“We have got to stop the killing of us by us in order to stop the killer in his wicked plan against us.” – The Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan
The hip-hop community has heard the above statement, and on Saturday, January 29 at The Pageant, hip-hop is answering loud and clear.
Stlhiphop.com, The Loop Underground and Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program, along with 100 Black Men of Greater St. Louis, will present Hip-Hop 911/ Stop the Violence Concert: It’s Not Just a Show, It’s a Solution.
It’s a free event, featuring Murphy Lee, Nite Owl, Ruka Puff, BET’s 106 and Park freestyle champ Big Will, 12 to 6 Movement, the Midwest Avengers, Tef Poe, Jia Davis, the Apostles, Jason Little (a background vocalist for Trey Songz), County Brown and area youth.
The show will be hosted by Aloha, Bradd Young and DJ Kaos, with Hot 104.1’s D to the C and DJ G-Wiz on the ones and twos.
“We need to tap into our championship spirit and champion for our city,” said B Gyrl, hip-hop activist and founder of stlhiphop.com. “It is a community issue that requires a community response.”
For the past five years Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program has offered a community response to make youth more productive members of society. The program offers incentives like the free studio time, back-stage access to concerts and events, interaction with industry professionals, radio exposure, mentoring and guidance .
Dontey Carter is a 19-year-old resident of Walnut Park who has been a member of Dynasty for four months now. Carter has seen first-hand the violence in the streets of his neighborhood, but says that since Muhammad Mosque # 28 (where Dynasty has an office) recently opened across the street, the program has changed his life.
“The Nation of Islam, Mr. Muhammad from Dynasty, has been there for me,” Carter said. “I go and get the free studio time, and he is a strong example in getting me off these streets and doing my music and just bettering my life.”
“Mr. Muhammad from Dynasty” is James W. Muhammad, co-founder of Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program.
“This is a representation of what we can do in unity. We can stop the shedding of our youth’s blood, if we so desire and care enough to,” Muhammad said.
“It has to matter enough to us to do so, not just when it is your family or friends. We have to look at the young people in our community as your family that must be saved.”
Youth who wish to promote or perform should call 314-243-4722 or email helpyouth@dynasthiphop.org. The organizers would like any parents whose children have murdered to please email them at helpyouth@dynasthiphop.org so you can come out to be heard. For more information, contact B Gyrl (stlhiphop.com) at 314-485-9630 or info@skiptothelou.com.
