DJ Free Leonard
Berkeley, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2015 | SELF
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It was 1977, and after an eight-month-long manhunt, Leonard Peltier – an AIM (American Indian Movement) member – was convicted and sentenced to two life terms for his alleged involvement in a 1975 reservation shootout that left two FBI agents dead. Since Peltier’s indictment, there has been an innumerable amount of lobbying supporting the innocence of one the FBI’s former Most Wanted Fugitives, citing the insurmountable proof of unjust and unbalanced politics in the way that his case was handled. Meet Free Leonard Peltier: Hip Hop’s Contribution to the Freedom Campaign.
From west coast to east coast, Hip-Hop artists, both nationally acclaimed and underground, gather to contribute their artistic support on a fundraising project on behalf of Peltier. This compilation is stocked with full-length songs and short commentaries educating and bridging Peltier’s story with that of the oppression, bullying, and grave exploitations of indigenous people across the planet.What do you think?
“A Piece for Peltier from a Panther Cub,” kicks off this effort with a short introduction by Fred Hampton, Jr.; automatically we can bridge and assume often over-looked connections. Maybe what happened to AIM is no different than what happened to the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense that preceded it? A call to “Right this Wrong” by Rakaa (Dilated Peoples) and 2Mex follows the album’s introduction, while M1 (Dead Prez) teams up with Project Groundation Massive producer, DJ Child, on “Hold Your Head Up.” Most may find it quite difficult to hold anything up if it becomes popularly realized that indeed, “all this drama for Osama” was “really to enslave” us.What do you think?
But, what ever happened to Jimmy Eagle? And why was Hussein lynched when everyone was searching for Bin Laden?What do you think?
Immortal Technique – the author of Revoluationary 1 and 2, unfortunately, isn’t featured on an actual song; however, his commentary, “Political Prisoner,” provides the album with another footprint that beams light on the stark reality of the struggles that is often shunned and/or not noticed by Western society. A veering release providing the project with a nice intermission is the highlight, “When I Rhyme.” Featuring veteran-emcee Talib Kweli, up-and-comer Skyzoo, and the extremely under-the-radar Reks, politics is traded completely for rhyming just for one song. The production heard on this track is a nice change amongst such intense talk, and the lyricists present are all extremely sharp.What do you think?
“Somebody had to get used as the scapegoat.”What do you think?
The latter half of the album just flows perfectly, without interruption. From the nostalgic “Release Me” to Nikila Mama Wisdom’s “Trail of Tears,” the sequencing couldn’t have been any better. Buggin Malone – a Native American emcee from Milwaukee – brings it all home with “Peltier’s beat goes on….” – a strong track which has a backdrop that may ring a familiar bell among John Legend fans.What do you think?
As T-K.A.S.H points out, the immoral tactics of creating “witnesses” and withholding important documents on the grounds of “national security,” have been known to most that have ties to the struggles. And while Kamook (Leonard’s old friend) has probably blown through those forty-two stacks provided by the FBI for her cooperation, Leonard Peltier’s next scheduled hearing for parole isn’t until 2024, and that red pickup truck still doesn’t exist.What do you think?
Does any of this sound familiar? Does tampering with evidence, creating evidence, and terrorizing “witnesses” strike a nerve?What do you think?
Check out http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/ for more information regarding this album, Leonard Peltier, and his case.What do you think?
-Julius Thompson - Okayplayer
Artists Unite To Raise Awareness For Activist Leonard Peltier
by EDWIN ORTIZ
posted December 22, 2010 at 9:20AM PST | 2 comments
Artists Unite To Raise Awareness For Activist Leonard Peltier
From Talib Kweli to Immortal Technique, emcees have contributed music to help raise money and awareness on the wrongful imprisonment of Native American activist Leonard Peltier.
Over the years, artists such as Rage Against The Machine, Flobots and Sarah McLachlan have recorded songs to raise awareness on the wrongful conviction of Native American activist Leonard Peltier. Most recently, a group of Hip Hop artists have come together to show their support.
Free Leonard Peltier: Hip Hop's Contribution to the Freedom Campaign includes records from Talib Kweli, M1 of Dead Prez, Skyzoo, Bicasso of Living Legends and others that see his 1977 conviction as another tragic story in the road to freedom. “Human rights organizations are trying to right this wrong, but for Peltier the least I can do is write this song. It’s been over 30 years of tears and frustration since the brother stood up with no fear for the nation,” said Rakaa of Dilated Peoples, who appears on the first single “Right This Wrong” alongside 2Mex.
“Our mission is to highlight a case that clearly is an abuse of the legal standards of American justice,” stated A-Ron, the organizer of this project. Convicted in connection to two FBI agents’ deaths in 1975, Peltier was most recently denied parole in 2009. His next expected hearing will take place in 2024, when he is 79-years-old.
Free Leonard Peltier: Hip Hop's Contribution to the Freedom Campaign can be purchased on iTunes now. For more information on Peltier’s case, visit here. - Hip Hop DX
DJ Free Leonard has been organizing in the Hip Hop community to raise awareness for his 1st cousin Leonard Peltier, an innocent Indigenous man who has been illegally imprisoned for the past 39 years with hopes of Clemency from President Obama.
“My Politics” is the latest single from the upcoming “Political Party” Album. DJ Free Leonard has been in the studio to record for this album with Brother J of X-Clan, Deuce Eclipse, Makeba Mooncycle, and Multi-platinum producer E-A SKI as well as Kill The Computer and Ultra.
The upcoming album is due out 1st quarter of 2015, and is a follow up to the Chuck D(Public Enemy) co-signed “DJ Free Leonard A Struggle for Human Rights”(2013 Spit Digital Records) and “Free Leonard Peltier: Hip Hop’s Contribution to the Freedom Campaign”(2010 PCG Records) which featured Immortal Technique, Talib Kweli, Rakaa of Dilated Peoples, Skyzoo, Reks, T-Kash, 2Mex, Bicasso & DJ Fresh, M1 of Dead Prez, Mama Wisdom and more.
DJ Free Leonard “My Politics” Music Video HD Produced by Kill The Computer Directed by Mr. Tower http://youtu.be/YLaHTimm4ng
DJ Free Leonard “Speed of Life” Music Video HD Produced by Kill The Computer Directed by Mr. Tower http://youtu.be/pY3kF9wXpak
Free Leonard Peltier Free Em All! Documentary Hosted by Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr and DJ Free Leonard starring Bun B, E-40, Immortal Technique, Shock G of Digital Underground, Black Star, Akir, Dilated Peoples, Rebels to the Grain, Ras Ceylon and more! http://youtu.be/N4X2YV5ICu4
LISTEN TO FULL INTERVIEW BELOW - Siccness.net
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
DJ Free Leonard, Recording Artist & Activist, born in Oakland, California on
December 17, 1981. After graduating high school, studied the art
of Independent Hip Hop by volunteering on a street team for the Living
Legends (2001). The success led to a position managing an international radio promotional tour and simultaneously engineering a product called "T-Shirt TV," a fashion
marketing tool co-sponsored by Def Jam Records for LL Cool J (2004). In 2006, in support
of Leonard Peltier, his 1st cousin falsely imprisoned founded the Oakland branch of the
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee. Work then began to raise awareness by using Hip Hop as a medium to executive produced "Free Leonard Peltier: Hip Hop's
Contribution to the Freedom Campaign," which held #172 on ITunes Top 300
Hip Hop charts, featuring Immortal Technique, Rakaa of Dilated Peoples, 2mex of
Visionaries, M1 of Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Skyzoo, Reks, Statik
Selektah, T-Kash, Bicasso of Living Legends, (2010). After an inspirational talk went into the booth to record his first Hip Hop record as a featured keynote speaker on "Free Leonard and Mutulu," a collaboration with Mopreme Shakur, step-brother of Tupac Shakur. The success of the projects lead to independently financing a documentary and co-hosting "Free Peltier Free Em All!" a viral success featuring Mos Def, E-40, Bun B, Shock G, Mr. Fab,Talib Kweli, Immortal
Technique, and Ras Kass. Assistanted in
gathering speech samples for Talib Kweli's Prisoner
of Conscious album (2012) which never saw the light of day. The follow up album was then constructed and titled "DJ Free Leonard: A Struggle for Human Rights"(2013). Chuck D of Public Enemy heard a demo of the album and then co-signed it to his imprint "Spit Digital Records". An appearance on OLM News via cable network DirecTV was an hour long interview with DJ Free Leonard and Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr. speaking on social issues. Live performances then quickly filled the schedule including the "Indigenous Sunrise Ceremony" on Alcatraz Island in front of a crowd 3,000 people. Events throughout California with offers coming in from overseas. Ultimately the decision was made to go to Chicago, IL to film a role as "Leonard Peltier" in the Fred Hampton, Sr movie which co-stars Mos Def, Lady of Rage, Kat Williams, Scarface, Rakim and more(2013). The film is not scheduled to be released at this time. A collection of over 75 tracks were then recorded in the past two years with collaborations with Platinum Artist EA Ski, Hip Hop Icon Brother J of X Clan, Luckyiam of Living Legends connected for two songs and a music video "Power to the People"(http://tinyurl.com/m3qskf4) directed by NIk Kayoma and filmed in Los Angeles, Makeba Moocycle, Deuce Eclipse, Platinum artists Steady Mobb'n. Mr. Tower of the Whole Shabang Prdouctions filmed 3 Music videos "Speed of Life", "My Politics"(https://youtu.be/pY3kF9wXpak), "Chai Tea".(2015) "Solidarity in So Cal Tour" shared th stage with Bizzy of Bone Thuggs N Haramony, Knocturnal, and Mic Hempstead(2015). Currently making plans to release "Political Party" Album 2nd quarter including the best 15 records to fit the concept(2015).
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