Using Music as a Means to Share Ideas

Music is a powerful medium through which to share ideas – that was how I responded to Ari Andrade, who a few months ago sent an email to Cop Block indicating this interest in distribution Cop Block materials at an upcoming hip hop show he was promoting.

From Andrade:

As an involved participant and avid fan of your movement I would first like to say thank you. I am an independent hip hop (lyrical, not gangster) promoter. I would love nothing more than to throw out some stickers or clothing or any schwag you may have to offer.

Soon after my friend Kate, who handles shipping of items for Cop Block (as well as the writing of the script used for the weekly, 5-min Police Accountability Report and editing of submissions) sent to Andrade a stack of “Who Owns You?” flyers [download flyers, purchase flyers], a couple girls shirts, a couple tshirts and a hoodie.

I also posted about the event on Cop Block’s Facebook page in an effort to put it on the radar of more Copblockers in the area.

The show Andrade promoted, Sapient/ Luck-One/ ThatKidCry / EPS, occured on March 23, 2013 in Corvallis, OR. He recently shared:

Thank you so much for your support. cop block, the movement is growing. my show was one hundred and ten percent successful. i passed each person who walked through the door the cards you sent me on what to do when pulled over. i received so much praise on integrating copblock.org with my show. i had over 300 people there. also, i had the dj talk up copblock on the microphone as well. i just got back from san bernadino. i went to a music festival there and they had 40 thousand in attendance. i met a famous hip hop artist and he complained to me about the police situation there. i told him that copblock sponsored my last show and he wants me to book him on the west coast now. i would love for cop block to be a part of every show i book and promote. i look forward to donating more money to the cause when i can. thanks again pete. and when i get another show off the ground (my headliner will be a nationally known artist), i will make sure cop block is a part of it to spread the word.

Awesome! I consider such relationships a win-win.

Music – not the manufactured garbage pushed via the big media conglomerates – can act as a powerful solvent to erode-away programming and distractions and cause the listener to think for themselves. It can be very empowering. And that can only help to bring-about a good conclusion.

That’s why Cop Block will have a presence at the upcoming Sleep No More – Rhyme For A Reason show, promoted by Michael Heise, that’ll happen on April 27th, in Elizabeth, NJ (just outside NYC).

And it’s why we’ve worked to make more folks aware of Rebel Inc., Bastard Son, and other on-point musicians/bands.