More RIAA terrorism

Recording industry warns Tech students about downloading music

Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 – 01:37 PM

from the Richmond VA Times-Dispatch

BLACKSBURG — Three dozen Virginia Tech students have received warning letters this month from the Recording Industry Association of America about alleged illegal music downloads.

The letters, described by the association as “pre-litigation settlement letters” were among 407 the association sent out this month to students at 18 universities nationwide.

The flurry of letters is the “12th wave” of an initiative to crack down on illegal downloads, according to the association, which works on behalf of record companies.

Tech is advising students to consider getting legal counsel before responding to the letters.

– Rex Bowman

www.rockrap.com

Ed Note: Oregon is looking into the legality of the RIAA claims against their students.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Press Contact: Nakia Alston
press@hiphopassociation.org

GETTING IT STRAIGHT IN 08: CELEBRATING
OUR HISTORY, WOMEN, AND CREATIVE CONTROL

NEW YORK, NY (January 15, 2007) – Save the dates! The Hip-Hop Association [H2A] in its sixth year proclaims freedom, justice, and restoration. Tackling some of the most important issues affecting the Hip-Hop community today, they intend to elevate women, heal the community, and celebrate the positive messages within Hip-Hop culture.

Setting it off this year will be the HHEAL [Hip-Hop Educates and Advances Lives] Festival, a 2-day festival happening on April 18-19 at Raphael Hernandez IS 217 in the South Bronx. The festival will focus on the fusion of social justice in the Hip-Hop movement, exploring the role of women and immigrants, and teaching how everyone can be an agent for change. Through numerous community partners, the H2A will offer a day of Freshest Youth workshops in media literacy, Hip-Hop aesthetics (mcing, djing, graffiti, beat-boxing, and break-dancing) to cultivate a new generation of Hip-Hop youth. While the next day, the Hip-Hop Education Summit will provide a series of professional development workshops to exchange educational models, practices, and theories in order to build inter-generational relationships and future education leaders.

The first Kings and Queens Classic (KQC) will be held on May 18th during Hip-Hop Appreciation Week, at the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Education Center. The KQC is a celebration of Chess, Art and Photography. The goal of the KQC is to promote the powerful influence of using Chess, Art, and Photography as a viable teaching tool to empower youth to develop important skills such as creative expression, intuition, memory, and problem-solving abilities. The KQC is being hosted by the first and only African-American International Grandmaster, Maurice Ashley, and will include a panel discussion, a youth speed chess tournament, celebrity games, performances, photography exhibit, and a silent art auction.

The Sixth Annual H2O International Film Festival [H2OIFF] will take place from June 25-29, 2008 in New York City. One of our hallmark events, the H2OIFF works with independent and established filmmakers to provide an alternative wide lens into the culture of Hip-Hop. H2OIFF offers networking opportunities, educational resources, panel discussions, and an exhibition platform for video and filmmakers to display and define the variety of images and stories that depict Hip-Hop and its communities. This year a portion of the film festival will be streamed online.

On June 29, 2008, all the stars come out to participate in the infamous Odyssey Awards at BB Kings Club and Grill in Times Square. The Odyssey Awards is the closing ceremony for the H2OIFF, where we announce the winners of the festival and acknowledge the most important Hip-Hop filmmakers, industry professionals and pioneers.

Additionally, the H2A will be teaming up with a dozen community partners to offer film screenings, workshops, seminars, and live webcasts, so stay on the look out for these events all-year-round.

For more information on these events or press coverage, please contact Nakia Alston via email at Press@hiphopassociation.org, by phone at (646) 229-3648 or visit our website: www.hiphopassociation.org

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After the great response to the ThugLifeArmy.com Giant Dec. Hip Hop Give Away for the hip hop icon/poet/actor/activist and teacher Tupac Shakur (2Pac) current album releases titled ‘BEST OF 2PAC PT. 1: THUG’ and ‘THE BEST OF 2PAC PT 2: LIFE’; we are happy to announce another give away for the current releases from Tupac.

The current releases from the legendary hip hop figure hit stores nationwide on December 4th; and the demand and interest in the releases prove that legends never die – they live on thru their legacy. The timeless lyrics and poetry of Tupac (2Pac) guarantee that he will remain one of the front runners not only in hip hop, rap and west coast gangsta music but also in hip hop culture for ever.

Tupac Shakur (2Pac) is the highest-selling hip hop / rap artist of all time and again ‘THANKS’ to Amaru, Interscope & UMe, ThugLifeArmy.com is pleased to be able to offer this special hip hop give away containing not only the CD’s of ‘BEST OF 2PAC PT. 1: THUG’ and ‘THE BEST OF 2PAC PT 2: LIFE’; but also copies of the vinyl single for ‘Resist The Temptation’ and ‘Dopefiend’s Diner’ from the release.

Yes Amaru, Interscope & UMe have provided CD’s and 12’ Vinyl singles of ‘BEST OF 2PAC PT. 1: THUG’ and ‘THE BEST OF 2PAC PT 2: LIFE’ for this give away. Also they have supplied more of the collector post cards for the release.

To register for this months hip hop give away send an email HERE with the subject THUG LIFE. On February 28th winners will be notified by email and at that time you will be asked for your postal information (no P.O.Boxes please).

The new releases hit stores December 4th and include 2 previously unreleased tracks and 2 new remixed tracks. These are being called ‘catalog albums’ so be sure you pick them up to keep your Tupac (2Pac) catalog collection complete and up to date.

A special ‘THANK YOU’ to Amaru, Interscope & UMe for taking interest in the fans and offering this unique give away of CD’s, 12 Vinyl singles and post cards. Their continued support for the fans of Tupac is greatly appreciated.

The following is the track list for the new cd’s:
BEST OF 2PAC PT. 1: THUG
1. So Many Tears
2. Trapped
3. California Love (Original Mix)
4. How Do U Want It
5. I Aint Mad At Cha
6. 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
7. Hail Mary
8. Changes
9. Unconditional Love
10. Resist The Temptation (Previously Unreleased)
11. Dear Mama (featuring Anthony Hamilton – NEW MIX)
THE BEST OF 2PAC PT 2: LIFE
1. Definition Of A Thug Nigga
2. Brenda’s Got A Baby
3. Keep Ya Head Up
4. When I Get Free
5. Until The End of Time (RP REMIX)
6. Never Call U Bitch Again
7. They Dont Give A Fuck About Us
8. Still Ballin (NITTY REMIX)
9. Ghetto Gospel
10. Dopefiend’s Diner – (Previously Unreleased)
11. Thugz Mansion Acoustic Remix (NEW REMIX)

Make sure to register for this ThugLifeArmy.com Hip Hop Giveaway HERE.

PLEASE visit and support the only ‘OFFICIAL’ 2Pac web sites on the net for more info on Tupac at
TASF and 2Pac Legacy

Another upcoming Tupac event is the release of the book “Tupac Remembered: Bearing Witness to a Life and Legacy”.

“Tupac Remembered: Bearing Witness to a Life and Legacy” will be hitting stores in February of 2008. The book was compiled by Gloria Cox, Staci Robinson and Molly Monjauze. This is the fourth book that will be released under the Amaru Company, and spearheaded by Tupac Shakur’s (2Pac) mother Afeni Shakur.

‘Tupac Remembered: Bearing Witness to a Life and Legacy’ features the most candid interviews from those who have the most cherished memories of the hip hop icon “Pac”, in their own words.

Personal snapshots and remembrances shed light on the many personas of Tupac (2Pac), who even a decade after his death remains one of the hip hop and rap industry’s most complicated and enduring artists.

Contributors to this project include many hip hop and rap notables such as Big Syke, Shock G, Russell Simmons, Sekyiwa, Mutulu Shakur, Snoop Dogg, The Outlawz, Kevin Powell, Common, E40, Talib Kweli, Baron Davis, Eminem, Treach, along with Jada Pinkett-Smith, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez and many others.

A portion of the profits will go to The Tupac Amauru Shakur Foundation for the Arts.

To Pre-Order Tupac Remembered: Bearing Witness to a Life and Legacy click HERE

About the Authors:

Gloria Cox is Afeni Shakur’s sister and aunt to Tupac Shakur.

Staci (Robinson) Peterson is an author. Her first novel ‘Interceptions’ is also out now. In 2003 she accepted an offer to research and conduct interviews for the upcoming Official Tupac Shakur biography. Currently she is editing her second novel ‘Letter’s from Heaven’ and is writing her third novel titled ‘Beneath the Redwoods’. Please visit her web site at Staci Robinson .com

Molly Monjauze worked closely with Tupac Shakur during his lifetime, and since his death has assisted the Shakur family with compiling unreleased Tupac materials. Molly Monjauze has also been the project Director/Supervisor on some of the past Tupac album projects including Better Dayz and Until the End of Time. She also did the A&R for Tupac’s The Rose and Pac’s Life albums. She was a good friend of Tupac, later she was his personal assistant and worked with him at Tupac’s Euphanasia Company.

Source of the above info – ThugLifeArmy.com

Also please remember Thug Life Army Records current release ‘In The Shadow of an Icon’ – in stores now and available on all major download sites on the net. If your local record shop does not have it ask them to order it. The project is being distributed by Thug Life Army Records/Fontana/Universal/AMG.

To find out more information or to order on line go to at Thug Life Army Records. Thug Life Army Records is also accepting music for Vol. 2, so if you are an artist who has material with a inspirational message hit us up. We are not looking for spinning rims or music that does not uplift the community, but if you have a message in your music and it is half way clean hit us up for the possibility of being included in the Vol. 2 of this project. If you go to Itunes or buy the Vol. 1 you will understand the direction this project takes. Hit us up HERE.

Peace & Believe in Better Dayz

The Staff of Thug Life Army Network