By JR Valrey, the Minister of Information With Hiero Day 2021 having just passed, and Black Panther History Month coming up in October, it is a perfect time to talk to visual artist Shomari Smith about his new art/street exhibit, “Thank you”, dedicated to the … Continue readingVisual Artist Shomari Smith’s “Thank You” Exhibit Immortalizes Oakland Legends
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information Many know Ms. Regina Jackson, as the director of the East Oakland Youth Development Center in deep East Oakland, but these same people do not know that she has another very important post in the town, as the … Continue readingOakland Police Commission Chairwoman Regina Jackson Speaks
By JR Valrey During my time hosting at the Compound, I have come across a plethora of very talented musicians on a weekly basis. One such unforgettable talent is Marisha Ashanti, the poetic wordsmith and rapper. Her conscious flow slices through ignorant minds like a … Continue readingFlorida Transplant Marisha Ashanti Lyrically Lights Up the Bay
By JR Valrey, the People’s Minister of Information After performing at a show in Nevada City on July 24, Steve “Zumbi” Gaines of the internationally known Hip Hop group Zion I, was recovering from Covid 19, that he contracted along with 30 other people that … Continue readingVaccination Assassination? Time Is Ticking on the Murder Investigation of Zumbi of Zion I at Alta Bates Hospital
By Xion Abiodun As a Black person in America I do not expect much out of the U.S. “justice system”, but then again why should I? I have constantly been seeing my people being murdered by killer cops on TV since I was five. For … Continue readingGreat News Regarding Elijah McClain’s Case
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information In late July, I was the road manager for Tony, Toni, Tone in Ghana while they participated in Panfest which is a festival consisting of performers and intellectuals, with the purpose of bringing the continent and diaspora together … Continue readingConscious Ghanaian Media Mogul Kobby King Talks About the Future of the Nation’s Music Industry and Media Landscape
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information California lawmakers wrap up their session of state government on Sept. 10. And California Governor Newsom faces a recall election on Sept. 14. Lawmakers are trying to get AB455, the statewide vaccination mandate, passed into law before September … Continue readingVaccination War: Mandatory Vaccinations, Murder, and AB455
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information We met a number of very talented musicians and vocalists on the recent “Timeless Tour” of Tony Toni Tone to Ghana, West Africa, in late July of ‘21. The main destination of the tour was Panafest, a Pan … Continue readingThe Musical Lioness of Ghanaian Afro Beat
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information I love Bay Area Hip Hop, and music in general, because I am a big fan of musical innovation, passion, and great story-telling. With the exception of Mystic of Digital Underground, there hasn’t been any female MC’s that … Continue readingHunter’s Point Femcee, So Vicious Has Been Making Herself a Force to Reckon With
By JR Valrey, the Minister of Information Video games have replaced the communal feeling that generations, before this one, used to feel when we used to compete against each other while watching “Family Feud”, “Jeopardy”, “The Price is Right”, or “Wheel of Fortune”. Now, especially … Continue reading“DNA”, the New Oakland-Youth Online Science Game Show