Below is a gallery of a the honorees (all photos were taken by Eric Boom Salvary).

The post RECAP: Meek Mill’s Lawyer, Terrance Howard & More Highlighted as Al Sharpton’s NAN Triumph Award Honorees appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Meek Mill. Photo Credit: CNN

A day after Pennsylvania Superior Court denied an appeal for bail for imprisoned rapper, Meek Mill, National Action Network founder and MSNBC personality Rev. Al Sharpton has written a letter of appeal to the highest judge in Philadelphia County court.

Meek Mill’s lawyers filed the appeal last week, asking that he be released on bail while he appeals the two- to four-year prison sentence for probation violations handed down last month by Common Pleas Court Judge Genece E. Brinkley.

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 21: TV anchor Rev. Al Sharpton on set at MSNBC. (Photos by Charles Ommanney/ Reportage by Getty Images)

In his letter to the court, Reverend Sharpton’s requesed that the judge in the case be removed.

“I write to you as someone with deep respect for the Judicial Process and as a true believer in fairness and equality in criminal justice matters,” Reverend Sharpton wrote to the Philadelphia County court.

“You may have read of my recent involvement with the case matters of Robert Rihmeek Williams (professional known as “Meek Mill”).  He is currently serving a probation violation and was sentenced to a term of incarceration, over the objection of both the local prosecutor and the assigned probation officer, by Judge Genece Brinkley.  You may also be aware that I have publically called for Judge Genece to be removed from Mr. Williams’ matter.  This demand was generated by serious allegations of a conflict of interest with Mr. Williams.” 

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The post Scoop B: MSNBC’s Rev. Al Sharpton pens letter to Philadelphia Court requesting judge in Meek Mill’s case be removed appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

ESPN anchor Jemele Hill and U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo Credit: Chicago Sun Times

Earlier this week, ESPN Sportscenter anchor Jemele Hill sent a tweet that had everyone talking.

Hill called current U.S. President, Donald Trump a “white supremacist” and the most ignorant, offensive president of her lifetime, stating:

“Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists.”

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated that that was a “fireable offense.”

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders calls Jemele Hill’s comments ‘a fireable offense.’ pic.twitter.com/M0wYyZuNUp

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 13, 2017

ESPN issued a statement explaining that although Hill has a right to her personal opinion, her tweets “crossed the line,” stating: 

“The comments on Twitter from Jemele Hill regarding the President do not represent the position of ESPN. We have addressed this with Jemele and she recognizes her actions were inappropriate.”

Hill issued a statement on Wednesday night:

So, to address the elephant in the room … #Facts pic.twitter.com/RTrIDD87ut

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 14, 2017

President Trump addressed it all via Twitter stating:

ESPN is paying a really big price for its politics (and bad programming). People are dumping it in RECORD numbers. Apologize for untruth!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 21: TV anchor Rev. Al Sharpton on set at MSNBC. (Photos by Charles Ommanney/ Reportage by Getty Images)

Civil rights activist and National Action Network founder, Rev. Al Sharpton issued a warning to ESPN not to heed the call by the administration to fire Jemele Hill, and will call for a meeting with ESPN executives around the issue.

“Should ESPN fire Ms. Hill, the National Action Network is prepared to take action against ESPN in response,” Rev. Al Sharpton told RESPECT Magazine in a released statement.

“NAN will not stand by while the administration uses the power of the presidency to intimidate members of the press who express their political views.”

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The post Scoop B: U.S. President Donald Trump & Rev. Al Sharpton Weigh-In On Tweets Of ESPN SportsCenter’s Jemele Hill appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Mysonne chatted with RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson about the culture of hip hop on Scoop B Radio. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary

It could be said that 2017 has been the year of pure lyrics for hip hoppers. In short: out with the mumbling lyrics and autotune in with the honesty and conversation.

While many applaud Jay-Z’s candor and honesty in his recently released 4:44 album, (rightly so: Family Feud, The Story of O.J. 4:44 and Caught Their Eyes are my favorite) it is my estimation that Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN album and Mysonne’s honesty on instagram which then led to an appearance with Charlemagne, DJ Envy and Angela Yee on The Breakfast Club is what jumpstarted the Great Awakening of 2017 that is currently hip hop.

Mysonne went toe-to-toe with Troy Ave in April after the Brooklyn lyricist called himself the second coming of Tupac.

In an instagram post, Mysonne refuted that assesment stating:

“I wouldn’t be who I am if I didn’t come out and say Troy Ave is a fucking bozo. I’m just tired of the Bullshit, Us Real ni**as trying to get out the Streets and these clowns trying to stay in Em. I’m sorry but I can’t peacefully co-exist with Suckers. Stop making clowns Famous ..Ronald McDonald is enough.. #IworkForThePeople#ImRealInRealLife #ImNotUsedToThis #R.I.P.Banga.”

That was perfectly timed. Two months earlier, Mysonne dropped a seven-minute freestyle questioning eveything and everybody in the industry like Lil Uzi and even Future.

“Future said: ‘God blessin’ all the trap n——.’ I got a question for that: ‘Where u at n——?’ Trappers that I know is gettin’ arrested cause of rats n——. Sentenced to life and they ain’t never coming back n——.”

See the freestyle in it’s entirety here: 

Mysonne is not new. A Bronx representer, he reminds me of Dave East before Dave East. Why you ask? Well, Mysonne is the proficient hooper that can equally rhyme. That’s reminiscent of today’s NFL tight end that can hoop and haul in receptions for the New England Patriots or New Orleans Saints! Mysonne’s basketball games with Allen Iverson and Mase are urban legend, but all accounts lean on Mr. New Bronx City holding his own with The Answer and Mason Betha, but I digress! 

I first met Mysonne when he and I were both guest panelists on a Saturday morning discussion at the National Action Network, upon request from Ashley Sharpton, the youngest daughter of civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton.

What I didnt realize is that I had been rocking out to Mysonne’s music during my childhood and in college and didn’t even realize it? Do you remember Mase, Loon and Shyne’s If I Could Start My Life From Scratch? It was on Mases’s Double Album. Yup Mysonne had a verse or two.

If I could start from scratch, Id bring daddy back/And put five in the first cat that show mami crack/I sit back and listen to them drunks on the block/Tryin to school me with jewels, tellin me who to watch

Mysonne was in the NYC mixtape circuit and MC battles. In addition to appearing on Mase’s Double Up album, Mysonne appeared on the Ruff Ryders Ryde of Die Vol. 1 album and had signed with Busta Rhyme’s Violater Management along with Def Jam Records.Unfortunately, in 1999, Mysonne was convicted on two counts of armed robbery and was handed a seven-to-14-year sentence.

Released from prison July of 2006 after doing seven years, he got to work. His image and belief was solely focused on community advocacy and working  for the people. He gave a keynote speech at the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. in 2015.

The speech, “Justice or Else” was widely received. He even proposed taking Christmas from Santa Claus and giving it back to Christ.

Mysonne’s socially consciousness is admirable. On a recent episode of Scoop B Radio we talked about it. “I think in hip hop if you’re not socially aware then you’re really not of the culture,” Mysonne told me on Scoop B Radio.

For the first time in U.S. History, Hip-Hop is now the most popular genre in music, surpassing the previous title-holder of Rock & Roll.

Check out Mysonne and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson discuss Mysonne’s approach to activism and why he fights for justice within the hip hop realm.

According to Nielsen Music’s mid-year report, which classifies Hip-Hop and R&B within the same category, both genres currently compose 25.1 percent of all music consumed in the United States.

While the digit seems low, it’s the highest, topping Rock & Roll’s value of 23 percent.

Mysonne added on hip hop and social justice advocacy:

“That’s what hip hop was for me it was being able to give our story, our culture so if you’re not in tune with what’s going on in the culture and you don’t see what’s going on in your streets and in your neighborhoods and utilizing your voice and your strength and your power to try to change and speak out against and notify the world about it then it’s like you’re wasting your time.”

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Sharpton Entertaiment’s Fashion and Talent Show in NYC. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary Boomtown FM

Sharpton Entertainment hosted their annual fashion and talent show on Saturday April 29, 2017 at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel in Manhattan.

Billed as the Artivism Fashion Show was organized by both Ashley Sharpton and Dominique Sharpton, Reverend Al Sharpton’s youngest daughters.

Respect Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson and producer, Amadeus hosting Sharpton Entertainment’s fashion and talent show. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary Boomtown FM

It was cool to be in the house hosting the show alongside Real Housewives of Potomac’s Gizelle Bryant and producer/drummer, Amadeus.

The fashion show has been a success in the past. Check out the Eric  ‘Ziq’ Austin’s produced feature from 2014. 

Rapper, Mysonne was on hand performing in the show. The fashion showcase included clothing from lines like V Hanley Designz by Vedeta Hanley, My Melanin, Irene Gandy Furs & KJS Furs, Readi by Keith Spaulding  & Diversity & Bold Designs, Marikayz Creationz  by Cymone Gray and Christina’s Lane by Christina Lane.

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The post Scoop B: Sharpton Entertainment LLC Hosts Fashion Show In NYC appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

In what seems to be homage to the Brooklyn, New York-native civil rights and social justice activist Al Sharpton, Future features on Mike WiLL Made-It’s latest release from his mixtape, “Ransom 2.” On record, the rapper “goes Al Sharpton on these hoes,” talks about having relations with former girlfriends, giving women star status, and more. Stream the new music above.

The post New Music: Mike WiLL Made-It “Al Sharpton” featuring Future appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.