GZA The Genius Lectures at Harvard + Gets Inspired By the Scientific minds of MIT for new LP to be Released 2012

Wu-Tang is arguably one of the best things to ever happen to hip-hop and GZA is arguably one of the best lyricists to come out of the Wu Clan thanks to his classic solo effort, Liquid Swords. The wordsmith who has graced the silver screen in the conversational film Coffee and Cigarettes opposite Bill Murray as well as appearances on the Chapelle Show is now headed to Cambridge to lecture on his craft as a guest of the Harvard Black Men's Forum.

 GZA is currently working on a new LP to drop in 2012 on Babygrande Records, where he will visit with great minds of MIT and the Broad Institute for inspiration on the project.

Gary Grice aka GZA/The Genius, a founding member of rap supergroup the Wu-Tang Clan, will lecture about his Clan, his craft, and his creativity on Thursday, December 1 at 4 p.m. The lecture, hosted by the Harvard's Black Men's Forum, will be followed by Q&A and is open to the public. 

The Harvard Black Men's Forum (BMF) is a student led organization focused on providing a space for African-American men at Harvard and combating issues that affect African-Americans at Harvard and around the world. The current President of BMF is Damilare Sonoiki, a junior at Harvard. --Life or Death PR

 For more GZA info follow him on Twitter @TheRealGZA

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Hustlepalooza: Stop the Violence/Increase the Peace

Home to deep dish pizza, Kanye West, a dope skyline, the Oprah Winfrey Show, Harold's Chicken, Common, the 6-time Michael Jordan-led NBA Champion Bulls + so much more, Chicago is easily one of the best cities in the world! However, there is one dark cloud that continuously plagues this great city of big shoulders: Violence. Whenever traveling outside of Chicago, I proudly boast, "Chicago," when asked where I'm from. That answer is usually greeted with, "Ah, yes, Chicago, what a great city...but isn't the violence pretty bad?" Don't let the conversation go any further with me declaring the south side as home, because then I'm met with exasperation and looks of genuine concern that carefully inquire, "Isn't it dangerous?"

It's no secret that Chicago deals with a higher murder rate than the Iraq war, but instead of focusing on the violence, Terrence Randolph better known to most as Hustle Simmons who has recently felt the impact of these cold Windy City streets when he lost his brother to yet another senseless act of violence, has created Hustlepalooza: Stop the Violence/Increase the Peace Day as a call for responsibility by the Chicago community. The event kicks off on Wednesday 9.9.11 with a concert headlined by R+B star Raheem DeVaugn and will continue into the classroom of some of Chicago's public schools.

For full details visit: www.HUSTLEPALOOZA.com

Video: Recording artist GLC speaks on violence in his hometown of Chicago.

Hustlepalooza: Stop The Violence x GLC from Charlie Bressler on Vimeo.

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Prison v. Princeton: 1yr in Prison = $44K v. 1yr at Princeton = $37K

 Many scholars, social activists and ordinary citizens have been aware of this fact and debating it for years. Education is big business but it's clear that prison is even bigger business. Privatizing prisons, where corporations own or have vested interests in the number of inmates incarcerated is more than likely one of the main reasons, this topic or it's solutions remain eschewed.


Created by: Public Administration

Read more on the Prison Industrial Complex in Issue No. 8 (print or digital) or you can catch it in our FREE digital compilation issue-- a gathering of some of our best features + articles from 2007 - 2011.

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New Music: Stanza - Broadcast from Georgia (​.​.​.​to an End)

I'm being perfectly honest here, this is the first song I've ever heard from Stanza. I must admit this is a hell of an introduction to his repertoire. "Broadcast from Georgia (​.​.​.​to an End)" is a politically charged reaction to Qaddaffi's murder, President Barack Obama's announcement of the end of the Iraq war as well as the restructuring of the student loan debt repayment plan all at the same time. As I stated above, this is my first time hearing Stanza and so far I know Stanza is from Georgia, he appears to be well informed on current events and political issues, and he rhymes the way my friends and I speak in confidence. It's highly likely this will not be his last visit to the H.A.S.-It-All! Blog. Enjoy.







 

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Troy Davis Tribute by Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) - Coming Together With the Brooklyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra

Mighty Yasiin has always used his platform as an artist as a loud speaker against social injustices. This video has an awkward angle but the audio is good to go. The Troy Davis execution shook up a lot of the world and has seemingly morphed into the Occupy movements we are experiences all across the country. Check out this touching tribute by Yasiin accompanied by the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra. Put two fingers up for peace.

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Immortal Technique "A Toast to the Dead"

On this day where headlines are overloaded with reports of a NATO backed rebel killing of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddaffi, Immortal Technique drops "A Toast to the Dead" with some eerily remarkable timing. The track gives us a chance to hear some new vibrations from the ever-missed master Jedi of production J. Dilla, while Immortal Technique forays into rhymes paying revolutionary homage to those we've lost to death like only he can. Get your fists up on this one.

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Centerforce Holds Conference in San Francisco Addressing the Impacts of Incarceration

Posted by Dee P. 

Centerforce's 2011 National Inside/Out Summit, Faces of Change: People + Strategies That Make a Difference, is being held in San Francisco, the weekend of October 22, 2011 and will feature the likes of actor and activist Ernie Hudson (HBO's Oz), Chef Jeff of The Food Network, California's 9th Congressional District Congresswoman Barbara Lee and others.

[Click the image to enlarge]

Centerforce is a nonprofit organization that strives to improve the lives and strengthen the communities of incarcerated people and their loved ones.

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Musiq Soulchild is New Ambassador for Breast Cancer

By Dialika "Dee" Perkins

Musiq Soulchild recently announced his new role as an Ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Circle of Promise, a movement designed to further engage black women around the globe in the fight against breast cancer.

Check out Musiq's new video, Yes, as he shows the struggle of breast cancer and the meaning of unconditional love.

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Psalm One Continues Illuminating Young Minds Around the Country Through Hip-Hop

Posted by Dee

Psalm One

Rhymesayers recording artist Psalm One will embark on a nine-city tour (full dates below) for the ASCAP Songwriter Residency @ America SCORES, a mentorship program that provides a platform for songwriters to engage and inspire elementary and middle school students in under-resourced neighborhoods. 

In each city Psalm will spend three two-hour sessions with students: co-writing a song during the first two sessions and recording it in a professional studio during the third session. The finished songs will be included on a special compilation CD that ASCAP produces and distributes to each of the schools involved, as well as to music industry influencers. 

Psalm One knows the value of giving back to the community. A former student of Chicago Public Schools, she has volunteered, mentored and tutored students through Charm Lab, a program she started in 2008. After moving to San Francisco, she worked for America SCORES as a poetry and soccer coach and was invited to participate in her first ASCAP Songwriter Residency. She wrote and recorded a song called "Going Smart" with a group of students, ages 8-11, from Reach Academy. The song, a play on the slang term "going dumb," showcased the kids' ability to have a lot of fun and make music in an intellectually responsible way. The following year Psalm One was invited again to participate in the program, this time in her hometown of Chicago where she wrote and recorded a song called "Fly Imaginary Cars" with students from Pope Elementary School.

Listen to "Going Smart"

Listen to "Fly Imaginary Cars"

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Don't Give Up On Troy Davis

By Dee Perkins

Despite his attorneys exhausting all legal possibilities to save Troy Davis from execution, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles has denied Davis clemency. While he is set to be executed tomorrow, we must still keep fighting until there is no time left. Troy Davis has been on death row for 19 years for a crime he continuously pleads his innocence to and for a crime that has little to no evidence and a crime where several witnesses have come forward in support of his innocence.

I have personally been against the death penalty since I ever first learned of it in 4th or 5th grade, for 3 reasons. One, how is killing someone, justified by killing someone? Two, the only way we can fully be sure of one's guilt is by their own admission (and even that can be suspect due to police coercion and torture.) Three, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't it cost more to execute than to keep alive?

Not to take the attention from Mr. Davis, but recently Casey Anthony was found not guilty due to lack of "evidence" while Troy Davis' case which also lacks evidence has him sentenced to death. Witnesses say he didn't do it, yet death is still the sentence. Some will claim it's not race, but I truly believe that for Black and Brown people around the world and some others, we will always be guilty until proven innocent...and even then, as we see with Troy Davis, we will still be guilty.

I AM TROY DAVIS.

Help save his life or at least make your voice heard!

Call the Chatham County DA TODAY @ 912.652.7308 to request the withdrawal of the death warrant on Troy Davis' life.

 Artist, Chaz Guest speaks on his personal experience + painting Troy Davis:

 

Troy Davis speaks from death row:

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