Last Thursday, independent, radical, revolutionary, activist Hip Hoppers Rodstarz and G1, two brothers known musically and in the movement as Rebel Diaz , were walking in the Bronx, NYC when they witnessed an all too common occurrence. Police officers from the 41st Precinct were in the middle of a sting against street vendors, aggressively confiscating the fruit and vegetables of a street vendor. What happened next was a mix of the sadly uncommon and the everyday threat that is faced in many of our communities. Rodstarz and G1 didn’t walk by quickly or quietly, watching their extended community being attacked. They approached the officers to ask why the vendor was being treated in that manner and asked for their badge numbers. The police, who aren’t exactly keen on the idea of being monitored by the very same community they allegedly serve, turned their aggressions on the duo. After beating them and arresting them in front of over a dozen witnesses, they were taken to the 41st Precinct.
Instead of arguing or preaching, Tanya Morgan disproves the “Hip-Hop Is Dead” argument with a simple song that demonstrates the existence of good, living hip-hop in 2008. Tanya Morgan - “Hip-Hop Is Dead 2″
As a matter of process here at the Lab, we don’t cover beefs, especially internet beefs. This particular conflict is funny though, not because Ice T said Soulja represented what was wrong with Hip Hop, and not because Soulja called Iceberg old, but because of the number of Hip Hop blogs that supported Soulja. Soulja Boy won? What? Here at the Lab, we support the O.G. Although in this beef we think the whole internet lost.
Ise Lyfe (pronounced “Ice Life”), is set to release his sophomore album, Prince Cometh. The album features 21 tracks that re-envision Hip Hop as a movement that challenges us, engages us, and forces us to look at our communities and ourselves. Prince Cometh will be released with seven different album covers, each featuring a historical black and white photo from the Civil Rights era.
Tanya Morgan joins the ranks of legendary hip-hop collective The Hieroglyphics this summer as part of their Freshly Dipped Tour. Dates after the jump. Also, check out Tanya Morgan’s summer jam, “Be You.” Tanya Morgan - “Be You” featuring Czelena