Two days ago I came across the article “Free Boosie movement stupid, calls for release of murderer” by Chris Grillot. It was so appalling and misleading I felt a response was necessary. The sad fact is the basis of the American justice system has been perverted in the case of Torrence Hatch aka “Lil Boosie”. Based on Grillot’s title alone, we can believe he presumes Hatch guilty.

This plays directly into the hands of the DA who manufactured the charge against Boosie. In a jury trial, especially one with a high profile defendant, public perception can be a tool for either side. If Grillot’s attitude is the prevailing mindset in Baton Rouge, I fear for anyone accused of a crime there. Fortunately, this attitude is wrong and Grillot’s article provides a perfect example to dissect.

Before we start I’ll provide a brief background for those who may not know who I’m talking about: Lil’ Boosie is a rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is currently facing a first degree murder charge. He is not to be confused with Lil’ Wayne, who has had his own legal troubles and will be mentioned in the next paragraph. Sorry to those who knew this info, but my mom told me she was confused by the two so I thought I’d clarify for the older crowd.

HHR Blog recently sat down to do an interview with Just-One a member of the New York City band Terminal City. Terminal City was founded in 2009 by NYC emcee Just-One and guitarist/songwriter Derek Kunkel. The clash between Just-One’s edgy flow and Derek’s melodic guitar quickly became the basis around which Terminal City has developed. Today, the band fuses indie rock with hip hop and funk to create a dark intelligent sound that is both danceable and melodic.

Join HHR Blog on March 17, 2010 in New York as we celebrate artist KJ ROSE (Keanna) as she debuts her album.

On Friday night, HHR Blog was invited to an event sponsored by “ICED MEDIA” and RHYMESAYERS ENTERTAINMENT to cover rapper Freeway and Jake One’s album preview.

Teddy Pendergrass’ soul has taken flight. The buttery smooth R&B singer died today in Philadelphia (hat tip: Booker Rising). Mr. Pendergrass, who was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident in 1982, underwent surgery for colon cancer eight months ago and had a “difficult recovery,” according to his son, Teddy Jr. A Philly native, Mr. Pendergrass came to fame in the early 1970s as lead singer of the Blue Notes, responsible for hits such as “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and “Wake Up Everybody.” He released his self-titled debut in 1977 and enjoyed a successful solo career, siring velvety singles like “Close the Door” and “Turn Off the Light.”

Why don’t black people listen to or produce Rock music?

Apparently, the music died on February 3rd, 1959 when Buddy Holly, Richie Valenz, and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash following a concert. Apparently, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Howlin’ Wolf, and Big Mamma Thornton were also on that plane, if in fact, the music had died. Oh they were not. Then what the Hell was that song about? Oh that song was about the day white music died. Got It.

In short, Black people don’t subscribe to conservatism or listen to rock music because they gave it away. Many of their reasons were valid but for the most part they are outdated. As long as we as a people limit our political perspective and our artistic tastes we’ll lock ourselves out of the mainstream and all the opportunities therein.

Hip-hop artists like Will.I.Am. were on the campaign trail with Barrack Obama from the beginning. After his election, Young Jeezy released the voracious “My President is Black”, a bombastic track that aspired to be the new black anthem and seemed to imply a melding between Hip-Hop culture and mainstream society. On the night of the inauguration, Barrack Obama was showered in praises, blessings, and performances dedicated in his honor by powerful hip-hop luminaries like Jay-Z and Kanye West. Can you imagine the Juice Crew dedicating a rendition of “The Symphony” at the inauguration of Jesse Jackson in 88′? More likely it would have been The Four Tops or The Temptations.

It certainly wouldn’t have been Gil Scott Heron.

The industry would have you believe that Black music is one-dimensional, just rap/R&B. But Black music has many sounds. With the Brooklyn-based Afro-Punk Festival travelling on a national tour, the Minneapolis Spokesman-Recorder interviewed the show’s organizer, Matthew Morgan, on the makings of this one-day extravaganza and what it means to be a Black punkster today.

In East of Havana, Producers Charlize Theron; Clark Peterson; Megan Riley-Grant and Juan Carlos Saizorobatoro, through the provocative photography of Christophe Lanzenburg, tell the story of the rap group (tribe) called El Cartel whose goal is to unify all HipHop Culture in Cuba to strengthen the people in their bid to revolutionize the tiny Island Nation of Cuba.

This weeks HHR Blog Music Video is a classic rendition of “I loves you Porgy” performed by Nina Simone, on her album “Little girl blue” (1958). “I Loves You Porgy” is an aria from the opera Porgy and Bess with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin. It was published in 1935.

Produced, written, and edited by Raymond Gayle along with Marc Newsome and Kerry Maniam, ELECTRIC PURGATORY, the fate of the black rocker is an insightful look into the careers of the musicians who comprise the band known as Fishbone; and the reasons why Fishbone has not reached the stature of White Rock Bands which have been mainstreamed although Fishbone has been rocking since 1982 beginning in the Los Angeles, California Area

Did Obama change hip-hop? As much as he’s lowered the seas and reduced the deficit. I like Common but if he really thinks Obama has changed the face of hip-hop, he hasn’t been listening to hip-hop.

Possessing the undeniable talent and charisma of pop icons, three fearless performers push self-expression to its sharpest, riskiest, and most triumphant point. East of Havana is a blunt, unflinching close-up on the lives of these young rappers compelled to address their generation’s future from the confines of a Cuban ghetto. Soandry, Magyori, and Mikki are the defacto leaders of Cuba’s rebellious underground hip hop movement.

Immediately after playing the final selection of Whitney Houston’s new album, “I Look to You”, your reviewer found himself immediately possessed by an unusual, almost irresistible urge. What exactly was that impulse, readers might ask?

That would have been to play various selections in Whitney Houston’s extensive back catalog of hits: the better to rewind the clock and savor what was once the most polished, powerful singing voices of her generation. If “I Look to You”, the album being billed as Ms. Houston’s comeback vehicle, is any indication, that voice may well be lost to music aficionados everywhere, never to be heard from again.

Melanie Fiona, whose given name at birth was Melanie Hall, is a talented singer and a songwriter from Toronto, Canada whose classic sound can be compared to performers such as Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner, Natalie Cole, Nina Simone, and Billie Holiday. Singing Rhythm and Blues, Reggae, and Hip-Hop, her first single and album will be released in 2009. The single entitled “Give it to me right” has preceded the album being released to radio stations on February 28th, 2009. “Give it to me right” peaked to number 39 on Billboard’s Canadian Hot 100. The album called, The Bridge, is scheduled for release on September 22nd, 2009.