Tag Archives: criminal justice

Kanye West Talks Importance of Adding Fashion In Every Aspect of His Career

Celebrity Sightings In Paris - March 2, 2020

Source: Marc Piasecki / Getty

Since starting his journey on the path as rapper, Kanye West has always declared that he would be the “best dressed” and after more than 20 years in the industry, Yeezy’s proclamation has been made a definite.

As previously reported during an exclusive interview with the Wall Street Journal, Kanye West talks his journey navigating through Hip-Hop with his unique fashion sense, and why when he made the decision to jump into fashion completely with the launch of his now iconic Yeezy brand almost seemingly stopped the industry.

”I got ripped,” Kanye West said reflecting on his fashion week debut. “You had to go to school to be a designer. That was the climate back then.”

Although initially everyone wasn’t on board, Yeezy’s fortitude and ingenuity launched his Yeezy label to be a legit high fashion brand.

“I believe that Yeezy is the McDonald’s and the Apple of apparel,” West says. “In order to make the Apple of apparel the next Gap, it has to be a new invention. To invent something that’s so good that you don’t even get credit for it because it’s the norm.”

In addition to talking fashion, West also also revealed his stance on both criminal justice and politics. With his influence, he revealed that it was his passion for criminal justice that inspired wife Kim Kardashian to pursue her passion of law before noting that his goal to add to the victims’ resolve is to employ the former felons at Yeezy sneaker division.

According to the interview, the “Ultra Light Beams” rapper is eager to hire released prisoners to work in apparel manufacturing and he says he has discussed building factories in the U.S. with Adidas, which makes his Yeezy sneakers—a task that Adidas has declined to comment on, in regards to. It actually happening.

In regards to his political stance, West divulged that He does enjoy unusual access to the Trump administration. In mid-July, West chartered a plane to Sweden, planning to jet in and free the musical artist A$AP Rocky, who had been detained on assault charges earlier that month. Warned that the Swedes wouldn’t welcome the gesture, he canceled the plane and—from his swimming pool in Calabasas—called Jared Kushner at the White House. Prompting a response from Donald Trump who tweeted, “Just spoke to @KanyeWest about his friend A$AP Rocky’s incarceration. I will be calling the very talented Prime Minister of Sweden to see what we can do about helping A$AP Rocky.”

“I’m a black guy with a red [MAGA] hat, can you imagine?” Kanye said. “It reminded me of how I felt as a black guy before I was famous, when I would walk in a restaurant and people would look at you like you were going to steal something. ‘This is your place, Ye, don’t talk about apparel. This is your place, Ye, you’re black, so you’re a Democrat.’ ”

Despite his political views, Kanye has continued to experience success in every genre he enters into, but it’s the lack of “successful businessman“ being added to his long list of titles ad accomplishments that bothers him the most.

”The fact that Yeezy does $1.5 billion in revenue per year and the valuation is $2.9 billion means that money does not have to enter into the equation,” Kanye said. “Yeezy [is] worth $3 billion from nothing, that shows I successfully did something.”

Check out the full article here.

Source: HipHopWired.com

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Kim Kardashian-West Joins Fight To Free Rodney Reed

Rodney Reed mugshot

Source: Splash / Splash News

Kim Kardashian is once again utilizing her celebrity status to lobby to help get a wrongfully convicted man set free.

According to TMZ, Kim Kardashian-West spoke with Rodney Reed from death row just last week to discuss his scheduled execution. According to West there are new witnesses and evidence to exonerate Reed, and implicate the real killer, which according to West is more than enough evidence to request a stay.

Reed was convicted for the murder of Stacey Stites in Bastrop, Texas; where cops claimed he raped, assaulted and strangled her to death. Despite lacking evidence and recently surfaced confessions, Reed was sentenced to death, although he has maintained his innocence for over 20 years.

In an effort to help garner publicity, Kim Kardashian took her to her Twitter to call out the state governor, encouraging him to “do the right thing.”

“PLEASE @GovAbbott How can you execute a man when since his trial, substantial evidence that would exonerate Rodney Reed has come forward and even implicates the other person of interest,” Kim wrote. “I URGE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.”

Reed’s brother, Rodrick, thanked Kardashian for using her platform to try and free Reed.

“I want you to know you are a major God-send to my family — more than you may ever fully realize in this lifetime,” he posted in a message obtained by TMZ. “You are a blessing to all the families you advocate for. We’re so glad you have publicly voiced that you also believe he is innocent.”

Supports of Reed have been rallying for his release after a man named Arthur Snow reportedly filed a statement alleging that Stites’ fiancé confessed to him that he killed her for cheating on him when they served time together, the site states. Stites’ fiancé, however, has denied the claim. Snow says they were both in the Aryan Brotherhood in prison.

Kardashian is reportedly working hard to provide legal help to Reed, who is scheduled to be executed on Nov. 20.

Source: HipHopWired.com

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No, Meek Mill Did Not “Beat the Streets”

 

What does it mean to beat the streets?

Some people might define it as growing up in the ghetto, making bad decisions whether it’s running with a gang, selling drugs, shooting or robbing people and making it out of that situation unscathed. Others might say its getting caught up in the previously mentioned crimes and beating any cases against you. Well, if you ask Meek Mill, beating the streets means neither of the above.

On Monday, Meek Mill pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor firearm charge in Philadelphia. Following the plea, prosecutors dismissed the other charges against him and Meek was officially free after spending his entire adult life on probation.

Meek held a rally outside of City hall where he announced “Meek Free” and later tweeted that he “beat the streets.”
But sorry Meek, you did not beat the streets.

At age 19, Robert “Meek Mill” Williams was caught up in a situation that would stick with him until he was in his 30’s. In 2007, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Chronology Of The Meek Mill Case, Meek was arrested on gun and drug charges and in the following year was sentenced to five months in jail for drug possession, firearms violation and simple assault.

Meek confessed to having the gun but to this day denies ever pointing it at an officer as the charges read, and also denied having any drugs on him. Meek was convicted anyway, and at this point Meek is in the system and the streets are up 1-0 on the scoreboard.

READ MORE: Meek Mill’s Criminal Case Closed, Prosecutors Won’t Seek Retrial

Following his five month sentence, Meek was blowing up with music. He dropped his Flamers mixtape in 2008 with the hit song “In My Bag” and that same year was about to reach a deal with Atlanta rapper T.I.’s Grand Hustle record label.

In 2011, following the failed deal with T.I.’s Grand Hustle, Meek inked a deal with Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group alongside his “Ambition” collaborator Wale. His track with Ross “I’m a Boss” was taking off and legends like Jay-Z and Nas were acknowledging Meek’s potential. Meek was bigger than Philadelphia and his career accomplishments tied the score at 1-1 with the streets. He was on… but there was one thing that would hold him back.

What was worse than serving five months in jail, would be serving 10 years on probation. On Wale’s song “The Helium Balloon” from his Album About Nothing, Wale and Jerry Seinfield talk about the helium balloon theory where kids (fans) love holding on to the balloon (Wale) but really want to see it fly away (have a successful career). But when they let it go, they quickly want it back. For Meek, Judge Genece Brinkley was Meek’s metaphorical little kid holding the balloon.

READ MORE: Migos, Meek Mill, Megan Thee Stallion, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, More to Headline Power 105’s 2019 Powerhouse Concert

Brinkley has been on Meek’s case from the beginning, and no matter how successful the “House Party” rapper got, she still saw him as a gun toting drug dealer.

In 2014, Meek was sentenced to six months in prison for what Judge Brinkley stated were multiple probation violations including posing on social media with people holding guns, scheduling out of state performances without asking his probation officer, failing to give a working phone number to his probation officer and taking shots at his P.O. on Twitter.

In some ways, this six month sentence boosted Meek’s rap career as the #FreeMeekMill hashtag gained steam in the hip-hop community and social media. The rapper’s half year sentence juiced the hype around his MMG sophomore album Dreams Worth More Than Money that went on to sell more than 200,000 copies in its first week giving Meek his first Billboard number 1 album.

Meek was out of jail by the time his album dropped, but limited travel put a cap on the money he would bring in on the road. The conviction from 2009 was now hurting Meek in 2015 and 2016 in what was the height of his career and the streets went up 2-1. The streets along with a no nonsense judge who placed the MMG signed rapper on house arrest in 2016 kept Meek pigeon holed in Philadelphia despite his career reaching far beyond the City of Brotherly Love.

READ MORE: Meek Mill Teases “Welcome to the Party” Remix

His final run in with the law would prove the most gruesome and eye opening for an evolving artist. In November 2017, Judge Brinkley sentenced Meek to 2-4 years in jail after he was arrested in New York City for riding a dirt bike, a video that was posted on Instagram by a fan.

The charges were dropped in New York, but Meek had to return to Philadelphia for violating probation. Eight years removed from his 2009 firearms charge, the streets went up 3-1 against Meek. Meek’s case had become bigger than hip-hop. The country wanted criminal justice reform and Meek was the perfect figurehead. Meek’s 2009 arresting officer was on the District Attorney’s “suspect police” list, and Judge Brinkley continuously gave Meek the harshest rulings for non-violent offenses.

Meek was released on parole in July 2018  and as he detailed in his Rolling Stone interview from jail, Meek went on the offensive to fight for criminal justice reform not just for himself, but for others who don’t have the public support that Meek does. Meek’s original conviction was also tossed out  and suddenly there was light at the end of the tunnel

Ten years removed from being arrested on gun charges, Meek plead guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge and is a free man. Travel restrictions, multiple stints in jail, and an estimated $30 million loss for a 10 year old charge at 32 years old Meek is free.

Congratulations to Meek Mill for gaining his freedom, But in his ten year battle with the law, the score at best will be scored 3-2, the streets won.

The post No, Meek Mill Did Not “Beat the Streets” appeared first on The Source.

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Meek Mill Is Granted A Hearing In Front Of A New Judge & Court

For more than a decade, Meek Mill’s freedom has rested in the hands of a single judge, Genece Brinkley. After multiple lengthy stays behind bars (including one ending in 2018), Meek, Roc Nation, his legal team, and legions of fans have campaigned that the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native continues his ongoing legal matters before a new court. Following recent efforts from supporters including the office of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, Meek will face a new, different judge at an upcoming hearing in appellate court. On July 16, the 32-year-old rapper and Dreamchasers Records founder born Robert Rihmeek Williams will be back in a Philadelphia court. Although released from prison in April of 2018, Meek remains in hearings tied to a 2007 weapons and drug arrest followed by a 2008 conviction. Before the new court, Meek and his team hope those original ’08 charges will be overturned, allowing the Maybach Music Group/Atlantic Records artist to capitalize on his talent. JAY-Z & Meek Mill Have Joined Forces To Free Those Unjustly Held In Prison An early 2018 Rolling Stone feature story by Paul Solotaroff chronicled controversy surrounding officers responsible for Meek’s arrest, including police brutality of the burgeoning rapper while in Philadelphia Police Department custody. Other elements of the investigation cited questionable behavior on Judge Brinkley’s part, including suggesting creative choices from the musician, and insistence that his career remain under the handling of former manager and local figure, Charlie Mack. “We’re looking forward to the oral argument before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and to, hopefully, having Meek’s conviction vacated,” Meek lawyer Jordan Siev told CNN in a statement today (June 4). “In light of the District Attorney’s recent filing, where he supports the granting of a new trial to Meek and the recusal of Judge Brinkley, we hope to have this injustice rectified once and for all.” Meek Mill Wants To Get 1 Million People Out Of The Prison System During recent years both on the streets and behind bars, Meek Mill has lent his celebrity and voice to assist others that have been wrongfully convicted and over-punished for their actions. In late 2018, the artist released Champions. The album featured JAY-Z, Fabolous, Rick Ross, Drake, and others.

Source: AmbrosiaForHeads.com

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TODAY! Meek Mill, Van Jones, Headline Hakeem Jeffries Congressional Black Caucus Forum On Criminal Justice And Music In Washington D.C.

Today at 2:00 p.m., U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), in coordination with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, will host a panel discussion on music, criminal justice and racial equality featuring activist and platinum rapper Meek Mill, author and CNN host Van Jones, author and professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Universal Music group general counsel Jeffrey Harleston and University of Maryland, Baltimore County professor Michelle R. Scott.

African Americans have historically used music as an expression of perseverance and an avenue to address pressing social justice issues in America. This panel will explore the complexities of music and social justice in America, illuminate the supportive influence of modern-day musicians on activism and discuss ways that artists can produce popular and politically engaged music.

There is a livestream link available HERE courtesy of Ebony Magazine.

The post TODAY! Meek Mill, Van Jones, Headline Hakeem Jeffries Congressional Black Caucus Forum On Criminal Justice And Music In Washington D.C. appeared first on The Source.

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