This week, we welcome Papi aka N.O.R.E. and get to the bottom of the long standing “beef” between the Super Thug and “super attorney” Reggie Ossé. Noreaga speaks on his history with Mobb Deep, Notorious B.I.G., Tragedy, Capone, Chris Lighty and other rap luminaries. Plus, Nore tells us a true story about his trip to the fat farm to visit the late, great Big Pun.
Get ready for Combat!!!
NYC’s latest display of state sponsored terrorism against young Black males is the murder of 16yr old Kimani Gray in Brooklyn’s East Flatbush neighborhood. The police claim, as they approached several youth, that Gray displayed a firearm and pointed it at them, causing them to discharge their weapons at him.
This story has been repeated ad nauseam during my 42 years of life. A gun, a wallet, a package of Skittles and a can Arizona Iced Tea. Kimani Gray chose to run from the police that evening because being arrested was something he couldn’t bring home to his mother. For little girls in the ghetto it’s coming home pregnant. For little ghetto boys it’s getting arrested. These are the burdens they are ashamed to transfer to their parents.
I’m not here to tell people that Kimani Gray was some angelic child. He was a 16yr old, like all children who are 16yrs old. They are silly, childish and mostly hormonal. Growing up in a city without a permanent male role model is difficult for most young boys. The images of males in the streets and the media all point to an alpha male hyper-masculinity. There isn’t any space to be 16yrs old and vulnerable.
This drop isn’t about police brutality. Of course the police are brutal. They are cowards trained to fear these young boys, as well as to be the first line of defense when someone DOES have a gun and the intentions to do ill. The people in poor communities aren’t allowed to have their relationship with the police both ways. The only way they will have it is with police using their triggers indiscriminately. There will be no security without the sacrifice of their young. This is the prevailing theme.
But this drop isn’t about the police. We already know what their role is in this bullshit. This post is for all the 16yr old Black males still alive at the time this drop goes live on this site, or the moment your eyes find this page. All the Black boys in places like Chicago, St.Louis and Camden, still clinging to whatever life we will allow them to eke out after we have taken all their essence from them. After we have taken all of their style, slang, swagger and soul and put it into the capitalistic blender to create a Harlem Shake.
After we have taken everything beautiful and prideful from them, what will these Black boys have left?
Like the Central Park Five, all the Black boys will have left is this AmeriKKKan hell. Unless WE demand more for them.
In my prayers Kimani Gray may at least have gone to Heaven.
I have been OD’ing on the native American prints lately, and these Air Jordan retro 3s have the springtime flair you need on your feet.
Maybe I’ll find some lifestyle to complement these kicks better, but for the meantime and in between time I’m gonna have to go Navajo when I retro.
This might be my favorite Combat Jack Show of all time. Okay, the Redman ep is still my favorite since I smoked kush with the god, but this work here with Wyclef rivals that since a few nights later I sat in the studio with ‘Clef and listened to parts of his next project.
Wyclef inspires me because he has never abandoned his roots no matter where his journey has taken him. He remained a conduit for people from the ghetto to have their voices heard, and not in a pandering, victimized POV, but a resilient, triumphant yell. Don’t say shit to me about Yele unless you know what it takes to quell the violence in Haiti long enough to let people come inside of that country to administer relief.
Wyclef will eventually get his due from the people he wants it from the most. Us. I’m already saluting this general, as should you. YELE >>> Y.O.L.O.
Just let me get this to you clear and off the top…
Harriet Tubman would have rocked a performance shoe.
She would def have chosen the ‘Lock Down’ aspect of the Melo M9 because she would have wanted her feet to be secure whilst she was making those moves to freedom. If Melo gets an MVP award for this season it will be because just like Harriet Tubman he led some wayward negros to the promised land.