Blacks Systematically Excluded From Death Penalty Juries
7:00AM ET October 27th, 2011
Contributor: Todd Williams
A Rocky Williform Company

In the wake of the controversial execution of Troy Davis in the state of Georgia, the racial disparities in death penalty cases have become increasingly scrutinized. The disproportionate amount of African American defendants being sentenced to capital punishment has been discussed and analyzed; but ongoing disparities in jury selection for African Americans in capital punishment cases have seemingly gone unnoticed.

But in Henry County, Alabama, the Equal Justice Initiative filed a civil rights lawsuit asserting that District Attorney Douglas Valeska has illegally excluded Blacks from serving on juries in serious felony cases--particularly death penalty cases.

Five African Americans state that courts previously excluded them from jury service because they are black and lawyers believe that the class action suit is the first of its kind to be filed against a prosecutor's racially discriminatory use of peremptory strikes.

"Mr. Veleska has been the D.A. for 21 years and is very powerful and influential in the community," explains Bryan Stevenson, lead attorney for the plaintiffs. "He's been fairly unapologetic about his policies and his practices. But he has, in seven cases, been found to have illegally excluded individuals from serving on juries on the basis of race."

"He really represents the resistance to diversity and protecting of the civil rights of all people," Stevenson added. "He has not been responding to the courts or to the press."

The complaint filed alleges that from 2006 to 2010, state prosecutors in Dothan, Alabama used peremptory strikes to exclude 82% of qualified black jurors from death-penalty cases. Because of this, every death-penalty jury in Houston County over this period has been all white or only inclusive of a single black juror. The circuit is nearly 25% African American, and Houston County has the highest per capita death sentencing rate in Alabama.

"There have really been no consequences," Stevenson says. "The defendant gets a new trial, but [officials] don't get sanctioned, they don't get disbarred. We've created an environment where people can engage in this kind of discrimination with impunity. If [Valeska] were a newscaster or a commentator, he would lose his job. But somehow , there have been no consequences for him or any of the other prosecutors that have been found to illegally exclude on the basis of race."

The complaint also alleges that Valeska's policies violate the federal Civil Rights Act of 1875, which provides criminal penalties for officials who exclude any qualified citizen from jury service on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.  The Department of Justice has not enforced this anti-discrimination law since its passage more than 135 years ago.

"African Americans are being excluded--regardless of the race of the defendant," Stevenson explains. "Its one of the peculiar aspects of this; [perhaps] there's a presumption that black people are not qualified or capable to participate in these trials. But [I think] prosecutors want jurors [who will] presume the guilt of the accused [and] who will believe everything the prosecutor says. All of the prosecutors are white. All of the judges are white. And they [prefer] having whites in the jury box."

A Funky Soul Band With A Hip Hop Swagger
5:30PM ET September 28th, 2011
Contributor : Malcolm Strong
A Rocky Williform Company

The J'Da Prynce Experience is about soul. The J'Da Prynce Experience is about heart. And the J'Da Prynce Experience is about family. Frontman J'Da Prynce has taken the long road to stardom, making a name for himself in his home state of North Carolina, before taking his show on the road throughout the southeast and East Coast. Now, the fiery soul singer with the larger-than-life stage presence has emerged a tried-and-true professional ready to take his next leap forward.

"My initial vision for starting this band [was that] I just really was at a point in my life where i wanted to pursue my creative passion," J says. The former schoolteacher decided that it was now or never. "This is the very reason why I moved to the Atlanta area. I was living in North Carolina for some time, pursuing music there."

Once he arrived in Atlanta, J was focused on taking the next step towards realizing his vision. "My thought was [that] I wanted to put together a unit that will [rally] behind the vision that i have," he explains. "Which is to create a sound that encompasses multiple styles and genres." Slowly-but-surely, the Experience became a reality: featuring vocalists Letitia Bowler and Bee Wade, versatile keyboardists Sir James and JoJo Morst, and a pulsating rhythm section of bassist Sterling Gittens and drummer Kris Rahming; all with J'Da Prynce at the center of a heady mix of soul, funk, hip hop and pop. Letitia serves as J's visual and stylistic counterpoint onstage, he's passion and fire, she's cool as ice. And the two complement each other remarkably, as does the rest of the Experience. "What I enjoy most about working with the Experience is that we all challenge each other in different ways to step outside of our comfort zones," Letitia shares. "To be the best singer, performer or musician we can be."

J'Da Prynce's work ethic and commitment to his art are evident in his performances and songcraft, and when he shares what legendary artists helped shape his vision, its understandable where he learned his artistry and showmanship. "I don't know of a single person that has not been influenced by Michael Jackson," he says enthusiastically. "He's one of my greatest influences when it comes to music. His passion and his ability to reach a global audience, an international audience. as a child, that had an impact on me. And James Brown. [Others like] Beyonce, John Legend, Anthony Hamilton. I love Sade. Her stamina and her story."

J's songwriting is the engine that drives the band. Tracks like "Cold" and "Operator" reveal a singer/songwriter with a strong point-of-view, and the Experience provides the sonic punch to bring all of J's ideas home. That creative synergy is not lost on the show-stopping frontman. "What works is the fact that its all about family," J says about the Experience's musical philosophy. "Musicians play best together when they are a family--when they feel connected to each other and share common struggles common goals and at the same time have their own individual goals. The individual goals are as respected as the collective goals. My vision is to create a family, first and foremost."

And in an era of digital tracks and AutoTune, the Experience relishes the elasticity and organic flow of performing as a band. "I believe all vocalist should perform to live music," Letitia says matter-of-factly, before adding with a laugh: "Tracks are wack." "We want to be able to entertain," echoes J. "We have so much fun, just being together and knowing that we all have a passion and a drive for true performing and genuine music. Real, heartfelt music. that's what brings us together."

Follow J'Da Prynce at Twitter.com/J_DaPrynce
and Check Out the Experience At www.reverbnation.com/jdapryncethenewprynceofrb

The R.E.D. Album
05:00PM ET September 15th, 2011
Contributor: DeAndre Rozan
A Rocky Williform Company

Rating:

A lot of people don't like Game, and it's easy to see why. The West Coast rap superstar has become more famous for antagonizing and petty feuding throughout his career than he has for the music he's made. This is particularly frustrating considering the fact that Game has quietly been a fairly consistent artist since his 2005 debut. On his latest project, the long-delayed R.E.D. Album, the Compton emcee proves that he's quite capable of churning out remarkable--even inspired--work despite his soap opera shenanigans.

Or more accurately--maybe he made compelling music this time around because of the soap opera shenanigans.

On The R.E.D. Album, Game takes potshots at everyone from Lil B to Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All--two relatively-new additions to the canon of West Coast hip hop. Yet his threats seem more like playful disses than his truly vitriolic exchanges with 50 Cent and G-Unit several years ago. But despite the barbs at the youngsters, Game is still die-hard is celebration of all things West; with "Drug Test," a brilliant showcase that features Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, serving as the album's greatest Left Coast anthem. Truck-rattler "Speakers On Blast" (an apt title if ever there was one) features Big Boi and another West Coast legend, Bay Area godfather E-40.

"California Dream" might be the album's most obviously creative track. On it, Game raps about watching childbirth in a style that recalls Lil Wayne's brilliant 2008 track "Dr. Carter. " and features actually audio recordings of Game's child being born. The Chris Brown-assisted "Pot O' Gold" is an easy ploy for the radio, but it's forgivable, since the it never feels explicitly contrived.

The album is a stirring listen, from start to finish--with the only real misfire being, ironically, Dr. Dre's ongoing narration. Game's relationship with the good Doctor has been under a lot of scrutiny as of late and this feels like a slightly-forced attempt to reiterate that the two still have a strong relationship. Nonetheless, with an album as good as this, no one will care much about the personal relationships of the parties involved.

Love Game or hate him--and there are certainly enough people that fit into the latter category--it has to be acknowledged that he is arguably the one rapper in his twenties still providing hardcore West Coast 'gangsta' rap for the masses. As the Cali scene becomes dominated by oddball curiosities, shock rappers and pop stars, it's kind of refreshing to still have a guy like Game around.

Who would've ever guessed that?

Can the Troubled Rapper FINALLY Turn Over A New Leaf?
7:00AM ET August 30th, 2011
Contributor : Jecquea Howsie
A Rocky Williform Company

It’s evident that over the past year hip hop has missed the southern sounds of T.I. TI recently penned his final heartfelt prison letter to his fans, again promising redemption upon his impending release. However, was it too little too late? And as he awaits the day until he finally gets his walking papers, we wonder if he’s honestly learned his lesson.

Just like a roller coaster, his life is filled with ups and downs, and for every stride T.I. makes in the right direction, it seems like he takes a step back. Understandably, his first prison stint on weapons charges was the result of the paranoia, fear and anger he felt in the wake of witnessing his best friend, Philant Johnson, die in his arms. In a misguided desire to defend himself, Tip inevitably put himself back in harm's way. And wound up in prison for it.

But does that explain the arsenal of machine guns found in his car? Nonetheless, we forgave him; overlooking the fact that, unlike everyday people who would’ve been locked up for a lifetime, he received a lighter sentence.

We applauded him from afar as he vowed to get his life together and focus on his family and music, even celebrating his return, and the many philanthropic acts he did leading up to his ‘09 prison term.

So it was surprising when he was caught-yet again, with drugs in Los Angeles. Of course we’re not passing judgment. In fact oftentimes it takes years for people to deal with their issues and get their lives together. However, many still view his current incarceration as a deliberate slap in the face to the justice system and those rooting for his success.

Celebrities tend to be celebrated one minute, criticized the next, by the media and the general public. Did T.I. succumb to the unrealistic demands the media and his fans placed on him? Perhaps. But his incarceration could be the result of his ongoing difficulty in surrounding himself with people that enable his worst tendencies. Maybe its still too soon to say whether or not he's changed. As time goes, it does seem as though T.I.’s redemption is a journey that never ends.