MOS DEF & TALIB KWELI SHOOT BACK FOLLOWING DIALLO VERDICT
NEW YORK, NY- Following the acquittal of the four police officers who
killed Amadou Diallo, Rawkus Entertainment artists Mos Def and Talib
Kweli respond by remaining on the cutting edge of artist activism.
"The saddest thing about this," said Kweli following the verdict," is
that I‚m not surprised. This is just further confirmation that Black
People in this country have no rights that white people or the
government are bound to respect. Still, we must recognize that police
brutality is not a Black issue, it is a violation of the rights of human
beings everywhere."
In Mos Def‚s comments, he emphasized the fact that one of the aquitted
officers, Kenneth Boss, was also involved in the killing of Patrick
Bailey in 1997, in which another unarmed man was shot 27 times in
Brooklyn. "This took place less than 2 years prior tothe Diallo
killing," said Mos Def. "At this rate can we expect the hail of 55
bullets to be unloaded on another New Yorker by next fall? 69 bullets
the fall after that? To New Yorkers who feel that this is a "Black"
issue, I say this is a HUMAN issue. To those tinkering with the
semantics of "crime" and "tragedy," I say what happened that night in
the Bronx was both. To people who seek justice, to the Amadou Diallo
family, and to everyone who speaks against oppression, I say, FEAR NOT,
Allah is the best of judges."
But while the entire country discusses the Diallo verdict, Mos Def and
Talib Kweli are responding with both words and actions. The next two
weeks will see the release of a new Video and CD maxi-single, the
launching of a new foundation, and a benefit concert in California.
Following the tragic killings of Amadou Diallo and Tyesha Miller by
police in New York and Los Angeles, Mos Def and Talib Kweli put out a
call to the hip-hop community to address the issues of police
brutality. Due to the overwhelming response, what was slated to be a
single evolved into a four-song maxi-single called "Hip Hop For
Respect." The video for the track "One For Love- Pt. 1," featuring Kool
G Rap, Pos (De La Soul), Common, Pharoahe Monch, Sporty Thievz, Shabaam
Sahdeeq, Rah Digga, Talib Kweli, and Mos Def will be available March
6th. The highly anticipated 'Hip Hop For Respect' project will be
released March 21st.
Proceeds from the maxi-single will go to the Hip-Hop For Respect
Foundation (HHFRF). HHFRF is a non-profit organization that strives to
encourage those who profit from the entertainment industry to accept
responsibility and leadership roles in the very communities in which
their fan base lives, works and plays. The HHFRF is planning a high
school tour and an educational campaign that will focus on instructing
youth on what to do and what not to do if stopped by the police. Not
since the days of Stop The Violence and We Are The World have so many
artists come together to unite, educate and create change. HHFRF will
carry that tradition into the new millennium.
In addition, Mos Def and Talib Kweli will be performing with Meshell
Ndegeocello and Ozomatli in Santa Cruz, CA on March 3rd in a benefit
concert for youth organizations working to defeat Proposition 21, a
legislative effort that seeks to increase efforts of police gang units,
treat juveniles as adults in court, and further criminalize youth.
For additional information, contact Meridian Entertainment at (201)
521-9742; FAX (201) 521-9745 or email: publicity@planetmeridian.com.
Rawkus Entertainment/Devin Roberson 212.358.7890 or mailto:devinr@rawkus.com.
