Another Black Man Shot Down: HE WAS AN OFFICER FOR HEAVEN's SAKE!

WAKE UP!

Black Officer Shot: I guess it doesn’t Matter Which Side of the Badge you’re on.

Here we go again. Attached is a letter I found written to our illustrious police department; “Attention: Black Policemen.”

To my niggas:

White cops always fuckin’ widdus around my way. Er’time I wanna chill in front the spot, cops be harassing us n’ shit. “You niggas can’t sit in front the store.” “Let me see yo’ hands.” “Did you hear those gunshots?” Man, I ain’t heard shit. Why they always fuckin widdus?

I think I know why, though. It’s ‘cuz we Black. White man never wanna see us do good. Even when we doin’ good, they look for reasons to shoot at us. My mans-n-them Sean, they shot him and he wasn’t even doin shit. Homie was bout to get married the next day n’ shit. Shot. Cold.

But yo, check this out; we gotta infiltrate this system. Yeah mufucka, infiltrate. I know what dat shit mean. Like on some, Mission Impossible shit. Hop out a plane, in a garbage-man suit, pose as a white man and be a cop. Little do they know, they lettin’ in a real nigga!

See, they won’t fuck wit a nigga if they know he a Cop too. That blue means more than us being black. Haha, not, the Crips mah nigga. Shit, they niggas too. The badge I’m talking about.

So yo, I ain’t gonna keep you. I just wanted to let y’all know that I know how to avoid the racism and shit. Cops don’t kill other cops.

Peace yo,

One Love

(PS- This is an old letter…)

On Friday, Christopher Ridley, an off-duty police officer was shot to death by other police officers. He was driving by and saw a fight in the middle of a Westchester block between homeless men.

He stepped in to break up the fight and was knocked to the ground. His gun was dislodged from the waistband in which the firearm was tucked. After breaking up the altercation, he was surrounded by policemen. Still dazed from the fight, he was ordered to put the weapon down. The homeless couple, interviewed by The New York Times says, “Ridley was still pretty dazed and confused so hearing the orders was unlikely.”

What happens next? BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM!!! Six cops emptied shots into one of our African-American Police Officers. Reverend Al Al Sharpton says the cops now call it “a friendly fire…” A friendly-fucking-fire?!?? Why does this NEVER happen to white officers? Shit, to white people period!

Why are there never any white Abner Louima cases? White Rodney King cases? White Sean Bell cases? Where are those cops that shot these people? That sodomized our African-American men? I guess the same thing that happened to those that organized the slave ships; Stole Native customs and traditions; Orchestrated the build of this country on our backs, literally… They give them holidays.

Wake up, people. Wake up.

www.UNVERSITYHUSTLEONLINE.com

www.UNIVERSITYHUSTLE.blogspot.com

Present Day Marvin Gaye: The Love is Real

Words- Kenji Summers

Not since D’Angelo’s Voodoo album has a soul artist had such anticipation for their debut follow up album. Raheem Devaughn has captivated audiences around the U.S. while maintaining his roots in the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) area. His live performances have made him a fixture amongst soul music enthusiasts of every generation. Ladies love him and fellas respect him for his authenticity and ability. Raheem has even been said to remind fans of an R&B martyr by the name of Marvin Gaye. With large shoes to fill, the self-proclaimed "R&B Hippie Neo-Soul Rock Star" has started a movement of musical art that is sure to be emulated in the future. Raheem agrees, “My music is very much R&B, but it’s also very much neo-soul, and also a splash of rock star, you know? It’s about just really tying it all together and bringing attention to the lane that I’ve created.” From the portraits that are painted by artist, Demont Peekaso (www.demontpeekaso.com) during live shows, to the fresh urban boutique gear, to the string of vastly popular mixtape albums that helped Raheem get signed to a major label, Mr. Devaughn is blazing a new trail in soul music. Now with the follow up album Love Behind the Melody, Raheem is set to enter the mainstream conscious of music fans in the manner that Marvin, Stevie, Maxwell, and D’Angelo did in the past. Raheem comments, “Everyday there's somebody new who finds out about the music via word of mouth, MySpace, Youtube, coming to a show, or whatever.” Let this article be your whatever, and before delving into the new album let us examine what makes Raheem Devaughn such as rare gem in such an oversaturated music industry.

Hometown Hero

Raheem is a native of Prince George’s County, Maryland as well as Washington DC; which he admits groomed and prepared him for the national spotlight. Raheem won multiple awards and shows in the DC metro area while releasing an array of independent music compilations. While the DMV may not be as notable as New York and Philadelphia in terms of industry recognition, plenty of artists are creating dynamic music and furthering the soul music genre. Raheem asserts, "I think DC is just on the rise as a whole, with me kind of being the spearhead of it with the success of my underground movement, and crossing over to a mainstream movement.” Raheem Devaughn hopes that the success of his second major label album will open up the flood gates for other talented artists that have paid their dues in the DC area. Raheem adds “You got artists like W. Ellington Felton, Bilal Salaam, One Way, Tabi Boney, King Pin Slim, Wale, just to name a few. And there are also some mainstream cats. For me personally, if you’re an artist coming out of DC, and you ain’t done the real DC grind through the street, you’re on thin ice, artistically.” Authenticity and passion drive the music of Raheem Devaughn and expect the next crop of successful artists out of DC to fit a similar mold.

Show Stopper

If you have never been to a Raheem Devaughn concert you are missing out on a high energy masterpiece of artistic expression. Each show is loaded with a mixture of Raheem's music catalog, an amazing band, legendary soul hits, live paintings, talented background singers, and a beautiful interactive crowd. Critics have stated that Raheem’s shows leave event goers in a ‘gimme more’ state of mind. The visual creator for Raheem Devaughn, Deemont Peekaso paints the vibes on stage to canvas, which are auctioned off following each performance. The background singers Steve Smith and Bilal Salaam, the latter who is in group, the Crossrhodes with Raheem Devaughn and DMV notable W. Ellington Felton bring contrasting singing styles that blend well with Raheem’s vocals. Raheem’s band, the Loveaholics, complement his style and add a musicality to each show and performance. In addition, Raheem interacts with his crowd and fellow performing artists on a higher level than current R&B and soul stars, he creates an experience that fans and peers alike will remember for a life time. Raheem points out, “I wanna give you your money’s worth...I genuinely enjoy performing and getting on stage…It’s the ultimate high for me…A lot of times a show is not the same, and a lot of things that go down at that moment are improvisational.” The passion Raheem brings as a performer is a breath of fresh air, and with every performance, it is hand crafted to ensure that each member of the crowd fully enjoys the time they sacrificed to take part in the Raheem Devaughn experience.

Love Behind the Melody

Love Behind the Melody features guests such as Floetry and Big Boi of Outkast, however like The Love Experience; Raheem is the star of his own album and commands the listener’s undivided attention from start to finish. Love Behind the Melody’s first single “Woman” is a tribute to all women, similar to “You” off of The Love Experience. The track has been heating up radio stations nationwide and getting tremendous attention in the DMV area. Noting the subject matter of “Woman” a perfect song for limited edition release would be a duet with Angie Stone, who penned the song “Brotha,” a tribute track for all the good men in the world (just a thought *wink).

Love Behind the Melody is 17 songs deep with an array of contemporary R&B hits, mellow down tempo neo-soul, and classic soul ballads. Stand out tracks are “Customer” a metaphorical song that has Raheem singing from the point of view of a love waiter. Think R.Kelly “Ignition” or Trey Songz “Grub On.” A crowd favorite of the ladies is “Marathon” a song where Raheem goes into depth about how when he gets a break from work he enjoys a length session of romance, the track may also be blamed for some unexpected child births in late 2008. But not all the tracks are geared strictly towards women, brothers can enjoy the perspective that Raheem employs on tracks such as “Cocaine Dreams," which has an old school Curtis Mayfield vibe to it. In addition the upbeat "Energy" will keep brothers moving and grooving with their ladies because of the song’s funky bass and catchy lyrics. Each track on the album has a unique value to it and will be enjoyed for its timeless feel. Raheem has crafted a remarkable second album which will be well received by his diehard fans as well as those who will give him a try after reading this article. So until the Love Behind the Melody can reach you, let the Love Experience keep you warm through these winter months.

Drink of the Month!

Drink of the Month: GANG RELATED

Who’s the best male black actor to hit the movie screens? I have five answers for you…DENZEL, DENZEL, DENZEL, DENZEL, and DENZEL!! His performance in the recently released box office hit “American Gangster” was BANGing (no pun intended). Even though it wasn’t his or the movie producers’ intention they made gang banging, making easy money, and the fast life look about exciting as a nudist pajama party at the playboy mansion. Ok, maybe I’m embellishing a little bit, but if you seen the movie you get my point. Unfortunately, not all of us are fit for the gang banging route. Sorry to burst bubbles. But if you still got a night light in your room, maybe the gangster life isn’t for you. If you’re upset on the bursar line cause your financial aid and TAP ain’t go through, maybe the gangster life isn’t for you. If the biggest problem in your neighborhood is litter, maybe the gangster life isn’t for you. If you call where you live at your neighborhood and not your hood, maybe just maybe….the gangster life isn’t for you. You see where I’m going with this? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an advocator for the gangster life, I’m just trying to put things in perspective. However, don’t despair ‘cause help is on the way. For those of you that want a TASTE of the gangster life here’s what you do: Get yourself a Gang Related, one of the newest drinks to hit the STREETS. Drink two of these and I promise you’ll wake up in a chalk outline the next morning with your picture on a milk carton. Now, I ain’t no snitch but here’s how you make one:

2 oz of Alize Red Passion

2 oz of Hpnotiq

2 oz of Hennessy

What you do is pour all 3 ingredients into a highball glass filled with ice. For the best taste, you add the Henny first, then you pour the Alize and Hpnotiq. Stir it up, and call the police. I highly recommend this drink. It will make you miss your stop on the train and wake up in a whole different borough.

These are the words of a certified alcoholic…

Yours truly,

Carl Samuels

DJ SPYNFO IS READY!

Words Tewauna Shante

A big conglomerate is what we can call him. Some DJ’s are just nice on the reggae tip. Some are nice on just a Hip-Hop tip. When you have a DJ that can play Fall Out Boy in a Hofstra USA party on a Friday night, you know you have something special on your hands. His love for music has always been evident but he surfaced as a more-than-serious college DJ about ’99, 2000. A millennium DJ; maybe, the DJ of the millennium. Wouldn’t go that far? Honestly it doesn’t matter what you think. After all, this isn’t a scene; this is an arms race. Rival DJ’s get your black suits up…

UH- We’re gonna start this off kinda like the movie; When did you fall in love with Hip Hop?

DJ Spynfo- I was surrounded by a lot of different genres of music. I was brought up here, my father is from Honduras, and my mother is from Jamaica. I started loving Hip-Hop in the mid nineties. I’m the youngest of nine siblings: four brothers, four sisters. They always had that Mary J playing, that Busta Rhymes playing, a little Biggie here and there or whatever. I used to sit and listen in the living room. Sisters used to play the SWV, stuff like that. That’s where I caught on.

UH- When did you start DJ’ing?

DJ- Basically my last year in high school I bought turn tables but never used them. I really began in about 2000 at St. Johns University. I was lucky enough to have a room right next to the elevator so when people moved in, they would see my equipment set up and see me spinning and wonder who I was. Various organizations heard about me and came to me and had me do their events. The Pan- African organization is the biggest organization over here at St. Johns asked me to cover a few of their events. They had me do their Open-Mic and things like that and I did well. I moved on to parties and fashion shows, and that’s where I basically got my start at St. Johns.

UH- So let me ask you this, when did it really start to escalate for you? When did people really begin to know who DJ Spynfo was?

DJ- I started to build a name for myself in 2001, but in 2002 I started DJ’ing at a place in Queens called Georgetown. I began DJ’ing there on Thursday nights. Every party I did there I thought it was gonna flop. Man, I didn’t have any thing UV coated. I was running around campus with yellow paper flyers, we had no official nothing. No budget for anything. Just the paper flyers. My quote was “Spynfo Done Did It Again!” That’s how I got people acclimated to my name. They would see the flyers on the floor and they’d read it like, “Oh, that’s a Spynfo flyer. Lemme check that out, see what that’s about.” Ladies were like seven dollars, guys were ten ‘til midnight. Spot held about 175 people. Shit, I was pulling about 400 people in there every Thursday. The owner then moved me to Friday where my crowd was consistent. People were coming out on rainy days, ten degrees outside. That’s when I started building my name. I mean, 2001 was cool but it didn’t really start to get crazy for me until like 2003. It really picked up because I was networking with a lot of club promoters and a lot of organizations outside of St. Johns. Man, you name it. Like I said, pageants, fashion shows, parties, even outdoor events: Alpha barbecues, Kappa events, things like that. I have to give it up to Empire though. Without those guys, I don’t know where Spynfo would be. Honestly.

UH- I want you to speak on two relationships: One, DJ Spider, two, Suede. How did that happen?

DJ- Spider is somebody I will always look up to. He’s been in the game for a minute. I wouldn’t say I model myself after him but I definitely learned a lot from him. He was always there to give me support and be like, “Spyn, you gotta think. You gotta pay attention because there are a lot of snakes in the business.” He was always there to give good advice like what I should and shouldn’t do. He’s definitely a great DJ. I had been rockin’ with him for a minute. That’s my brother right there. Basically my brother from another mother right there. He’s definitely talented and I definitely stole some things—

UH- Hey listen, a wise man once told me “Any good idea is worth stealing.”

DJ- Yeah, yeah. the guy definitely has talent. Has a lot of energy, keeps the crowd moving. And I mean, before I even met him I saw our styles were similar. He and I were similar on the Hip-Hop level. He was more advanced when it came to reggae, but as far as Hip-Hop, we both weren’t scared to dig way back in the crates. You know me man; I ain’t scared to play something from the eighties. I’ll play Michael Jackson quick! I’ll have everybody singing Rock With You like it’s a new song! And Spider is the same way. We clicked immediately.

We DJ’d for the first time together really in a lounge called Destiny Lounge. We’ve done it together before but that was the first time we really noticed we had chemistry together. He would be like “Damn you nice on the mic!” I would be like, “Damn, you nice on the boards!” After a year of that, we came up with the name College Club Kings. I actually came up with the name . That was the Facebook vs. MySpace era. That was in Amazura. Spider was always on my back about not being just a great DJ, but marketing yourself. Being a great DJ is always essential but there are a lot of bum DJ’s out there that don’t know how to market themselves. And there are bum DJ’s that can market the hell out of themselves. I mean I was already good. Not to be cocky or nothing but lets face it, that’s why you’re here interviewing me. You have to make people believe you are more than you actually are. I’ve got to be the best. I’m not trying to be the prince, I’m not trying to be the queen; I wanna be the King. That’s how Spider and I got started. Me and Suede? Well, you know Step Correct had been going on for a while, and in 2004, you know his DJ was I think DJ Psycho or something like that-

UH- He was a Sigma, I believe…

DJ- Yeah. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with the way he DJ’d, I just felt like he could have used a little more energy. At Roseland, it was hot and I felt he wasn’t playing the right songs at the right times. And I didn’t know Suede from a hole in the wall. I basically stole his number! I called a producer that was on the flyer. This is hustle right here; this is grinding: I called up a number that I saw on the flyer and I was like, “yeah this is Spynfo,”—making believe I was somebody already—“I lost Suede’s cell number. Do you have it?” I got it and called Suede out the blue like I had been doing this for a while. I been holding down St. Johns and Hofstra for a minute, so forth and so on. I didn’t come off cocky or anything. I basically came off as a cool dude. He was like he was gonna give me a chance and we just spoke. I caught up again with him about a year later and he was like, “Yo, come to Maryland with me.” He was a stranger to me and I was a stranger to him, but I was just going out there for the exposure. We were in the car and I didn’t even know his real name, nor did he know mine. I was Spynfo to him and he was Suede to me. We didn’t know each others age or nothing. We ain’t know shit. He just knew I was a DJ. After the event in Maryland, he was like, “I ain’t even gonna front, that was like one of my top five! That was one of the top five DJ-Host performances.” And you know Suede. He ain’t gonna bullshit. So if he was saying that to me, I was like wow. He had no idea of my energy. We had no idea of our chemistry. He had no clue I was gonna be that involved with the crowd. I would stop him like, “Hold up! Let’s get the ladies involved!” Then it was, “Yo Suede, Yo Suede, where the fellas’ at?!?” People were really feeling my talking. At the end of the night, they were like, “yo who’s that?” And I can’t even front. That was one of the best shows I’ve ever done in my life. That was like 2004, 2005 maybe and after that he was like “aw man, you my DJ!” I waited like another six months to a year and he called me up to go to Alabama with him. He put me in a hotel and all. I killed out there and that is what put me on to Step Correct. He hit me up about a month or two before the show and I was like, “yeah, I’m down.” I think it was a good show, but I think I could’ve done better. I mean it was New Years day and let’s just say the night before I wasn’t in the house asleep. So for me to be up the next morning and standing, DJ’ing from 5 to 5 was kinda hard. I can’t even front. I was worn out, that was a struggle right there. So as of right now, Suede and I are working together on this college radio show Live From The Yard. Basically me, him and a producer Chris from Sirius Satellite Radio. I’m the official DJ for the show and we’re already at Albany, Syracuse, LIU Brooklyn campus, Hampton, and a few more.

UH- What is your ultimate goal as for being a DJ?

DJ- I guess my own radio show. I can see myself fitting in somewhere like Power 105, or Hot 97. I know it’s going to take a little while but I’m patient. I mean, I’m rewriting my bio every week and I’m pushing towards it. I’ve got a press kit and everything. I’m taking a whole new angle. My website: DJSpynfo.net. Make sure you put that in there.

UH- What would you tell someone that is probably in high school right now wanting to make the same moves and leave the same trail in becoming a world known DJ?

DJ- Surround yourself with good people, keep your vision clear and if it don’t make money, it don’t make sense.