Can Ice Cube Escape “Gangsta Rap?”

By Jayar Jackson

Ice Cube, the West Coast gangsta rap icon and member of the pioneering group N.W.A. has a new single and video out.

For many in the Black Community that despised the acronym N.W.A. in the first place, (Niggaz With Attitudes) and felt that their largely misogynistic and extremely violent lyrics perpetuated and advocated a negative vision of Black Americans, Ice Cube should not be winning any NAACP Image Awards.

After so much popularity and controversy over their lyrics that banned N.W.A. from many radio stations and tours, and Ice Cube’s solo career has stretched for almost 20years. Even though Cube’s albums were highly political and included large amounts of social commentary that spoke of America’s hypocrisy and hidden racism, he never completely escaped the gansta rap label he and N.W.A. began with. So with a new album out and his new single entitled, Why Me? is it possible for him to be seen as a positive voice in the eyes of some that only remember some of the violent lyrics of the ‘80s?

Why Me? largely focuses on the senseless murder of Los Angeles High School student Jamiel Andre Shaw who was shot down near his home in March due to random gang violence. After two Latino gang members approached Shaw and asked which gang he belonged to, they shot him after receiving no response, as Shaw was simply a standout football player and student looking forward to going to a major university.

Ice Cube’s video features the family of Shaw and says, “Why you wanna murder me? You never ever heard of me. You don't know who I am. I could be part of your family tree. Sent by G.O.D. To save the word you and me. You never know who you facin.' Who ya chasin.' The life you wastin.'"

These words are obviously in sharp contrast to Ice Cube’s lyrics on N.W.A.’s Gangsta Gangsta, “Heres a little somethin bout a nigga like me. Never shoulda been let out the penitentiary. Ice Cube would like to say. That I’m a crazy muthaf***a from around the way. Since I was a youth, I smoked weed out. Now I’m the muthaf***a that you read about. Takin a life or two. That’s what the hell I do, you don’t like how I’m livin, Well f**k you!”

Due to those kinds of lyrics, I wonder if his previous detractors will even listen to his new song’s message that actually agrees with the overwhelming opinion that this needs to stop. Those that still disparage artists like O'Shea Jackson that recorded songs that spoke of senseless killing and street life need to give his message another chance.

Sure Cube, 39, still uses profanity and the word nigga freely in his lyrics, but if a positive message is what many want to get across to young people that listen to his music, how much pain is it really causing? With his name, notoriety, and respect he still has with fans, every little bit from every influence to change things for the better should be accepted.

Jayar J. Jackson produces The Young Turks Show TYTv: M-F 6-9pm PST, Rolling Post Show 9pm.

Was Jamiel Shaw, A Promising Black High School Football Player Gunned Down While His Mom Was Fighting In Iraq, "Net-Banging?"

It's not surprising that Jamiel Shaw Jr., the Southern California African American high school football star who was tragically gunned down on March 2 by an alleged Latino gang member, was a frequent MySpace user. What teen his age isn't on the ubiquitous social networking site.

Eerily speaking from the grave, however, Shaw's pictures and detailed postings may now be telling a different story. New information is shedding light on a case that has garnered national attention due to the circumstances and racial dynamic of this senseless murder. After the jump, the rest of the story.

Reportedly gunned down less than three blocks away from his home after a date, Jamiel Shaw had a bright future ahead of him. All the ingredients of a success story were right there. Top schools such as Stanford University were trying to recruit him. Last season, the 17-year-old football player earned both "Best Athlete of the Year" and "Most Valuable Player" honors at L.A. High School.

His mother, Army Sergeant Anita May Shaw, 43, was serving her second tour of duty in Iraq when she heard the devastating news about her baby. "They killed him while his mother is in Iraq, fighting, dodging bullets, and she gets a phone call saying her son is on the streets of L.A. dead ... for what?" said Jamiel Shaw, 47, the victim's father.

"He did everything we asked of him," added Shaw. "It's not right. We don't know what to do now. This is who we were living for."

But did his namesake, in fact, do "everything" to prevent his fate?

Police have previously deduced that Hispanic gang members asked Shaw if he belonged to a gang, and shot him even though he answered no. "This is brutal. It's a brutal, senseless act of violence," said LAPD Detective Frank Carillo at the time the incident initially occurred. "The victim was not a gang member, and unfortunately it's not uncommon in L.A. that we have some gang members approaching victims at random just to see if they are or are not [gang members] -- but to shoot him anyway? That's just disgusting."

What the divorced Shaw parents and police may have been completely oblivious to, however, was Jamiel's telling MySpace profile. It was allegedly there that his "other life" was an open book for anyone with a computer and a browser to see.

Butting Heads And Threatening To Expose Gang Affiliation, Prosecutor Taken Off Case

That the accused, Pedro Espinoza, is believed to be in the country illegally only compounds matters, particularly in light of the controversial Special Order 40, which prevents cops from asking the legal status of individuals in an effort to foster cooperation. Click to listen:

Now, many people suspect that Shaw was actually gunned down by the suspect in custody not because of his race, but because of his gangsta lifestyle promoted online without any regard.

The Jamiel Shaw that the media didn't know about proudly claimed membership in his neighborhood street gang Rollin 20's NHB (Neighborhood Bloods) on various MySpace pages. Brazenly posing for pictures, flashing gang signs and reportedly threatening violence against rival gangs including the crips and 18th Street gang (Ironically, the 18th Street gang is the set his alleged killer is from), Jamiel actually depicted dressed in red, which is the color of the Bloods.

According to Project Islamic HOPE' Najee Ali, Shaw was killed wearing several red colored items. The LA based civil rights activist belives this is a case of 'net-banging' in cyberspace, which can can be just as deadly despite the young man not being a hard core gang member, or even showing up in the gang database.

(Random guys posing as Blood gang members)

Was this a hate crime? The issue has become more blurred. Ali believes Jamiel was targeted because his murderer thought he was a rival gang member based on his red belt, wrist bands and Spiderman red backpack.

A coalition of Black and Latino community groups led by Ali is demanding that MySpace immediately, "ban all promotions of gang violence and gang culture by MySpace users, and is asking for community members nationwide to report objectionable comments and pictures that promote gangs."

A rally and press conference is scheduled Monday April 19 in Los Angeles to bring attention to this shocking twist. For more information, contact: Najee Ali (323) 350 1065.

Stay tuned as more details emerge from this incredible story.

Latino Gang Snuffs Out The Life Of Jamiel Shaw Jr., A Promising 17-Year-Old Black High School Football Player Who's Momma Is Fighting In Iraq

Popular Teens Heartbroken Family Pleads For Killers To Step Up

Jamiel Shaw was gunned down less than three blocks away from his home last Sunday. On his way home from a date, the 17-year-old football player had a bright future ahead of him. Top schools such as Stanford University was just one of the colleges trying to recruit him.

Jamiel Shaw Jr. dedicated his life to the game of football and to his grades. He was a very good student and had all the makings of a success story. The senior at Los Angeles High School was a good student and star football player who had multiple colleges interested in bringing him into their football programs. Last season he earned Best Athlete of the Year honors at LA High School and was deemed their most valuable player.

His mother, Anita May Shaw, is a sergeant in the army serving her second tour of duty in Iraq."They killed him while his mother is in Iraq, fighting, dodging bullets, and she gets a phone call saying her son is on the streets of L.A. dead ... for what?" said Jamiel Shaw, the victim's father.

Authorities say just before 9 p.m., Hispanic gang members walked up to Shaw while he was less than three blocks from his home on 5th Ave. in Arlington Heights, and shot him dead.

"He did everything we asked of him," said Shaw's father. "It's not right. We don't know what to do now. This is who we were living for."

Police are deducing that gang members asked Shaw if he belonged to a gang, and shot him even though he answered no. "This is brutal. It's a brutal, senseless act of violence," said LAPD Detective Frank Carillo. "The victim was not a gang member, and unfortunately it's not uncommon in L.A. that we have some gang members approaching victims at random just to see if they are or are not [gang members] -- but to shoot him anyway? That's just disgusting."
Authorities are asking for the public's help.

If you have information related to this case, you are asked to call the LAPD at (877) LAW-FULL (529-3855). The Latino & African American Leadership Alliance co-chaired by community activists Najee Ali and Christine Chavez will sponsor a candlelight vigil in memory of Jameil Shaw on Tuesday March 4th 2008 at 6pm. The location will be 2136 5th Avenue in Los Angeles, the scene of the murder.

Contact: Najee Ali (323) 350 1065