What Happens When 33,000 Young People Show up to Talk Politics?

The mainstream media is going to have to change its narrative. How can you say that we’re apathetic and lazy when 33,000 tune in to watch the president address the nation?

On Tuesday, the League put on #BarackTalk, our second annual State of the Union panel and watch party. From hip-hop stars to journalists, the panelists discussed some of the most pressing issues of our time in the context of the speech. More importantly, twenty-somethings from around the country tweeted at a mind-blowing rate about what the state of our union is.

From unemployment to college affordability to the prison industrial complex, you spoke up; and when 33,000 people get together, the powers that be can’t afford not to listen.

What makes politicians quake in their boots is that we don’t simply pay attention to what’s going on it our world. We vote.

(Don’t forget, if you need to update your voter registration to your new address, do it online right now).

Missed the live broadcast? Check it out here.

Posted by:

The Editor

I See You Strapped Up…

I see you strapped up
ready to let your pistol loose
Jump out boys
In the black navi taking pictures
Life’s a marathon
young soldier, not a race.

What you need to do
is slow down your pace
and just listen
Ya missin the whole world
Settling for chump change
That shyt is Crumbs
And what’s even more strange

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

CJ

Conceal/Carry: Wisconsin’s License To Kill

When I got my first gun at age 22, honestly, I felt liberated. It was a power that I couldn’t compare to the voting process. Having been a DJ in some of the roughest youth social gatherings that were disguised as parties, I believed it was necessary to have. Not to mention, I lived on 17th and North Ave., which is the heart of the ‘hood in Milwaukee, WI. However, the tables turned on this young DJ and cops were involved and long story short, I don’t see a gun as a necessity.

Everyone wants to have power, which is what gun ownership is about, no matter how you look at it. If someone comes in your house where your kids are sleeping at night and terrorizes your family, you want to have the power to get that individual off your property. The same methodology could be applied to hunting and even law enforcement. As Kanye West once stated, “no one man should have all that power,” but at the same time, I don’t think everyone should have that power.

The conceal/carry law was passed a few months back and Wisconsin residents are so eager to take advantage that they’ve backed up the state agency background check process, a record 56,000 applicants to be exact. Wow, Wisconsin is going to make gun ownership trendy. Meaning, people will have guns as a means to be cool and not safe. I can actually visualize a young lady getting a custom pink gun. #SMH

We all have our differences in opinions and upbringings so my question to myself and others is:
Are we really that scared every day of our lives and if so, of who?

For more on this story, visit www.jsonline.com

Posted by:

DJWillieShakes

#NewMusic: B. Dolan x Toki Wright x Jasiri X & More “Film The Police”

“If you’re scared I’ll take ya home.” However, this is what happens when you get a bunch of artists together who aren’t afraid to speak the truth and put it on a track. This is what hip-hop sounds like and this is what democracy looks like…Truth be told, these dudes would do it w/o the beat and the cameras but the cameras is what we need to make a case these days. More rebel rap coming up!



[LISTEN] B. Dolan x Toki Wright x Jasiri X & more:

Posted by:

DJWillieShakes

Where are the black people at #OWS?

Almost three months into the Occupy movements and both white men and women have been pepper sprayed, arrested, and beaten by the police.  But what remains the pink elephant in the room is the question: where are the black people? Where are the people of color who have been disproportionately affected from public sector layoffs, increased taxes, failing schools and faulty mortgage practices? We all know the history of civil rights in America, but in case you didn’t know, African-Americans have played a major role in shaping the social justice movements of the past several decades. But where is that social power now?

#RealTalk after the jump…

Posted by:

Ife