Fonzworth Bentley - Fireside Chat

Judge Mathis dropping truth on Blackmen and Jails

Rakim feat. Maino - Walk these streets - VIDEO

The Bakala of North America by Asar Imhotep

To be or not to be may not be the most important question, but more so, “Who shall we be?” The holocaust of enslavement and its subsequent manifestations in the United States has rendered catastrophic disharmonies within the African-American personality. With the loss of ancestral family names, cultures and social systems, the formerly enslaved Africans have been like a ship adrift in a hostile sea; moving in whatever direction the tide of identity takes them.

Black people in America have had to ask some very fundamental questions about their identity, such as: What is the historic nature of names? How did we acquire our names? What is the importance of a proper name? What do our current names mean? Do our current names accurately reflect our collective history, gifts, vision and purpose?

The BAKALA of North America: The Living Suns of Vitality asserts that the historical names given to the formerly enslaved Africans in the United States (Black, Colored, Negro, African, African-American) do not adequately reflect the spirit of the people. Asar Imhotep offers for consideration a name that is rich in meaning and wide in its application which accurately reflects the history, gifts, vision and purpose of African-American people.

Asar Imhotep Events in Houston:
Saturday 2-6-10 8p-9p,"Bakala" Book Signing @ Beaucoup Bar & Grill
Sunday 2-7-10 3p-6p, Lecture @ S.H.A.P.E. Community Ctr (Almeda bldg)

For more information visite www.asarimhotep.com

Z-BLOG # 2 " Wack Rappers"

S.O.S. RADIO 1-27-10 LISTEN NOW

PART 1:
1. Peter King - Ajo
2. Matata - Talkin Talkin
3. Awa Klash - Akoba
4. Fatai Rolling Dollar - Beleke
5. Talk Break w/ZIN
6. Femi Kuti feat. Mos Def - Do Your Best
7. Femi Kuti - Blackman know yourself
8. Fela Kuti - Zombie
9. Seun Kuti - Think Africa
10. Talk Break - "The Word" w/ Bro. Jesse Muhammad
11. Waganda Kenya - Shakalaode
12. Ebo Tayor Jr. - Mondo Soul Funky
13. Marijata - No conditions permanent


PART 2:
1. Talk Break - Interview with Sis. Mawiyah Dupreval of Haitian Amer. Ministries
2. Capelton - Fire Burning
3. Chali 2na feat. Damian Marley - 2 guns up
4. Talk Break - Interview with Bro. Viva Fidel
5. Viva Fidel / Nes - Bruthas
6. Justice Allah - Understanding
7. Jasiri X - Blackface
8. Talk Break w/ ZIN
9. ZIN feat. Snap - Balance
10. Loose Ends - Life
11. Lizz Fields - Speak the language (dub mix)
12. Jay Electronica - Exhibit A
13. Roy Ayers- Searching

Haitian American Ministries

Greetings family,
As I'm sure most of you that tune into S.O.S. RADIO have heard me interviewing Haiti Earthquake survivor Mawiyah Dupreval. Her organization is Haitian American Ministries, which she has been utilizing to do work in Haiti for over 20 years. Like many organizations doing work to help the people of Haiti since the disaster they need monetary donations and supplies to send over. I personally know this courageous Sister and have been privileged to assist her in the work she has done and is currently doing. Please offer any assistance that you can! Here is a link to their website HAITIAN AMERICAN MINISTRIES, we must always give thanks for all of our blessings! Fwd in light and truth...Z

Pittsburgh Art Student Brutaly Beaten By Police

FBI Looking into Pittsburgh Arts Student Beating

Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 5:50 am
By: Ramit Plushnick, Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The FBI is looking into whether Pittsburgh police officers violated the civil rights of an 18-year-old violist who accused them of brutally beating him as he walked to his grandmother's house after dark.

The FBI launched an initial probe even though it has not yet received a letter from Jordan Miles' attorney formally requesting a criminal investigation into the Jan. 12 confrontation, spokesman Jeff Killeen said Tuesday.

Jordan Miles alleges three undercover officers beat him as he walked from his mother's home to his grandmother's nearby. Pictures taken by his mother show his swollen face covered with red, raw bruises and his right eye swollen shut. A bald spot mars his head where he says his dreadlocks were torn out.

The fact-finding mission is the first level of FBI investigations, Killeen said, and is designed to uncover evidence that civil rights have been violated. If so, the bureau could launch a full-fledged investigation.

Miles' mother, Terez Miles, has said she believes the three white officers targeted her son because he was a young black man walking in a "rough" neighborhood at night. The confrontation occurred around 11 p.m.

Chuck Hanlon, vice president of the city police union, said officers Michael Saldutte, David Sisak and Richard Ewing followed their training and the law.

"A lot of credit has been given to Mr. Miles because he's an honor student ... and that everybody in the media, the public and the politicians should just disregard the accounts of what the three officers wrote in their report," Hanlon said. "And our contention is, is these three officers have been model officers and model citizens and honorable members of our society their whole life. That's why they're police officers."

The officers wrote in their criminal complaint that they believed Miles was armed because they saw something bulky in the pocket of his jacket. They say it turned out to be a bottle of Mountain Dew, but Miles says he had nothing in his pocket.

The student's attorney, Kerrington Lewis, wrote a letter, obtained by The Associated Press, to FBI agent Michael Rodriguez, the head of the Pittsburgh bureau, requesting "a criminal investigation against the police officers involved." The letter is dated Monday, and Rodriguez has not yet received it, Killeen said.

The city of Pittsburgh is already investigating. The officers have been reassigned and put back in uniform. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has called the confrontation "troubling" and said "it seems as if there was a tremendous amount of force used."

"He had no dope; he had no gun; he had nothing, because he's not a criminal," Lewis said. "The criminals are the people that beat him up. That's the only crime that occurred here."

The family has considered a lawsuit against the police but is currently focused on clearing Miles' name, Lewis said.

Earlier Tuesday, Police Chief Nate Harper called on the community to remain patient and promised the city's investigation would be "thorough, and it will reveal the facts."

Harper's plea came a short time after nearly 100 of Miles' classmates marched from their school, the Creative and Performing Arts High School, to City Hall. They, too, demanded an investigation.

Hanlon said the investigation should be taken out of the court of public opinion and would show the officers did nothing wrong. He was unaware of any previous discipline against the officers, who have been on the force since 2005 and have received awards.

The Pittsburgh Citizen Police Review Board will also conduct a full investigation, chairwoman Marsha Hinton said Tuesday night at the board's meeting. The board does not have the power to issue sanctions but can make recommendations.

About two dozen people turned out for the meeting, including many of Miles' classmates.

Wyclef feat. Mavado - Hold On - VIDEO

Here is a very power song and video by Wclef feat. Mavado, dedicated to Jimmy O and the people of Haiti. God Bless all the people of Haiti and the beautiful people lending a helping hand and prayer!

Gil Scott Heron - Me and the Devil - VIDEO

Marcus Garvey Liberation Garden -Houston,TX

Marcus Garvey Liberation Garden & Food Coop Program

Valued member of the community,

Divine Leaders Inc. and The Shrine of the Black Madonna #10 of the Pan-African Orthodox Christian Church have partnered to implement the Marcus Garvey Liberation Garden and Food Cooperative Program. In doing so, your assistance as a member of the community is greatly needed. This gardening and food coop program will benefit our community by decreasing the amount of money a family spends on food which simultaneously decreases the transfer of wealth (for the purchase of that food) to entities outside our community. Participating volunteers will learn the many advantages of organic urban gardening as well as how to maintain an organic garden.

As a part of serving our community, The Marcus Garvey Liberation Garden and Food Coop Program will provide supplemental groceries for struggling senior citizens and single- parent households who currently live below the poverty line. A member of the community must refer eligible senior citizens. Single-parents must fill out mandatory documents to verify their income and the number of persons living in their home. Failure to produce these documents may cause ineligibility for the program.

Any interested individual or organization can help advance the above stated goals of the garden and food coop program in three different ways. A volunteer can either become a Land Cultivator, Financial Contributor, or an Earth Saver. Land Cultivators are those who donate their manual labor for the advancement of the purpose of the garden and coop program. Financial Contributors will be those who donate funds for the advancement of the garden and food coop program. A Land Cultivator, Financial Contributor, struggling senior citizens, or single-parent households will be the only groups who can directly benefit from what the garden produces. An Earth Saver is anyone who brings their recyclable paper goods to the recycle bin at the Shrine of the Black Madonna sanctuary located @ 5317 Martin L. King Blvd., Houston, TX 77021.

Any participating organization will become partners with Divine Leaders Inc. in administering a community service. For those in need of community service hours, documentation can be provided to show the time spent volunteering in the garden or food coop program. For individuals or organizations interested in becoming a Financial Sacrificer, your tax deductible donation should be made out to the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church. In the memo section please indicate that your donation is to the Marcus Garvey Liberation Garden. A letter of receipt will be provided for your records. Donations can be made to the program and the tax deduction will be given by The Shrine of the Black Madonna.

If there are any questions on how to volunteer or donate to the cause of the Marcus Garvey Liberation Garden and Food Coop Program feel free to call Cavanaugh Nweze at (832)262-8019 or send an email to cnweze@hotmail.com.

Attempting to make the struggle a little easier,

Cavanaugh Nweze

Divine Leaders, Inc., COO
The Shrine of the Black Madonna #10, Member


P.S.
For interested Earth Savers, the list of paper materials that can be recycled is below.

Things that can be recycled: Things that CAN NOT be recycled:

Newspapers Cardboard
Magazines Cereal Boxes
Catalogs Kitchen/Bathroom Paper Products
Direct Mail Phone Books
Office Paper Plastics
School Paper Metals
Shredded Paper in clear plastic bags Garbage

Please Sign this petition for Sundiata Acoli's release!

SUNDIATA ACOLI




Sundiata Acoli (born in 1939, as Clark Edward Squire), a New Afrikan political prisoner of war, mathematician, and computer analyst, was born January 14, 1937, in Decatur, Texas, and raised in Vernon, Texas. He graduated from Prairie View A & M College of Texas in 1956 with a B.S. in mathematics and for the next 13 years worked for various computer-oriented firms, mostly in the New York area.

During the summer of 1964 he did voter registration work in Mississippi. In 1968 he joined the Harlem Black Panther Party and did community work around issues of schools, housing, jobs, child care, drugs, and police brutality.

In 1969 he and 13 others were arrested in the Panther 21 conspiracy case. He was held in jail without bail and on trial for two years before being acquitted, along with all other defendants, by a jury deliberating less than two hours.

Upon release, FBI intimidation of potential employers shut off all employment possibilities in the computer profession and stepped-up COINTELPRO harassment, surveillance, and provocations soon drove him underground.

In May 1973, while driving the New Jersey Turnpike, he and his comrades were ambushed by N.J. state troopers. One companion, Zayd Shakur, was killed, another companion, Assata Shakur, was wounded and captured. One state trooper was killed and another wounded, and Sundiata was captured days later.

After a highly sensationalized and prejudicial trial he was convicted of the death of the state trooper and was sentenced to Trenton State Prison (TSP) for life plus 30 years consecutive.

Upon entering TSP he was subsequently confined to a new and specially created Management Control Unit (MCU) solely because of his political background. He remained in MCU almost five years, … let out of the cell only ten minutes a day for showers and two hours twice a week for recreation.

In September 1979, the International Jurist interviewed Sundiata and subsequently declared him a political prisoner. A few days later prison officials secretly transferred him during the middle of the night to the federal prison system and put him en route to the infamous federal concentration camp at Marion, Illinois, although he had no federal charges or sentences. Marion is one of the highest security prisons in the U.S., also one of the harshest, and there Sundiata was locked down 23 hours a day …. In July 1987 he was transferred to the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas.

In the fall of 1992, Sundiata became eligible for parole. He was not permitted to attend his own parole hearing and was only allowed to participate via telephone from USP Leavenworth. Despite an excellent prison work, academic and disciplinary record, despite numerous job offers in the computer profession, and despite thousands of letters on his behalf, Sundiata was denied parole. Instead, at the conclusion of a 20 minute telephone hearing, he was given a 20-year hit, the longest hit in New Jersey history, which dictates that he must do at least 12 more years before coming up for parole again.

The Parole Board’s stated reason for the 20-year hit was Sundiata’s membership in the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army prior to his arrest, the receipt of hundreds of “Free Sundiata” form letters that characterized him as a New Afrikan Prisoner of War, and the feeling that the punitive aspects of his sentence had not been satisfied and that rehabilitation was not sufficiently achieved. The real reason for the 20-year hit is to attempt to force Sundiata to renounce his political beliefs and to proclaim to the world that he was wrong to struggle for the liberation of his people.

Write Sundiata Acoli:
Sundiata Acoli #39794-066 (Squire)
P.O. Box 1000
FCI Otisville
Otisville, NY 10963-1000

www.sudiataacoli.org

LINK TO SIGN THE PETITION FOR BRO. SUDIATA'S RELEASE!

Jasiri X - Season Finale

President Barack Obama looking to boast his sagging approval rating teams up with conscious rapper Jasiri X on a song designed to change the media's negative portrayal of the Black man. "Ballers and Rappers"-the Season Finale of This Week With Jasiri X, was produced by Black Czer and directed by Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan.

Episode 25 - Bro. Jasiri X

produced by Religion and Directed by Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan.

"A spirit to be remembered" by ZIN

The 12th Annual Sankofa Caravan to the Ancestors
“A spirit to be remembered”
By ZIN (Minister of Culture, NBUF)

As early as Thursday, October 15th people from across the country began to converge to the cities of Houston and Galveston, Texas for one event; The National Black United Front’s 12th Annual – Sankofa Caravan to the Ancestors. The kick-off began with an edutainment component organized by the University of Houston’s Liberation Society and N.B.U.F. entitled “Drum and Chant – The Roots of Hip-Hopoetry”, featuring master poet Mutabaruka and other local Houston artists such as Sunni Patterson, 144 Elite, Empress Winter, Bishop Black, Torian, Sar, Rez and hosted by Emcee ZIN. It all took place on the campus of the University of Houston (central). It was a divine mix of Hip-Hop/Poetry! You could feel the revolutionary energy in the room, where all ages from toddlers to elders bobbed their heads, clapped their hands and gave their Ashe’ to the wordsmiths of the night. This was just the beginning of three days of reconnecting our past to the present while showing the necessity for ancestor veneration, unity in our communities and the need to settle our differences. The theme for this year’s Caravan was “Settle your quarrels, come together…the sooner begun, the sooner done” which was taken from a quote by ancestor George Jackson.
There could not have been a more fitting theme, simply due to immediate need for the rebuilding of a united front in the African community as a whole. This has been the mission of The National Black United Front’s Houston Chapter for the last decade, now under the leadership of now National Chairman Kofi Taharka. Bringing together African communities of all faiths with the sole purpose of healing our people through prayers and actions of positive, progressive, forward motion toward the liberation of African peoples worldwide!
The second event took place Friday, October 16th at the S.H.A.P.E. Community Ctr. – Houston, TX. This event was the viewing of the movie “Sankofa” directed by Haile Gerima which featured question and answer period following the movie with two of the films’ stars Oyafunmike Ogunlano and Mutaburaka.
For the last few years the movie has been shown even though a large number of people have seen it. Nearly everyone in attendance would attest to their need to re-visit the movie’s concepts of reconnecting to the African spirit. On this evening the African communities from Houston, Oklahoma, Dallas and Atlanta introduced their children to Oyafunmike and Mutabaruka with proud and respectful reverence as they explained how much it meant to meet “our” movie hero and shero.

The main event showed up as quickly as the rising of the sun on Saturday, October 17th at 6:30 a.m. as beautifully dressed members of the Pan-African community in their all white garbs met at the N.B.U.F. Houston Headquarters, located at 2428 Southmore, for this glorious day. The 12th Annual Sankofa – Caravan to the Ancestors had arrived and all the excitement from the last two days had come to a boil. Peace, Uhuru, Black Power, Forward, As Salaamulaikum, and other greetings filled the air as Brothers and Sisters greeted one another while mentally preparing for what was ahead. Capt. Khalid Greene and the Houston IN-CERT (Inner city emergency response team) organized the vehicles that would partake in the physical caravan down to Galveston, Texas. The caravan included members of various community organizations such as Sehah , O.B.U.-San Antonio, NCOBRA, Third eye-Dallas, TX., AAPRP, The Act of Change and The Shrine of the Black Madonna just to name a few.
Arriving at 29th and Seawall in Galveston, the caravan was welcomed by the sounds of African drumming and waves crashing. Hugs and high spirits filled the air. Bro. Salim Adolfo (Vice-Chairman of NBUF) opened the ceremony with greetings of peace from the National Black United Front. Second to speak was Chairman Kofi Taharka with the word of day on how our communities needed to settle our quarrels now while firing the revolutionary spirits of all on the beach. Oyafumike Ogulano blessed the ceremony with an opening libation, honoring our holy African ancestors. African communities from Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, Baton Rouge, San Antonio, New York, Tulsa Oklahoma, Jamaica and Houston poured onto the beach to partake in the spiritual festivities.
Also in attendance on the beach were Cynthia Mckinney and legendary percussionist Bill Summers. After singing songs of praise and dancing to the drummers, all were invited to make an offering into the very waters that once brought our ancestors from Africa into captivity here in America. The ceremony lasted approximately three hours, ending in a closing prayer and directions to the luncheon which was held at Old Central Cultural Center. Once at the center Caravan attendees had a chance to unwind, eat and listen to uplifting and motivational words of wisdom from Chairman Kofi Taharka, Oyafunmike and Mutabaruka just to name a few. Once full of spirit and nourishment, everyone quietly reflected, smiled and gave thanks for the opportunity to work toward the liberation of African people through reverence, sacrifice, love and power of community! With the will of the creator and the ancestors, we shall meet again on the shores of Galveston, Texas next year to revisit and reclaim our divine and rightful place were our forefathers and mothers were brought to this land unwillingly. However we willingly say “Forward ever, Backward NEVER!”

Many thanks and blessings go out to all of the African spiritualist communities that attended and offered their body of knowledge, wisdom and understanding on honoring our holy African ancestors.

Special thanks goes out to the organizers of the Caravan which include, Event Chair-woman, Osunbunmi Gaidi, Bro. Omowale, Sis. Folade, Bro. T. Piper, Sis. Matti and all that came to the weekly NBUF meetings and planning sessions.

The 12th Annual -Sankofa Caravan to the Ancestors from ZIN on Vimeo.

Sankofa Caravan to The Ancestors '09- VIDEO

Peace fam! Here is a video for the National Black United Front's 12th Annual, SANKOFA CARAVAN TO THE ANCESTORS event which takes place in Houston and Galveston, TX. October 15-17, 2009. This event has been something that has literally changed the lives of many people, through assisting in reconnecting them to their African ancestry. This is the place where religious beliefs don't matter and your faith in the oneness of God and community are revitalized.
I've attended 9 Caravans and every year they are beautiful and unique to the energy of those attending. If you would bring yourself,family, and friends to this years Sankofa Caravan to the Ancestors with an open mind on healing our community, one family at a time! A Real change will take place!
All faiths are welcomed and no spirit leaves the same! The theme for this years caravan is "Settle your quarrels, come together...the sooner begun,the sooner done" quoted from ancestor George Jackson, is very relevant in ALL of OUR communities. From spiritually, socially, financially, and politically WE MUST COME TOGETHER NOW! Caravan is a week and a half away...are you coming? I humbly request that you take a look at this video presentation.
Blessings...
ZIN

p.s. If you've attended the Caravan before please leave a comment on your experience below.

The Roots - How I got over - Video

Kanye apologizes on the Jay Leno Show

As I stated in the post yesterday you could tell he has been going thru an emotional time since the transition of his Mother. In this interview he admits it humbly and says he needs to take a moment and reflect on life. God is always the best of planners and we never how or why things happen. I'm sure he was bombarded with calls, emails, and everything else from his peers, elders, and fans regarding the incident. However I pray this helps him grow stronger and wiser because we need these Brothers to be on point in this day and age...

I DID HAVE THE VIDEO BUT NBC PULLED IT DOWN....SORRY!

Kanye West clowns once again at MTV awards

Blessings family...
I am sincerely tired of the over proud ways of the "Priviledged" artists in the entertainment industry such as Kanye West. First of all I am not the one to judge, for that is not my job but when it comes to respect, something must be said! Last night while at band rehearsal, i did my normal twitter, facebook, and text check only to see all of them were full of messages regarding Kanye clowning Taylor Swift on the MTV awards. So immediately we searched the internet only to find the video footage already posted on www.mtv.com with over 50k views in less then 30 minutes. All I could say is WOW, then this dude is wild! That was pure disrespect on every level! I don't care if it was a purple artist from the countrybophoprock genre...that was wack! First thing I said was what would Jill Scott or another sister have done if a white artist from a different genre did that? I believe it would have been a scuffle on stage immediately! I commend Beyonce on allowing Taylor the opportunity to finish her acceptance speech. Last night Kanye posted an apology on his blog but it was clearly an attempt to save face where he said “I’m sooooo sorry to Taylor Swift and her fans and her mom [Andrea]. I spoke to her mother right after and she said the same thing my mother would’ve said. She is very talented! I like the lyrics about being a cheerleader and she’s in the bleachers! …………………… I’m in the wrong for going on stage and taking away from her moment!…………….. Beyonce’s video was the best of this decade!!! I’m sorry to my fans if I let you guys down!!!!! I’m sorry to my friends at MTV. I will apologize to Taylor 2mrw. Welcome to the real world!!!! Everybody wanna booooo me but I’m a fan of real pop culture!!! No disrespect but we watchin’ the show at the cribe right now cause…. Well you know!!!! I’m still happy for Taylor!!!! Boooyaawww!!!! You are very talented!!!!! I gave my awards to Outkast when they deserved it over me… That’s what it is!!!! I’m not crazy yall, I’m just real. Sorry for that!!! I really feel bad for Taylor and I’m sincerely sorry!!! Much Respect!!!!!”
(as of Monday a.m. this post was removed from his blog, but media grabbed it beforeNow the reality is that "we" the consumer puff these artist chests up to thinking they can't be deflated. Our short-term memory allows these artist to disrespect our children with their lyrics and behavior, but once they do something we consider "conscious" we allow them back into our world. I am not saying we should kick them to the curb and not give them our support if we actually like their art. However in the same token I believe our community must be outspoken, truthful, and realistic with what these men, women, and youth artists offer back positively back to our society or the lack thereof. We are all aware of the controllers of the media industries and capitalization of the art forms which come from indigenous peoples, but there are an elite sector of artist which are allowed the "Pass", Kanye being one. He is a very talented brother and we cannot front on that, but his peers as well as elders in the game need to sit him down and build. Since the transition of his mother (may the creator be please with her) it's been obvious that his emotional state has been affected and that is more than understandable. To me this is much bigger than color... To me this is about being humble, thankful, and respectful for those that came before us and those who will follow. I'm sure many people thought that was "Gangsta" but your a clown also if you think so! Today I have been searching random blogs and sites to see what people are saying and nearly all of his fans disagree but the white fan are DONE...google it and see for yourself. Who did he think bought the "808's and Heartbreaks" album...it was banging in the hood at ALL! LOL!
PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL? Leave a comment...

P.E.A.C.E.!
theonlikez-i-n

Roxanne's Revenge!

Rapper behind 'Roxanne's Revenge' gets Warner Music to pay for Ph.D

BY Walter Dawkins
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS

Updated Sunday, August 23rd 2009,

Roxanne Shante was a young rap star. When the music stopped, she didn't miss a beat.
Related News
Articles


Roxanne's revenge was sweet indeed.

Twenty-five years after the first queen of hip-hop was stiffed on her royalty checks, Dr. Roxanne Shante boasts an Ivy League Ph.D. - financed by a forgotten clause in her first record deal.

"This is a story that needs to be told," Shante said. "I'm an example that you can be a teenage mom, come from the projects, and be raised by a single parent, and you can still come out of it a doctor."

Her prognosis wasn't as bright in the years after the '80s icon scored a smash hit at age 14: "Roxanne's Revenge," a razor-tongued response to rap group UTFO's mega-hit "Roxanne, Roxanne."

The 1984 single sold 250,000 copies in New York City alone, making Shante (born Lolita Gooden) hip hop's first female celebrity.

She blazed a trail followed by Lil' Kim, Salt-N-Pepa and Queen Latifah - although Shante didn't share their success.

After two albums, Shante said, she was disillusioned by the sleazy music industry and swindled by her record company. The teen mother, living in the Queensbridge Houses, recalled how her life was shattered.

"Everybody was cheating with the contracts, stealing and telling lies," she said. "And to find out that I was just a commodity was heartbreaking."

But Shante, then 19, remembered a clause in her Warner Music recording contract: The company would fund her education for life.

She eventually cashed in, earning a Ph.D. in psychology from Cornell to the tune of $217,000 - all covered by the label. But getting Warner Music to cough up the dough was a battle.

"They kept stumbling over their words, and they didn't have an exact reason why they were telling me no," Shante said.

She figured Warner considered the clause a throwaway, never believing a teen mom in public housing would attend college. The company declined to comment for this story.

Shante found an arm-twisting ally in Marguerita Grecco, the dean at Marymount Manhattan College. Shante showed her the contract, and the dean let her attend classes for free while pursuing the money.

"I told Dean Grecco that either I'm going to go here or go to the streets, so I need your help," Shante recalls. "She said, 'We're going to make them pay for this.'"

Grecco submitted and resubmitted the bills to the label, which finally agreed to honor the contract when Shante threatened to go public with the story.

Shante earned her doctorate in 2001, and launched an unconventional therapy practice focusing on urban African-Americans - a group traditionally reluctant to seek mental health help.

"People put such a taboo on therapy, they feel it means they're going crazy," she explained. "No, it doesn't. It just means you need someone else to talk to."

Shante often incorporates hip-hop music into her sessions, encouraging her clients to unleash their inner MC and shout out exactly what's on their mind.

"They can't really let loose and enjoy life," she said. "So I just let them unlock those doors."

Shante, 38, is also active in the community. She offers $5,000 college scholarships each semester to female rappers through the nonprofit Hip Hop Association.

She also dispenses advice to young women in the music business via a MySpace page.

"I call it a warning service, so their dreams don't turn into nightmares," she said.

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons said Shante is a shining role model for the rap community. "Dr. Shante's life is inspiring," Simmons said. "She was a go-getter who rose from the struggle and went from hustling to teaching. She is a prime example that you can do anything, and everything is possible."