Follow Jus Rhyme of AR-15 at new website: jusrhyme.com

Jeb Middlebrook — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:09:15 +0000

New year, new look. Jus Rhyme of AR-15 has moved to a brand new website/blog: jusrhyme.com. From now on check us out over there- updates on activism, rap, and the rest.

One,
Jus & Raw, AR-15

AR-15′s debut album, Stand in Solidarity, available on Amazon.com and iTunes (read reviews here)

Jeb Middlebrook — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:57:07 +0000

Cover: Stand in Solidarity by AR-15

The debut album from AR-15, Stand in Solidarity, is available for purchase at Amazon.com here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CVY59S/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1249337578&sr=8-1

or on iTunes (search “AntiRacist 15″ or “Stand in Solidarity”)

Reviews here:

Complex magazine
“…about truth, justice, and a better way.”

URB magazine
“There are two legit MCs here…Good message, better music.”

RapReviews.com
“AR-15 goes for broke with the white anti-racist identity, and they are forceful and articulate in their advocacy of the cause. They express their solidarity with movements for change across the globe and encourage other whites to be agents for progress in their own communities, holding each other accountable rather than ignoring the race issue. It’s a necessary message and it is conveyed in a heartfelt manner.”

The Pulse
“I doubt whether too many artists would say they support racism, but how many of them are willing to put their money where their mouth is. AntiRacist 15 is a California rap duo whose name stands for the 15 anti-racist principles that guide the group…and with so many white rappers trying to play the rap game by out-gangstering each other, it’s refreshing to hear a group with their heads squarely on their shoulders and their eyes on a distinct prize.”

Jeff Chang, author of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation
“Great stuff! Much respect.”

Tim Wise, author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son, and Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama
“Although hip-hop has always been more socially conscious than its critics would have us believe, rarely do artists within the genre (especially white artists) bring a critical lens to their work- one that raises issues of racial solidarity and allyship, struggle and mutual aid- the way AR-15 does. The blending of steady beats, conscious lyrics and on-point delivery make Stand in Solidarity a truly valuable addition to the culture of hip-hop, as well as the tradition of activism.”

Mickey Hess, editor of Icons of Hip-Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture
“With all the attention given to the sales potential for white rappers and the question of cultural poaching, few critics stop to examine what white hip-hop artists themselves are saying about where they stand in relation to hip-hop culture. AR-15 takes the discussion to a new level on their new album, Stand in Solidarity, where the rhymes are a call to action.”

Jason Tanz, author of Other People’s Property: A Shadow History of Hip-Hop in White America
“In the wake of the 2008 elections, when most white Americans are busy congratulating themselves on their ‘post-racism,’ AR-15 keep their sites trained on the questions that matter. Their investigations of race and class — and the role white people can play in the struggle for equality — are complex, serious, and important. And you can dance to them.”

Nielsen / Billboard’s #1 Hip-Hop Blog, #4 Overall Music Blog Features “I Get Movin” by AR-15

Jeb Middlebrook — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:17:04 +0000

Vid Pick: AR-15 – I Get Movin

“Skilled emcees who are politically active both on the mic and in their everyday lives, AR-15 is a duo that deserves to be heard.” – Adam Bernard, Urban Culture Editor, Beyond Race Magazine; Staff, RapReviews.com; Founder, Adam B Experience and Adam’s World Blog

Check out the video and review at: http://adambernard.blogspot.com/2009/08/vid-pick-ar-15-i-get-movin.html

Dr. Dre, Busta Rhymes, Wu-Tang Clan, The Game work with AR-15 producer, King Karnov

Jeb Middlebrook — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:37:34 +0000

AR-15′s executive producer for Stand in Solidarity (AR-15 Entertainment/iTunes, 2008), King Karnov, lands placements on Busta Rhymes’ album Back on My B.S. and Dr. Dre’s Detox. Press on Karnov:

“King Karnov is making a strong bid to be the next beatsmith out of the Chi to make noise.” – Scratch Magazine
http://www.scratchmagazine.com/online/?p=75

“A producer on the album…goes by the name of King Karnov.” – Busta Rhymes on FLY TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdlAr_Y7jWM

“…for those who don’t know, look out for King Karnov – he’s got a track on Detox.” – Busta Rhymes
http://www.hiphop.com/features/78

“Watch How You Talk,” by Busta Rhymes feat Uncle Murda, Raekwon, and the Game, on special edition of Back on My B.S., produced by King Karnov on 2dopeboyz.okayplayer.com, http://2dopeboyz.okayplayer.com/2009/03/20/busta-rhymes-watch-how-you-talk-f-raekwon-the-game/

King Karnov’s website: http://www.myspace.com/kingkarnovbeats

Press and beat inquiries for Karnov will be forwarded to him. Contact: karnov@antiracist15.com

Urban Culture Editor of Beyond Race Magazine spins AR-15

Jeb Middlebrook — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:26:19 +0000

“This is AR-15. Check it out. They’re dope.” – Adam Bernard, Urban Culture Editor of Beyond Race Magazine and host of the Adam B Experience

Adam B Experience, Podcast #13 @ 17:22, playing “I Get Movin” from the album Stand in Solidarity. Listen here: http://www.rapreviews.com/news/View.php?ArticleID=907

Colorlines news magazine features AR-15

Jeb Middlebrook — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:37:44 +0000

Full article: http://colorlines.com/article.php?ID=506

Exclaim reviews Stand in Solidarity

Jeb Middlebrook — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:50:20 +0000

“…the bangers are dope. The conscious side can be dope, too.” – Exclaim

Full article: http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/latestsub.aspx?csid1=115&csid2=870&fid1=37254

Become a fan of AR-15 on facebook

Jeb Middlebrook — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:01:36 +0000

Go to: http://www.facebook.com/pages/AR-15-AntiRacist-15/44187085442 and click “Become a Fan” to join the movement

Stream the AR-15 album, Stand in Solidarity, online

Jeb Middlebrook — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:55:56 +0000

AR-15. Stand in Solidarity. 12/16/08. (iTunes/AR-15 Ent). To listen click on http://www.antiracist15.com/category/music. Album credits: All songs written and executively produced by Jus Rhyme and Raw Potential (http://www.antiracist15.com). All beats made by King Karnov (http://www.myspace.com/kingkarnovbeats).

Album cover art. Click for high res pic.

1. Stop Trickin’ - A powerful sound clip found in the Freedom Archives in San Francisco, CA, “Stop Trickin”, emerges from a speech by an anonymous activist in the 1960s. These words sum up the driving force behind the group, AR-15, and why white folks have a stake in challenging racism in ourselves, our communities and the world.

2. Soldiers Anthem – An album single, “Soldiers Anthem”, is written for freedom fighters and street soldiers in the struggle for racial justice. Utilizing metaphors of armed struggle, Jus Rhyme and Raw Potential, paint a picture of a war raged on poor and working-class whites and people of color by the U.S. elite and make it known that the people will not sit idly by.

3. John Brown – A historical tribute, “John Brown”, invokes the white anti-racist revolutionary John Brown and his brothers who, in coalition with African slaves in the U.S., raided the federal arsenal in 1859 in the interest of mobilizing a mass armed revolt by slaves and their allies on the U.S. government. Many say this multiracial action shifted the Civil War from a conflict about states’ rights to a conflict about slavery.

4. Do It For Me – AR-15 battles the system and political apathy with this track. “Do It For Me” delivers the message that we are all connected whether we participate in social movements or not. “If you’re gonna do it, than do it, do it do it!” rhymes the chorus, presenting the challenge to say what you mean and do what you believe. Real recognize revolution.

5. Ohhh – The album’s signature love track and another single, “Ohhh”, is a love letter to the movement. Employing metaphors of romantic relationships, heterosexual and gay, “Ohhh” explores the intimacy and vulnerability required for trust and movement-building in struggles for racial justice. Check out the sound byte from political revolutionary and refugee, Assata Shakur, at the end of the track.

6. Call to Action 1 – Utilizing the classic style of radio-documentary the skit, “Call to Action 1″, paints a picture of a community rally in Any City, USA where Jus Rhyme makes a call to white people to decide if we are “for racism, or against it.”

7. Funky – One-half wake up call, one-half party anthem “Funky” is the soundtrack for AntiRacist 15′s political parties (pun intended). A vehicle for call and response, “Funky” asks listeners to rethink house parties as sites of political mobilization, and to reconsider what’s possible and what’s not within a two-party electoral system.

8. Army of One – Redefining the popular slogan of the U.S. military, “Army of One”, this song riffs off Dead Prez’s claim of “people’s army” and argues that the “we” is more powerful than the “I” in social justice struggles. The song is also a comparison of military armies organized for death, and people’s armies organized for life.

9. Million Allies – One of the first songs every written by AR-15, “Million Allies”, has been performed for thousands of people across the U.S. to rousing applause. Now remastered here, the song claims a positive identity for white folks willing to challenge racism, that of an ally, and lays bare the realities and responsibilities of being white in hip-hop.

10. Extra Money – Another album single, “Extra Money”, begins with a radio drama of a real life exchange between Jus Rhyme and Raw Potential at Raw’s current employer and ebbs into a worker’s anthem for all shifts. The song juxtaposes worker’s struggles against the entertainment industry, showing the complexity of wealth from the stage to the audience, from the workplace to the street corner.

11. Call to Action 2 - This skit picks up where “Call to Action 1″ left off, and listens in to Jus Rhyme addressing a community rally in Any City, USA. Jus discusses the anti-racist lifestyle and who and what AR-15 represents.

12. The Life – An homage to street hustlers and entrepreneurs, “The Life”, intertwines political and economic lifestyles as modes of survival. Jus Rhyme and Raw Potential detail the anti-racist lifestyle here in colorful and bold imagery. The title “The Life” connects to the intro track “Stop Trickin” and reflects the ways that gender, sexuality, class, and race are intimately connected realities. Check out the sound bytes by Boots Riley, of the funk/rap group The Coup, at the beginning and end of the track.

13. I Get Movin’ - Introducing a trio of singles to finish the album, “I Get Movin”, leads with a driving bass line and stridently political lyrics. Jus Rhyme and Raw Potential detail the connections between self motivation and social movements, between political consciousness and political action, in this club manifesto. The song is made for dance parties but dedicated to street protests.

14. On The Road – A solid single, designed for meditation, gives the back story of AR-15 including Jus and Raw’s upbringings in Austin, MN and Prosser, WA respectively, to working community service projects in AmeriCorps, to the formation of the AntiRacist 15 in Oakland, CA and its prominence in Los Angeles. A traveller’s anthem.

15. Call - The cap on the album and the trio of closing singles, “Call” is literally that – a call to white people and people of color to join in a movement for racial justice told through stories of personal phone calls and each one-teach ones between Jus Rhyme and Raw Potential. Listen for the drop from album beat-maker, King Karnov, at the beginning of the track, and a voicemail from Jus to Raw to close the song and album.

AR-15 featured in 4strugglemag

Jeb Middlebrook — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:39:01 +0000

“Let’s Build an Anti-Racist Culture of Resistance”
AR-15: Anti-Racist White Hip-Hop.

http://www.4strugglemag.org/archives/cat_issue_9.html#000300