The murder and unanswered questions regarding the murder of the legendary DJ Jam Master Jay is a major topic among the Hip Hop generation, especially to those old enough to remember the era of Hip Hop when Run DMC was one of only a few rap groups that you could count on your fingers. Now that we have seen the assassinations of Tupac and Biggie, the possible assassination of Eazy E through biological warfare aka AIDS, we would be fools to think that Jam Master Jay's murder couldn't be part of somebody's already working homeland security plan, just like the WTC being hit, in the middle of Amerikkka's financial capital, New York City, allowing for the Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act to pass with ease. Who will benefit from this? We definitely have some serious trials and tribulations ahead if we don't wake up real quick, and see that the lies that are being told, are to our detriment. Tune in to Young Chairman Fred to see what he has to say on these here, matters…

How did the murder of Jam Master Jay affect you?

I immediately flashed back and thought not only of myself, but how my respective generation was affected by Jam Master Jay, in specific and Run DMC in general. Everything from us reciting the words to "Sucka MC's" to the type of jackets and brims that we adorned. Although I never met him personally, just the thought of some of the beats that he produced, to some of the songs that Run DMC was responsible for making, made me flashback to particular points in my life, and different stages that I was going through. In fact, he and some of his counterparts had such an impact, that in some cases, as opposed to providing you with dates, I will more readily supply songs and the particular artist that performed them, at the time.

How do you feel about the police response to Jam Master Jay's murder?

I have not been made abreast of some of the particulars, but I am aware that there has been discussion about the state implementing official task forces and organizing surveillance of Hip Hop artist, under such guises as "bicoastal warfare" or "investigating suspicious activity", etc. Notice that I said "officially implementing". For the fact is, that these forces as well as that of Afrikan people in general, were born under surveillance. I'm aware that many people will jump to a quick hit response or whatever the ruling class and it's apparatus (i.e. the press, spokesman for the police etc.) give them. People are more than willing to eat up summations such as "Black on Black crime", "gang warfare", "rap wars", etc. With that being said, many of our people may consciously or unconsciously call for more surveillance on themselves, more police to kick in our doors, and in essence more of our basic democratic rights to be violated, or better yet as Chairman Fred (Sr.) stated "calling Frank James to stop what Jesse James is doing". Now I suspect that a lot of cats may say, “here comes Lil' Chairman Fred with this conspiracy theory or this unseen hand jive”.

My position is that taking into account how this government and it's apparatuses have historically dealt with African people, in reference to how it deals with us on a daily basis, in particular their subjective views of how they report crimes that occur in our community. We should be suspect through the door. We are talking about the same institution, that's history books depicted the late great Rev. Nat Turner as some sort of mad man, the Black Panther Party as a group of thugs, and the infamous Massacre on Monroe St. (in Chicago), December 4, 1969*, as a shootout, in which they said that the police only came out alive in their words, "by the grace of God". In fact they should be put in a position to have to prove to us the validity, of anything that they tell us. Our natural response should be automatically that they are lying. Their long history of deceit, can be traced back to the parable used by the Native Chiefs, when they said "the whiteman speaks with forked tongue". In fact I'm sure that it precedes that as well. If they report that it's a snow storm, we should probably start throwing our shorts on. When anything occurs, we should look at who benefits from these said actions, put our emotions to the side and objectively ask questions such as "who's pockets are going to get bigger?", "who gains more power and authority over whom?", "whose rights become increasingly violated?", and who does the violating?".

What are your thoughts on the Thanks-Taking Holiday, and what is its function in Amerikkklan society?

The wording of this question points out the importance of addressing this contradiction. As Minister Huey P. Newton assessed, the state recognizes the importance of utilizing euphemisms, whether it be Columbus discovered Amerikkka; or referring to Thomas Jefferson and some of his criminal counterparts as the founding fathers; or the occupying army in the Black community having "serve and protect" on their patrol car doors; or even referring to those concentration camps as correctional centers. If we're not careful, with a simple play on words, they will have the slave engaged in supporting his/her own demise.

For example just look at the amount of star spangled slaves that may be seen on July 4th talking about this great independence day, the same people that are subjected to such conditions that they have to be careful of which color clothes they wear, because they may be swept up by some gang task force, under the guise of some "war on gangs", or even have to take into consideration which car they decide to drive, knowing the consequences of committing the crime of DWB (Driving While Black). I know that it’s difficult to see the forest, as opposed to just seeing the trees, especially in dealing with such a Machiavellian machine that provides days off from the plantation and their colonial schools, under the hidden condition that you support their position. However, we must be a principled people and take the position which Frantz Fanon took, when he stated "we will accept their concessions, but not compromise our principles".

*December 4, 1969: The federal government assassinated Chairman Fred Hampton & Defense Captain Mark Clark.

Email JR at fire@sfbayview.com