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Meet The “Prison Profiteers†Who Are Making Millions Off The Penal System (Video)
October 4, 2013
No need for big political talk to understand this story. Prisons are big business for lots of businesses. Global Tel* Link (GTL) makes more than $500 million a year exploiting families who pay up to $1.13 per minute to keep in touch with incarcerated loved ones. And GTL isn’t only one lining it’s pockets with prison money.
‘Global Tel* Link is one of five companies profiled in a new video series called “Prison Profiteers,†a collaboration between Beyond Bars — a Brave New Films project—the ACLU, and The Nation. With 2.3 million people incarcerated in the United States, prisons are big business; the goal of the series is to expose the myriad ways people enrich themselves off crime and punishment.’
– The Nation
Angola Prisoner Henry James, Freed by DNA, Speaks on His 30 Years of Imprisonment (Video)
October 1, 2013
You know, we try to come up with titillating titles to tempt our readers (one-time confession); but this title needed no tweaks… it just labels the story. Above: Amy Goodman, of Democracy Now, talks with former prisoner Henry James – a free man thanks to DNA evidence – who reflects on his case and 30 years of his life he will never get back. We say the brother is a former prisoner – NOT an ex-convict – because he should never have been convicted!
Now… James’ case is NOT a typical case. Nah, that would be ridiculous, right? BUT WAIT! James’ case is NOT typical… because evidence that could free him was actually found! It usually is not, and the convicted serve life without parole!
READ: FREED BY DNA, ANGOLA PRISONER HENRY JAMES (DEMOCRACY NOW)
Former Bad Boy Recording Artist ‘G. Dep’ Interviewed From Prison On ABC’s Nightline (Video)
September 26, 2013
Nightline’s Deborah Roberts had G. Dep on recently via remote interview from prison – Elmira Correctional Facility (New York). During the interview, he talks to Deborah about his robbery/murder, his rise in music (getting signed to Bad Boy), his cold case confession to murder, his time in lockup, and more.
Posted in Hip-Hop, Television, Videos | 
Tags: Bad Boy, G-DEP, MURDER, Nightline, Rapper, robbery, Trevell Coleman | 
No Comments »
Inmates and Prison Officials Agree: “The House I Live In” Documentary Exposes The Failures of The U.S. War On Drugs Policy (Video)
August 15, 2013
HEADLINE: Inmates and Prison Guards AGREE on Failures of the Drug War!
Above is a behind-the-scenes teaser for a screening for Eugene Jarecki’s documentary “The House I Live In.” The venue: Joseph Harp Correctional Center (Lexington, Oklahoma, USA). Making a documentary at a jail… sure. But viewing it there, that’s different. But you know drug enforcement policy is more than a bit *messed* up if the C.O.’s and the prisoners can agree that it is!
See clips from the film (executive producers: Brad Pitt, John Legend, Russell Simmons and Danny Glover) after the jump. VERY interesting…
DOCUMENTARY: THE HOUSE I LIVE IN (ITUNES)
TWITTER: @DRUGWARMOVIE
FACEBOOK: DRUG WAR MOVIE
Posted in Cover Story, Film, History, Human Interest, Opinion, Politics, Videos | Tags: Brad Pitt, Danny Glover, Eugene Jarecki, Find Agreement, Inmates & Prison Guards Watch A Documentary On The Failed War On Drugs Together, JOHN LEGEND, Russell Simmons, screens for inmates and prison staff in Oklahoma, The House I Live In | 1 Comment »
Fat Joe Discusses Taxes, Prison Time, Doing A Joint Album With Biggie, Reconcilliations and More With The Breakfast Club (Video)
August 6, 2013
Great two-part video (part one above) of Joey Crack’s recent interview on the Power 105 Morning Show. One of the reasons I really respect Fat Joe is summed up in this interview. I respect Fat Joe more than 90% of the rap artists out today. Check it out as there’s 100s of gems Fat Joe dropped in this video especially when he mentions his friendship with Biggie & the unreleased album they were working on together at one point.
Posted in Hip-Hop, Radio, Videos | Tags: FAT JOE, Power 105, Power 105.1, The Breakfast Club | 1 Comment »
Force Feeding Guantánamo Bay Prisoners: Yasiin Bey Filmed Undergoing the Gruesome Procedure (WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC) [Video]
July 9, 2013
Perhaps you’ve heard political banter making the case for closing ‘Gitmo’ (e.g. the American military detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba). Perhaps you dismissed it as something about which you, or no one your know, have no particular passion.
That changes today.
Recently released video of Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) on location in London, voluntarily participating in a demonstration of force-feeding procedure for Gitmo prisoners on hunger strike. WARNING: This visual presentation from director Asif Kapadia is DISTURBING. Please watch, if you feel you can. But know either way that this is happening… and that you should care.
Posted in Hip-Hop, Human Interest, Politics, Videos | Tags: awareness, Force Feeding, Force Feeding Procedure, Gitmo, Graphic, Graphic video, Guantanamo Bay, Hunger strike, Protest, Yasiin Bey | 1 Comment »
Technology: JPay – the ‘Apple’ of the U.S. Prison System
September 25, 2012
The U.S. federal prison population has more than doubled over the last decade. While many see that as bad for society, Miami-based JPay sees it as good for business. The company made a lot of money handling money transfers, e-mail communications, and monitored video visitations for more than 1 million prisoners in about 35 states & now has begun marketing its own line of “prison-proof†MP3 players. Prison facilities generally forbid devices – like music players – that can be turned into weapons (by smashing them for glass shards, for example), concealing contraband, or to be used to communicate freely with the outside world. JPay, leveraging its experience servicing a prison population that it knows LOVES music, seems to have come up with a JP3 player that meets that music demand while satisfying prison officials’ security demands.
JPay charges are more than what iTunes typically charges for downloads, but JPay says it shares revenues with prison systems (giving back, so to speak). Plus they keep the tech coming. Next up: JP4, the first mini tablet designed exclusively for prisons.
Chi-Ali Speaks About His Time On The Run & In Prison For 14 Years On MTV’s RapFix Live (Video)
September 13, 2012
MTV caught up with rap artist Chi-Ali who was released from prison after a year on the run from authorities & subsequently serving 12 years in prison for manslaughter. It got so deep for Chi-Ali why he was on the run that he was eventually featured on primetime television’s “America’s Most Wanted”. Many of you younger hip hop heads may not know that Chi-Ali was a teenage rap star & the youngest member of the Native Tongues crew with a few notable joints like “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number”, “Funky RoadRunner”, & “Funky Lemonade”. MTV’s RapFix Live caught with him in Miami for his first interview since being released.
Read the rest of this entry »
Beanie Sigel Arrested Today: Two Weeks Before Starting Two-Year Prison Sentence (Video)
August 29, 2012
(Source: ABC Action News Channel 6 – Philadelphia)
Beanie Sigel got arrested today, after a search during a traffic stop. Drugs and weapons charges. Two weeks from sentencing on his upcoming two-year tax bid. Damn.
Beanie Sigel Speaks On New Albums, Prison, & More On NYC Radio Stations (Video)
August 27, 2012
In this extended interview with The Breakfast Club on Power 105, Beanie Sigel talks about his upcoming album with State Property, his respect for Meek Mill and Rick Ross, his upcoming ‘Al Capone’ bid (for tax evasion), his being ‘The Gooch’ for the Roc-A-Fella fam, and more. Check out more video of Beans below as he answers more questions on rival station HOT 97 with Angie Martinez.
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Top High School Basketball Prospect Collapses After Judge Gives Him 3 Years In Prison (Video)
August 24, 2012
Very, very sad situation all around. Tony Farmer, Garfield Heights High School basketball star, collapsed in court upon hearing Judge Pamela Barker pronounce sentencing that will take from him every opportunity afforded him by his on-court talent due to his violent acts off-court. His liberty and future at stake, Farmer’s assault victim and ex-girlfriend (Andrea Lane) was among those who pleaded that the judge not send him to jail; rather, that he be sent for help and counseling. We won’t retry the case in any way in this post. That is being done enough elsewhere. What is done is done. While it probably will not be headline news, Farmer will likely petition for early release after serving 180 days. Whether he should be released after 180 days, is a matter we will leave for you to debate. What we are most interested in is whether Farmer will be made to go to counseling once he is released. That much we KNOW he needs; as even he seemed surprised that his crime warranted a three-year sentence. Farmer must know (or learn) that his actions were inexcusable; whether he is down for 6 months or 36 months.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in News, Videos | Tags: 3 years, Basketball, collapses, conviction, High School, Prison, Tony Farmer | No Comments »
T.I. Speaks On Prison Fight on The Howard Stern Show (Video)
October 18, 2011
While making the radio & television rounds in New York City, T.I. stopped by the Howard Stern show & spoke on a prison fight that took place while he was incarcerated. Update: Full interview under the hood….It’s hilarious!
Plaxico Burress Released From Prison After A 2-Year Sentence (Video)
June 6, 2011
Former NY Giants Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress was released from prison after a two year stint on gun charges involving an incident where he shot himself in the leg in a NY nightclub. The rumors are already running rampant that Plaxico Burress may wind up playing for the Philadelphia Eagles after Michael Vick openly campaigned in the media & with Eagles management to scoop up the the former Giant.
Posted in Cover Story, News, Sports, Videos | Tags: NY Giants, Plaxico Burress, Plaxico Burress Released From Prison | No Comments »
Shabaam Shadeeq Speaks On His Time With Rawkus Records, His Time In Prison, & Working With Eminem In The Early Days (Video)
May 27, 2011
The people of MediaGasface catch up with former Rawkus Records emcee Shabaam Shadeeq while he was on tour in Europe alongside Shyheim. Yeah remember him too? In this interview Shabaam Shadeeq talks about his time in prison, his first project with Rawkus Records, & working with a young Eminem.
Posted in Hip-Hop, Videos | Tags: Interview, Media Gasface, Rawkus Records, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Shyheim | No Comments »
Prodigy Talks About His First Day In Prison (Video)
May 12, 2011
Posted in Hip-Hop, Videos | Tags: Interview, PRODIGY, Prodigy Talks About His First Day In Prison | No Comments »
Tupac Shakur: Lost Prison Interview From 1994 (Video)
April 24, 2011
Posted in Cover Story, Hip-Hop, Videos | Tags: 2pac, Interview, Lost Prison Interview, Tupac, Tupac Shakur, Tupac Shakur: Lost Prison Interview 1994 | No Comments »
The Source Scores Prodigy’s First Post Prison Interview (Video)
March 15, 2011
Combat Jack & The Source Magazine score Prodigy’s first interview since he left the bing……In case you didn’t know Prodigy is also an author now too so check this out (PRODIGY’s BOOK)
Posted in Hip-Hop, Videos | Tags: Combat Jack, Interview, MOBB DEEP, Post Prision Interview, PRODIGY, The Source Magazine | No Comments »
Talib Kweli Speaks With John Forte On His Coming Up, The Fugees, His Cocaine Arrest, His Release, And Life Now (Video)
February 21, 2020
Man! What a great interview!!
Shout to Kweli’s people for the time indexing for this episode. I am a STAN for John Forte from waaaay back… like when I did not know his name… when he SNAPPED on the Fugees’ joint “Cowboy”… and we called him ‘The 7th Emcee’ because he never did not give his name at any point of giving us the most FIRE SHUTDOWN BARZ on one of the most FIRE songs… EVER #WhenPandemoniumStrikes
Buuuuut starting at 52:43 though…
John touches on “I, John” — the album he recorded at a time when he was aware of his pending prison sentence. He also speaks to his relationship with singer/song writer Carly Simon, who fought hard, advocating for his early release. Her efforts eventually proving to be successful, with an executive order of clemency from President Bush.
Yes. I wanna know how in the holey holy f**k did rapper John Forte get a President… President Bush… to let him out early??
– @ojones1
Posted in Celebrity, Hip-Hop, Interview, Podcast, Series, Videos | Tags: Jasmine Leigh, John Forte', People's Party, TALIB KWELI, UPROXX, UPROXX Video | No Comments »
KRS-ONE Hits The Studio For His Weekend Project (Day 2) [Video]
November 15, 2019
If we would just unite, and stop doing ourselves, we could make ourselves a nation, and prison can go to hell!
I don’t have the answers, Sway. But if anyone does, I am betting it’s KRS-ONE. So many gems being dropped in this weekend session video. And he is right: We gotta stop with the “that ain’t real Hip-Hop” complaining… and go FIND those folks out here who are reppin’ the real! Let’s get together and get it together y’all.
(And yes. There is a ‘Day 1’ video, too… got that for you after the jump.)
– @ojones1
Posted in Hip-Hop, Videos | Tags: KRS-ONE, KRS-One Studio Day 1, KRS-One Studio Day 2, Studio Day 1, Studio Day 2 | No Comments »
Bernie Sanders Speaks On Why He Is Running Again In 2020, Progressive Politics Progress, And His Black Agenda (Video)
March 6, 2019
YES! Bernie’s back in the fight!
Now, I have heard some murmurings that Bernie Sanders has lost the Black vote. I have not even looked around for indications of that. Too early for that kind of conjecture. But let me tell YOU… I FEEL THE BERN! Senator Sanders has yet to lose my vote. However, I am open to ALL the candidates out there now, Sanders included.
Senator Bernie Sanders stops by to talk his opinions on reparations for descendants of slaves, how he’ll handle prison reform, why he believes in raising taxes, and whether he has a campaign agenda for Black citizens.
– Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM
– @ojones1
