Bargains in Mexico

oszie — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:29:59 -0600

Bookworm Brown is the future of Los Angeles Hip Hop. With a style best described as apocalyptic, his razor sharp lyricism excites the mind of the listener as it cuts through the mediocrity of most modern day rap.

Although Bookworm has proven himself a victorious and vicious freestyler in both organized and street battles, it’s his use of the written word that captivates the soul of the listener. His song, "Run!", based on the Luis Rodriguez novel, Always Running, was utilized as promotional material for the national Artist For Literacy Campaign. In addition to his songwriting skills, Bookworm has written over 180 television shows for the Mun2 network, won regional poetry contests and has published essays and articles for national publications.

With a Master’s degree in the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics and several years of teaching under his belt, Bookworm has been invited to perform and offer motivational messages at high schools, churches, youth prisons, retreats and charitable events. Fueled by a commitment to excellence and a zeal for all things fresh, Bookworm Brown has also pioneered Hip Hop street performances across China, Korea, Japan, Mexico and Guatemala. With rhymes driven by unique experiences, a passion for twiddling with language and a personality poised for success, Bookworm Brown is making it happen.

Bargains in Mexico
- Air Date: November 24, 2008

Dead Prez "Hip Hop"

oszie — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:00:34 -0500

Dead Prez
HIP HOP

Revolution style video directed by Brian Beletic. Ipod compatible video.

Mumia Abul Jamal -Homeland & Hip Hop

azool — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:25:55 -0500

Mumia Abu-Jamal speaks from death row. Mumia talks about hip-hop and its world wide positive influence with oppressed people....death row hiphop democracy now Mumia Abu-Jamal

The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal: An Innocent Man on Death Row
Courtesy of: www.freemumia.com

Who is Mumia Abu-Jamal?
Mumia Abu-Jamal is a renowned journalist from Philadelphia who has been in prison since 1981 and on death row since 1983 for allegedly shooting Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. He is known as the “Voice of the Voiceless” for his award- winning reporting on police brutality and other social and racial epidemics that plague communities of color in Philadelphia and throughout the world. Mumia has received international support over the years in his efforts to overturn his unjust conviction.

Mumia Abu-Jamal was serving as the President of the Association of Black Journalists at the time of his arrest. He was a founding member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Black Panther Party as a teenager. Years later he began reporting professionally on radio stations such as NPR, and was the news director of Philadelphia station WHAT. Much of his journalism called attention to the blatant injustice and brutality he watched happen on a daily basis to MOVE, a revolutionary organization that works to protect all forms of life--human, animal, plant--and the Earth as a whole.

The Scene
In 1981, Mumia worked as a cab driver at night to supplement his income. On December 9th he was driving his cab through the red light district of downtown Philadelphia at around 4 a.m. Mumia testifies that he let off a fare and parked near the corner of 13th and Locust Streets. Upon hearing gunshots, he turned and saw his brother, William Cook, staggering in the street. Mumia exited the cab and ran to the scene, where he was shot by a uniformed police officer and fell to the ground, fading in and out of consciousness. Within minutes, police arrived on the scene to find Officer Faulkner and Mumia shot; Faulkner died. Mumia was arrested, savagely beaten, thrown into a paddy wagon and driven to a hospital a few blocks away (suspiciously, it took over 30 minutes to arrive at the hospital). Mumia somehow survived.

The Trial
The trial began in 1982 with Judge Sabo (who sent more people to death row than any other judge) presiding. Mumia wished to represent himself and have John Africa as his legal advisor, but before jury selection had finished, this right was revoked and an attorney was forcibly appointed for him. Throughout the trial, Mumia was accused of disrupting court proceedings and was not allowed to attend most of his own trial. Sabo lived up to his nickname of “Prosecutor in Robes.”

The Evidence
The prosecution claimed that the shot which killed Faulkner came from Mumia Abu-Jamal’s legally registered .38-caliber weapon, contradicting the medical examiner’s report that the bullet removed from Faulkner’s brain was a .44-caliber. This fact was kept from the jury. Moreover, a ballistics expert found it incredible that police at the scene failed to test Mumia’s gun to see if has been recently fired, or to test his hands for powder residue. One of the most damning prosecution claims was that Mumia confessed at the hospital. However, this confession was not reported until nearly two months after December 9th, immediately after Mumia had filed a brutality suit against the police. One of the officers who claims to have heard the confession is Gary Wakshul. However, in his police report on that day he stated, “the Negro male made no comments.” Dr. Coletta, the attending physician who was with Mumia the entire time, says that he never heard Mumia speak.

The Witnesses
The star prosecution witness, a prostitute named Cynthia White, was someone no other witness reported seeing at the scene. During the trial of Billy Cook (Mumia’s brother) just weeks before Mumia’s trial, White gave testimony completely contradictory to what she stated at Mumia’s trial. Her testimony at Billy Cook’s trial placed someone at the scene who was not there when police arrived. This corroborates the other five witness accounts that someone fled the scene. In a 1997 hearing, another former prostitute, Pamela Jenkins, testified that White was acting as a police informant. Other sworn testimony revealed that witness coercion was routinely practiced by the police. In 1995, eyewitness William Singletary testified that police repeatedly tore up his initial statement--that the shooter fled the scene--until he finally signed something acceptable to them. The following year, witness Veronica Jones came forward to testify that she had been coerced into changing her initial statement that two men fled the scene. Witness Billy Cook, who was present the whole time, has stated very clearly that Mumia is absolutely innocent.

The Sentence
Due to police manipulation of witnesses, fabrication of evidence, and the rights of the defense severely denied, Mumia was found guilty. He was sentenced to death during the penalty phase based solely on his political beliefs. Mumia has been unjustly separated from his family for twenty-two years, with the threat of death looming over his head.

New Witnesses
In 2001, court stenographer Terri Maurer-Carter came forward and stated that in 1982, before Mumia’s trial began, she heard Judge Sabo say, “Yeah, and I’m going to help them fry the n****r.” He was referring to Mumia. This backs up evidence of judicial bias and racism in Mumia’s case. In the same year, esteemed Philadelphia journalist Linn Washington stated that on the morning of December 9th, 1981, he went to the scene to report on it--and no police were present. This backs up prior claims that police didn’t handle the crime scene properly.

The Confession
In 1999, Arnold Beverly confessed to killing Officer Faulkner. This confession is validated by a lie detector test administered by eminent polygraph expert Charles Honts. Despite concrete evidence supporting this confession, the Philadelphia District Attorney has refused to investigate, and the courts have not even allowed it to be heard. The injustice continues . . .

The Decisions
On December 18th, 2001, Judge Yohn issued a decision on the Habeas Corpus petition
in Federal District Court. He upheld Mumia’s unjust conviction, but challenged the sentencing phase (the death sentence). This means there could be a new sentencing hearing after all appeals are resolved, but the only options are life in prison with no possibility of parole or another death sentence. This is not justice. There is massive evidence of Mumia’s innocence and he should be absolutely free. Mumia’s legal team filed an appeal of this decision in January of 2002. Mumia remains on death row until
all appeals by both sides are heard.

Judge Pamela Dembe’s November 21, 2001, rejection of Mumia’s request to reopen the PCRA hearings was appealed by Mumia’s legal team. Judge Dembe based her decision almost entirely on the Peterkin case, which has just been overturned! On October 8, 2003, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected the appeal, stating that the Beverly confession cannot be heard due to time limitations. The court also stated that Terri Maurer-Carter’s testimony is irrelevant. The struggle continues.

The Movement
A broad international movement has formed in support of Mumia. Celebrities such as Danny Glover, Ossie Davis, and Susan Sarandon, world leaders like Nelson Mandela, Danielle Mitterand (former First Lady of France), and Fidel Castro, governing bodies
such as the Japanese Diet, 22 members of the British Parliament, and the European Parliament have all recognized the blatant injustice in this case and have called for a new trial at the very least. Millions of people throughout the world have taken to the streets to protest his unjust imprisonment.

Mumia’s case has been a unifying point for many social struggles because it concentrates issues vitally important to our future, such as the rise in prison populations, police brutality, the death penalty, persecution of political dissent, and the continuation of white supremacy and racism in the U.S. From death row, Mumia has continued to speak out for all who are oppressed through his journalism. He has published four books, and his weekly columns are published throughout the world. His case is one of the most important social justice fights of our time.

Land of Shadows Video - Dj Muggs Vs Sick Jacken

oszie — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:17:07 -0500

Land of Shadows video
Dj Muggs Vs. Sick Jacken

Directed By: Michael Lozano
The Republic Vision
Rebel Music Group

Just released Land of Shadows video from one of 2007 best hip hop albums. The video was shot in the streets of Los Angeles, by director Michael Lozano. The video is based on rich culutural images and the classic Los Angeles Downtown streets where Sick Jacken and Big Duke grew up.

Dj Muggs Vs Sick Jacken - El Barrio Video

oszie — Tue, 4 Mar 2008 13:34:15 -0600

Dj Muggs Vs Sick Jacken - El Barrio Video

Director: Estevan Oriol

Nas

oszie — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:13:36 -0500

Nas
Hip Hop is Dead

Tiro De Gracia

oszie — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:09:56 -0500

Tiro De Gracia
America
Hip Hop De Chile / Español

Mentes Agresivas y Sekreto

oszie — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:03:58 -0500

Mentes Agresivas y Sekreto
Imparables Mix
Hip Hop de Coahuila México

Kinto Sol

oszie — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:54:58 -0500

Kinto Sol - Hecho En México
Rap Chicano

Los Tumbados

oszie — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:47:38 -0500

Los Tumbados
Pilotos del Humo
Hip Hop from East Los Angeles

Videos