Oakland, California based rap group Souls Of Mischief serve as the latest artists to address the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri following the shooting death of 18-year-old Mike Brown weeks ago.
The group spoke on the matter during an interview with Vlad TV when asked if there are any similarities between Ferguson, Missouri and Oakland, California following the death of Oscar Grant at the hands of a BART Police officer in 2009.
Souls Of Mischief member A-Plus revealed that police brutality has been present for years and has recently been brought to the spotlight thanks to the use of social media.
“Hell yeah,” A-Plus said when asked about the similarities between Oakland and Ferguson following the deaths of Grant and Brown. “All of that shit. It’s just like cops killing mothafuckas indiscriminately. It’s happening everywhere. And the funny thing about it is it’s been happening. I mean, thank goodness for the advent of modern technology. Because that shit has been happening and it’s not the kind of stuff that people can just sweep under the rug anymore. Like the people who don’t live in these kinds of environments or see that kind of shit happen they’re like ‘Oh, I just—That would never happen. The police are cool. They help me out.’ But people been getting murdered for less all the time. And not only that, getting dope put on ‘em…And getting they ass beat and dropped in bad neighborhoods. All of this shit is some regular shit. So, this ain’t surprising at all. But thank goodness for Mike Brown. Rest his soul. But just bringing attention. And as well as Oscar Grant. And as well as Trayvon Martin…If they gotta die I’m glad people talking about it.”
Tajai later shared his thoughts on the matter, informing those watching that they didn’t know the police couldn’t rough someone up until the beating of Rodney King in 1991.
“Until Rodney King we didn’t know the police couldn’t beat you up,” Tajai said. “Police used to always beat you up. You know what I’m saying? Like real talk. Until Rodney King. We didn’t [know]…We come from an era where you gotta respect Five. They still beat you or chain you up to something for a long ass period of time. Or bring you in for something…On a certain level these dudes is hopping out of cars with guns scared of the people they’re about to go and approach. And are ready to kill you…We ain’t addressing that aspect of it.”
The release of Souls Of Mischief’s interview with Vlad TV comes weeks after the group released their most recent project, There Is Only Now.
Other artists who have spoken out against police brutality following the death of Mike Brown include Killer Mike, Talib Kweli, and Immortal Technique.
RELATED: Adrian Younge Says A ’94 Attack On Souls Of Mischief Sparked “There Is Only Now”
How about the similarities of all the black on black murders occurring everyday that receive a pass in the black community? Grant and Brown’s killing are tragic, and police brutality should not be tolerated. However, why is it that blacks don’t give a damn about all of the daily black on back killing? Where are the protests, riots, looting, and just outrage?
Yes, how dare people expect the police to be more responsible than gang members. – John Oliver (paraphrased)
You should stop repeating rhetorical questions you hear on conservative talk radio, and start asking actual questions. That is, if you actually care to understand things.
But, summarily:
You are talking more about media attention than anything else- and it’s not as though the people of Ferguson, MO get to decide what becomes a major national news story and what does not. As far as the editorial page, the same people who complain that “nobody is talking about Black-on-Black violence” ad nauseum are often huge media figures like Rush Limbaugh etc who have gigantic audiences and could talk about it every day, but don’t- because they’re not really interested.
It’s just a way to change the subject, akin to “Africans also sold other Africans into slavery”- it’s a way of making White people feel better.
People still get paranoid about the President, often based on nothing, other than the fact that we as a nation have a historical narrative about governmental oppression and that’s where our roots are. Through that lens, how different are these stories about racism?