 Snoop Dog, Silk The Shocker, C-Murder and Total are getting set to do a film entitled '3 Strikes'. It's an urban comedy that will be directed by Hip Hop producer DJ Pooh. Pooh for those who don't know co-wrote 'Friday'. The film is designed to poke fun and bring awareness of California's infamous 'three strikes' law. Here in Cali if someone is convicted of three felony crimes they go to prison for 25 years to life even if the crimes are non violent. Bay Area rap star  E-40 will be making his film debut in this project as he plays a character named Mike. Also featured will be comedian David Alan Grier who folks may remember from 'In Living Color', 'Boomerang' and 'Blankman'. Look for the film and soundtrack to drop on February 25th.. There will also be an accompanying soundtrack featuring The Alkaholiks, King Tee, Xzibit, The Eastsidaz and many others. It's good this film will bring attention to a very disturbing trend here in Cali and nationwide. The building of prisons is no joke.. Do you know that this country has almost 2 million people locked up? More then 50% are African American. Next week KPFA's Hard Knock Radio [94.1fm] will doing a week long series of radio specials on Prisons and Hip Hop. We will be focusing on the increasing amounts of rapes and abuse of women within the belly of the beast. We will also be focusing on the Parole Game that gets played and the constant police sweeps that are done to keep the prison population up. All kinds of folks are now finding that just as they are about to complete their parole terms they are getting collared and sent back to prison on all kinds of minor stuff from lying on a job application to talking with other felons. Last year two rap artists found themselves under the gun, arrested and sent back to prison for writing 'gangsta rap' lyrics. Things are definitely crazy. We will also be focusing on the national and Cali Juvenile Crime initiatives which will send children to adult prisons and give the police new sweeping powers to label groups of people gangs because they are wearing similar clothing. We will also bring to life some of the new laws that are being passed that will have a bad effect of folks. For example, the US Supreme Court just ruled in a 5-4 decision that police officers all over the country now have a legal right to stop and detain you if you walk away from them as they arrive. In other words if the police feel you are trying to avoid them [which many of us do when we see 5-0] for whatever reason they can now legally stop you, search you and arrest you on suspicion! I don't think y'all read this correctly so let me repeat. IF THE POLICE PULL UP TO A SPOT AND THEY FEEL YOU ARE TRYING TO AVOID THEM BY LEAVING THE AREA, THEY CAN NOW STOP YOU, QUESTION YOU AND EVEN ARREST YOU ON SUSPICION. This is now legal it went through two days ago on the US Supreme Court. We'll also be following the case of the 34 Universal Zulu Nation members who were arrested for gathering in a park in New York City. You no longer have a right to assemble in groups larger then 20 people without a permit in the Big Apple. I have to say I was surprised no one wrote back to express outrage about that recent situation. Their trial takes place on January 20th in NY. We'll keep you posted on this.. For the Hip Hop and Prison show you can catch it on the Internet by logging into my website at http:www.daveyd.com. We will also be teaming up with The Source Magazine who is doing another big article on this issue for their February issue.. They really broke things down in the January issue featuring Jay-Z on the cover.. We will also be doing a Big Prison and Hip Hop special on 106 KMEL on Sunday January 23rd..
 There will be two big events taking place here in Cali.. On January 29th there will be Lockdown 2000 featuring Michael Franti, Pam Africa, Naru and a number of Hip Hop and Spoken word artist at the Alice Arts Center in Oakland. Also a large number of Hip Hop groups and activist from all over Cali are planning on going up to the state capitol in Sacramento and doing a demonstration/concert.. I will keep you posted on that date..Finally I am in the process of putting together a running Calender of Hip Hop and Political events.. so lace me with your info..as it comes along..I will try to highlight a couple in each issue.. mailto:kingdave@sirius.com |