A Voice Thought Silenced Speaks on Sean Bell and the arrest of Sharpton

Prodigy Speaks On The Sean Bell Verdict.

May 7, 2008 Prodigy Statement on Sean Bell  Verdict PRODIGY PREDICTED SEAN BELL VERDICT MONTHS BEFORE ACQUITTAL! New song “Field Marshal P” From New Album H.N.I.C. Pt.2 Addresses Bell Case.   Video The Song Includes Footage Filmed at Bell’s Candlelight Vigil.   (New York, NY) Well before he began serving his three-and-a-half year prison sentence, Prodigy saw it coming: The acquittal of three New York City police detectives on charges related to the shooting of Sean Bell, killed in a hail of 50 bullets from police weapons in November 2006, early in the morning on his wedding day. The not guilty verdict for the three policemen sparked a storm of protests that Prodigy foresaw when he recorded “Field Marshal P,” a song from his recently released album, H.N.I.C. Pt. 2, prior to his incarceration in March from a gun possession conviction.   Prodigy has good reason to be skeptical of the official police version of the events related to Bell’s killing, which is the eighth major incident of questionable NYPD violence against Black New Yorkers over the last 14 years. His own arrest in November of last year was marked by what he contends was an illegal search and seizure; the conviction a result of the arresting detective’s dishonesty at the grand jury hearing.  Rather than face a possible 15-year sentence – and not trusting the justice system to be just – Prodigy pled guilty and received three-and-half years.   His interest in Bell’s case isn’t just solidarity with the victim because he’s an African-American, instead he sees the acquittal of the officers as a reflection of the dishonesty, corruption and racism perpetrated by the authorities which results in police brutality against the African-American community.  On “Field Marshal P,” he and Un Pacino who is featured on the song discuss what they feel are the racial profiling tactics of police. The lyrics are poignant and timely considering the case, the verdict, and the topic of race relations which has become front and center in the presidential campaign.    There is a personal connection as well. Apparently Joseph Guzman, one of the wounded who was in the car with Bell when the incident occurred is a friend of Un Pacino’s who is featured in the last verse of “Field Marshal P.” Portions of the upcoming video for the song were filmed Sean Bell’s Candle Light Vigil in Queens and Guzman is featured on the H.N.I.C. DVD Collection which drops June 17th.    In a missive from state prison following the Bell case verdict, Prodigy says,   “First of all, rest in peace to Sean Bell and I want to send my condolences to his wife, kids, family and friends and all the Sean Bell boys – Hold your head.  We lost a lot of battles but we will win the war. The decision in the Queens courtroom on Friday, April 25 was simply a display of power. The NYPD is just a branch of corruption connected to a giant corrupt tree called the United States government. This tyrannical corrupt tree has its roots planted deep into the United Kingdom. The Sean Bell murder cover up is less about race and more about power. This evil family tree of corruption will do whatever it takes to remain in a position of power. They will put a judge who they can control on the case in order to get the outcome they want and eliminate the risk of being exposed and exposing the higher ups. I want to be very clear that all judges, DAs, lawyers, cops are not corrupt, just most of them.   “People of all races need to come together to control our government and run a giant comb through it, so we can see the filth that comes out. Right now we have a government that controls the people, instead of people that control their government. Until we can do that, there’ll be several more incidents like the murder of Sean Bell.”   He concludes by saying, “America is under a spell and we need to snap out of it.”   As a member of the rap group Mobb Deep as well as on his own, Prodigy is known for his hard-hitting, street savvy lyrics that pull no punches when it comes to telling the truth as he sees it. Since he began serving his time, he has been writing a provocative and controversial bi-weekly blog for Vibe.com, which the Los Angeles Times calls “a reliably great read.” Even from behind bars, Prodigy epitomizes Chuck D’s assertion that hip hop is “the Black CNN.” As he says, “I’m a real controversial person and a lot of the things I say may shock and scare a lot of people. But if you really read it through and really pay attention, you’ll see it has meaning. I’m just sharing my experiences and life with the world.”    H.N.I.C. Pt. 2, released on April 22, has already won praise from Spin (“completely gripping”), All Music Guide (“a masterwork”) and Vibe (“Prodigy has embraced the chaos, pain and disarray that’s cursed much of his life and used it to power an angry, pained, and ironically vital album, [He] may be incarcerated, but his music has never sounded freer”). The album’s first single, “The Life,” debuted at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart rising to the #1 position the following week. H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 was produced by The Alchemist, Steve Sola, Havoc and more and is released on Voxonic Music in association with AAO/Reality.   For more information on Prodigy go to www.hnic2.com. To view Prodigy blogs visit www.vibe.com. To download the “Field Marshal P” song http://www.aaomusic.com/field_marshall_p.htm Music Notes: Prodigy has a single on his new album, “Field Marshal P,” (track #9) featuring Un Pacino (produced by Havoc) where he and Un mention Sean Bell several times and talk about what he feels are the racist profiling tactics of the police. The lyrics to it are poignant and timely considering the case and the verdict. Prodigy recorded this track very early in Bell’s case which he was following and it’s on the new H.N.I.C. PT. 2 album so this isn’t something that the label ran to the studio to put together. Unfortunately he’s unable to be reached for interviews so we’re making Un Pacino who is featured on the single available.  Apparently Joseph Guzman, one of the victims, is a friend of his and is featured in the upcoming video of the song which will be released shortly. As you know Prodigy filmed a video for every song on the album, and it just so happens that portions of the video were filmed at the Sean Bell’s Candle Lighting in Queens. Should have that shortly. Here’s a link to the single http://www.aaomusic.com/field_marshall_p.htm

MULTI-PLATINUM GRAMMY WINNER EVERLAST’S NEW SINGLE ABOUT IRAQ WAR GRABS NATIONAL AIRPLAY

Everlast’s “Letters from the Garden of Stone,” the controversial first single from his upcoming album, Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford, is being added to the playlists of major radio stations around the country. As of May 6th, both the single and video are available on iTunes and other music sites.

 

The song is told from the point-of-view of a soldier on the Iraqi battlefield questioning the war: “Do you think I should be fighting?/Are you proud or are you ashamed?/I’m trying to do the right thing/Hope the government can say the same.”

 

Pittsburgh station WXDX (105.9 The X) jumped the gun by downloading the song from Everlast’s MySpace page and adding it to the rotation after the single was voted on by listeners as its “Pick of the Litter.” WBCN in Boston is scoring Top 5 phones, while the single is getting big phones at WJBX in Ft. Myers.

 

Everlast is not only a hip-hop legend, but a Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and multi-platinum artist. Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford will be released September 23rd on his own Martyr Inc. label, in a partnership with Hickory Records, an imprint of SONY/ATV Music Publishing, through TRP Records/FONTANA Distribution.

 

“The sound is totally different than anything I’ve ever done,” says Everlast, who recorded his first solo album in 1988 with Ice-T before busting out a platinum album with the group House of Pain and its iconic 1992 hit, “Jump Around.” “I’ve been making albums long enough to know nothing is guaranteed. But I’ve got a feeling in my bones that I don’t get very often and I like it.”

 

Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford was co-produced by Everlast with his longtime partner Keefus Ciancia, whose credits include T-Bone Burnett. It’s the logical sequel to his 1998 solo breakthrough, Whitey Ford Sings the Blues, an eclectic mix of rock, blues, country, pop and hip-hop, which cracked the Billboard Top 10 and sold more than 2 million on the strength of its crossover Top 40 hit, “What It’s Like.”

 

The following year, Everlast’s collaboration with rock legend Carlos Santana, “Put Your Lights On,” earned him a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. His last two albums were the critically acclaimed Eat at Whitey’s (2000) and White Trash Beautiful (2004).

 

More recently, Everlast was recruited by Nancy Miller, creator and executive producer for the TNT series Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter, to create the theme song for the show.

 

With the album complete, Everlast is ready to hit the road, with tour dates to be announced. He has already undertaken some “mash-up” performances with Ciancia and Cypress Hill’s DJ Muggs.

 

“I just want to go out and play to as many people as I can,” he says. “I don’t care if I sell a million records, but if I can get a million people to come out and see me, that’s even better.”

 

T.I. REVEALS HIS “PAPER TRAIL”

Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I. has unveiled early details of his much-anticipated new album, “PAPER TRAIL.”  The follow-up to 2007’s RIAA platinum-certified “T.I. vs T.I.P.” will arrive in stores and at all digital retailers on August 12th.

The multiple Grammy Award-winning rap superstar recently gave fans their first taste of “PAPER TRAIL” with the online premiere of “No Matter What.”  The track – produced by Danjahandz (Timbaland, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Danity Kane) – is currently streaming exclusively at www.StreetCred.com.  “No Matter What” is also on sale digitally via the Atlantic Records Media Store, located at http://store.atlanticrecords.com.

Today, May 7th, BET News will present an exclusive half-hour special, entitled T.I. Speaks.  In his first televised interview since a plea bargain on weapon charges, T.I directly answers tough questions from host Toure and a group of at-risk students about his life and future after being sentenced to a year in prison.  The ATL-based hip-hop icon details how the ordeal has changed his life and delivers a strong message about decision-making.  

“I must be a man and stand up and accept responsibility,” T.I. says.  “I exercised extremely poor judgment, and for that, I must be willing to pay whatever price that comes before me.”

“PAPER TRAIL” follows T.I.’s two previous #1 albums, 2007’s “T.I. vs T.I.P.” and 2006’s RIAA platinum-certified “KING.”  With an unparalleled track record of hit singles – including “Top Back,” “Big Things Poppin’ (Do It),” “Why You Wanna,” and the Grammy Award-winning “What You Know” – T.I. is without question one of hip-hop’s greatest stars.  In addition to his multiple Grammy Awards, T.I. has been the recipient of a wide variety of honors, including BET Awards, BET Hip-Hop Awards, and Billboard Music Awards.

An accomplished actor as well as a gifted rapper and live performer, T.I. has played acclaimed roles in the major motion pictures ATL and American Gangster.  He will be starring in New Line’s forthcoming For Sale, which is being produced by Grand Hustle, and will also make a cameo appearance on the new season of HBO’s Entourage.  Other film and TV projects will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

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