THE URBAN PLIGHT SHOW

E WELCOME TO THE VOICE OF THE STRUGGLE

STREETS CONSCIOUSNESS:P.XXI :THE VOICE

"MAKES
ME
WANNA
HOLLER"

Marvin Pentz Gaye

cru·ci·ble noun \ˈkrü-sə-bəl\

2: a severe test
3: a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development

Z.A Another look into America's backyard. The testament of Dashaun Jiwe Morris life bore as the crucible for the Newark New Jersey native to independently release his literary effort. As post 21st century reveals the high times of world politics, and the defining issues we confront on america's landscape from a left-wing view we become more familiar with voices of media, entertainment, and politics. The A.L.I.H.S.T series visits the "voices" of the wilderness of the inner city:

"At age 25, Jiwe, worn weary of gang culture, saw a way to reclaim his life and potentially save others through the power of the written word. At times painfully sad, "WAR OF THE BLOODS IN MY VEINS" is ultimately an inspiring testimony of hope, about humanity in the midst of evil, and turning tragedy into triumph. The book is filled with lessons for the next generation of youngsters coming up about the choices so many of them face to survive the streets, and the maturity and courage required to choose a better life"-

mosiacbooks.com

"But during a news conference on Wednesday, the association made it clear that Newark still faces sobering challenges. Although juvenile arrests on all charges have been dropping in recent years, the number of youths apprehended on drug charges jumped 66 percent in 2006, while the number found with weapons did not drop, a signs, officials said, that gang activity had an increasingly pernicious grip on teenagers here. "-

nytimes.com

Many rise daily to a reality where in a melting pot of social ills life gradually becomes a race against time and misfortune. Some individuals, to grassroots initiatives understand this; do the alternative is sought, or created. Jiwe takes one building block from his own life to issue out a caveat to the youth, and confirmation to others relative to his struggle and experience. The voice in the wilderness takes the time to cry: for one less casualty among the masses.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP 2011

THE ARCHIVE P.IX: IN REMEMBRANCE OF STRUGGLE

"ITS BEEN A LONG..A LONG

TIME COMIN'" -


SAMUEL COOK

The African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968) refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights in Southern states. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1954 and 1968, particularly in the South. - Wikipedia

Wikipedia asists thursday's A.L.I.H.S.T series, published in the wake of MLK Jr's birthday/day of acknowledgement:

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"-MLK Jr.

-The civil rights movement is one facet of social struggle. The archive focuses on the inspiration and drive of an against the grain perspective; words from MLK Jr with an early 60's journalist about american solidarity, and the seeds of his own legacy in his own words:

"Gandhi’s salt march in 1930, the US civil rights struggle in the 1960s, the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1977–79, the ‘people power’ revolt in the Philippines in the 1980s, the campaigns against apartheid in South Africa, the various movements contributing to the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in 1989–91, and, in this century, the revolutions in Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine – all have involved the use of civil resistance. So too have certain movements that have been repressed, including China in 1989 and Burma in 2007"-

Wikipedia

The above wikipedia quote lists examples/reflections of the term "civil resistance". By personal accounts the social unrest of the times propelled controversial leaders as Stokley Charmicheal(Kwame Ture), by the hungers of wanting social justice, and seeing oppression, took a militant stance through grassroots political groups, coining the term "Black Power".

Though leaders like Ture's views were radical; moving with a collective of ideals challenging capitalism to imperialism, his last years of pan-african struggle were spent on reflection's of spirituality, restoration and a sense of equality for people of any nation. In conclusion we can draw the elements of struggle of a people from history, or current events. Today's A.L.I.H.S.T.'s feature viewed as a Black history month pre-cursor; or as in the late MLK Jr's views the struggle of any people devoid of color consciousness. In any case, In remembrance of struggle was witnessed in the past, and the world stage of the present. Peace.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2011

MUSIC IS LIFE P. XIV: PHARMEKIA CULTURE

"THINGS FALL APART" -


TARIQ TROTTER(BLACK THOUGHT)



"In the early 1980s, the majority of cocaine being shipped to the United States, landing in Miami, was coming through the Bahamas and Dominican Republic.[1] Soon there was a huge glut of cocaine powder in these islands, which caused the price to drop by as much as 80 percent.[1] Faced with dropping prices for their illegal product, drug dealers made a decision to convert the powder to "crack," a solid smokeable form of cocaine, that could be sold in smaller quantities, to more people. It was cheap, simple to produce, ready to use, and highly profitable for dealers to develop.[1] As early as 1980, reports of crack were appearing in Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami, Houston, and in the Caribbean."-



Wikipedia

In ancient text there is a reference to an age or dispensation of history: the "Age of Pharmekia(Greek)". Between the stone walls of american history, from opium to meth, street drugs is clearly the greatest commodity next to industry and natural resources. From mass political distribution, to the social unrest and monopoly of ghetto street corners; street drugs issue a fleeting high, or the devastation of a community for blood money. The culture of pharmekia is one major stream in a an capitalist/corporatist society, and globally:

"Beginning with the Iran-Contra Affair, some politicians and journalists began arguing that the CIA contributed to the rise of the epidemic. Allegations ranged from the presence of drug ties to the Contra rebels, to possible direct involvement in drug trafficking by the Contras and even members of the CIA. The exact degree of awareness and involvement on the part of the CIA itself continues to be disputed. However, on April 17, 1986, the Reagan Administration released a three page report acknowledging that there were some Contra-cocaine connections in 1984 and 1985, arguing that these connections occurred at a time when the rebels were "particularly hard pressed for financial support" because U.S. aid had been cut off."-



Wikipedia







-"The love of money..is the roots of all evil", the culture of pharmekia is hand and hand with this ahporism. One example of what proves this is the current crisis of mexico; one society in an upheavel resorting to merciless acts to rivals, and the innocent in the conflicts of its leading drug cartels. Street Drugs is an international major commodity in every country..with the united states being one of the world's main purchasers. We conclude with Immortal technique telling the story through a image laced song.."Peruvian Cocaine".




THEE URBANPREISTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010.

STREETS CONSCIOUSNESS P. XII: MEMORIAL DAY

"This aint livin'...no.. no no no"-

Marvin Pentz Gaye



"The Sean Bell shooting incident took place in the New York City borough of Queens on November 25, 2006, in which 3 men were shot a total of fifty times by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers, killing one of the men, Sean Bell, on the morning after his bachelor party, and severely wounding two of his friends.[1] The incident sparked fierce criticism of the police from some members of the public and drew comparisons to the 1999 killing of Amadou Diallo.[2] Three of the five detectives involved in the shooting went to trial[3] on charges ranging from manslaughter to reckless endangerment, and were found not guilty."-

Wikipedia

Bell family, friends share $7M-

BY TONIA N. CIMINO
Monday, August 2, 2010 6:30 PM EDT
It’s been nearly four years since Sean Bell was killed in a hail of 50 police bullets – and his two friends injured – and now a settlement has awarded his estate $3.25 million.On Tuesday, July 27, a judge in Brooklyn Federal Court also gave $3 million to Joseph Guzman, struck 11 times; and $900,000 to Trent Benefield, who was shot three times in the legs and buttock that fateful night in November 2006."-

http://www.queenscourier.com/


"Retrospect for life"- a song title coined by artist common in 1997 bears the theme of thursday's spot. The sean bell case is nationally known, exceptionally in new york city. The above excerpt from a queens new york publication gives the recent updates to the case, now several years later. Though issues of racial profiling and police brutality are not new to america, one highlight of sean bell's case is that the tragedy brought the community together in the wake of the outrage of the verdict. Years later, even with national cases like sean bell raging in the modern day, in retrospect we see some of the harvest it brought:

Styles P(D block) views:

THE YOUTH:

-We close with a stream of streets consciousness; a gem from reflection eternal's "Revolutions per minute"

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010

____________________________________________________

POST SCRIPTS:

"IJSN is a growing international network of Jews whose Jewish identities are not based on Zionism but on a plurality of histories and experiences. We share a commitment to participation in the legacy of struggles against colonization and imperialism. As such, we struggle against Zionism and its manifestation in the State of Israel’s historic and ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people and the confiscation of their land. "

-The persecution of palestinians by the zionist movement is an injustice witnessed globally.. Hit

http://www.ijsn.net/ FOR MORE INFO-

ZIONLIBERATION NETWORK(IJSN.NET)

LANGUAGE OF ONE P.XI: ASIAN TOUNGUE

"ONE MORE MORNING"

-RITA ANDERSON MARLEY

"Since the end of the 20th century, pop music in mainland China started to become more popular. Especially at the start of the 21st century, Mainland Chinese artists have started producing a wide range of mandarin pop songs along with many new albums.

Many mainland Chinese, Taiwanese and Hong Kong artists performed for the promotion of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Hip hop and rap
Main articles: Chinese rap, Hong Kong hip hop, Taiwanese hip hop
Mandarin rap music gradually became popular in mainland China, especially in Shanghai and Beijing where pop culture is very diverse and modern. Although Chinese perform rap in different dialects and languages, most Chinese hip hop artists perform in China's most popular language: Mandarin.

Cantonese rap is also very diverse in cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Mandarin rap music has also been popular in Taiwan." -

WIKIPEDIA

Language of one: thursday hosts the east as another face of hip hop's global front. Language of one series of the A.L.I.H.S.T blogspot also challenges the unfortunate reality of people, races and nationality's stained with stereotypes; exceptionally in america socialogically, and through mass media. Tonight's blog along with chinese culture and mandarin heritage, gives insight to the east, spoken through the universal language of music:

In depth documentry on Bejiing ..

-The asian-american prescence in america holds the overall outlook of exceptional academics, small businesses, and a stream of culture within many.
Artist Jinn who has been involved in the battle/streets genre, and made stride throught the underground returns with a new video, and fresh perspective. We close with "Angels", asian toungue..the world according to Jinn.
THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010.

MUSIC IS LIFE P.XI : THE LOST BOROUGH:Y.O.

“Don't Waste Your Time,”

- Mary J. Blige







"Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York (behind New York City, Buffalo and Rochester), and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 196,086 (according to the 2000 census), and an estimated 2008 population of 201,588.[3] Yonkers borders the New York City borough of The Bronx and is 2 miles (3 km) north of Manhattan at the city's two respective closest points."

-Wikipedia

"Ayo, yonkers is the lost boro" a sentiment spoken to me by a friend which is also a native. A region that graced the industry and world on international level. Music is life abroad.. especially in the city of yonkers:

"Yonkers is struggling to overcome its violent image. This violent image of Yonkers has been endorsed largely through hip-hop culture. Many hip-hop songs can be found where crime and violence in Yonkers is praised. Many neglect to realize that almost all of this crime in its entirety takes place in the Southwest section of the city. Other sections of the city (particularly the eastern side) are, in fact, wealthy neighborhoods with low crime rates."-

Wikipedia

"B, yonkers is L.A without the colors" - expressed in music, arts and entertainment is the struggles and issues of a city; even in politics. Four years ago yonkers native Victor Earl ran for mayor; someone who has come through the rites and passage of the social ills, and sought to establish reform in the city, and proggressive change among the youth. Figures in the industry, as D Blocks Styles P holds on to social consciousness of his hometown, and the black and latino diaspora's under the umbrella of the urban plight. My family Jayonez, CEO of up and coming "Moneyshotfilms" film company was there to cacth footage of styles p realease party of his fiction novel "Invincible" in june:


<-To close we have behind the scene's footage of Joell Ortiz "Project boy" video narrative..and the official cut..a story too familiar amongst america's inner cities.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010.

MUSIC IS LIFE P. X: PHILLY: THE SOCIO-LANDSCAPE

"Seize the Time.”


-Bobby Seale





"Out of the ten most populous cities in the United States in 2006, Philadelphia had the highest homicide rate at 27.7 per 100,000 people, though the number of murders decreased to 392 in 2007.[75]
In 2004, there were 7,513.5 crimes per 200,000 people in Philadelphia.[76] In 2005, Philadelphia was ranked by Morgan Quitno as the sixth-most dangerous among 32 American cities with populations over 500,000.[77] Among its neighboring Mid-Atlantic cities in the same population group, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. were ranked second- and third-most dangerous cities in the United States, respectively, and Camden, New Jersey, a city across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, was ranked as the most dangerous city in the United States.[78]
In 2008, Camden was the second-most dangerous city in the country, lower than its 2004 ranking, but still high for a city its size, while Philadelphia was ranked 22nd.[79]"


The statistics rage in the one of the most cultural ediface's of the east coast. Music is life hosts philly..taking insight through the voices told by the diamonds in the rough:


- Controversial, even in the midst of the city's current situation, the brightest jewel's still shine. In the population of the city, notably between the african, and latino diaspora's, in the city's darkest hour, the consciousness of the people are opening, for collective survival. Proggressively conscious of the need for social change. The awareness is raised through legendary groups like the roots. Peep how i got over..a call/cry still relevant.




THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010.

LANGUAGE OF ONE P. X: RASTAFARI: THE GLOBAL FRONT

"NO MAN IS AN ISLAND"-




DENNIS EMMANUEL BROWN

"The Rastafari movement is a monotheistic, Abrahamic, new religious movement that arose in a Christian culture in Jamaica in the 1930s.[1][2] Its adherents, who worship Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, former Emperor of Ethiopia (1930–1936 and 1941–1974), as the Second Advent, are known as Rastafarians, or Rastas. The movement is sometimes referred to as "Rastafarianism", but this term is considered derogatory and offensive by some Rastas, who dislike being labelled as an "ism".[3]

"The name Rastafari is taken from Ras Tafari, the pre-regnal title of Haile Selassie I, composed of Amharic Ras (literally "Head," an Ethiopian title equivalent to Duke), and Haile Selassie's pre-regnal given name, Tafari. Rastafari are generally distinguished for asserting the doctrine that Haile Selassie I, the former, and final, Emperor of Ethiopia, is another incarnation of the Christian God, called Jah.[5] They see Haile Selassie I as Jah or Jah Rastafari, who is the second coming of Jesus Christ onto the Earth" -

Wikipedia

The vibration of the rastafari movement is globally known. Thursday gives a brief insight beyond the common themes of cannabis, and universal rythyms of reggae (regal music); The honorable Robert Nesta Marley O.M communicated unity, love and peace in prophetic resonance. As an international third world artist, in his own lifetime he was involved in the religious, but mystic practice and idealogies of the rastafari movement. In my early years of study, i found most of the masses had little knowledge of the deep origins of ras tafari mokennen, the religious aspect (mansions of rastafari, boboshanti, nyabinghi and twelve tribes) and the movement of rastafari, aside from what's communicated through the culture:

-A culture globally known and celebrated, is also considered a language of one. We close june with a exclusive interview of lauryn hill through NPR.org's Zoe Chase, on the lauryn hill past, present and the future moves of the modern day's leading voices.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010.

STREETS CONSCIOUSNESS P.XII : RITE OF PASSAGE

"IN THE PAST I LOOKED AT THE PATH'S I WALK, WHERE, SAVAGES FOUGHT AND PASTORS TAUGHT"-

NASIR BIN OLU DARA JONES

"Inspired by the true story of Greg Yance. In the film, Yance (Epps) is a hood who goes to jail for possession of drugs. He is given a choice: 5 years in jail or a couple of months in boot camp. He chooses boot camp and finds out it is tougher than he thought it would be. He braves it through and comes home a better man. He then has to deal with the real world, and never gives up no matter what the odds."-

http://www.knowgangs.com/

A credible throwback served on a thursday; stemmed from an 1997 HBO premiere movie, "1st time felon" is the story of greg yance:

"The story of 23-year-old African-American Greg Yance, played with touching restraint by Omar Epps, and his trials as a first-time convict make an absorbing if troubling telefilm for sharp director Charles S. Dutton, who doesn't miss a detail. Daniel Therriault's teleplay may have its fits and starts, and may sputter out before its time, but "First-Time Felon" reaches for the heart"-

http://www.variety.com/

- Someone i know personally, greg reflects on the situation to this day, that "1st time felon" is an archive far from just a drama movie. For so many involved in the inner city plight, it bore as rite of passage and testament to influence those in the same struggle, for better change.


-In relation to Greg's story, below is an rare archive of M.L.K JR; a discourse on people of color, and self actualiztion in the time of social unrest. Though recorded in the early 1960's, it still holds as an inspirational blueprint for those who make conscious decisions to overcome personal and social challenges for the betterment of themselves and others. Followed by the current "Revolutions per minute" reflection eternal track- "In this world".

Reflection Eternal - "In This World" by Warner Bros. Urban








THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010.

MUSIC IS LIFE P.X :THE LADDER: CAPITALISM

"And my mentality is, money orientated im destined to live the dream for all my peeps who never made it this year"-



AZ




"In sociology and political philosophy, the most basic class distinction is between the powerful and the powerless.[1][2] Social classes with a great deal of power are usually viewed as "the elites" within their own societies. Various social and political theories propose that social classes with greater power attempt to cement their own ranking above the lower classes in the hierarchy to the detriment of the society overall. "-
Wikipedia


In the world and termanology of political science, capitalism symbolizes economic freedom, free proprietorship. According to the quote from wikipedia above, other forms of government, left wing views, political parties and the criticism of american history would state otherwise; from the higher economic class to the lower, some political theorists would say that the "richer get richer, and the poorer get poorer". A line quoted from the "teacha" himself KRSone from his project several years ago, "I got next" he follows with "visualize wealth, and put yourselves in the picture." One view most would co-sign that exceeds any economic class. In the stream of capitalism, due to basic economic principle, one would invest and re-invest; in a talent or gift, a buisness, or an ultimate vision. In relation to the age old principle, "seedtime and harvest".
Some of these views were reflected in reknowned black author Micheal eric dyson's 2007 series "Hip-Hop Vs. America".




-From small buisnesses to well established careers entrepenuarship is the main railroad in a country that functions on a system of capitalism. One thing remains relative is that from america's ghettos to the high lofts, most seek economic prosperity. We close with south brooklyn's independent minds; GGO/T.h.u.g. angels veteran Shabazz the disciple with an exclusive ode to hiphop, "heavenly bride".



THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP 2010.

STREETS CONSCIOUSNESS P.XI : THE BEAST

“Only God can judge me”

~Tupac Amaru Shakur

"The United States has the highest documented incarceration rate in the world.[1][2] The U.S. incarceration rate on December 31, 2008 was 754 inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents, or 0.75%.[3] The USA also has the highest total documented prison and jail population in the world.[1][4][5]
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS): "In 2008, over 7.3 million people were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole at year-end — 3.2% of all U.S. adult residents or 1 in every 31 adults"-

Wikipedia

"More than 60% of the people in prison are now racial and ethnic minorities. For Black males in their twenties, 1 in every 8 is in prison or jail on any given day. These trends have been intensified by the disproportionate impact of the "war on drugs," in which three-fourths of all persons in prison for drug offenses are people of color." -

http://www.thesentencingproject.org/

Crime and politics have close relation; right here in america. Today's features of Philadelphia black journalist Mumia Abu jamal and recent interviews of artist Felipe coronel(immortal technique) are self- explanitory. Mumia states the true active nature of the "prison industrial complex":

-In closing is an unadulterated interview of immortal technique about his personal account, and a socio-political view of the criminal justice system, and an exclusive track from the roots recent project "Rising down" Ft. Mosdef and Styles P.






the roots - rising down feat. mos def, styles p

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP 2010.

THE LANGUAGE OF ONE P. VIII MINDS OF SENEGAL

"Experience is always the best teacher Look at the signs, feel the vibes, I'm tryin to reach ya"



KEITH "GURU" ELAM

1961-2010

"Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, is located at the westernmost tip of the country on the Cap-Vert peninsula. About 300 miles off the coast, in the Atlantic Ocean, lie the Cape Verde Islands. During colonial times, numerous trading Counters, belonging to various colonial empires were established along the coast. The town of St Louis became the capital of French Western Africa (Afrique Occidentale Francaise, or AOF) before it was moved to Dakar in 1902. Dakar later became its capital in 1960 at the time of independence from France"-

Wikipedia

June opens with insight to the east: the world according to senegal. The language of one series of the A.L.I.H.S.T blog brings the minds and culture of a people to the forefront; a brief look away from the states to feel global rythym. In this time its more than safe to say hip hop is empowerment. My personal interaction with the senegalese was a lasting impression; specifically in mediterreanean countries like italy, they are a minority, a subculture of ambition, arts, and extrodinary academics. Some of the most intelligent people of west africa. Monday allows them to tell their story to us, one of their greatest influences:

-We close with an interview with the student of truth(Talib Kweli) himself, also in tune with african culture. An exclusive interview from Norway radio with talks of the new reflection eternal project, and current movements.

Goodshit Radio: Talib Kweli interview

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP 2010