Mon 28 Sep 2009
Nas’ open letter to Chicago youth after the beating death of honor roll student, Derrion Albert
Posted by Miss Info under crime , life beyond rap , not good for humanity , quotes , sigh....[30] Comments
If you’ve read (with heavy heart) the recent news coverage from Chicago about a 16 yr. old boy named Derrion Albert, who was killed in broad daylight during a huge brawl right outside of Fenger High School in Roseland…and if you’re seen the disgusting infuriating video of a bunch of teens hitting each other with planks, punching, and kicking in the middle of the street…then you already feel the public outrage that wells up (however momentary) whenever something like this happens. Today, 3 young men were charged with the murder of Derrion Albert, but folks are still rattled. And rightly so. Nas posted this open letter on Global Grind in reaction to the violence (spotted via FakeShoreDrive) :
Dear Young Warriors fighting the wrong wars! …
We chose the dumbest things to go the hardest for. I remember seeing deaths over 8 ball jackets, fila’s , and name plate chains. Deaths over “he say she say”!!!!! “I’m from This block or I’m from that block”, or “my moms n pops is f*cked up now the whole world gotta pay”!!!
I remember feeling like I was the hardest “n*gga” breathin. And I couldn’t wait to prove it. But let’s think. What r we really proving?? And proving what to who??….
We are WASTING more and more time. We gotta get on our jobs and take over the world. Cuz This movie left the theaters years ago, Juice, Menace, boys n the hood , blood n blood out, Belly!
September 28th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Shit like this is real hard for me to attempt digest. It makes me think of the dumb things I’ve done. It makes me wonder if some people are beyond saving. It’s always been said that we have been more successful at eliminating each other then slavery, segregation and police brutality combined…
I can only pray for this boy’s family and hope they can channel their emotions better then I know I could if it was my brother that was murdered.
In the City that gave us Obama, politically speaking, we get the harshest of reminders that for every one of us that reaches to the top there are still so many more floundering at the bottom.
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September 28th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
I’m glad someone said what Nas said. I read and watched the video of what went down and I was shocked mad and sad all at the same time. When I was young I remember being in a big fight that left someone with a broken nose,broken ribs and a calapsed lung all over a girl. I hope the kids that were in that brawl see what they did and really take a step back and think how cool are they to kill a kid that wasn’t even trying to bang but was in the wrong place at the wrong time. when will we wake up and see that America is slowly becoming a third world country and is so far behind the rest of the world in education that before you know it all the jobs we want will be “outsoursed” to other countries that are smarter than us. THIS IS NO TIME FOR JOKING AROUND OR MAKING NEW DANCE STEPS SONGS GROW UP PEOPLE BEFORE ITS TO LATE.
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September 28th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I don’t have the strength to watch the video; I’m too crushed after reading the reports. The national conversation we need to have as a community of poor and young black males savaging each other is way overdue. Nas’ open letter could be an opening but other prominent artists, regular folks, etc need to step. Walking the streets all I hear is young dudes complaining about how tight someone’s jeans are. If thats what’s really hood then we are lost, that generation is lost, life is lost.
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Miss Info Reply:
September 28th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
: (
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Nightfall914 Reply:
September 28th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
If this incident were to see even HALF the commentary and dialogue that the Kanye and Jay-Z topics have generated I’d be so happy.
My worry and fear is that these things occur then they fade away.
When will the outrage and drive to improve become permanent?
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YouNG-FReSH2D Reply:
September 28th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I think thats where we start to go wrong, when these things start to happen we shift responsibility to someone else to solve the problem.
It starts with, attacking celebrities for not stepping up, or attacking their music/art and blame that as a causing factor and then blame the government for not intervening while the truth is we as a society do not do enough ourselves as a community.
I got a brother Derrion’s age and it could have easily been him hitting Derrion or on the receiving end of that fatal blow and I wouldn’t know why. I think that is the true crime in all of this, because until it happens closer to home where it’s your Mom, Aunt or Cousin crying after such a devastating loss after losing a relative is when people experience the right emotion, people tend to sympathise, empathise but move on and try to forget what happened.
What happened was tragic, disgusting and appalling. If you’ve got relatives or even your friends relatives it’s your responsibility to encourage them to be positive and think about their future and encourage them to achieve their goals by any means possible , we need to stop shifting blame or making excuses.
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YouNG-FReSH2D Reply:
September 28th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Politcal correction, “achieve their goals by any means possible by following the right path.”
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September 28th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
WARNING WARNING”letta wickid” WARNING WARNING RIP DERION ALBERT & heartfelt condolences goes out 2 his family.when will we ever learn?instead a trying 2 do better we do the worst then turn round & glorify that shit.IT TRAGIC.
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September 28th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
One of those “warriors” hit an innocent, blind sighted, 16 yr. old kid in the head with a giant plank of wood . He knew what he was doing. “Little Bastard” would be a more appropriate title. Disturbing video.
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September 28th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
pathetic ghetto trash…what could ever make people want to beat each other? has to be pure misery and unhappiness. i want the parent to show their failure faces. they shoul be held responsible too. probably all fiends, or of course the usual. single parents with no man in they lives working to much to keep their kids on track. a sad vicious cycle in our community that needs to be stopped
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BronxBully Reply:
September 28th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Cosign on that one these adults shouldn’t blame Generation X (young people) for not improving them selves the parents should feel ashamed for not raising them right
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Nightfall914 Reply:
September 28th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
True.
Remember, you don’t have to teach a child to hit another child. But you have to teach him to say sorry and better yet, not hit in the first place.
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September 28th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Word.
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September 28th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
G’d has given us free will with the potential to reach human excellence, this is the opposite of that. The young man’s death has become a sign which in itself is a blessing. For those that understand and appreciate the times we are living in has a responsibility to recreate the world. This is not a lecture, but often when something like this occurs people lose the meaning in it. If your humanity(i.e. soul) allows you to feel sadness for “the lost generation” then turn that emotion into action. Live your life in excellence. See the world as more than a collection of individuals but rather as one human family. Its time for good people to stop standing on the side lines and letting those corrupted people define society. Its time to have a new definition of human life. Dedicate at least as much time to family and community as you do to sport and play. Don’t look at the world as it is, look at the world as it should be (and will be). What side you on?
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September 28th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Hiphop need to focus on the youth which is our future.. it aint about how money u got or how many records u sold or wateva more importantly its about stirring the youth in the right direction.. I always take my hat off 2 Nas because hes an artist that uses his celebrity status in a positive way. the youth look up 2 the rappers and real talk rappers need to let the kids know that killing each other & black on black violence is dead wrong !! Fuck all dat get money talk, get rich rhymes, the kids need to hear we need self-love and Unity 1st.. Nas is the truth !!
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September 28th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
whats crazy is how common that vid is.. me and my boy stood in his window on 126th in harlem and watched several fights nearly identical to that vid this summer.. no deaths (thank god) but planks, bottles, dudes warring in the streets literally.. young dudes too.
“And then I started thinking to myself. What did he do to make them niggas that mad?” -Thugnificent of the Boondocks
wild cuz on the one hand we love a raekwon album that chronicles this but we hate to see it happen in real life..
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SmilemissnAtoof Reply:
September 28th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Raekown? A man getting killed cause hes in the drug game or on doin his thing on the streets is not the same as a 17 year old kid geting beat to death for no reason.
The fact this was so SENSELESS and un deserving is what is getting ppl so upset.
Nothing Raekwon raps about has anything to do with that what happened.
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th!z Reply:
September 29th, 2009 at 1:54 am
nah i’d say the senseless violence falls under one umbrella.. just the way i see it
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September 28th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I appreciate NAS stepping to the table. Nas is one of the few real MEN left in Hip Hop. Some claim they are, some act like they are, but real MEN would face this issue head on like Nas. I don’t see Rick Ross, I don’t see Jim Jones, I don’t see Lil Wayne, I don’t see Baby, I don’t see Cam’ron, I don’t see any of these clowns stepping up and trying to make a difference. Hip Hop needs more MEN and less rappers.
Derrion Albert “you and your family are in my prayers”
I am so pissed.
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Nightfall914 Reply:
September 28th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Funny, as i read your post I can’t help but think of Cam’s “I get it in Chicago”
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September 29th, 2009 at 12:26 am
That was nice of Nas but it’s sad that this has been going on forever here in Chicago & nobody cares to take notice till now when somebody finally catches someone on camera. This is a daily occurrence in Chicago check my blog for my homie Add-2 dedication song to Derrion and speaking on all the violence going on here in Chicago.
Yea couldn’t take myself to watch the video either since this shit goes on way to much already here in the Chicago area. Feel free to post the song on here if you want to Miss Info.
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September 29th, 2009 at 1:25 am
First let me offer my sincere condolences to Derrion Albert’s entire family during this horrific ordeal. No parent should have to bury their child, especially under those circumstances. I am also thankful that they caught the individuals who committed this heinous crime. Unfortunately, this only momentarily highlight the larger issues these young black men have going on in these inner cities/ghettos.
Let me speak about Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones for a minute…this guy is probably the most crucified MC out here. To say he is having some marital issues is putting it lightly. Everyone has been clowning him since Kelis got him paying a extreme monthly child support. He can never live up to his Illmatic days, he contradicts himself all the time, etc. But at least the nigga had the balls to say something!! Sometimes these kids just need to know that these celebrities are also watching and listening to them as well. I’m not looking to see NaS out there protesting (if he wants to do so then fine) but at least be vocal about what is going on out here. NaS is a millionaire (I suspect multi since Esco is so private and you believe he really does own the Rock The Bells Concert) who is far removed from the ghetto. All of these Hip Hop blogs/website and only one rapper has spoken? And he isn’t even from the area? I’m calling shenanigans. However you feel about NaS, put that shit aside and salute the GOD for speaking. All commentors, give him a month break from shitting on him about his marital issues and his not participating on Rae & Jay’s album. Now while President Obama runs out to Denmark to pitch for Chicago to be the home of the next Olympics, we need everyone starting with those Chi-town stars (Lonnie, Martin Louie The King, Harpo, Ms. Oh) to make sure everyone outside of Chicago is aware of this and try and help this community get its neighborhood back from these gangs. Who will speak for Derrion? He was a honor roll student for fuckin sake! This young man could have been the one and found the cure for HIV, Cancer, MS, blindness, etc. We don’t know and we never will. What would this world be like if all of the honor roll students who met a tragic violent crime death, young and old, had survived? Someone make sure Michelle holla at Barack and tell him how those kids in Chicago are bugging out and to speak on this! We hitting each other with planks?!?! PLANKS!?!? I’m hot right now!
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September 29th, 2009 at 1:45 am
There’s always going to be people who had the opportunity (LUCK) to not be involved in these situations or escape them by (LUCK). As there will always be those with the (LUCK) who made it, to express the wisdom to which Nas is preaching. There will always be good, evil, and the many in between. As there will always be Wealthy, poor, and everyone else. I’m glad to hear Nas say what he said. It’s the truth its too bad the youth, younger generation doesn’t listen. Real talk though, I didn’t listen and a lot of people hearing about the story, blogging, or expressing feelings didn’t listen to older wisdom at many points in their lives. Like I said (LUCK) has an enormous impact on how we shape and live out our lives. It’s a loss across the board when anyone loses a life by causes that could’ve been avoided.
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September 29th, 2009 at 3:10 am
i watched the video thinking it wouldnt touch me like it did but that shit was harsh seeing how that poor boy had no chance in hell against those crack babies.
my issue is this-people are asking “why didnt anybody jump in and try to stop it?” 1-kids are scared to get hit with those planks seeing how they were ready to put it to anybody’s head and 2-these brawls happen every other day if not everyday, none of those kids including the aggressors thought there was about to be a dead body laying in the street until it was all over.
sad situation overall.my condolences to the family.
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September 29th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I was instantly furious. I wished I were there so that I could intervene. When I was coming up we didn’t just sit by and let things like this occur.
My God.
Nas is the one true Hip Hop ambassador. Always trying to elevate our minds and move our culture forward. Even if he does make mistakes along the way. Human nature.
Mr prayers go out to those families in this tragic moment.
On another note Info don’t know if you posted this:
http://globalgrind.com/source/www.wedoitrightmag.com/1021653/video-why-are-you-missing-on-ob4cl-2-bp3-nas/
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September 29th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Nas, good job at speaking up, but you are also pointing the finger as well. These kids spell job “GOB”, they are the dumbest and most stupid in the whole U.S. I hope people see why these people get looked at the way they do, with all these unbelievable videos that keep being posted by these soon to be prison inmates. These kids are dumb and we can only hope they have no future outside their society/shit hole. Don’t say their parents should of been doing something, their parents are just as pathetic. All these moms out there who can’t raise a kid nor their selves should have their tubes tied. That is the only way things could possibly get better. Australia keeps looking better and better for a place to live and raise a family and get away from this once great country, it truly is sad.
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September 29th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
This shit is bigger than… Most on this vlog are U.S. citizens IF YOU ARE TRULY FED UP—- Get angry about NO $$ for education, NO $$ for quality schools/teachers, NO quality healthcare (yea healthcare relates to this issue, think it over), and lastly get ANGRY @ every racist fuck that wouldn’t let the Pres. of the U.S. speak to their children/children’s school about the importance of going to school for the right reasons/focusing on the right path!!! Who can say right now that that shit shouldn’t have been a nationwide MANDATORY EVENT held in the HIGHEST ESTEEM/REGARD???? Stop being sooo fucking reactionary as a nation & get w/this revolution…. CARE ABOUT THE RIGHT SHIT NOW, CARE ABOUT THE BABIES NOW and then you won’t have to look @ them with disgust over the fact that they (babies) don’t know how to care for themselves. PEACE
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September 29th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
I am at work really trying my best not to cry…that is soooooo disturbing!! Senseless acts of violence..for nothing!!! What is wrong with our children?!?!? Really? Can someone please tell me why in this day and age…where we have surpassed soooooo many obstacles; slavery, civil rights, jim crow, hell even BIRTH, and young teens today, specifically african americans can’t even survive to see their 21st birthday? I’ve known and heard of too many 16, 18, 19, and even 12 year olds that don’t have a future, are not breathing, can never marry, have children, get an education and LIVE. We as friends, parents, sisters and brothers HAVE TO DO BETTER!!! Become a better role model and mentor so that things such as this do not happen again
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October 26th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Every single one of you has something that you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.
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November 5th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
The less compounding (the least amount of compounding), the higher will be the present value of the contract, which is what you want because when you sell, you will get more money.
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