Member Since: 6/5/2006
Band Website: freekenneth.com & myspace.com/thewelfarepoets
Band Members: Kenneth Haramia Foster along with Tony Egbuna Ford, Randy Arroyo and the late Hasan Shakur (executed unjustly by the state of Texas on August 31st 2006) contacted the Welfare Poets in 2004 and asked for our assistance in their individual cases and with abolishing the death penalty in general. These four brothers have been movers and shakers on death row. They are all artists, writers, thinkers and organizers on behind the walls who have fought to change things not only for themselves but for everyone else who yearn for true justice. The initial contact has led to the creation of this Hip Hop CD against the death penalty "Cruel and Unusual Punishment." The album was officially released Feb. 1st 2007, and on this past May 1st 2007, the news came down regarding Kenneth's execution date.
Cruel and Unusual Punishment was inspired by Texas death row inmate and activist Hasan Shakur (Derrick Frazier). This warrior struggled not only to save his own life, but the lives of any and everyone on death row in the united states. He was unjustly executed by the barbaric state of Texas on August 31st 2006.
Influences:
"Cruel and Unusual Punishment" was influenced by the need to dismantle the inhumane death penalty system. Murder is barbaric on all fronts, in particular state sponsored. The death penalty is both racist and classist in its intention and application. The most important factor when determining whether someone is executed is the race of the victim. Additionally, the wealth of the defendant is directly related to whether he/she receives their due process. Death row continues to be filled with poor defendants who cannot afford their fair day in court, guaranteed in this country's constitution. These defendants are left virtually defenseless with less than incompetent attorneys against a system that is designed to murder them.This CD is done in the memory of Hasan Shakur, Frances Newton, Shaka Sankofa, Tookie Williams, Dominique Green and everyone put to death by this demonic country and their broken system of justice.
Rayzer
The Welfare Poets
Sounds Like: Background on how the Welfare Poets got involved with the death penalty:
In September of 2004, the Welfare Poets were contacted by 4 brothers on death row in the state of Texas to come down and support them and their cause at a rally against the death penalty. These brothers were Randy Arroyo, Kenneth Foster, Tony Egbuna Ford and Hasan Shakur, who we soon found out were amazing writers, artists, prison organizers and developers of non-for-profit organizations. They heard about our group and music from behind the walls on death row and reached out to us for assistance.
We went down to Texas, attended and performed at the rally and in other venues, and began a journey to fight against the death-machine of Texas and the death penalty in general.
For more information, you can go to: welfarepoets.com, hasanshakur.com, tonyeford.com, geocities.com/randyarroyobaez and kennethfoster.de
Type of Label: None