The Pen Hustle With Brandy Cavalli

Singer John Legend Launching ‘FREE AMERICA’ Campaign In Efforts To End Mass Incarceration

John Legend is using his talents to address a social cause. The Academy Award-winning singer has announced that he is launching a campaign to end mass incarceration, FREE AMERICA.

“We have a serious problem with incarceration in this country,” Legend told the Associated Press. “It’s destroying families, it’s destroying communities and we’re the most incarcerated country in the world, and when you look deeper and look at the reasons we got to this place, we as a society made some choices politically and legislatively, culturally to deal with poverty, deal with mental illness in a certain way and that way usually involves using incarceration.”

The first things on Legend’s agenda will be to perform at a correctional facility in Austin, TX and then to attend a press conference with state legislators to talk about Texas’ criminal justice system. The Grammy-award winner will also co-host a criminal justice event with Politico in Washington, DC and pay a visit to a prison in California.

More artists will be added to the campaign in the future.

“I’m just trying to create some more awareness to this issue and trying to make some real change legislatively,” he said. “And we’re not the only ones. There are senators that are looking at this, like Rand Paul and Cory Booker, there are other nonprofits that are looking at this, and I just wanted to add my voice to that.”

Tanay Hudson, All Hip Hop

Suge Knight Granted Bail Reduction In Hit And Run Case

Apparently the refusal to “snitch” on Suge Knight by Cle “Bone” Sloan, (the man he is accused of mowing down in his red pickup truck outside of “Tam’s” burgers in L.A.) has worked in Suge’s favor as he received some good news in court today.

The judge not only dropped one charge against him of hit and run, but he also lowered his bail from $25 million to a “much more doable” $10 million.

Suge’s attorneys stated that he could make bail as early as this week.

Hopefully if Suge is released on bail he will “steer clear” of any trouble out in them streets and work on getting his health in order before the trial. He is also still fighting an armed robbery case with co-defendant comedian Katt Williams over the theft of a paparazzi’s camera in 2014.

Stay Tuned….

SugeKnight1 — Suge Knight’s bail reduced to $10 million in fatal hit and run case.

Via TMZ:

Suge Knight just got a big break … the judge in his murder case drastically reduced his bail, and it looks like bail is now doable.

The judge second-guessed his decision to set bail at $25 million, and lowered it this morning to $10 mil.

Suge’s lawyer, Matthew Fletcher, tells us, he now thinks Suge can make bail … as early as today.

And good news for Suge on another front. The judge dropped 1 of the hit-and-run counts in the fatal Tam’s parking lot collision.

The bad news for Suge … the judge didn’t drop the murder or attempted murder counts.

Imitation Is Not Art: Pay Yo Taxes

The art of imitation has been a topic very dear to me for many years.

As society becomes more and more cookie cutter-esque, the more people imitate and copy what they see others do. Everyone seemingly wears the same name brand clothes, strives to drive the same name brand cars –basically live the same name brand lifestyle.

The phrase “imitation is the most sincere form of flattery” has been accepted as truth and in terms of artistry, it couldn’t be more untrue. Imitation is not flattery at all, it’s downright insulting.

There are many things that can be duplicated but authentic swag and talent cannot. Do general people like the same things, have similar interests and share overall general similarities? —ABSOLUTELY! Honestly, similarities are usually what attracts, but at the end of the day no 2 people on earth (not even identical twins) are exactly alike –and no 2 people should want to be.

The main issue is that society won’t celebrate its people for who they are and what they uniquely bring into the universe. Society wants us all alike, cut from the same cookie cutter cloth.

Sometimes even I question my own identity and look to others for inspiration, but I have never wanted to be just like someone else. The trailblazer in me won’t allow me to jack for swag. Lots of other people inspire me and I am most certainly not afraid to show respect to my influencers but I truly appreciate individualism. I could never value an imitator of the real thing.

In the hood they call em fakes.

My pals are and I are a unique bunch. Yes we all have similar values, taste and swaggers but we differ on many other levels and here’s the thing –we celebrate those differences! We all have our own lanes and we coast em out, confident in our own pace in the race. We tend to inspire each other and celebrate each other for our similarities and unique differences. Not normal right? Right.

The problem with society today is that people seem to be afraid to admit or acknowledge those that inspire(d) them. People flat out won’t admit when they are jacking for swag. Why is that? Does admitting to such lessen one’s self esteem? Or is there an assumption that people wont notice such blatant vile and disrespectful behavior? Has society as a whole gone blind batshit crazy? I digress.

I got 99 problems and the art of imitation is most certainly one but the bigger problem is that society accepts and welcomes such nonsensical shenanigans.

Unfortunately for devoted artists and creators, the world loves a great gimmick.

Taking other people’s swag, ideas, talent, etc. and imitating it to the point where it becomes flat out duplication is dishonorable and most certainly not art. Everyone was put on earth to bring their own variation of flair.

I guess the point that I am making in all of this is if one has the balls to be a copy cat, then one should at least be a stand-up guy or gal and give credit where they know the credit is due.

It’s called a homage bill.

In the hood they call it payin’ yo taxes.