People'
By Eugene Robinson

I had hoped that the response to hurricane Katrina would lead to a broad protest movement by black people. No such luck -- yet. But the draconian anti-immigrant bill passed by the House has led to massive protests by Latinos. I talk to lots of black folks who have major problems with illegal immigration and, for that matter, with Latinos in general. It's understandable because poor and working class blacks often find themselves in direct competition with Latino immigrants for scarce jobs, housing and other quality of life issues.

What those black folks need to understand is this is exactly the same kind of thinking that led poor and working class white folks to vote against their own interests when they felt threatened by blacks. Poor and working class folks of all ethnicities need to realize that we are threatened by a common enemy. NAFTA, against all mainstream ideological predictions, has led to greater poverty in Mexico. Latin American poverty is driving illegal immigration and helping to lower the standard of living for the lower classes in the USA, though it's far from being the sole cause.

The corporate oligarchy that not only runs this country but much of the world, would like to crush the living standards of everyone but themselves, because they are, at root, cheap labor conservatives. Our only hope of avoiding that fate is for all of us left out or being squeezed out of the American Dream, black, brown, Asian, white, Native American or whatever, to make common cause with each other to fight corporate power.

Fighting among ourselves is now, and always has been, exactly what the powerful want us to do. Latinos have shown us the way to at least start fighting that power. All of us need to get, not behind them, but beside them. Together, we'll have a fighting chance.

this was in response to that post but really in response to many posts I've seen and decided to just make my reply the post...enjoy

"What those black folks need to understand"..wowww lets step aside and note the demeaning attitude and bill cosby flashback...

first off you generalize too much...there are large groups of BLack immigrants rallying..not just latinos..latinos are just the majority of all immigrants so you blindly make immigrants synonymous with being latino..not cool

back to the generalization..suddenly when a large group of people native to the new orleans area gets shafted it becomes a BLack the issue..why not an AMerican issue where everyone joins the movement instead of asking BLacks..'what are YOUR people going to do about it?'..how about what are
WE going to do about it as a nation...truthfully no one is going to rally about something that doenbs't directly affect them..i.e. if you weren't one of the lost black souls of new orleans..but still happen to be Black..odds are you will care but not feel affected enough to skip work and picket the statehouse...

..the only reason you feel Latinos are the only ones standing up for their people is because the majority of Latinos are or are of close relation to immigrants so consequently they are directly affected and will take direct action...nobody cares to rally on gun control until it's their sister who gets shot or until its their community thats riddled with bullet holes..this is just one of the negative side affects of human nature and americanism..not just a 'Black people don't know when to act' issue..


..oh and if you really want to rant...make sure you include everyone and not just the 'ouu look at me words' like BLack and Latino because there are substantial amounts of immigrants within European and Asian countries in america who should and do care about their own wellbeing..are you gonna look for yellow and white faces during the next rally too?

How To Write A Politcal Poem

However it begins, it's gotta be loud
and then it's gotta get a little bit louder.
Because this is how you write a political poem
and how you deliver it with power.

Mix current events with platitudes of empowerment.
Wrap up in rhyme or rhyme it up in rap until it sounds true.

Glare until it sinks in.

Because somewhere in Florida, votes are still being counted.
I said somewhere in Florida, votes are still being counted!

See, that's the Hook, and you gotta' have a Hook.
More than the look, it's the hook that is the most important part.
The hook has to hit and the hook's gotta fit.
Hook's gotta hit hard in the heart.

Because somewhere in Florida, votes are still being counted.

And Dick Cheney is peeing all over himself in spasmodic delight.
Make fun of politicians, it's easy, especially with Republicans
like Rudy Giuliani, Colin Powell, and . . . Al Gore.
Create fatuous juxtapositions of personalities and political philosophies
as if communism were the opposite of democracy,
as if we needed Darth Vader, not Ralph Nader.

Peep this: When I say "Call,"
you all say, "Response."

Call! Response! Call! Response! Call!

Amazing Grace, how sweet the—

Stop in the middle of a song that everyone knows and loves.
This will give your poem a sense of urgency.
Because there is always a sense of urgency in a political poem.
There is no time to waste!
Corruption doesn't have a curfew,
greed doesn't care what color you are
and the New York City Police Department
is filled with people who wear guns on their hips
and carry metal badges pinned over their hearts.
Injustice isn't injustice it's just in us as we are just in ice.
That's the only alienation of this alien nation
in which you either fight for freedom
or else you are free and dumb!

And even as I say this somewhere in Florida, votes are still being counted.

And it makes me wanna beat box!

Because I have seen the disintegration of gentrification
and can speak with great articulation
about cosmic constellations, and atomic radiation.
I've seen D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation
but preferred 101 Dalmations.
Like a cross examination, I will give you the explanation
of why SlamNation is the ultimate manifestation
of poetic masturbation and egotistical ejaculation.

And maybe they are still counting votes somewhere in Florida,
but by the time you get to the end of the poem it won't matter anymore.

Because all you have to do is close your eyes,
lower your voice, and end by saying:

the same line three times,
the same line three times,
the same line three times.

-Taylor Mali


i.e. la inspiracion for my subtitle

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political, politics, poem, taylor mali, spoken word, slam poetry, poetry, florida, recount, vote, al gore, inspiration

The Rape Over: Mainstream’s Assault on the Black Noise

“Listen
All white men is runnin this rap shit
Corporate force's runnin this rap shit
Some tall Israeli is runnin this rap shit
We poke out our asses for a chance to cash in
Cocaine, is runnin this rap shit
'Dro, 'yac and E-pills is runnin this rap shit

The rape over, turn your face over nigga
No god in disguise it's me, game over”-“The Rape Over”-Mos Def

Throughout history the mainstream has been known to pursue Black Music as a corporate cash cow and in the quest for money have had the tendency to disregard the roots and essence of the music in order to capitalize off the sort. First it was Gospel then Blues followed by Jazz, Rock n Roll, Motown, Disco, Funk and Soul. All those genres were created within the Black/Inner city community and were later exploited into the mainstream by money hungry Corporate America. Many prove to say that making “Black music,” formally known as race music, commercial would break down many racial barriers and bring tolerance. But at what cost? In the case of Hip Hop, a culture based on the four elements of Break dancing, Djing, Graffiti and Rap, commercialism broke down racial barriers within the youth; Yes, but only due to the White youth’s gravitational interest to a misrepresented “rebel without a cause” image of Black and Latino Culture that was created and pushed by the Media and lucrative businesses.

As Mainstream involvement increased, creativity, individuality, purpose and skill took a back seat to sales and meeting demographics. The new image required of the artists by the corporate labels consisted of negativity and the confirmation and even creation of derogatory stereotypes of Black and Latino Culture. Today, the Rap music industry is disastrous and has even been coined the “present day slave plantation” for the way labels and the media force artists to fit a dreadful mold of a top seller and withhold some of the artists’ revenue for themselves. Such a great and drastic change causes an immense need for reformation by the few mainstream artists who have chosen to sacrifice the fame and fortune of the big labels to stay true to the essence of their culture.

Many are quick to blame the artists for being careless, ignorant or greedy, however that is far from the truth. It is not the fault of the artists but the fault of Corporate America and the Media for enforcing negative requirements for their art which in turn degraded Hip Hop and Black/Latino culture creating a derogatory, false representation and great need for reformation.


yea so this was the intro from my thesis from my junior yr of...hs...wish i had kept it some where because I only found bits and pieces from my old email account but the point still stands..amerika is retarded.


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Use Your Imagination

ok i'm posting this because I like that one thing I said about "deepness"..I was really being synnical but it ended up being subtitle worthy in my half honest opinion..

ITS NOT OKAY!!!!: Yea..Random ppl don needa b readin bout our personal fun time
ITS NOT OKAY!!!!: Bit too graphic..
me: graphic?
ITS NOT OKAY!!!!: mhm..deep..intense..etc etc
me: deep..i wish...that takes too much energy and imagination to do
ITS NOT OKAY!!!!: Wow even fo u?..damn u gettin old
me: lol what u mean even for me
ITS NOT OKAY!!!!: U used ta b a sexual godess in ur prime..now u strugglin wit 'deep'..u slippin big time
me: i ain't say strugglin its just "deep" is just bullshitted cliches and run on sentences
ITS NOT OKAY!!!!: ....Wow i take that back..mami's still got it
me: lol nite wayne..i got work tomorrow and a howard trip to plan!

oh and I know what your thinking..is that the ever so famous catchphrase from starved?!? why yes..and I prefer the term african american express..but naw it jus so happens to be his nickname on instant msgr.

oh and if yall haven't noticed..every post title is either a song lyric or imfamous quote..ouu betcha can't guess where they're from hah! Sike naw they are all for the most part easy..going going gone.

The Circle Of Life

Facilitator: ok we need a scene
Me: -director voice- Lion King..simba..father's dying..make it happen
D: Mufasaaa!

Just realized that I failed to mention my Alternative Spring Break experience. In short I liked it..We did shit....Planted 500 veggies for the urban farm..volunteered at the Casa Nueva Vida and got beat by an 8 yr old in baloncesto! (pretend that's upside down..oh oh and I visited a prison. How someone could keep sane knowing they were going to die in jail is beyond me. And for yall who are all for the death penalty..visit a prison, hear their story and then look them in the eye as if their life was worth less than your own. FYI: not all homeless ppl are drunk or on crack..and 50% have an education..in fact 20-30% have a college degree..ouu what now you stereotypical bastards..so next time don't beat homeless men to death like that crazy dude in boston..ok that's just sick.

Met a lot of koo people..none of which I have contact info for...-sigh-..butttt I did sign up to do more workshops and such so I will see some of them again..the rest I'll stalk on facebook.

Check My Adlib Uhh

Is it jus me or does everyone find it hard to belive that rappers who started young can't possibly claim o.g. status or anything of that nature throughout their albums. Granted there is a substantial amount of people and possibly rappers(thats up to interpretation) that have or still do live that lifestyle, I doubt Bow Wow or Lil'Wayne really lived everything they claim. I remember reading in XXL like a yr ago in the sex issue that Lil' Wayne lost his virginity when he was 13 to a prostitute in a hotel room when they were touring...oh yea thats pimp status..more like trick.. Lest you trying to say you were on the block at age 10 making waves, trust that you're on some real bullshit.I just love how bow wow went from bounce to azimiz. Last I checked he's been in the music industry from a very young age so where did you find time to earn your gangster status..cornyness purposely implied..between tours?!?

We all know that 85% of rappers lie about what they really do on the regular but some of them contradict their convictions so much that I'm surprised that heads have yet to take notice and call them out. Like how fifty says Ja Rule ain't shit because all he does is sing love songs and following this statement drops five of his own love songs with just as many bad hooks and corny, misdirected lyrics and catch phrases...but I'll leave that for another day.

And now for a Pharoahe Monch PSA:

How many niggas who actually kill still rhyming
How many niggas who are actually signed still killing
And when it comes to killin the mic they ain't willin
And i'm supposed to be shook that's the shit that kills me

Yo Yeah

3:30 in the morning, not a soul in sight. We sat four deep at a traffic light talking about how dumb and brainwashed some of our brothers and sisters are, while we waited for the green light to tell us when to go.

Jazzy Sensation

Ok this is my limited Jazz playlist. Due to lack of space a lot of my music got deleted and/or destroied in their journey to my external drive but in due time I will break out the CDs and reload them onto the computadora. I'm not demanding that you go buy the CDs or download the songs but I'm just strongly suggesting you take note because jazz is one of the best soulful relaxations a sista can get without physical interventions..and that doesn't refer to the first thing to pop into your head when i say physical..but the second thing..yea you best know what I'm talking about. They are all soulfully dreamy and you practically float over Etta James and Duke Ellington. Remeber that song they always play during those classic Black love scenes like in Love Jones...yup that one. In a Sentimental Mood is timeless for a reason. Also don't pursue the songs in any particular order because their playlist order switches from day to day depending on my mood or whether I leave one on repeat. If only play count were calculated from the ipod itself rather than what's played only on the computer because then you'd get an accurate depiction of what I feel is the essence music wise but until then...


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Jazz, Duke Ellington, Etta James, Love, Float, Playlist, Music, iTunes, iPod, Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Love Jones, Black

The Rape Over

I have a personal grievance with mainstream america por lo general but in terms of music I am particularly irritated. The radio plays the same five bad songs in heavy rotation day after day all because the industry pays them off to do so. Theres no such thing as vote in or request your favorite song. If it ain't on the playlist its not getting played. I boycott BET because it stated that they wouldn't play Little Brother's material because it was "too intelligent" for its viewers. Too Damn Intelligent?!?..Are you kidding me? and they went even further to ban artists like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul because they felt it wasn't relevant to its viewers..13-19 year old Black females...wow what is the world coming too. The sad thing is the majority of that focus group couldn't give two squirts o piss bout them or even know who they are. Why we must idolize gun toting fools who run around romanticizing BLack life is beyond me. Last time I checked rap started out as self expression with a purpose for black youth..now its just a minstrel show for subruban youth.

And its not like the lying gimmick exploiting dumbasses have skill. It would be one thing if you used metaphors and styles so skilled and unique that I neglected their content for its poetic ability. They suck.point.blank.period. The dumb are mostly intrigued by the drum..a beat makes a song..not an artist. Let me tell you if I reviewed albums I'd have two seperate ratings..one would be for the lyrical ability/flow of the artist and the other would be for the production. Producers dont get half the credit they deserve. Songs make money because of their beat these days yet its the artist who gets the fame. I say two seperate ratings and the thrid would be the average of the two. Don't get me wrong you could be the best lyricist but if your beats are so-so, no one will give you the time of day. Its up to the producers and the artists to partner up with the best of the best to get the highest rating average. If all goes well music will be taken to the next level through a neograssroots movement.

stop, look and listen:
The Rape Over - Mos Def


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Mos Def, radio, production, exploit, the rape over, music, rap, music, industry, mainstream, playlist, radio

Digital Underground

So I had went to the SPring Welcome Day at Northeastern and decided to walk around with my friend to see what kind of stores are near campus..apparently underground hip hop has a retail store in boston..go fuckin figure...i now have a tangible oasis..spoke with the cashier guy..who was also the only staff in the whole store..and found out that it had opened in june, reccent in store appearences have included super natural and ghostface a couple of weeks ago, and they aren't hiring until september. It don't take a reocket scientist to figure out who's gonna be sending in their resume come next school year..please believe!!

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Northeastern, underground, hip hop, boston

You Know Who ELse Is BLack Star? Who? Me.

I would like to just take this moment to profess my love and admiration to Black Star..and for the ignant folks..Mos Def and Talib Kweli..they are amazing and I still waiting for their damn sophmore album which was supposed to be out like.. now! But it's aiight because I'm not so sure I'm ready to take Thieves of The Night off repeat.

They say money’s the root of all evil but I can’t tell
You know what I mean, pesos, francs, yens, cowrie shells, dollar bills
Or is it the mindstate that’s ill?
Creating crime rates to fill the new prisons they build
Over money and religion there’s more blood to spill
The wounds of slaves in cotton fields that never heal
What’s the deal?
A lot of cats who buy records are straight broke
But my language universal they be recitin my quotes
While r&b singers hit bad notes, we rock the boat
Of thought, that my man louis’ statements just provoked
Caught up, in conversations of our personal worth
Brought up, through endangered species status on the planet earth
Survival tactics means, bustin gats to prove you hard
Your firearms are too short to box with god
Without faith, all of that is illusionary
Raise my son, no vindication of manhood necessary

On and On It Seems To Go..That You Don't Know What You've Got Till It's Gone

ok tomorrow..or really later today I'm going on Alternative Spring Break it's only two days long but it's worth it. I gonna volunteer at homeless shelters and visti a prison of all places.."why the hell woulda a black man visit a prison"-dave chappelle..nuff said..should be fun..shoulder to shoulder with sheltered upper middleclass teenagers in a hood youth center..oh yes..sounds like a rockin' good time.

I'm Ready For My Close Up Mr. Deville

Aiight, so I spoke with the head of the arts dpt. and it turns out that art majors get first pick with the photography classes and my chances of being able to take it are slim to none :( Good News is..if I show the professor my portfoliio they might just let me in..Bad news is..I don't have a portfolio..nor do I have a camera..so in addition to saving for my cell, laptop, and portable record player..I gotta save for a camera too..mind you I can't save money if my life depended on it

Ego Trippin

Guess I can't go to the kanye concert at UMASS this wednesday. Apparently the venue is up to capitcity. Kanye's ego is so big that the venue can only hold up to 3 people including security and comply with fire department regulations so all sold tickets will be reimbursed indefintely. Que lastima...someone should tell him that those with ghostwriters aren't allowed to be full of themselves..or it .

ok ok I got that off my chest but on the real i love kanye..when his album leaked and BET got permission to stream it on their site I listened to it non stop. He brought good content and context as well as beats however, I keep getting the strange feeling that the fame has gone to his head. He honestly feels that his album was the best of the year, granted most artists feel that way about their own work, as they should, but did he really feel that he out did Common's album? They both are considerably good artists with distinct personalities but I feel Kanye lost some of his hunger for the game because he felt like he owned it. I mean I remember when Kanye was rated by fellow artists and producers including Common, they mentioned that he just sticks with what works rather than going to that other level. Just seeing where his creativity can take him rather than just doing what works. ex: kanye just samples for the most part and doesn't go crate digging because he thinks if it ain't broke don't fix it even though diversity and unpredictability would be a nice side to see out of Kanye. Hopefully he'll become more grounded but at this moment in time he's too full of himself. Oh and as a side note, I still think Common's Like Water For Chocolate was his best, well maybe not his best but my personal favorite..electric..ressurection etc yea they were good but Like water was grrreat.

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