Ski Mask Way: Rap Crimes & Hip Hop Culture

Hip Hop @ netweed Update in Progress

Over at Hip Hop Logic:

Hip Hop @ netweed Update in Progress

On Ski Mask Way: Sizzurp and Ecstasy

Sizzurp: The Codeine-Based Hip-Hop 'Drank' of Choice

Hip-hop's chemical romance with Ecstasy - Los Angeles Times

Young Dolla - Trap Stay Open

Young Dolla - Trap Stay Open

Blueprinting the drug game.

Trailer for Cocaine Cowboys II

Cocaine Cowboys II: The Godmother Returns

Due this summer.

For background:
N.O.R.E., Pitbull Promos for Cocaine Cowboys

N.O.R.E. Track, Pitbull Promo for Cocaine Cowboys

N.O.R.E. - Cocaine Cowboys

Cocaine Cowboys, directed by Billy Corben, produced by Rakontur, was released in theaters last year and is currently available on DVD.  It tells the story of the cocaine trade that helped build Miami in the 1980s.

Pitbull Promo for Cocaine Cowboys

Pitbull talks about Cocaine Cowboys in this previously released promo and says he first saw it via a bootleg copy!  This has more clips from the movie and offers a good sense of the overall documentary.

Trick Daddy also did a promo.

Official Sites:
Cocaine Cowboys
Cocaine Cowboys on MySpace
Rakontur on YouTube

U.S. Sentencing Commission's Cocaine Report Recommends Reduction in Mandatory Crack Sentences

In its Cocaine and Federal Sentencing Policy report, the U.S. Sentencing Commission recently recommended that a mandatory 5 year sentence for first time crack offenders be repealed.  The Commission also pointed out that:
Federal cocaine sentencing policy is under "almost universal criticism" from the judiciary, criminal justice practitioners, academics and community interest groups.

It's truly outrageous that such class and race based sentencing still exists.  I'm kind of ashamed that I've never gotten directly involved with this issue.

Crack rappers, of course, are unlikely to actually use any of their profits to address such issues, though I'm sure they'll complain if you pass them the mic.

Available for download:
Report to the Congress: Cocaine and Federal Sentencing Policy