Jul
27Save Me: Chicago Hip Hop Against Violence
Filed Under (Hip Hop News) by FuNkwoRm on 27-07-2009
Tagged Under : Chicago, Save me, Violence
When I started this blog, I made a vow to myself that I’d rarely use this space as a platform for my own projects. This can sometimes can pollute a good thing (see The Source Magazine). Anyway, Chicago, the city that I live in, has become the most dangerous city in the U. S. for school children. Children are being killed at an alarming rate just by being caught in crossfire. A lot of these child murders are unsolved and escalating with the help of “stand up people” who “ain’t no snitches” ( I’ll save that rant for another post).
But, Chicago is just a slice of a much larger pie. This kind of tragedy is happening in almost every inner city across this country. An even bigger tragedy is the lack of outrage and almost complete silence about it. So last year, a couple of people, Cassandra Bell and Patricia Russell, decided to give a voice to the problem. I was asked to provide a beat and invite a few of my friends to be a part of the cause. Rather than wait to make a video, I decided to put a visual to music to help spread the music. The emcees featured on this project are: Chiyohood, Big Nastee, JUICE, D.A. Smart, Mikkey Halsted, Jarrett Payton, Lady Tay and Scandalous.
The project was produced by myself and another great producer named Stereo (the Go League).
Download Song Here:
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this is one of the most powerful pieces of art i have ever witnessed. if you had posted the song alone, i still would’ve felt the pain, desperation and loss. if you had posted the pictures by themselves, i still would’ve cried until my head hurt. if you had only posted your blog, i still would’ve felt the deep knawing within my stomach while wondering what i could do to keep all children safe in every city. “self-destruction” was our anthem many years ago to try and unite our children. today is a new day, but the message is still the same and the bullets are of a more deadly caliber, yet bear the name of “innocence”. don’t you worry about using indiehiphop.net as a platform for your own projects, when the project defines a world-wide issue. to each and every individual involved in this project. THANK YOU. please keep us posted on how you are taking your message to the streets and to the children. i hope to hear about radio spots, school appearances, news interviews and the like about your message. i imagine CNN would find this story and project credible and worthy of national attention. please make your submission.
the production, artistry, vocals, lyrics…EVERYTHING about this project is ON POINT. absolutely everything. my day won’t be the same from this moment on.
i’ve read about the children in chicago and think of them often. thank you for keeping them alive in your mission. hugs and kisses and love to all of you. kasey…
Thank you Kasey!! I always enjoy your commentary on the blog.
Hey, fam. I watched the video on Facebook (requested you as a friend) and was really moved by the effort. At one time, I was so frustrated concerning the violence in Chicago, that I began to form a vigilante group that would take the city back by force. It took a few months and many people to talk-me-out-of-it. Anyway, I want to be involved in a REAL SOLUTION and if you know some people that are ready to do more than talk, hit me.
My cousin was a victim/survivor of the Virginia Tech shooting (also from Chicago). Due to this fact, he has has been asked to speak, all-over. But even he got shook when I came at him about changing shit seriously. So get at me if you know of some movers who are ready to move…positively of course.
this video was linked to me by a dear friend who is a community activist. she felt it was important that i see it. you see, i am the mother of the child in the sun-times pic near the beginning of your slideshow. her name is Schanna Gayden and she is one of the many, many victims of the violence in our streets. i just wanted you know that i am deeply moved by the video and hope that someone, somewhere will see it, put down the guns and walk away. continued success in your endeavors.
Rita, whenever I hear about a child losing their life to violence, I’m filled with an extreme feeling of sadness and anger. This can sometimes be overwhelming. Being a parent myself, I can’t begin to imagine how much those feelings would be magnified with the loss of one of my own. Your support for this project has moved me in a way that I truly can’t express in words. Using Schanna and the many other children we’ve lost to gun violence as a source of inspiration, I’m going to do all I can to aggressively spread this message in hopes that we can quickly put an end to this horrible epidemic. I thank you so much for reaching out and if you ever need me for anything involving this cause, I’m am truly at your service.
Steve
This is a magnificent piece of work. Powerful and honest. We need more of this in hip hop and I wish more of our artists, fans, producers and labels would take the risk to do it. I hope you don’t mind if I add this video to my site as I want more people to be touched by this like I was.
Keep doing what your doing and if you ever need any help know that my site and its members got you back. Its about time we stand united for something. This is as good a cause as any.
Peace N Blessings
Tyger
this video should be posted as many places as possible. videos of this nature are only the beginning. we have to build on this moving piece, let others see it and what this mindless violence is doing to us. maybe those who destroy will make the decision to let our children live in peace.
Warmest Greetings,
I just stumbled across “Save Me”.It touched me deeply and I played it several times.You need an email address so that people can contact you. I am your comrade in the struggle. I’m a 62 year old Great Grandfather and I do “Conscious Hip Hop”. I just released a new album, “A Work Of Art Too” and it is getting the attention of the “Hip Hop Witch Doctors”. It’s time for Snoop, 50, Jay Z and others to stop throwing rocks and trying to hide their hands. STAY ON THE CASE!!!
This is apart of my heart, I also share in this story. I have started the Group Black Holocaust of Chicago. Still in the early stages and will be apart of a larger scale the Black Holocaust of America. Check me out on face book. Would like this to be the theme song for these Group. i can be found by blackberryjuicesweeter on face book
[...] song is absolutely free and downloadable on, http://www.indiehiphop.net/save-me-chicago-hip-hop-against-violence or visit us at [...]
Hi my name is Michael Cruz. I am the Executive producer of a short film called, ‘Casualty’. A PSA about gun violence. The purpose of this film is to help raise awareness about gun violence and how it changes lives. Our aim is to reach out to people and help put an end to neighborhood shootings. Best of all, this short film hopes in reaching out to careless minds on how their actions not only affect innocent lives, but, how it can also affect theirs. This film will give the offender an insight of different ways a drive by shooting can change someone’s life, including the one pulling the trigger. I love ‘Chicago Hip Hop Against Violence’ and we were wondering if you can perform at the premier of ‘Casualty’. The premier date will be on Sunday, July 18, 2010 at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Chicago, 4432 N Troy, Chicago, IL. Showing time is at 2:30 p.m. till ???
I’m on tour and can’t make it this time. Stay on the case.I would be honored to perform. We have the same problems here in Tulsa, and have designed our music to fight the problem. WE must be successful. We are losing our future.
Mr. Cruz, your PSA is an excellent idea. I will be sure to note it at every opportunity. Have you ever considered getting in touch with Chicago Public Schools to get your PSA in the schools? This would be an excellent time to get some feedback since school is out and it is, unfortunately, one of the most dangerous times for our children. Thank you for your efforts. Please keep it up.