Ric Nutt from Tha Wrongkind camp posted a few videos earlier giving fans an exclusive firsthand look at the video shoot for “My Flag.” In the videos, we see Game front and center with Southeast San Diego OG and West Coast Hip-Hop vet, Mitchy Slick, and LA’s rising star, RJ.
That ending, though…
Just watch.
Simply incredible. Click this link to watch the interactive video on Tidal, or watch the video in its standard form below.
More information on the concept and technology, courtesy of EgoKick:
Internationally acclaimed artist Usher recently launched a powerful video project to accompany the release of his new single, “Chains.”
The empowering track, which features the talents of Nas and singer-songwriter Bibi Bourelly, highlights the prevalent issue of racial injustice and police brutality in America.
In collaboration with the release of “Chains,” Usher designed an interactive music video experience titled “Don’t Look Away.”
Instead of starring in the video themselves, Usher and Nas chose for the visual experience to focus on the faces and stories of different victims of extreme violence and racial injustice.
Using groundbreaking interactive technology, the video tracks the viewer’s eyes while they watch and immediately stops playing if they look away from the screen.
As the viewer focuses on the changing black-and-white footage, the lyrics “We still in chains, we still in chains, you put the blame on us” repeat in the background, creating a hauntingly powerful experience.
“I chose to introduce the song through the ‘Don’t Look Away’ experience because it is important not only to feel the issue but to face it,” Usher explained.
Usher continued, “The pain and suffering that these victims and their families have endured is something we must never forget. When we look away from this problem it gets worse. To fix it, we have to face it.”
The “Don’t Look Away” experience calls attention to the stories and faces of Trayvon Martin, Rekia Boyd, Caesar Cruz, Ramarley Graham, Kendrick Johnson, Marlon Brown, Andrew Joseph, and Sean Bell, who represent only a handful of victims of social injustice.
“The reality is that racial bigotry diminishes the lives of too many people in our country,” the R&B legend explained. “We have to come together as a country to solve these problems and this is one way I can contribute.”
Usher and Nas performed the empowering single at the recent Tidal x HTC concert in Brooklyn, where they shared the stage with fellow artists Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and Jay Z.
“Chains” is the latest track from the Usher’s highly anticipated new album, “UR,” which is expected to be released soon…
With the long-awaited release of Jay Rock’s sophomore album “90059” drawing closer, Top Dawg decided to liberate the visuals for the Black Hippy posse cut, “Vice City.” I would highly recommend anyone who hasn’t pre-ordered the album yet to go ahead and do so. You won’t be disappointed.
Nothing can stop a message that needs to be heard. As many examples of literature have shown since the 20th century, not even prison. In the 21st century, however, the platforms from which prison literature can reach the People has expanded into the world of technology. Penned, recorded and filmed inside of his cell at an undisclosed Level 4 prison in California, Lil’ Spank’s “Black August” attests to this new power at prisoners’ disposal.
Here is some more info on the video from it’s YouTube descritption:
To commemorate Black August 2015, Lil Spank Booty and MaeJAH League concocted a visual experience that functions as both a music video for his new single “Black August,” as well as a collage of hundreds of years of Black history.
“Sity By Da Border” mixtape coming soon!
Produced by: Signed X
Spank is currently serving a 37 year bid on trumped up charges for armed robbery and multiple accounts of assault with a deadly weapon.
Man, man, man…what a year it’s shaping up to be for hip-hop. Now that we have two official singles, I hope this means Jay Rock’s album is just around the corner. Stream after the jump.
The sly fox is up to its old tricks again. There’s no winning with these kinds of people.
“This is why I say that hip-hop has done more damage to young African-Americans than racism has in recent years.” – Geraldo Rivera
Kendrick Lamar drops some powerful visuals to his fan-favorite single, “Alright”.
50 years after the Civil Rights movement and this is where we are today on racial equality. From Rosa Parks to Bree Newsome, it’s become very clear that anyone who dares to challenge the White power structure [status quo] will be made an example of. Shout out to Bree and the man who accompanied her for taking action.
Using his native LA as the backdrop, Jay Rock hits the streets to bring his latest single, Money Trees Deuce, to life.
What a beautiful initiative this group of students and their teacher, Mr. Mooney, started. Hats off to K-Dot for staying humble and taking time out to build with the leaders of the future. I know his presence changed many lives that day.
I find it pretty intriguing that this man, James Boulware, rolled up to Dallas’ police HQ as heavily armed and prepared for combat as he allegedly was, yet he did not hit a single target. But that’s neither here nor there, just my thoughts when I read the story. More after the cut..
At this point, I just want to know what it would take for a cop to found guilty of ANY violence-related charge in a court of law. Not only was Officer Michael Brelo acquitted of manslaughter, but also the lesser charge of felonious assault. Do you think he was he justified in his actions?
Baltimore State Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced today that all six officers being charged for the death of Freddie Gray have been indicted by a Grand Jury. They are set to be arraigned on July 2. More to come as the story develops.
Looks like karma has finally caught up to George Zimmerman. WFTV in Florida is reporting that he was just shot in the face during a road rage incident.
LAKE MARY, Fla. —
A group of protesters in Baltimore stood their ground again tonight and civilly disobeyed the 10 PM curfew currently being enforced by the city. While details of this incident are obscure, we see that one officer pepper-sprays the man, and then a few seconds later another officer comes up behind him and violently pulls him to the ground by his locks. Three officers then proceed to drag his body off the street as if removing a dead deer carcass off the highway. Totally uncalled for, in my opinion.
Joseph Kent’s newly appointed attorney Steve Beatty spoke with CNN’s Don Lemon last night to set the record straight on what Kent’s motives were for breaking the citywide curfew. He also relays a message from Kent asking that people not commit any violence in his name. For now, Kent remains in jail on a curfew violation charge.
Many viewers looked on in disbelief last night as they saw a slow moving humvee pull up beside 21-year-old Baltimore activist and Morgan University student Joseph Kent while a group of National Guardsmen suddenly descend upon him, snatch him up, and put him in the vehicle before getting in themselves. The clip quickly went viral on social media with people demanding to know, “where is Joseph Kent?”
It’s being reported that he was arrested for violating the 10 PM curfew that went into effect yesterday. Baltimore attorney Steve Beatty says Kent is currently being held at the CBIF (Central Booking & Intake Facility) and is waiting to be let upstairs to see him.
Many are criticizing the way that Kent was detained, calling it a violation of rights and likening it to blackbag kidnapping. We can probably assume Kent was not read his Miranda rights, either. I have just one question for all the pacificists and peaceful protest advocates:
Do you approve of this? What Kent did was simply an act of civil disobedience, he was not harming anyone or destroying anything, and yet he was still snatched up just like anyone else would be.
UPDATE: Good news from Steve Beatty:
When the incident first aired, many speculated the mother was hitting him out of embarrassment or punishing him for being ‘stupid’. This is partially true. In an interview with CBS News, she says she was worried about his safety since he is her only son; she didn’t want him to a Freddie Gray. She goes on to say she does not support vandalization asserting that, “that’s not justice.” This is definitely a genuine concern for a mother, so her reaction is very understandable. However, I do commend the young man for having the heart to take a stand for what he felt was right, and hope he will continue to channel that energy into positive and productive outlets in his community as he grows.
Baltimore Bloods & Pirus spoke with WBAL TV last night and clarified that local gangs did not call a truce to cause any harm to police, contrary to what the BPD has allowed to be promoted by the media. They acknowledge that although some of them are taking a non-violent stance, others within their respective gangs may not, which is a choice they do not condone, but are understanding of. The BPD and the media’s vilification of this truce and the parties involved is reminiscent of what constantly went on during the Black Panther era, and pretty much any other time Black People came together for a cause that threatened the status quo.
Photo Credit: AP/Alex Brandon
With scenes of the Michael Brown protests in Ferguson, MO still ripe in the minds of many, the clips that have been circulating of what took place in the Freddie Gray protests yesterday should not come as a surprise. In fact, they should be expected. Because when such displays of extreme disregard for human life are the catalyst for these actions, in communities where many of its downtrodden occupants already feel like they and others who look like them are walking targets, it is inevitable. Then, those whose duty it is to hold criminals accountable have the audacity to put the perpetrators of these contemptible acts on administrative leave with pay, while imposing mandatory curfews on those demanding justice and telling them how and where to protest. No, that’s not how it works. You do not get to dictate how the People choose to express themselves when your actions and/or failure to take necessary action is/are the reason(s) the People are protesting in the first place.
If we allow those whom we are protesting against to determine what is acceptable and what is not without applying any type of pressure, what is stopping these things from happening again if they feel they can contain the level of response? And if they know the People will ultimately acquiesce to their requests? Could this be a reason why we are seeing no change in the excessive use of police force across the country?
Besides police, I have heard quite a few people pass judgment on how protesters choose to express themselves. If you aren’t living in the same conditions as many of them or are so far removed from the urban community and the experiences of those living there that you can’t empathize with their struggle, then what right do you have to tell them how they should conduct their protests? How can one remain peaceful when your People have been getting harassed, assaulted, and killed by those whose job it is to protect and serve you and getting away with it for generations? How can you keep faith in the idea that justice will be served when time after time, it isn’t?
Do I condone one form of protest over another? No. I just am not naïve enough to believe that simply protesting peacefully is the only answer. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was as peaceful as they come, and he was still shot down in cold blood. Not everyone who uses aggressive action as a form of protest is a thug, hoodlum, animal, or opportunist; many of them are just tired of not being heard. If they were to take their aggression out on the police rather than their surroundings, then what would you say?
When things like social unrest start moving into areas like Downtown Baltimore, as shown in the video below, where the people of higher classes are known to frequent, clearly there is a communication barrier that exists that we all need to address, because the death of Freddie Gray is not just a Black issue, it is a human issue. To some, the Orioles game or the White House Correspondents Dinner held more value than showing solidarity with our brothers and sisters (Black, Brown, White, whatever) in demanding justice for this man’s life. And let’s be realistic, telling people to make sure they vote in the next ballot or election does absolutely nothing to help them right now. You can’t expect those being affected to just sit on their hands and remain passive until the polls open while injustice continues to plague their communities. Enough is enough. You are either part of the solution or part of the problem.
If you haven’t been keeping up with the protests in Baltimore, check this extensive article written by WBALTV. What are your thoughts on the protests and the current state of society in the U.S.?
This is a crying onions story but needs to be told.
Leo Grand, a homeless man, describes where he is spending the night as New York City braces for what’s being called a historic blizzard.
Dope. Best one he has done in a while.
STREET KNOWLEDGE 