Wednesday, August 25th I received an accidental call from Raymond Moore, a friend of mine whom I attended MEC middle school with. He had meant to call someone else but connected with me for 43 seconds. And he said that he’d get back with me about working on some music. It had been a grip since I had seen him but it was good hearing from him because we were real close. Everyone literally loved him because he was a cool dude and he laughed at all my jokes in school and forcing me to tell more!

I just got word that he was killed last night as a result to gun violence. We are less than 24hrs away from celebrating our 6th Annual Put The Guns Down Festival in Milwaukee. I’ll be there but I’m in no cake mood. I feel like we’re gonna be doing more acknowledgment of those that we lost than the celebrating of lives that still exist. I want to remain positive but its hard. We’re losing our loved ones everyday and prayer seems to be the only solution. But God don’t help those that don’t help themselves. But we need HELP!

Please keep his family among the many other recipients of news regarding the death of their loves ones in your prayers & thanks!

My home-girl from Houston, TX is coming at us with another banging project with 18 of her latest studio recordings, complete with a very fly and thoughtful concept for cover art. As I receive Facebook notifications that remind me of this mixtape release, I think of time I spent with her while doing some work in her home town. IB is talented, hungry, and definitely, has a story to tell to those that will listen.

Fresh off the Blueprint 2 mixtape, and are you still not sold on the fact that she is capable of being placed in the same category as some of Hip-Hop Female Elite? Check her out HERE

• Turnout gaps by income and education relate to multiple factors. One such factor is a greater overall cynicism about politics in American society. Another is a sense of powerlessness among lower-income voters, who may feel that politics is for those wealthy individuals who can influence elections through large campaign contributions (or even finance their own campaigns for office). Gaps in participation also reflect election practices that disproportionately impact lower-income populations. These practices can be as specific as statewide criminal disenfranchisement laws, or as general as the often-high financial and educational “cost” of voting. For example, less- resourced Americans move more and have less permanent addresses. As a result, they will encounter more problems with maintaining their voter registration or using increasingly popular mail-in ballots. A low income may inhibit a voter’s ability to acquire transportation to the polls, and often decreases a voters’ workday flexibility on Election Day. As these populations are subject to fewer appeals from candidates and campaigns, who prefer to focus their limited resources only on likely voters, these factors continually reinforce themselves.

• Turnout gaps by ethnicity tend to reflect income, age and education gaps. Turnout gaps by ethnicity are largely due to differences in income, educational attainment and age. When these factors are equal within a voting group, gaps between white and black voters start to disappear. The voting rates of Latino and Asian-American populations (to a lesser but still significant extent) also approaches equality along racial lines when income, age, and education gaps are erased.

Or at least he loved the way he rapped so it seems. While scanning Worldstar for its rare videos that inspire, empower, or educate, I came across Pac and Big’s infamous freestyle from 1993 which was being featured as a throwback video of the week. It’s just so sad to see this and know that eventually they would fall out and participate in one of the most notorious hip hop feuds of our time.

If we’ve learned anything from these two, its to put the guns down and pick up a mic!

Minority groups have traditionally trailed when it comes to registering to vote and actually voting. In 1993 Congress enacted the National Voter Registration Act, which became popularly known as the “Motor Voter Act,” because it included provisions to enable driver’s license applicants to simultaneously register to vote. According to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, the NVRA was adopted “to enhance voting opportunities for every American and to remove the vestiges of discrimination which have historically resulted in lower voter registration rates of minorities and people with disabilities. The NVRA has brought new voices to the political process by making it easier for all Americans to exercise their fundamental right to vote.”

I remember this phenomenal verse to the Grammy Family freestyle Jay ripped a while back on Hot 97 but I just don’t remember it ever being released as a song. I know you remember it too! If you’re like me, you were wondering where the hell it came from and then where the hell did it go…Well, here it is!!! Jay-Z – Most Kingz (Feat. Chris Martin) HQ

And don’t be a hater and get mad because it wasn’t a real off the dome freestyle….it’s still lyricism at its finest!!!

Everyday Struggle

Check out the new release, ‘Everyday Struggle’ from Faith Evans new project ‘Something About Faith’ which debuts October 5th. It contains a sample from her ex-husband’s song also entitled ‘Everyday Struggle’ which was featured on his Ready To Die album. Shouts out to Raekwon for the assist and Dave Grusin who created the original version!

Click the bold link at the top for audio

Hannah is putting away childish things at a young age! Her prayer is inspirational and on point! My mother would give me away to have a good ol praying child like her lol. Everyday I find out that these kids are more amazing than we’ll give them credit. It’s a 7 minute sermon/prayer that I don’t believe is rehearsed or ‘fixed’ not to say that this young child is or isn’t capable of believing at her age. Lets just pray she doesn’t depart, when she gets older, from all her training!

“The violence has got to stop” says a woman who appears to be the grandmother of the 5-year-old young man in the video after the jump. The boy recently survived a drive by shooting after being struck 4 times.

I can’t help but think of 5-year-old kids in other neighborhoods that have the same encounters and then others in other communities where that isn’t a thought so much that if it was to happen, it would just be devastating. Obviously, the news didn’t even want to cover it because they switched to Tiger Woods. Fuck Tiger Woods! He’s stealing the air time with his antics. I thought we solved that case…didn’t his girl leave? On to the next one! What about the lil homie Terrance, that could possibly grow up and be Tiger Woods if he could escape random gunfire near his residency? *wishful thinking*

No more Tupacs! No more 50 Cents! Yes, this kid survived and what a blessing it is. It’s important that he take it as such and not grow to make a song about how invincible he is. It isn’t cool to be shot once, let alone 5 times. Our children deserve better. Lets make ‘better‘ an option.

A 4-year-old child may now have a sexually transmitted disease because of a used condom he found in an Atlanta hotel room. Carmen Jones said she is hurting inside not knowing what sexually transmitted diseases her grandson may now have. “The doctors at Scottish Rite said, if it was some sort of herpes it would last seven to 10 days, and sure enough about 10 days he started getting better, but then the blisters reappeared,” said Jones. Jones said she, her grandson and other family members stayed at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in downtown Atlanta on July 31.” - Atlanta News. Submitted by HipHopNews24-7.com

To keep it real, I’d rather take std’s the traditional way than to accidentally drink someones life juice. That’s sickening!

Mos Def is heading to Broadway in the upcoming production of “A Free Man of Color” starring alongside Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning actor Jeffrey Wright. You may remember Wright for his most recent role in the film Cadillac Records playing Muddy Waters.

The play, written by John Guare (think Six Degrees of Separation circa 1990, film adaption featuring Will Smith), is set in New Orleans 1801. Wright plays Jacques Cornet, “a new world Don Juan and the wealthiest inhabitant of this sexually charged and racially progressive city. Jacques thinks all is well in his paradise until history intervenes, setting off a chain of events which no one, much less this free man of color, realizes is about to splinter the world.”

Also starring in the film is Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey the butler from “The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air”).

“A Free Man Of Color” is set for October 21 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater in New York City.

I, personally, haven’t bought gas from BP since the oil spill just to show my support for the birds and disgust towards the companies that allowed their own greed to affect humanity and wildlife as it did just recently. Have we already forgotten?

A buddy of mine surely hasn’t who makes the comment, “If you’re looking for a morally pure vendor to buy your gasoline from, enjoy that nice fresh air as you walk, jog or ride your bike to and from work tomorrow.” When asked what he thought of the oil spill in the gulf, BP CEO Tony Hayword said. “I wish I could have my life back.” So do a whole bunch of the employees that die in your unsafe work environments, Tony!

What could I really do to let people know that I am supportive of clean energy and preserving life? I bought a t shirt that had just the right messaging and decided to wear it into one of their local establishments in Milwaukee.
WATCH to see what happens next.

For the lactose intolerant, I present to you: Black Milk!!!

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble “Someday We’ll All Be Free” feat Bilal from MIguel Atwood-Ferguson on Vimeo.

When looking at high unemployment, long commute times, long work hours, limited access to health care, poor physical health and a lack of exercise, Sin City ranks in as the most stressful city in the United States.

Las Vegas currently has 14.5% unemployment rate, the highest in the country. Though something as simple as exercise can reduce the level of stress hormones, 30% of all Las Vegas residents have not exercised in the past month. This is primarily due to the heat and desert winds which make the outdoors an unlikely place to be.

Los Angeles, Calif. and Houston, Texas came in second and third.

22.8% of Los Angeles residents said that their health was less than good. In Houston, residents work the longest hours of any city ranked, an average of 41.2 hours per week. However, it is a relatively healthy city and is below the national average in unemployment.

In Las Vegas there are not enough metro officers to police the streets and all the areas where crime occurs. Also, metro police officers respond to their own service calls instead of other areas, therefore, many locations are not patrolled, particularly parks.

Clark County Park Police Association President Tim Polk told ABC Action News that violent incidents have increased in Clark County parks and the association’s 15 employees no longer patrol those areas.

Unfortunately, that means more youth being gunned down and dying in the streets because of lack of enforcement and patrol.

Authorities are currently looking for at least two suspects and say that there is a good chance the shooting was gang related.

WTF. Speechless. Music is G.O.O.D. again….Do you disagree? Ye got a lil help from his bigger bro Jay. I’m assuming Swizz was already in the room. However they got together is beyond me but the fact is they got together and made intentional music which is rarely popular these days in the artist community. Artists are pretty much shooting and missing with the current songs they’ve been releasing.

The song switched into Snap’s “I Got The Power” and that was all i needed to hear. I, officially, cant wait for Kanye’s project to release now! If the truth be told, he broke my heart with that 808 shit!

One of my allies, Leila Steinberg, (Tupac’s first manager and life-long friend) will be facilitating “The Microphone Sessions” a 13 week course on the revolutionary, intellectual, and metaphysical ideas of Tupac Shakur, as expressed in his music, message, and movement under the moniker “Makaveli”.

In conjunction with TruthAboutTupac.com and Leila’s non-profit organization Alternative Intervention Models,”The Microphone Sessions” is casting select participants for the academic seminar.

They are looking for diverse individuals who will commit to 13 weeks of reading, researching and exploring various themes in Tupac’s music and legacy. The in-depth semester will include curriculum centered around Tupac’s literature, interviews, music, movie symbolism and political organizing. Also, there is an amazing line-up of guest speakers who were celebrity associates, close friends and family of Tupac.

Participants must be willing to commit 2 hours every Monday night from 8-10pm, as well as be committed to homework studies. Each discussion will take place before a live viewing audience and will be videotaped for worldwide distribution via major multi-media platforms and television networks.

All candidates must submit a brief cover letter (one page max) detailing your background (academic, professional, and artistic), as well as your personal interest in participating. Also, please submit a resume, a high quality photograph, and an optional 1-2 minute video (of yourself). An excerpt from any scholarly paper that you have composed for an academic setting is beneficial but not required. There will be a fair tuition fee, which covers cost of attendance and course materials. Serious inquiries only.

Contact Casting@MindOfMakaveli.com if you’re interested!

My brother has distanced himself from the hood lifestyle to pursue an honest living so that he can provide for his child but he has to deal with the neighbors in the hood that he works in. They basically keep robbing the establishment, or scoping the place out provoking employees as if they’re gonna rob it eventually (Mind you this black-owned establishment has always serviced and gave back to the community it was in). This would make anyone angry as well as uneasy. I’d suggest that he transfers but then he’s running from a problem that can find anyone anywhere. It just so happens that you can’t hide from ignorance. But I don’t want my brother to be a victim or suspect, just successful at whatever he does so this is bothering me.

At the end of the day, we’re bringing down the morale of our own community. Yea, there are some people in higher places that could have contributed or broken the cycle but “charity begins at home” like my mom used to say. We have to be the ones that initiate the change for the older and younger residents that dwell in these poverty/crime-stricken areas. YOU call it the hood but its OUR hood and its home for a lot of us.

If the truth be told, this is why some work so hard to get outta the hood and never come/give back. It’s a love/hate relationship and you rarely ever forget the hate that you experienced there. This isn’t to say that it can’t be improved but we have a lot of work on our hands fam!

So, yesterday I saw a Tweet about Raekwon linking up with Justin Bieber and Kanye West, and I was like wtf??? I mean, a Kanye duo with the 17 year-old pop star isn’t that far fetched…but “the Chef?” Let’s be honest, Rae’s swag doesn’t exactly scream Disney Channel, if you know what I mean.

But then I started thinking about it a little deeper. Justin Bieber could really benefit from Reakwon’s tutelage. After all, Bieber is from Canada. If he is going to survive the streets of America he’s going to have to really get a little more grimy. He may be rolling in the dough, but sooner or later America’s unemployed youth could turn on his happy ass. You never know, one day one of Bieber’s broke ass fans might try to jack him and he might have to tap into his inner Shaolin. I’m just saying.

So props to Reakwon for giving back to the youth of America.