Two new charter schools that would serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade are being proposed for Trenton, NJ, the state Department of Education said last week. The founder of one school is city resident and hip-hop artist Wise Intelligent, and if his application is approved, the school would accommodate about 600 students.

The proposals for the Trenton Vista Academy and the Trenton Frontier Academy are among 25 applications for new charters submitted statewide, officials said. New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Lucille Davy said the response makes it “clear that interest in charter schools re mains strong in New Jersey.” The state will now begin determining which applications will be approved. (more…)

NYC governor Eliot Spitzer responded Wednesday to some very heated language used by hip hop mogul Russell Simmons to describe his stance on the Rockefeller drug laws. Speaking out on NY1’s “Inside City Hall” Tuesday, Simmons said Spitzer is failing to live up to promises to reform the state’s strict drug laws.  

“I’m very disappointed in the governor. I should say that the hip hop is getting ready to get in his ass,” Russell Simmons said on Tuesday night’s “Inside City Hall.” (more…)

Thursday night, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) held its 39th NAACP Image Awards, which was broadcasted live on FOX. The historic civil rights organization holds the annual award show to honor the achievements of people of color in the arts, including film, television, music and literature, as well as those who promote diversity and social justice.

While there were many deserving honorees from all aspects of American culture, this year’s award show had a strong focus on both music and politics … and rightfully so. (more…)

A People’s Peace Conference, entitled “The Grassroots Speak” and focused on the war against poor and oppressed people at home and abroad, will be held on Jan. 19 at Rutgers Law School in Newark, N.J.

The conference is being sponsored by the Peace and Justice Coalition, a year-old formation of more than 120 organizations working to end the war and promote social, racial, economic, health and environmental justice. (more…)

Bash’d, a two-person gay hip-hop opera, written and performed by Edmonton’s Chris Craddock and Nathan Cuckow, grew out of a spike in gay bashings in Alberta, Canada. These bashings took place in 2005 and coincided with former Alberta premier Ralph Klein’s last-ditch battle to stop gay marriage in the province.

Klein’s reign is one for the history books now, the bashings are mere statistics in the hate-crime folder and same-sex marriages have been legal in Alberta since July, 2005, but ever since it premiered in Edmonton in October, 2006, Bash’d has been unstoppable. (more…)

Though the Iowa primaries are still weeks away, we already know how a few high-profile people are going to vote. Oprah Winfrey made headlines by declaring her support for Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton has been stumping for his wife, but some rather unlikely celebrity endorsements have begun to filter in as well.

The indestructible Chuck Norris has declared his support for Mike Huckabee, über-con Pat Robertson announced that he is backing pro-choice Rudy Giuliani, and, in a strange twist, rapper 50 Cent is endorsing Hillary Clinton. (more…)

White Plains, NY - Jamaal Williams must believe the world of hip-hop can bring a different voice to the work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King - he was willing to brave 40-degree temperatures in front of the civil rights leader’s statue at the county courthouse yesterday morning.

“You can tell I love hip-hop because it’s cold and I’m out here,” said Williams, a White Plains High School student and one of the rappers who wrote and recorded songs based on King’s guiding principles on non-violence. “We all like different groups, but we all came together to do this. It came out good. All we need is a place to perform and record our music.” (more…)

MANSFIELD, OH - Casey Barwick wants to offer something positive for Mansfield. In that vein, he’s planned a benefit hip-hop concert for the Mansfield Domestic Violence Shelter from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at CD Jungle.

“I want to give back in any way I can. It’s nice to give back to the less fortunate,” said Barwick, who also goes by the hip-hop alias “Confidence.” Barwick, 23, defines himself as an inspirational rapper, who tells stories about everyday life. “I don’t talk about the negative things,” he said. (more…)