Block Report interview wit’ M1 by Minister of Info JR

While M1, one half of the rap group dead prez, was in San Francisco on tour wit’ his new album “Confidential,” he sat backstage and did a Block Report Radio interview about his thoughts on why the police and government were resisting the Chairman Fred Hampton Street Renaming in Chicago, as well as the recent Dave Chapelle “Block Party” movie that dead prez was featured in along wit’ a number of other conscious Hip Hop and R&B artists. Kick back and see what M1 has to say ...

JR: Why are the police and in particular the Fraternal Order of Police coming out so hard against the people’s proposal to name a portion of West Monroe in Chicago to Chairman Fred Hampton Way, which is the same block where, on Dec. 4, 1969, Chairman Fred Hampton Sr. and Defense Capt. Mark Clark of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party were assassinated by government agents?

M1: First of all I would like to say that it is a very strategic move on behalf of the December 4th Committee, the POCC and the legacy of Chairman Fred Hampton Sr. in the city of Chicago to put forward that this action should happen on behalf of Chairman Fred Hampton Sr. What it would do is raise the stakes, up the ante, open and expose the contradictions in whose interest lies according to where the Daley machine and the ruling class’s interest is right now.

So when you saw the action happen, you seen the lights get turned on, and you seen people who were in bed wit’ certain parts of imperialism, put their bid in as to where they are. Aldermen run to the side of the state wit’ “No, it shouldn’t happen,” police officers runnin’ to the side of the people: “Yes, it should happen.” I really just say that what you are seeing is an exposition here, and even people like Conrad Worrill, and where he stands in the game: coming out wit’ positions that are somewhat antagonistic to ... what actually happened.

I think that it is important, and that is the reason why the contradiction is heightened to the point where it is now: everyday coverage on the mainstream bourgeois news and everything. It’s because of that. That’s the main reason.

JR: Since the Chapelle “Block Party” came out, do you think that there is a rise in revolutionary Hip Hop and the interest in revolutionary Hip Hop and in particular your group. It is timed also wit’ the “Confidential” album’s release, your solo debut. How has all of that worked together?

M1: I think that that is what Dave Chapelle understands and that’s why he organized it. Now the rest of it is on us to carry out our role respectively in doing what we’re supposed to do as a unit and to represent the things that we’re supposed to represent as part of our duty as the Code of Culture, to continue to do what we do. Now I think that Dave Chapelle has a wide angle vision to the future of our culture as it relates to Hip Hop and R&B, Black music, African people’s weapon, and that’s why that tool is so phenomenal and that’s why he is so phenomenal right now.

Readers are urged to call these two Chicago aldermen to express your disappointment with their failure to back the street renaming: Alderwoman Madeline Haithcock, Second Ward, (312) 913-0222 or (312) 733-8169, and Alderman Tom Allen, 38th Ward, (312) 744-6811 or (773) 545-3855. Email JR at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it