Hip Hop for Respect
Encyclopedia
Hip Hop for Respect was a 2000 project which released one EP for Rawkus Records
. It was organized by Mos Def
and Talib Kweli
to speak out against police brutality
in general, and the case of Amadou Diallo
in particular,
had been shot and killed by the New York City Police Department
the previous year when he attempted to retrieve his wallet and the police fired 41 shots at the unarmed man, so the subject of police brutality was prevalent.
The project aimed to assemble 41 emcees to represent the 41 shots. Rappers featured on the EP include Kool G Rap
, Rah Digga
, Sporty Thievz
, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Common
, Pharoahe Monch
, Posdnous, Dante & Main Flow of Mood, Nine
, Tiye Phoenix, Breezly Brewin' of Juggaknots
, Punchline, Imani Uzuri, EL-P & Mr. Len
of Company Flow
, Jah Born of Medina Green, What? What?
, John Forté
, Fre, J-Live
, Rubix, Invincible, Wordsworth
, A.L., Kofi Taha, Tame One
, Jane Doe, Grafh
, Shyheim, Channel Live
, Wise Intelligent, Crunch Lo, Rock
of Heltah Skeltah
, Nonchalant
, Ras Kass
, Dead Prez
, & Parrish Smith.
Producers included DJ Khalil
, Organized Noize
, and 88-Keys.
Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records is an American hip-hop record label known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawkus started in 1996 with initial releases ranging from hip-hop to drum and bass...
. It was organized by Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
and Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
to speak out against police brutality
Police brutality
Police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially also in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer....
in general, and the case of Amadou Diallo
Amadou Diallo
Amadou Diallo was a 23-year-old Guinean immigrant in New York City who was shot and killed on February 4, 1999 by four New York City Police Department plain-clothed officers: Sean Carroll, Richard Murphy, Edward McMellon and Kenneth Boss. The four officers fired a total of 41 shots...
in particular,
History
Amadou DialloAmadou Diallo
Amadou Diallo was a 23-year-old Guinean immigrant in New York City who was shot and killed on February 4, 1999 by four New York City Police Department plain-clothed officers: Sean Carroll, Richard Murphy, Edward McMellon and Kenneth Boss. The four officers fired a total of 41 shots...
had been shot and killed by the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
the previous year when he attempted to retrieve his wallet and the police fired 41 shots at the unarmed man, so the subject of police brutality was prevalent.
The project aimed to assemble 41 emcees to represent the 41 shots. Rappers featured on the EP include Kool G Rap
Kool G Rap
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson , better known by his stage names Kool G Rap , Kool G. Rap, and Giancana , is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew...
, Rah Digga
Rah Digga
Rah Digga is an American rapper. Well known as a long time member of the Flipmode Squad, a hip hop group led by Busta Rhymes, she parted ways amicably with the group in 2007. She has been called "one of rap's most prominent women MCs" by Allmusic and "one of hip-hop's most skilled female MCs" in...
, Sporty Thievz
Sporty Thievz
Sporty Thievz was a Yonkers, New York hip-hop group, originally a trio, composed of King Kirk , Big Dubez and Marlon Bryant Brando...
, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Common
Common (rapper)
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....
, Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch is an American hip hop artist. He is known for his complex lyrics, complex delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.-Biography:...
, Posdnous, Dante & Main Flow of Mood, Nine
Nine (rapper)
Nine is the stage name of Derrick Keyes , an American rapper from The Bronx, New York City, New York. He also been known as 9MM or Nine Double M...
, Tiye Phoenix, Breezly Brewin' of Juggaknots
Juggaknots
The Juggaknots is a hip hop group from New York consisting of siblings Breeze Brewin', Queen Herawin, Buddy Slim, and DJ Boo. The group has worked with both Sadat X and Prince Paul. The group’s first album, Clear Blue Skies, released on the vinyl-only New York independent Fondle 'Em Records, is...
, Punchline, Imani Uzuri, EL-P & Mr. Len
Mr. Len
Mr. Len is a hip hop DJ from Bronx, New York. He was a member, with Bigg Jus and El-P, of the underground hip hop trio Company Flow, which disbanded in the late-1990s. Presently he is in a group with Kimani Rogers from The Masterminds named Roosevelt Franklin...
of Company Flow
Company Flow
Company Flow is an American underground hip hop group from Brooklyn, New York City at one time associated with the independent record label Rawkus Records. Rapper/producer El-P and DJ/producer Mr...
, Jah Born of Medina Green, What? What?
Jean Grae
Jean Grae , born November 26, 1976 is an American hip hop artist who hails from South Africa. She rose to prominence in the underground hip-hop scene in New York City, and has since built an international fanbase.- Early life :...
, John Forté
John Forté
John Forté is a Grammy-nominated American recording artist, composer, music producer, educator and activist. He achieved fame while writing, producing and performing with the celebrated hip hop group The Fugees during the 1990’s, and has released four solo albums, including his most recent effort,...
, Fre, J-Live
J-Live
J-Live is an MC, DJ, and producer from New York.-Early career and The Best Part:...
, Rubix, Invincible, Wordsworth
Wordsworth (rapper)
Wordsworth is an underground hip hop MC from Brooklyn, best known for his freestyle rap.Wordsworth grew up in Brooklyn. A graduate of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury, Wordsworth recorded with his partner Punchline on A Tribe Called Quest's The Love Movement and on Mos Def...
, A.L., Kofi Taha, Tame One
Tame One
Rahem Brown, better known by his stage name, Tame One, is an underground rapper from New Jersey currently signed to the label Amalgam Digital. He was part of Artifacts, a popular rap duo with El Da Sensei. Which is rumored to be getting back together. He is also known for his collaboration with...
, Jane Doe, Grafh
Grafh
Grafh, born Philip Bernard, hails from Jamaica, Queens, New York. He made a name for himself on the mixtape circuit, where he garnered early support from influential mix-show DJ’s in New York. His skill, charisma, honesty, and determination were so obvious that he generated a buzz nationwide and...
, Shyheim, Channel Live
Channel Live
Channel Live is an American hip hop duo composed of Hakim Green and Vincent "Tuffy" Morgan, which recorded for Capitol Records and Flavor Unit Records....
, Wise Intelligent, Crunch Lo, Rock
Rock (rapper)
Jamal Bush, better known by his stage name Tha Rockness Monstah, or in short Rock, is an American rapper, famous as a member of hip hop collective Boot Camp Clik and the duo Heltah Skeltah along with Ruck. He is known for his deep, grimy voice and having a sophisticated and rugged flow...
of Heltah Skeltah
Heltah Skeltah
Heltah Skeltah is a hip hop duo consisting of members Rock and Ruck . The two are members of New York supergroup Boot Camp Clik, along with Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun and O.G.C....
, Nonchalant
Nonchalant
Nonchalant was an American female rapper, and songwriter from Washington, D.C., signed to MCA Records.Nonchalant is best known for her hit single "5 O'Clock", which peaked at #24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was eventually certified gold by the RIAA, for sales of over 500,000 copies. It peaked...
, Ras Kass
Ras Kass
John Austin IV, better known by his stage name Ras Kass, is an American rapper. He is also a part of hip hop supergroup The HRSMN along with Canibus, Killah Priest, and Kurupt...
, Dead Prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
, & Parrish Smith.
Producers included DJ Khalil
DJ Khalil
Khalil Abdul-Rahman, better known by his stage name DJ Khalil, is a Los Angeles based American hip hop/soul record producer, and is the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Self Scientific, together with rapper Chace Infinite...
, Organized Noize
Organized Noize
Organized Noize is an Atlanta-based American hip hop production company made up of Rico Wade, Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown.-History:Among the hit records they have worked on include TLC's "Waterfalls", En Vogue's "Don't Let Go ", and Ludacris' "Saturday "...
, and 88-Keys.
Charts
The EP's single "One Four Love Pt. 1" managed to reach several charts:- 2000: "One Four Love Pt. 1": Canadian Singles Chart 6
- 2000: "One Four Love Pt. 1": Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 55
- 2000: "One Four Love Pt. 1": Hot Rap Singles
Tracklisting
- "Intro"
- "One Four Love (Part 1)"
- "Protective Custody"
- "A Tree Never Grown"
- "One Four Love (Part 2)"
- "One Four Love (Instrumental)"
- "Protective Custody (Instrumental)"
- "A Tree Never Grown (Instrumental)"
External links
- [ Hip Hop for Respect (album)] at Allmusic
- Hip Hop for Respect at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...