FERGUSON NEWS: Ferguson Police Probe: Justice Dept. Finds Ferguson Police Routinely Violates The Rights Of Blacks!

Ferguson Police Probe: Justice Dept. Finds Ferguson Police Routinely Violates The Rights Of Blacks!

The Department of Justice is expected to release its findings as early as Wednesday.

AUDIO: Kendrick Lamar And Jonathan Emile “Heaven Help Dem”

Kendrick Lamar And Jonathan Emile “Heaven Help Dem”

Kendrick Lamar links with Montreal rapper, producer, and poet Jonathan Emile for a track paying tribute to the victims of police brutality like Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin. After a year of national press filled with news about numerous deaths of unarmed black men by the police, “Heaven Help Dem” is a powerful song that stirs emotions of both anger and sadness as soon as the track begins. Kendrick’s standout verse is profound, expressing the grim reality of what it means to be a young black man in America.

He rattles off, “They say the average black man only live til 25, Pac died at 25, how many kids you know dead at 20? 5? Now that’s life I know, 10 that’s crumbling in coffins, dead as a doorknob, fresh out of high school and couldn’t find no job, went straight to the grave, the Grim Reaper in love with such a tender age.”

Peep the track above.

INTERVIEWS: Macklemore Says He Betrayed Kendrick Lamar’s Trust

 Macklemore Says He Betrayed Kendrick Lamar’s Trust

Much like he and producer Ryan Lewis’ 2012 album, The Heist, Macklemore’s race and the discussion thereof has become inescapable. From regional underground artist to NPR curiosity to the Grammys, the Seattle populist has been picked up and dissected by most Americans concerned with popular culture. So in a period with such unrest—from the unpunished killings of Mike Brown, Eric Garner, and others, to the ongoing panic over Iggy Azalea’s place in hip-hop—who better to turn to?

Macklemore sat down with Hot 97′s Ebro and Peter Rosenberg to discuss all that and more, including his skin color’s role in radio reaction and parental acceptance. In one of the year’s most thoughtful, nuanced interviews, the “Thrift Shop” rapper explained that, while he curses on records and is simply following in a long line of rappers making socially-aware songs, he hears often from white parents who tell him he’s “the only rapper [they] let [their] kids listen to.” Euphemisms like “relatable” rattle around in comment sections, and Macklemore sees it—and is well aware.

He also discusses his worry about his role in the wake of Darren Wilson’s non-indictment. Though he felt a strong impulse to join the movement, he worried about—in appearance or in reality—co-opting the movement for his own business. “It’s important to listen,” he said. “It’s important to be humble.” (Macklemore did ultimately lend his face and voice to protests, yet did not release music on the subject.)

Also on the table was the radio station’s recent interview with Azealia Banks, the black rapper from New York who has been unspoken in her distaste for Macklemore and other white rap artists, chiefly Iggy Azalea, and the general attempt to “smudge out” black contributions to American culture. Macklemore declined to respond directly to her comments, but commended the power of the interview and agreed with her thesis.

Finally, Macklemore goes further in depth in the thought process behind his infamous Instagrammed text message to Kendrick Lamar after The Heist beat the Compton rapper’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city for Best Rap Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards. In an interview with Hot 97′s Ebro In The Morning show, Kendrick Lamar said that he felt like it was “uncalled for” when Macklemore posted the text message conversation between the two, which Mack agreed with.

“I betrayed Kendrick’s trust,” Macklemore said “That’s my homie…I betrayed his trust, that’s wack.” Watch the interview above.

NEWS: Hip-Hop Reacts To Antonio Martin's Death

 Hip-Hop Reacts To Antonio Martin's Death

Members of the hip-hop community express their condolences to Antonio Martin, an 18-year-old who was shot and killed by police in Missouri yesterday.

2014 just couldn't go out without one more incident of police killing a black teenager. At the tail end of a year in which we've seen Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and others gunned down by police, 18-year-old Antonio Martin was gunned down last night in Berkeley, Missouri, just two miles from Ferguson. Officers say he was armed, but the full chain of events isn't very clear at the moment. For detailed coverage, head over here.

Various members of the hip-hop community voiced their opinions on Twitter. Read their tweets below.

Another Teen, Antonio Martin Was Shot And Killed By A Missouri Police Officer - http://t.co/YgVAj30JxS #IFWT

— Funk Flex !!!!! (@funkflex) December 24, 2014

It's all out assault on young black men by the police today. Smh http://t.co/3cDIuiydc1

— Freddie Gibbs (@FreddieGibbs) December 24, 2014

Punishment for not wearing body camera? #AntonioMartin

— Blame Ebro el Viejo (@oldmanebro) December 24, 2014

#AntonioMartin RT @search4swag: Berkeley 63134 frost & Hanley police kill another one now https://t.co/3iSmdRIee2

— Big Boi (@BigBoi) December 24, 2014

"Second verse same as the first..." RT @deray: And that the police are putting Antonio's body IN THE BACK OF A SUV. #AntonioMartin

— Phonte (@phontigallo) December 24, 2014

Everyone Just know... RT @dreamhampton: Police killed another Black man in Missouri tonight #AntonioMartin

— Busta Rhymes (@BustaRhymes) December 24, 2014

#AntonioMartin

— Mack Maine (@mackmaine) December 24, 2014

No fucking way Missouri #AntonioMartin

— PUSHA T (@PUSHA_T) December 24, 2014

So now that Mike Browns death has forced police to wear body cams, now we must fight to get them to actually turn them on? #AntonioMartin

— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) December 24, 2014

FERGUSON: Sickening: Shocking Racist Song About Michael Brown Sung At Charity Event!

Sickening: Shocking Racist Song About Michael Brown Sung At Charity Event!

(R.I.P Michael Brown)

The Glendale, CA Elks Lodge is investigating a shocking incident that went down in the club a week ago Monday, when a performer sang a song celebrating the death of Michael Brown for an audience that included a number of retired and current cops, Via TMZ.

NEWS: Man Who Killed Two Cops In Brooklyn Announced His Plans On Instagram Hours Before

Man Who Killed Two Cops In Brooklyn Announced His Plans On Instagram Hours Before

The chilling Instagram posts of a cop killer

This past Saturday, New York City was momentarily frozen by the tragic execution of two NYPD officers in Brooklyn by a 28-year old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who blindly sought vengeance in the wake of the deaths of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and more. Investigations into just who Brinsley was uncovered startling Instagram posts that Brinsley uploaded just hours before the attack, including a picture that matches the photo of the murder weapon released by authorities. Brinsley, under the IG guise of dontrunup–an account that has since been suspended–attached this caption to a picture of the Taurus handgun.

At about 2:10pm, Baltimore authorities called the NYPD to warn them of Brinsley’s threats, especially considering they believed that he shot and killed his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore early Saturday morning before heading north to Brooklyn. However, approximately half an hour later, Brinsley carried out his threats on two unsuspecting members of the NYPD.

FERGUSON: Ferguson DA Admits He Knowingly Used Lying Witnesses

Ferguson DA Admits He Knowingly Used Lying Witnesses

McCulloch confirms what everyone pretty much already knew

It’s been about a month since Robert McCulloch made the announcement that would change this country forever: Darren Wilson would not be indicted for the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, a bitter ending to a case that gripped the nation for 4 months, and whose implications will be felt for years to come.

There were already murmurs of just how vast the different accounts given by witnesses of what happened that fateful day (August 9) were, and some “witnesses” were bold enough to admit they were nowhere near the actual site of the shooting on the day in question, but what’s worse, the Ferguson District Attorney, McCulloch, knew this, and still allowed their testimonies.

McCulloch was the guest on 550 KTRS with McGraw Milhaven recently, and he divulged a bit of information that will be disturbing to scores of people once they learn of it.

One of the most glaring examples of fake witness testimony was Witness number 40, who supported Darern Wilson’s version of events, but it was later found out that she more than likely was not present when Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown. McCulloch’s response to this?

I’m sure she was nowhere near the place. She recounted a statement that was right out of the newspapers.

The following is an excerpt from the transcript of the interview, which you can watch in its entirety above, or read here.

KTRS (McGraw Millhaven): Why did you allow people to testify in front of the grand jury in which you knew their information was either flat-out wrong, or flat-out lying, or just weren’t telling the truth?

McCulloch: Well, early on, I decided that anyone who claimed to have witnessed anything was going to be presented to the grand jury. And I knew that no matter how I handled it, there would be criticism of it. So if I didn’t put those witnesses on, then we’d be discussing now why I didn’t put those witnesses on. Even though their statements were not accurate.

NEWS: Kanye West Tweets #BlackLivesMatter In Solidarity With Protesters (AND HE'S RIGHT)

Kanye West Tweets #BlackLivesMatter In Solidarity With Protesters (AND HE'S RIGHT)

One of hip-hop’s favorite pastimes is complaining that rappers preach too much. Then, when a political crisis arises, with it comes a great moral panic——are our rappers saying too little? Do they even care?

The truth of the matter is that, since Michael Brown’s tragic death in August, there has been an outpouring of support from the rap world, from J. Cole’s excellent tribute song to Killer Mike’s impassioned speeches. Now, Kanye West has added his voice to the fray. West tweeted the hashtag “blacklivesmatter,” a popular rallying cry for those demanding the law enforcement and judicial systems be held responsible for their killing of minorities.

“New Slaves,” the single from West’s 2013 albums Yeezus, took aim at personal and systemic racism, specifically targeting the private prison industry.

600,000 people rallied for justice on Dec. 13th #blacklivesmatter

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 16, 2014

FERGUSON DECISION: Kendrick Lamar On How He Feels About The Recent Injustice In The Eric Garner And Michael Brown Cases!

Kendrick Lamar On How He Feels About The Recent Injustice In The Eric Garner And Michael Brown Cases!

Rick Ross -- I Might Riot Too If I Were in Ferguson ... 'Cause Darren Wilson Is a LIAR!

Rick Ross -- I Might Riot Too If I Were in Ferguson ... 'Cause Darren Wilson Is a LIAR!

Rick Ross isn't buying Ferguson cop Darren Wilson's version of what went down the night Michael Brown was killed -- and vented his rage, anger, and frustration on TMZ Live Wednesday.

Rick told us (TMZ) he NEEDED to vent, and while he doesn't agree with rioting ... in theory ... he admitted he might feel differently if he were on the ground in Ferguson with other protesters.

He added ... "If you gonna murder us on sight let us know ... so we can be prepared."

As for Wilson's claim he was fighting off an attack from Brown ... Rick questions the number of shots fired, and why Wilson fired fatal shots -- "You coulda shot somebody in the leg."

View video below.

http://www.tmz.com/videos/0_0paysvcq

FERGUSON: Grand Jury Decides Not To Indict Officer Darren Wilson For The Shooting Death Of Michael Brown!

Grand Jury Decides Not To Indict Officer Darren Wilson For The Shooting Death Of Michael Brown!

FERGUSON: Emotional Run For Justice - Two Men Run 550 Miles From Atlanta To Michael Brown’s Memorial In Ferguson

Two Men Run 550 Miles From Atlanta To Michael Brown’s Memorial In Ferguson

FERGUSON: The Grand Jury Has Reached A Decision On Darren Wilson

The world awaits a landmark decision

According to a CNN breaking news report, the grand jury has decided whether or not they will be indicting Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, and we should get the announcement of the decision later today. Over the weekend, many businesses and stores boarded up their windows and took extra security measures in anticipation of the public’s reaction to the announcement, which will come from the St. Louis county prosecutor.

Wilson could be charged with any of the following felony crimes: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter, meanwhile, reports last week indicated that Wilson had already begun negotiationg his resignation from the Ferguson police force.

As for the grand jury, six white men, three white women, two black women and one black man will ultimately decide Wilson’s fate. Nine votes are necessary for an indictment.

We’ll have more on this story later today.

FERGUSON: Woman “Ready For Ferguson” Shoots Herself In The Head, Dies

Friday night, in downtown St. Louis, 26-year-old Becca Campbell was driving with her 33-year-old boyfriend. According to CNN, the boyfriend, who wasn’t identified, told police that the couple had bought a gun because of fears of unrest related to the pending grand jury decision on the shooting of Michael Brown.

The Grand Jury Has Reached A Decision On Darren Wilson

According to what the 33-year-old said to investigators, Campbell jokingly yelled that the couple was ready for Ferguson. While doing so, she waved the new gun in the air while in the passenger seat. At that time, her boyfriend ducked out of the way but then rear-ended another car.

Ferguson’s Businesses Prepare For The Worst

According to reports, the accident caused the gun to go off and Campbell was struck by a bullet in the head. She was immediately taken to the nearest hospital, where she later died of her injuries. The investigation is ongoing to be sure that the boyfriend’s story lines up.

Hmm… *Arsenio Hall Voice*

-Jamaal Fisher (@jamaalfisher)