Pharoahe Monch Releases "Clap (One Day)" (Live) to Honor October 22 National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality

Pharoahe Monch is the spokesman of Guns 4 Cameras (AKA Aim to Live), the 501c3-registered nonprofit recipient of all proceeds from our resident emcee AWKWORD's forthcoming 100% nonprofit global hip hop project World View...



Last month Pharoahe Monch premiered his anti-police brutality anthem "Clap", to a sold out crowd at the Jazz Cafe in London. "Clap (One Day)" is the new single from his upcoming album, W.A.R. (We Are Renegades), to be released through W.A.R. Media and Duck Down in February 2011. This never seen before footage features Pharoahe's passionate and intricate delivery, alongside vocalists Showtyme and Mela Machinko, and DJ Boogie Blind.

Pharoahe explains the inspiration for the song; "Instead of protect and serve, police often escalate situations, as with the cases of Sean Bell, Oscar Grant, or Aiyana Stanley Jones, and hundreds more who fell victim to police violence. I wrote this song to express my frustration, as well as raise the question of how our communities can create safety and prevent violence, with out relying on police."

The release of this footage coincides with the October 22nd- National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality. This year is the 15th annual October 22nd, organized by communities around the country who commit to participating in local actions and events against police brutality, and work towards building community safety alternatives. People who want to stand in solidarity with October 22nd can wear all black, in memory of thousands of lives stolen by law enforcement killings.

Despite the song title's multiple meanings, "Clap (One Day)" does not advocate violence against police. Pharoahe adds a personal perspective; "My brother is a police officer so I know there are some well intentioned people wearing blue uniforms. But the issue of police violence is much bigger than good cops and bad cops, it comes down to a broken system which criminalizes our communities, and must be completely transformed."

Notes

• A short film and music video for "Clap (One Day)" will be out December 2010.
• Pharoahe Monch's forthcoming album W.A.R. will be in stores February 2011.
• For more info on the artist, click here.
• For more info about the National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, click here.
• This is NOT the first time Pharoahe has stood up for political causes important to the Hip Hop community...

Celebrating 15-Years with Duck Down Records

Last night, my guy Whatzisface and I joined artist Jamelah and a friend at the Duck Down 15-Year Anniversary Party at BB Kings in Midtown Manhattan. Kicked it with Statik Selaktah (see below), Poison Pen, Swave Sevah, Donnis, Ruste Juxx, DJ Eclipse, Cold Heat, Skyzoo and Kosha Dillz (passing out flyers in his tank top!).


[AWKWORD x Statik Selektah; Photo by Jamelah.]

"Evil Dee is on the mix, come on kick it!"... I saw Kidz in the Hall rock for the first time -- and they killed it. The guest appearances from Styles P, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, Jean Grae and Large Professor were all even better than they sound. Sean P is, well, P! And then there's Pharoahe Monch, spokesman for Guns 4 Cameras (a.k.a Aim to Live), who indisputably stole the show.

Duck Down, if you've been sleeping for the last decade and a half, is the rock of East Coast independent hip hop. The label, run by Dru Ha and Buckshot, has maintained its core (e.g., Heltah Skeltah & Smif-N-Wessun), while bolstering its roster with fresh new talent such as Kidz in the Hall and the homie Ruste Juxx, as well as adding cult-hero veterans like Pharoahe.

It felt good to be hip hop on July 13, 2010.

See below for videos of most of the show, thanks to E2 Productions.
































Written by AWKWORD.

Hip Hop Helps Haiti

Hip Hop has responded. Too many tribute songs, benefits and donations to name -- and I'm NOT complaining... Enough has been written about the amazing results of the Hope For Haiti Now benefit organized by actor George Clooney, so I will focus on some of the more obscure efforts:

I. "Hip Hop Helps Haiti" - hosted by The Aphilliates' DJ Ace McClowd; organized and sponsored by HipHopDX

II. Duck Down Records iTunes Sales Donated to Yele for the Haiti Relief Effort

III. Joell Ortiz - "Exhibit H(aiti)"

Props to 2DopeBoyz for covering it all in real time.

To donate, SMS text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts; SMS text "YELE" to 501501 to Donate $5 to Yele Haiti's Earthquake Relief efforts.

I.

Click the album cover to read the HipHopDX article and download the full album for free. (But please donate to show your support.)



1. Freeway - Time
2. Joe Budden - 40/40 ft. Royce Da 5'9"
3. Donny Goines - No Apologies
4. C-N-N - Exibit C-N-N
5. JR Writer - Who The Hell Are You
6. Ras Kass - Since You Been Gone ft. Tracy Rhey & 40 Glocc
7. Roccett - How We Roll ft. Dae One
8. Jay Rock - Ballin' ft. Kendrick Lamar & Bow Wow
9. The Game & Nu Jersey Devil - We Stand Alone
10. Method Man, Ghostface & Raekwon - Our Dreams
11. Bobby Creekwater - Pardon My French
12. Fashawn - Father
13. Sha Stimuli - What Are We Living For
14. Skyzoo - Salute That
15. Nottz - Shine So Bright
16. Copywrite - Aftermath
17. The Illz - Come In
18. Ali ft. Nelly & St. Louis - Sum n' Bout it
19. Murphy Lee ft. Seven Li - Age of 21
20. Ben Jacobs - Hundreds
21. Wordsmith - The Daily Word
22. Lil' Flip - Feel It In The Air (Haiti Version)
23. Jay-Z, Rhianna, Edge & Bono - Stranded

II.



On January 16, 2010, beginning at midnight, for a 24 hour period, all sales from the entire Duck Down Records iTunes catalog was donated to Yele to assist in the relief effort. That covers Sean Price, KRS-One & Buckshot, B-Real, Kidz in the Hall, 9th Wonder, Marco Polo & Torae, Boot Camp Clik, Smif N Wessun, Heltah Skeltah, Black Moon, General Steele, and my fam Skyzoo and Ruste Juxx.

III.



Joell drops knowledge. Click the image above to listen to -- and download -- the song.